With your Contender chambered in:

6.5 TCU

30 Herrett

30-30

357 Max

357 Herrett

45-70

LouisB

357 Max:
180 Hornady XTP HP crimped in lower groove
180 BTB WLN+P Cast/GCk'd

30/30AI:
130 Hornady SSP
150 Rem. BP

Haven't connected with either though........yet.

Regards

357 max:
180 grain LBT WFNCG over lots of H110, top of the line 150 yard deer and pig load, several "golf-ball" sized exit holes. If you want longer range, try the 180 Hornady SSP bullet, ranges better than the LBT cast bullet and seems to penetrate well, but kills aren't lightning like as with LBT. Probably taken 8 deer and pigs with both loads.

Haven't used 357 Herrett on game yet, but have loads made up with same bullets as Max and would expect same results or better as bullet is travelling about 125 fps faster.

regards,

graycg

Louis
I'd love to answer that question. The only problem is I don't have any of the calibers you were asking about. I do have sevaral that I'd like to connect with a deer on. Hope you don't mind throwing in my answers anyway.

45 Colt Bullberry
250 xtp

308 Bellm rechamber
150 SST Hornady's

257 Roberts AI
100 gr Nosler Bal Tips

7mm TCU Carbine VVCG
120 Nosler Bal Tips

41 Mag OTT
210 Sierras or
250 Castperformance
w/Gas Check.

These will all make it out in the field this year & hopefully the hunting gods will allow me a shot or two.

Rich Jake

[ 08-11-2003, 02:07: Message edited by: Rich Jake ]

In 45-70:

45.8grs of IMR4198 pushing a Remington 300gr JHP.
1650fps from my 12 inch (11" really) T/C barrel.

7x30 waters, 36.0 win748, 130sierra

Also don't have any of the calibers you mentioned, but, I use 52 gr. of AA2520, 220 gr. Hornady FP for my 375JDJ..........

In the 45-70, for deer I like the 300gr sierra over 54.0gr of H-322.
It has been a long time since I reloaded for the 357 herrit, but I liked at least 180's and the 200's grouped better.

With your Contender chambered in:

6.5 TCU - I want one...

30 Herrett - I use the Hornady 130 gr. SSP, 24 gr. H4227 and the CCI LR primer for 2147 fps. Mine is a 14" barrel.

30-30 - any 170 gr. FP bullet with 30 gr. IMR 3031 and the CCI LR primer. 2100 fps from my Contender.

357 Max - Hornady 180 gr. SSP, 21 gr. H110, CCI SR primer. 1970 fps.

357 Herrett - This is another one I'm looking for, in a 14", stepped lug.

45-70 - I use the aforementioned 54 gr. H322 load as well with the Sierra 300 gr. JHP to match the factory 1800 fps velocity. Hogdon does show it going to 60 gr. for 2140 fps... Whew! I did try 63.5 gr. H335 for about 2140. Well, you can see what I'm loading..

I might note that Hogdon's Annual Manual lists in the trapdoor loads, a max of 28,000 CUP. This is about max for the Contender as well. They show 52 gr. of H335 pushing the 405 gr. JFP at 1798 fps with 25,400 CUP and 50 gr. H322 for 1767 fps at 23,700 CUP.

I'd also like to note that 300 gr. JHPs at 1800 fps and the factory 405 gr. at about 1300 fps, shoot to the same POA out to about 150 yards IN MY GUN. This could be handy and is a happy coincidence.

Well this is the best loads i have as of today but have not hunted with all of them yet.
6.5 tcu
nosler 120gr ballistic tip
w748,29gr
cci450 primer
2.670" oal

30 herrett
nosler 125gr ballistic tip
AA2015,30gr
wlrm primer
2.450" oal

30-30
hornady 130gr ssp
R#7,29gr
wlrm primer

357herrett
hornady 180gr ssp
h4227,27gr
wlrm primer
2.345" oal

357 max
hornady 180gr ssp
AA1680,26gr
cci450 primer

45-70
hard cast 300 gr
R#7,35gr
wlrm primer
this is just about the only cast bullet load this barrel will shoot.Some say the brake will affect cast bullets.