I bought a Super 16 Contender new back in '94. I've run Garrett 420 gr. Hammerheads at 1,650 out of the gun for years. Recoil is noticeable, to say the least. I don't know much about ballistics, but I've always wondered if those loads are too hot for the gun.

Does anyone have any thoughts on that?

Too hot on the hand, maybe. I don't know how you can stand a Contender with the load. I shoot heavy loads from revolvers but Contenders hurt my fingers.

I've always thought of it as pretty bone-jarring, but after reading about guys with 458s and 416s in SSPs, I'll stop complaining.

I think those are fine to run out of a Contender. I would avoid anything rated as +P out of the Contender though. You take the risk of stretching the frame. I traded my 45-70 Contender barrel off for an Encore when I decided that I needed more power than the Level 2 loads would give me.

Now, in an Encore, I think that your wrists are the only limiting factor.

I normally run between the Trapdoor and 1895 load range. Plenty of power for anything I'll be hunting with it.