Can anyone tell me about the 7-30 Waters Cartridge in a Contender Carbine with 120 grain spitzer bullets?
1. Accuracy with 21" barrel
2. The contender carbine for trigger pull and function
3. Favorite Loads and ballistics
4. Has anyone used this on elk sized game? My main use would be whitetails though.

I am considering a stainless with composite stock.-------Thanks--------Chainsaw

Hey if you buy one, I have a 7x30 Improved reamer really makes a sweet cartridge.

Duane can you elaborate on the benefits of Improving this cartridge? I have been considering adding a 14" barrel to my collection. I was assuming 120gr bullets at 2,400fps with it stock.

Mike

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Victory through superior firepower!

Duane, Sounds interesting. I would also like to know the performance you are getting. Is yours a pistol or carbine. Thanks -----Chainsaw

[This message has been edited by Chainsaw (edited 09-10-2001).]

I did a little load development with a TC Carbine (stainless/synthetic) in 7-30 W for a friend of mine. Couldn't break the 2MOA mark with Barnes' Xs (120gr, W748). I was hoping for better luck with the 139gr Hornady's but sold the gun before I got around to it (my friend gave up hope on it, as he had planned to use it for backpack Stone Sheep hunting).

Sweet little gun though. The fellow who bought it planned to use it for cougar hunting. I can't think of a better combination for treed cats.

FWIW, Canuck

The 7x30 Imp was built on a Martini action, and has a 22" barrel, the fellow is shooting 140gr at 2600fps, and 120gr at close to 2800fps, He uses it for a mountain sheep rifle, and just loves it. I always thought it would be neat in a contender, as the Imp design helps to reduce the back thrust of the cartridge and would allow moderate velocity increases without increasing the strain on the action.

Hey Chainsaw, I can help you with a couple of the questions. I've not had a Contender Carbine in that caliber, but I've had one in other calibers.

1.Accuracy in the T/C 21" barrels I had was a bit disappointing for me. The T/C Bores were a bit rough which I suspect caused part of the problem. They did shoot with adequate hunting accuracy, but just not the 0.5MOA Accuracy levels I've seen posted with their short barrels. So, they were OK(1.25"-1.75"), but not what I expected.

Due to this, I'd recommend you look at either Bull Berry or JD Jones-SSK Industries for the 21" barrel. In fact, if you contact them, you will see that they both offer "lots" of calibers for them that T/C doesn't have.

2. The Trigger on mine was excellent with no creep or drag at all. When I had mine, you could do a bit of "Weight-of-Pull" adjustment with an Allen wrench inside the Trigger Guard without having to remove the stock. The only other rifle I'm currently aware of you can do this on is a Weatherby.

3. & 4. Can't help you here. But, I'd guess the 7x30 Waters would be absolutely excellent for Deer with little noise or recoil at all.

However, there are a lot better calibers for those "Elk Size" critters, as I'm sure you know, and JD Jones can fill that requirement quite well.

Come to think of it, I have a buddy with a S&S Contender Carbine in 223Rem and it also has an excellent Trigger on it. I'll check and see if he has a 7x30 Waters barrel for his.

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Good hunting and clean 1-shot kills, Hot Core

I have a Bullberry 7x30 Waters on my Contender. The barrel is heavy and 20". I have handloaded with it, using 120 grain x-bullet boattails. It was very powder sensitive and after working up loads, finally got it to shoot a ragged hole with a load that only gave 2440 fps. Every other load was just not satisfactory accuracy wise. I then bought some Corbon single shot factory loads. They shot just as well as the load I finally reached with the Barnes and were 200 fps quicker. Solution...., easy, Corbons are what I use. I have a Choate folding stock on mine and the gun fits in a brief case-sized travel case. I have a Leupold 2x7 scope on it and the whole deal weighs less than 6 lbs. Corbon claims that the bullets that they use are "bonded" and it must be true, 'cause they have shot through every animal I've shot so far.

[This message has been edited by judgeg (edited 09-13-2001).]

Thanks for all the replies. I appreciate it.

Hot Core, send me an email when you have time. I have some questions on another gun related topic, and we can shoot the breeze a little bit also.

Thanks ---------Chainsaw

Hey Chainsaw, I sent an email to the address in your Profile. Did you get it?

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Good hunting and clean 1-shot kills, Hot Core

DuaneinND, check your email. I just had a question about your 7-30 Imp. reamer. You can reply here on by email. Will your improved reamer clean up a factory T/C 7-30 chamber? I have a 10" barrel on the way and might think of having it improved. Thanks.

Patrick