Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Single Shots Contender Rifle Barrel Strategy

Contenders are remarkable tools and open the door to many smiles. Their versatility has limits however. I’m not inclined to self abuse, especially when not necessary. .22 Short Match, .22 LR Match, .30 Sneezer and .30-30 make up my inventory, ranging from 19”-22” length. The .30-30 provides all the smack my shoulder needs.

Nor am I inclined to load cartridges down to cat sneeze levels so they are comfortable to shoot. There be a variety of cartridges available for virtually all calibers and most function best with normal loads. Why put a .45-70 chamber in a Contender barrel when a .45 Colt will function quite well? I ask because a standard .45-70 load will knock the snot out of you on a Contender frame. In Carbine format you have a rifle that weighs about 5.5 pounds.

This. I have no interest in shooting something so light as a Contender carbine and having my retina's detach from recoil.

After hauling around my 9.5# bolt rifle for nine days last season, I decided it was time for a change. I ordered a mgm barrel in 30-30 ai. It weighs in 6.8# with a 3x9 scope. I have been getting 2800 fps with some 110gn Sierra's . As for my 444 I put a red dot on it. Super fast,handy brush gun.It comes in at 5.5#. For deer I load some 180-240 grainers. For elk,bear the 300 grain bullets will be loaded. I am waiting on some backordered brass to work up loads with.

Wasted money. With regular exercise and bodily conditioning, a few extra pounds to tote around are nothing. Every year you will get weaker and unable to pack the same weight if you don’t increase your stamina. That goes with any age person, unless one has a serious handicap

I guess it wouldn't matter much if I was only sitting on some stand. Waiting for some whitetail to walk by on some private ranch. Out here ,you need to get far away . It is usually 3 or 4 ridges over from any road. Most of time it involves 5--10 miles and 1000-2000 ft elevation change. 3 or 4# doesn't sound like much but it all adds up.

Adds up the stress on your body pound for extra pound as well. Be
well, RZ.

Some injuries can be helped w PT, somtimes its a losing battle no matter what

Glad you guys like yours, but my last one departed a couple of months ago. Bought a SS G2 rifle frame and a MGM .44 barrel. Added a TC .22 match barrel. The .22 was fine, a decent shooter, and a handy package, but the .44 would pop open on firing some of the time, and wouldn’t group for sh*t. Talked to Marty, who told me how to measure the headspace. It was really excessive, hence the problems. MGM wanted me to send in the whole shebang, so they could shim it no doubt, but that meant I’d have to un-shim it for the .22, which was tightly fitted. Sold the .44 with full disclosure and a shim kit, and sold the rifle with the .22 barrel, lest I be tempted down the rabbit hole again. Meanwhile, I bought a nifty CZ 457 MTR, which outshoots the G2 and will continue to use my Low Wall for .44 stuff.

According to Marty, these issues ain’t uncommon, and this is supposed to be fun, so I’m out.

How old are you?

Good question, pappy.

Really appreciate all the great input!! I'm really, really trying to simplify but I am very intrigued with the 357 Max. That kind of versatility would be pretty incredible and make this little Contender a very fun gun!

It helps that I ran across a sweet Super Blackhawk in 357 Mag that felt real good in my hand the other day!

I am too, but I’m trying to stifle it. My plan would be to get a Henry SS .357 and send it to Mike Bellm for a re-chamber.

The smart thing would be to get one in .350 Legend, but I’m kinda slow......

I called and discussed the 357 Max vs 350 Legend with Curt Bellm and he is very much in favor of turning a Henry 357 Mag into the Max and will open the throat to allow for heavier (.358) bullets. I have a pretty good stash of Hornady 180 gr. SSP's but its good to have options.
Anyway, I have one on order with him although I'm not sure when it'll come in and get worked for me.

I read his write up on how much he likes the Henry, that’s gonna be nice!

He’s getting a new one and re-chambering it, then sending to your FFL? How much?

Thanks.

I think you get the rifle sent to him, he does the work, and sends to your FFL. Think I saw it was around $100-110 something like that.

Here’s where I read it https://357maximum.net/

He placed the Henry on order for me. I will pay him for the rifle and work done, when completed. Pappy, its somewhere around $550 all in, if I recall. The rifle is $440 or so and the work adds to it. He may also put a pic rail on it.

That’s what I wanted to know! Thanks again.

My LGS said they would order one, but had no idea when or even if it would show up. I passed. Hopefully, Bellm has a better source. Good luck.

Looking back at my notes, I had him order a 350 Legend, rechamber to 357 Max, neck and re-throat, either a Talley or EGW mount. I did this in early March and expect it will take 4-5 months