Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Handguns 30/30 or 30 Herret Contender

Which one would you choose for shooting game up to the size of whitetails and hogs? Max range woulld probably be 100 yards.

I used to have a 7mm/08 Encore, but didn't like that size frame in handgun form. I'm thinking a 10 inch barrel, maybe 12. Probably a heavey barrel. I have a FX-II 2 power score to put on it.

Is the Herret easy to load for? Is there any didfference in recoil or muzzle blast that makes the 30 Herret worth shooting compared to a 30/30?

The Herret is a more efficient cartridge, but I've went through my wildcat phase, so my inclination would be .30-30. Nothing wrong with either one for the game and ranges you mentioned.

I've not fired a Herret, but I would assume recoil/blast would be very similar to the .30-30.

I played with both the .30 and .357 Heretts a number of years ago. Originally "much better" accuracy was promised over the .30-30, a promise than did not prove true IMO.

Buy a .30-30. Or if you want to be adventurous, a .30-30 AI.

The 30-30 is practical, the 30 Herret is cool. The older I get, the more practical I tend to become. YMMV

+1 on this. At that range 30-30 will get the job done. The accuracy is about the same and not worth the extra effort(brass forming and prep) in my opinion.

I don't know you have consider it, but the 7-30 Waters is really tough to beat.
120 gr Ballistic Tip is a very good bullet too. I understand the the 120gr is constructed tougher than the 140gr even as the 120gr bullet was designed to meet the needs of silouhette shooters.

The 30 Herrett was originally designed to "optimize" the 30-30 for a 10" Contender. It was my first Contender barrel, and I still have it. Even made my longest deer kill with ANY gun using it.

Cost of regular and forming dies may be an issue - if you can find them. I say that because the 30 Herrett has been passe for a couple of decades now.

If factory ammo is to be used much, I'd get a .30-30. But the better cartridge by far is the 7-30 Waters. Less recoil but better ballistics, and case-forming is as easy as sizing 30-30 brass in standard 7-30 dies: can NOT get any simpler.

Do get a 14" barrel, though. There is not a lot of difference in bulk, and ballistics are MUCH improved. Muzzle flip and blast are a lot less, too. A decent variable scope in 2-6X or 2.5-7X will serve for both "woods" ranges and that occasional 300-yarder. Yes, you CAN make shots like that with a Contender.

I have written articles on both the Herrett and the 7-30. Start HERE

Not that Rocky needs any endorsement from me, but his info on the 7-30 Waters is really excellent.

The 7x30 Waters is THE cartridge in the 14� Contender; nothing will beat its balance of case capacity and velocity unless you go wildcat. The 140 grain (or there�bouts) 7mm bullet will give you better velocity, flatter trajectory, and often better sectional density than the 150�s in the .30-30.

The .30 Herrett was intended for the 10� barrel and was an interesting cartridge, but it won�t do anything a .30-30 won�t do, even in a 10� barrel. If the choice is .30-30 and .30 Herrett, then .30-30 is the way to go. But I�ll take the Waters over either.

Kevin, I'm going to keep that little bit of information in mind, cause I feel myself really jonesing for another handgun in a rifle caliber. Caliber choices I had in mind were the .308 and the .30-30, but you and Rocky make a compelling argument for the 7X30 and the 7-08.

Never have worked with a 7x30 Waters, but the ballistics show it's a well balanced cartridge for shorter barrels. I've come close to buying a carbine barrel a time or two.

I'll throw out one other option for you, if you can find one of the XP-100R's that Remington made for a few years, you might have a real winner on your hands. These used the Model 7 action, and rear grip stock. They were available in .260 Rem, and .35 remington, and apparently some customs turn up, like this one:

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=276087226

The accuracy reports are superb on these guys. I had a .22-250 and it would easily shoot 5/8" groups, with only a 4x scope. I cam close to buying a .260 a time or two, but just couldn't swing it at the time.

I used to have my Encore set up with pistol barrels and didn't like the bulk. I was leaning towards the 10 inch contender for it's compact frame and manageable length. I don't know that a 14 inch barrel would be very appealing to me.

Maybe I'll just get a 41 mag barrel.

