Well, it's been a long while since my 7mm Bullberry has seen any action, but that finally changed this evening when a nice gray decided to present a shot. Although the range was short (110 yards) and I was able to place the bullet through the center of the lungs, as you all know, there is no such thing as an easy shot on a gray as -- to paraphrase Murray Burnham -- there's lots of air around a diminutive fox.

That's a nice fox Bobby! Way to go.

Anybody there in TX offering decent money for pelts these days?

Nice shooting Bobby.

Which is your favorite bullberry caliber?

If you were limited to one caliber, which would you choose?

Thanks!

As to favorite, I dearly love that little 7mm Bullberry and have had it since around 1997. I have confidence in it on any deer or hog inside of 300 yards, though I prefer 250 and under.

It is easy to load for, mild on the shoulder and deadly accurate. It kills much better than its dimunitive size would tend to indicate.

I've long lost count of the game I have taken with it.

My next favorite and probably 2nd-most-used Contender barrel would be the 6.5 Bullberry IMP (6.5x30-30 AI). It shoots flatter and packs more punch than the 7 BB, is equally impressive on the target range -- and, well, the way those steamlined 6.5s down game is simply amazing.

I've had both the 25 BB and 25x30-30 AI, and while they both served me well, I did not hang on to them. A 100 grain Ballistic Tip at 2700 fps is deadly on deer and virtually into .250 Savage performance territory. Maybe because of how prolific hogs are around here, I leaned more to the larger bore diameters, though the .25s can easily hold their own given good shot placement.

But for nearly a year now, I've been toying with the 30-30 AI. I've taken a bobcat at 297 yards, a hog at 280 and a couple 'yotes in the 230-250 yard range.

I don't have nearly the time invested with it as I do with the others I mention, but the way it performs -- and the way those 150 Nosler BTs, BSTs and ABs do at this modest velocity level -- it's trying hard to make those others my forgotten, in-the-safe stepchildren of my shooting arsenal.

To be honest, if one starts with a 24-26" 30-30 AI, you won't need much else. It'll send a 125 grain BT downrange at 2800 fps, approach and even reach 2600 fps with 150s and turn medium game every which way but loose.

Plus, if you so desire, you can get perfectly acceptable AI brass by firing factory 30-30 loads.

It doesn't get much easier than that...

Oops...forgot to answer the last part of your question:

If I had to only have one barrel/cartridge, it would definitely the the 7mm Bullberry.

Not only does it perform exceedingly well, but I have some terrific memories with it also.