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What is your go to varmint caliber for your contender? I recently had ordered a custom barrel in 20 tactical and the maker couldn’t get it done so now I’m rethinking the decision want recommendations please

In the Contender, I have a couple of varmint barrels. The 17 Hornet and a 223 Wylde chamber for the 223. If I was going to get another barrel, I would probably go with a 20 Practical. Great BC, plentiful brass and no kick.

https://www.accurateshooter.com/cartridge-guides/20caliber/

I’m not right now where I can pull that target for measurement. But, I’d say that 4 of the 5 could maybe confirm your guess. It’s that 8 o’clock stray which likely opens things up to about 2-1/2” (still easily Minute of Coyote). Thinking back on that sight-in session, I seem to recall that the previous five looked closer together, but all outside the black. The ammo for that session was A-USA 55 V-Max factory loads, which have proven surprisingly precise, a disincentive to try to beat them through handloading.

Good trigger control and consistency of grip can make that sorta thing happen pretty regular-like. The adjustability of the Contender trigger, of that vintage, certainly helps, too. The Leupold 2.5-8x32 EER is getting close to the maximum useable magnification for such a pistol on varmints. Much more, and there’s a tendency to lose track of the critter outside the limited field of view.



Edit: Because you got me curious this morning, I just had to pull the target when I got back to the house. The tight four were a wee bit less than 1-1/4” (1.1-something), and the stray opened the group to a bit over 2-1/2” (2.6-something).