Had the 30 Herret, and I'd definitely opt for the 30-30 of the two that you mention. But in a 10 or 12 inch gun I'd go 357 Maximum (if brass can still be found for it), easy to load, uses 357 mag dies, and almost treads on the heels of the .35 Rem.

Jerry

The 30-30 or a 35 Remington are good practical choices, the 357 Maximum is awesome too, but even though I have one, I find it hard to recomend an abandoned cartridge.

I've only loaded a couple 30-30 based round in the contender. The 6.5 GR which was a necked down 30-30 with sharp shoulder was the first. My experience was that while it was extremely accurate, I'd get case head sepperation after 3 firings. I also had a 357 Herret, but never shot it enough to have case head sepperation problems.

If you want a 30 cal in a 10" tube, I'd go with a 300-221 aka 300 whisper aka 300 blackout. You can use 360 dw brass if you want a rimmed case. Performance will be the same if not better than the herret as the smaller dia case can run at higher pressure, no fancy dies needed, no case trimming needed, no case head sepperation issues.

The 357 max is another outstanding 10" contender barrel. My custom 357 max would push a 200 gr wfn cast 1900 fps with a max compressed charge of AA1680. I tried H-110 but got extreme velocity spreads and eratic grouping. I'd love to get a 357 max in a lever gun.

shot a lot of 7x30 when metallic silhouette was big in the 80's, never saw any 30-30 or herretts there.

"If you want a 30 cal in a 10" tube, I'd go with a 300-221 aka 300 whisper aka 300 blackout. You can use 360 dw brass if you want a rimmed case. Performance will be the same if not better than the herret as the smaller dia case can run at higher pressure, no fancy dies needed, no case trimming needed, no case head sepperation issues."

May be a good suggestion...I've got a rifle in the 300AAC Blackout and didn't think of this. Haven't started shooting mine yet, but I think it is a 130 grain bullet around 2,400 fps in a 16 inch rifle barrel? You can get LEE dies for around $30 and Midway has brass.

Jerry

357 Max will likely be a great performer even though it was not in your original list.

Do a web search for 7X30 articles by sdhandgunner. He was reaching out with 10" barrel.

Remember the 30 Herrett was designed by Herrett and Milek to get good ballistic performance in the 10" barrel that was the Contender barrel available in those days.

357 Herrett came up so they could plug elk effectively. Little web search will let one see the 35 caliber bullet they preferred and I would think most will be surprised.

I've had a 30-30 for a while and it shot rather OK, nothing to write home about. I turned it into a 30 Bellm and picked up a couple hundred ft/sec in a 14" barrel. All it takes is running a 444 Marlin case through a 308 die - done. Use H 4895 powder under a 150 Nos BT and your load development is done as well.

I'd also consider the 309 JDJ if I was inclind to a 30 cal. Recoils a little bit more but if you can handle a 30-30, you can handle the Bellm/JDJ.

Where I'd truly go is 35 remington, especially if pigs are in the equation. A standard factory 200 gr remington Corelokt is tough to beat for penetration and tissue damage from the ol 35. I bought one a few years back with plans to turn it into a Bellm/JDJ and after shooting it, decided to leave it 35 rem. The Contender frame will handle warmer loads than factory if you handload and want to run it warmer. The 180 Speer flat point over 40 gr H322 will do 2250 in a 14 barrel. 38.5 gr H4895 will push a 220 Speer FP to 1950 in the same gun. These are serious loads and will recoil more than the 30-30 but are not punishing. I find them fun to shoot - you know you are shooting something serious when you pull the trigger.

Haven't shot a pig yet but deer hate the 180's.

For a 10" barrel, go with a Herrett or a 357 Max or 41 Magnum.

The Max can be loaded up to almost a 35 Remington level and is plenty for deer and hogs. Components for the Max, even brass, is fairly easy to locate and it's a very, very easy round to load for.
The 41 is also very easy to load for. My 10" scoped is setup for deer and hogs at 100 yds, and I have never lost an animal when I did my part. Finding bullets for the 41 can be hit or miss, but that is a hassle I will deal with for a low recoil hard hitter.
As for the Herrett's, the barrels and 30-30 brass are cheap. I never had much luck with tuning one in as accurate as I wanted. The straight wall cartridges were and are much easier to tune in IMO and the cases last a while.