The Accurate Reloading Forums
Anybody have experience with the contender in 309 and 375 JdJ barrels?

This topic can be found at:
https://forums.accuratereloading.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/3221043/m/778105399

25 December 2008, 03:13
33806whelen
Anybody have experience with the contender in 309 and 375 JdJ barrels?
Or these rounds in particular in any gun?
26 December 2008, 01:44
joe25/06
Had both in a pistol. The .375 with 220 grain bullets was about like shooting a model 29 Smith with full bore 300 grain loads. The 270 grain bullet comes back about 1/3 again harder. This was in a barrel ported by SSK. (Jone's company). Muzzle would rise about 2-3 inches and recoil was straight back. The .309 was a rechambered .30-30 barrel. Recoil was not especially bad in any manner.

Case forming was not a problem for either, although I ran the .309 thru an intermediate sizer before going down to .30 cal.. Fireform loads were accurate enough for hunting if you so desired.

Sorry I don't have any experience with a rifle shooting these. Hope this helps a little.
26 December 2008, 04:30
33806whelen
Thanks Joe, I was looking at buying a barrel, but now that I know you can rechamber the 30-30 Winchester I might get my barrel rechambered!
26 December 2008, 16:30
trick
If you are rechambering a 30-30 Contender Pistol barrel, you may want to try 30-30 Ackley Improved. It will do everything a .309JDJ will do with bullets up to and including 150 grains. The .309JDJ does handle the heavier bullets better (faster).

In the AI chambering you can shoot standard 30-30 ammo (usually fairly accurate), and instantly have the fire formed AIs. The recoil is also much less.

Todd
26 December 2008, 17:03
33806whelen
Food for thought. Thanks Todd.