any thoughts on a "bang/flop" 250 yard round for the contender? what round would you consider that gives "no doubt" about it's effectiveness at that range?

the 7-30 waters and 30-30AI come to mind, but is that stretching their limits in your opinion?

what are your choices?.....and what bullet would you choose?

as far as the encore goes.......i think my 300 win mag and 7mm-08 will fill that bill nicely.

Kyode, I think the 309JDJ or the 6.5 JDJ would be just the ticket for a 250 yard Contender. Two years ago I shot a doe at a witnessed and measured 268 yards and dropped her in her tracks. I have no doubt the 6.5 would have been just as effective.

I would throw the Bower line of wildcats in the mix also:
25 Super Bower, 6.5 Super Bower, 7mm Super Bower, and the 30 Alaskan. Bellm's wildcat in 30 would be in the mix too.

I like the 6.5 JDJ and it the round I find myself carrying with me a lot. I load it with the 120-grain Nosler BT over 35.0-grains of RL 15. This gives me 2400 fps from a 14" barrel and the accuracy is great, 0.78" 5-shot group @ 100 yards. Sandbaged of course. It works wonders on White-tails.

I use the Contender SSK 309JDJ in a 14" w/no break and an old Burris 3x9. I shoot 150grn Nosler Ballistic Tips at 2450fps which is by no way hot. I have it sighted 2.25" high at 100, .5 low at 200 and 4.2 low at 250yds. I have taken 140lb whitetail does at 250 & 265 with it and they dropped right there. Good expansion and lots of tissue damage with the 150bt.
I have used it on one hog at 280yds and he dropped, got up and went about 5 more yds then dropped.
I have other cartridges in the Contender. The 7-30 Waters Improved is a good one but doesn't seem to have the power past 200yds with the 120 & 139 grn bullets I shoot.
Mike

I have both the 309JDJ and 6.5JDJ(have not taken any whitetails with them yet) but judging the reaction on steel targets at long range,I think you could call them "long range thumpers".

You guys and your cute little toys......for real bang-flop at 250 yards...with "no-doubt" effectiveness...try the .338JDJ#2 with a 180gr NBT at nearly 2500fps!

Tsk, Tsk, Tsk - 200 NBT- 2650 FPS - Encore 338-06 =1 bang-flop deer Providing you do your part. Honestly though, the only qualification I can put on this having the dead deer. I can't comment on bullet performance and expansion, because I have never recovered any. I guess have a stone-cold, dead deer is enough evidence!

Gerry...Gerry...KYODE should apologize to you for putting "Contender" way up high in the subject line...you probably could see way up there to read it. He wanted only Contender cartridges.

The 338-06 is way too high pressure for a Contender (just a not for those that may not know).

rip him dan...lol

the .338 is impressive for sure i've thought about one of those several times.

what about the .358's? the .358jdj, or a .358x444 variation of some sort? do they have the trajectory to get it done at 250 yards?....within reason or do ya see it as more of a short to mid range thumper

Oh that's right, I forgot and apologize to both of you. I should have realized that when you asked about cartridges, you weren't asking for manly cartriges in manly guns. Dan, where'd you get that 30-30AI? Do they sell Men's caliber too?
If I were limited to a Contender, I do 309JDJ, 6.5JDJ or 7x30 Waters - not necessarily in that order......