Okay so here goes. Another stupid newbie question lol. So I have a contender on the way with a 45 colt barrel. I have some extra cash and want to get a really nice barrel for it. Thinking along the lines of the 460 S&W but not stuck on that cartridge. I also like the idea behind the 309 JDJ and am not adverse to starting reloading again.

So here goes all the idiot questions:

1) Where is the best place to look into buying a barrel?
2) Would you buy new and have it sent to someone for a muzzle break and work?
3) Best way to carry a contender in the field.

Sorry for all the stupid questions but I am Obsessed and want to do things the correct way.

1) Google Ed's Contenders

2) A brake depends on the chambering, 45/70 yea, 45 Colt nay

3) Pistol Packaging, or a sling

Depends on what you want to hunt or do with the barrel?For deer and like sized game the .309 jdj should be fine , if elk, moose,is in the picture the .375 jdj will handle heavier bullets.
For ten inch barrels I carry cross draw in a holster I make,for longer barrels I sling mine with the front swivel on the barrel.I use an Uncle Mikes barrel band made for shotguns.The Pistol Packing rigs get good reviews also.JD Jones has barrels and installs brakes and would be a good one to talk to on barrels.

DOA,

The 460 would be a good option, but it won't be available on the Contender platform. You'll have to get an Encore frame for that...

1. SSK Industries - JD has quality gear. I haven't been disappointed by one of his barrels yet. The only other custom I own is an MGM - no complaints there either.
2. if you have either of the shops above do a barrel for you, they can install a brake as well. Another option is a side discharge brake similar to the Holland QD design. Super effective
3. Ditto on Pistol Packagng, and another option is the QuietHide line of Holsters.

Now that I threw out advice without asking the right questions, what is your preferred game for this barrel? What type of terrain will you be hunting? Anticipated shot distances?

The 309 is my goto barrel for the contender. I've taken mulies out to 355 yards with it with no problems. Full length penetration etc. it's a TACKDRIVER.

I can only help with the carry question. I have carried mine for a long time with Uncle Mike's bandolero style shoulder holsters. I have a 10 and 14 inch model. I like the protection they offer as well as keeping my hands free.

s4 nailed the responses to your questions.

I'd also strongly consider a plain jane 14" 35 remington barrel - you can juice up standard 35 Rem loads a bit. I had a 358 JDJ, bought from Ed coincidentally, about 10-12 years ago. I named it the Boltbreaker for good reason. I broke 3 bolts that hold the pachmyer handle on with that gun. I finally put a hardened bolt in it. You may want to consider if you want to deal with that much recoil.

I was able to get 2100-2150 with a 225 Nosler Ballistic tip. I honestly believe I was on the ragged edge of stretching the frame. JD suggested loads a bit higher..........

In my 35 Rem, I get 2250 with H322 and a 180 Speer, 1950 with a 220 Speer over H4895. I took the 220 load with me elk hunting 2 years ago. I have zero doubts it will handle an elk but I had decided to keep my shots to 100 yards or less. I know a guy that shot an elk with that bullet from a 358 Bellm (2050 ft/sec) at 150 or so yards. I shot DRT. The 180 is wicked on deer.

Something to remember if you re-chamber a TC barrel to a JDJ or something else - you likely won't get the speeds advertised by the barrel maker. I know I couldn't with either re-chambered barrels in 309 and 358 JDJ.

If you're set on hunting bigger game and want more firepower, an Encore will get you there. I had a 350 Rem mag built by Fox Pro (TC custom shop) for just such a purpose. I discovered that the Encore was too big for my likes and sold it. A Contender 358 or 375 JDJ is plenty of power for elk.

Gents

Thank you for the all this information. I truely appreciate the help and suggestions. The Contender is coming from a friend and is my likely starting point on this obsession. I plan to call TC and see about buying a new Encore as well as a barrel or two for it.

The future (very near I hope) will have a couple of custom barrels built. Always wanted a 375 JDJ and think that might be the first I have built. I have a trip to Africa scheduled for 2014 so might just be a good time to get one and start playing with loads.

My initial pursuits will be for hogs. Next fall I plan to venture forth for deer and antelope. I will more than likely always bowhunt for elk, but then again, never say never lol.

The TV show is Southern Woods and Water TV. It is on the Pursuit Channel and also Fox Sports South. Still trying to work out all the details but I will let everyone know when it gets scheduled.

DOA,

Depending upon the barrel length of the 45 Colt, it might not rquire any fancy "alternate" carry methods. If in the 6 inch range, the gun is actually quite "svelt", and would carry easily on the belt, if not scoped.

