Everyone said it would happen and I'm on my way. LOL I was talking to a friend in North Alabama and telling him about the G2 I bought. He said his father-inlaw use to have a contender and sold it, but found a barrel a couple of months ago. To make a long story short the barrel is a 7-30 Waters and is on it's way to a new home for FREE. I don't know what length or anything yet.

I have ordered a set of dies for for it. What would be good load to start with? Has anyone hunted with this cal? It should be in it's new home by the weekend

The 7-30 is excellent! I use Win 748 and Hornady 120 grain single shot pistol bullets in mine.

Nope nothing wrong with the 7-30 Waters. I've used one in a 10" with 120gr. Nosler Ballistic Tips pushed with W-748. Excellent round for the Contender. Would like to try one someday in a 14" Barrel.

Larry

I have two 7-30 Waters. One 14" w/break and the other is a 12" Hunter w/factory break. Both shoot the 120grn Hornady VMax w/32grns of IMR4895 and Fed 210 primers. It also like the Hornady 120grn SP with the same load of powder. I have taken two deer with the 12" hunter and shoot steel with the 14". Great 200 yd deer barrel. I loaned the 12" to my buddy and he took a 120lb whitetail doe with it last fall at 105yds. I have a 1.25x4 on the 12" and a 2.5x7 scope on the 14".
Good luck and congratulations on the barrel.
I have taken two coyotes with the 12".

Mike

I typically use RL-7 and a 120gr V-Max...does well on neck ahd head shots...never tried a chest shot with this bullet. Stay away from the Speer 120gr HorCore...shoots great but very poor performance on deer in my experience. The deer died but the hole was caliber in and out...and took some tracking to find it.

I have used the 7-30 waters for whitetail.It does a great job.This load worked well for me. I have taken two buck with this load both dropped dead one shot.

140gr Ballistic tip Nosler
Hodgdon 322 30.5 gr
federal 210 primer

Free 7x30 outstanding! I have two 14" Contender barrel in 7x30 and they are not picky about ammo.

Typically what works well in a 30-30 with light-for-caliber bullets (the parent case) will work in a 7/30 Waters. Mine is a wildcat verson that led to the Waters, the 7mm Int Rimmed, like the 7/30 but slightly longer neck. All of the previously cited bullets work in it as well as Nosler Partition. Have played with W748 and AA2460 but recently Varget has showed real promise too. (I won't cite loads because mine takes less powder).