Todd Kindler-Editor Small Caliber News www.smallcaliber.com
One word of caution, loading 30/30 sized cases hot in the contender will stretch the frame. If you want to load up a round to max pressure, something based on a .223 sized case is best, and there is a 52mm long rimmed case that has alot of potential when blown out for all its worth. You might want to contact Mike Bellm and see if he has a reamer for such a beast, he's done some 6.5 and 7mm's based on it.
Almost forgot, how can I contact Mike B.?
Thanks
Jeff in ND
[This message has been edited by Jeff in ND (edited 06-15-2001).]
The best barrel I've had to date on the contender was a wildcat based on the 30-30, it was a 6.5mm w/ 38 deg shoulder. The problem was, I was getting short case life, and never new how hot I could safely load. Based on that, I've warmed up to the idea of a rimmed .223 long, which the 5.56X52 rimmed is. The downside is the cases are hard to come by, but I've heard Sellior and Belot will be offering them. The up side is the case duplicates 30/30 performance, it isn't quite as large, but can be loaded to higher pressures, so equals it. the other nice thing about the 3/8" dia cases is it is almost impossible to hurt the contender frame even with hot loads, as there isn't enough back thrust.
The nice thing about what Bellm has done with his wildcats, is on the 222X52, he just uses a 222 mag reamer, and sinks it deeper, so you don't need special dies, just seat the 222 mag die a bit further out in the press.
My buddy had a 6.5X52, that was matching the 6.5X30-30 wildcat I had, 120 gr @ 2400 fps from a 14" tube, if you go to a carbine, you'd pick up a couple hundred more fps. I know you said 25 cal or less, but you might want to consider a 6.5, the recoil is fairly mild, and you can use the 85 gr for varmints. I believe barnes makes a 100 gr 6.5 X, and would guess 2800-2900 would be possible in a carbine, yet have relatively mild recoil.
Anyhow, try and find Bellm's website, he has lots of great technical articles, and I really like his prudent approach to not loading so hot you strech frames, and developing wildcats that can use std dies to save $. He apprenticed under P.O. Ackley, and took over his shop when Ackley retired. He definately knows as much about contenders as anyone, and keeps doing tests to learn more. You don't here much about him because he's more concerned about making good guns and happy customers then making a name for himself.