As to the brake question, do not assume that one is mandatory. I had a fluted 375 JDJ in 14, that was pretty darn light. And while it did kick a bit, it was not near as lively as a full house 454 in a revolver. I did like the brakes on my 223 barrels, as with the right load and concentration I could recover enough to see my hits and misses.

You'll have the 45 to play with, and with the stout ammo can get a feel for the recoil. I am guessing it does not have a brake. I would play with some of the different grip choices as well, before deciding that a brake is mandatory.

Craig

I had a 45/70 12 inch with the brake and it tore the hide off my finger with factory loads, so I had to send it down the road! To me the contenders recoil alot more than a revolver on the same power scale. I talked to a guy who shoots a .458 Lott in an Encore I can't imagine!

Again it largely depends on what you are wanting to do with the Barrel(s) you get. That in itself is the beauty of the Contender in that the next cartridge / caliber is only a barrel away.

I can not comment on the heavy recoiling numbers for the Contender as I have never felt the need to punish myself more than a .30-30 AI can dish out (probably due to the fact that I have never hunted anything larger than Whitetail Deer either). I do know that I have a dislike for Muzzle Brakes as I tested a T/C 14" Hunter Barrel chambered in .30-30 Winchester one time. Yes the T/C Muzzle Tamer really reduced the recoil but there was so much blast coming off of that brake I about had to tie my hat on my head to keep it there.

As for carrying a Contender I use a sling exclusively as my Contenders generally have a Harris BR Model Bipod attached to the forend. I am currently using a Contender Carbine Rynite Forend that I had my local gunsmith modify for me to use it on Super 14 Barrels. What my local gunsmith did was to glass bed a Pachmayr Forend Adaptor (hanger bar) into the Contender Carbine Forend. I then attach the Bipod and Sling to a Sling Swivel Stud in the Forend.

Good luck with your quest.

Larry

There's alot of smarter guys here than me but since you have a 45 and don't reload, in the Contender I would look at a 14 inch 30-30. If you want longer reach and more power look at the Encore. I live about 2 hours from Eds Contenders and have dealt with him alot. I have never had any trouble with him or anyone that works for him.

For non reloaders, the 30-30 is good. The 35 remington is real good but amo off the shelf will be made for rifles. But so will the ammo for 30-30's. You may find Hornadys leverution ( spelling?). Eitherof these calibers should be in 12" or longer. I had both but enjoyed shooting the 35 more, even though it hurt each and every shot. I reload so, I went to the 30 Herrett, it is as sweet as the day is long.

Several have already touched on the 30/30 Super 14, I wouldn't take anything for mine, and if you have it AI'ed you can still shoot 30/30's through it. A great choice,

Joe

Here is where I sit now:

Bought a 375 JDJ for the Contender frame. I shot the 45 colt (find out its the 410/45) and did not get acceptable accuracy for it. So that barrel is going in the safe to collect dust. At the same time I aquired an Encore frame. I still don't have a barrel for it (waiting for Al to call me back) but am leaning toward the 460 or a 7mm-08.

Now on the 45 COLT issue: I decided to get a wheel gun. Do I get the 45 colt (leaning this way) or 44 Mag?

Oh yeah.....I also went and bought the reloading equipment and am getting set back up for this. Been a busy (and expensive) week.

I bought a 30-30 barrel years ago. I was never happy with results. I wish I had bought the 35 Remington. With that said I started reloading my 30-30 and look forward to trying the 150 grain nosler ballistic tips I loaded. I loaded some 125 grain nbt but I am not comfortable with them little bullets. Personal opinion. I love my 375 JDJ and very happy with it. If I was buying new barrel tomorrow it would be 309 jdj. It has more bullet options than 375. You can't have too many barrels can you. Lol

I've taken no less than a dozen or so deer with 120-130 grain 7mm and .308" bullets from the typical soft points to V-Max and NBT's. The cartridges running the bullets were 7-30
Waters, .30 Herrett, 30-30, 30-30AI and .308W...so the fps ranged from 1850 to 2600. Included in those deer are my two largest whitetail bucks (a 13pt in 2006 and the 8pt this year). To possibly ease your fears, they work very well.

Start saving your money. I have a 30-30 barrel, but when I started Handgunning deer in new york they had a ludicrous rule that had to do with caliber that made the 30-30 or the 7tcu ineligible, my wife bought me 35 rem barrel. that was more accurate than my other two barrels, and for twenty plus years i was happy to kill anything I shot at. couple of years ago, I hadsome spare overtime checks and an encore opportunity came along wearing a 7-08 barrel, then along came a 209x50 muzzle loader. The recoil from the 35 can be alittle stiff, but how many rounds do you expect to expend during hunting season. I guess the adrenaline compensates for the recoil.