Just got my new Contender put together. SSK 338JDJ#2 unfired, 14" with 2" removable Magnaport break, Shilen barrel with TSOB base and rings. Stainless Contender frame with trigger cleaned up. Burris 3x12 Ballistic Plex scope and Rynite grip and forend. I'm ready to rock and roll.
Going to start reloading in the morning. Got some Nosler 180 Ballistic Tips and Varget. Going to work up a coupld of loads and try them. All of this if possible due to Dan Bowers putting me in touch with a guy that had it for sale. I asked about it, Dan responded and now it's mine. Dan, your the man! I'm ready to try it this weekend. Reports on the performance to follow. Here is a photo. Not so good but when I get some good light I will take more.
Mike

Nice looking rig! Glad it all worked out for you. Varget works well in my gun w/ the 180gr NBT's but it shoots RL-15 a bit better...right around 52gr at 2450fps. Dropped several doe with this load...liquifies the lungs and leaves a 2" exit wound. Heck...the entrance hole is usually 1" or better!! All my shots have been broadside so I can not report on the bullets performance on quartering shots.

GOOD LOOKING WEAPON!!!

that is one awesome rig much better than one o them ol bulky xp's........ hehehe (ribbin youins)

ya might wanna work up with 180gr accubonds for comparison also. see if they shoot comparable to the bt's. i'm pretty sure nosler is discontinuing the .338 balistic tips per the nosler forum.

lookin forward to future reports.

i suggest .338 shooters or future hopeful .338 shooters let nosler know it's not such a great idea to discontinue these kinnda bullets

nosler forum link<< :see 180gr .338 balistic tip post

supposedly federal is bringin out a .338 on the .308 case. oughta be a fine encore round.

Nice looking firearm. Let us know how it performs in the field.

nice lookin rig. bet that big dog will bite on the receiving end. Had not heard Nolser disc. the 338 bal.tip. that would be a shame. You got ole "Kyode" salavating over that pic, you know him and the TC's.
nice setup again.
let us know how it handles
nmhunter

Nice rig!!! The 338 caliber is interesting. I think it would be neat to have a 33 Win in an Encore. But the brass is as scarce as hens teeth.

Nice looking rig. I bought up a few NBt 180 grain bullets for mine. Hopefully they'll last fer a while. Even with the lose of the 180 NBT still a better caliber than the 35.

Did some range time yesterday with the 338JDJ#2. Man this baby will shoot. Little windy but not bad for this caliber.
Started with the 200grn Hornady Interlocks with 50grn of Varget. Fired two rounds at 25yds to get scope set. Went to 100yds. Fired 6 round in 1.5" about 3" high. This is good I'm thinking.
Came down 4 click.
Then got out the 180grn Nosler Ballistic Tips with 50grn of Varget.
Shot three rounds into a one inch square. Man, I can't believe this barrel. This is the first 10 rounds out of it.
I settled down and shot two more and all will go into an inch at 100yds. Now were talking.
The guy a couple of benches down was watching with some interest now that I had cleaned his bench off with the muzzle break. He was watching my target with his spotting scope and just shaking his head.
Here is the pistol at the range and the target.
I searched the internet last night for more of the discontinued 338 , 180grn Ballistic Tips. Found some and ordered 4 boxes. Also ordered two boxes of the 180grn Accubonds.
Thank you Dan for the help on this barrel.
The last photo is of the Contender & Rugers in 41 Mag, 2- 45LC's, one reg grip and one Bisley
Mike

i love it i just wish dan would buy ME one.
great shootin first time out......can't beat that

Hey man...great!! All I can say is "told'ya so!!" That caliber is awesome!! It's amazing that something that big will shoot such small groups.

Kyle...I take one charity case per year...this year is full and next year does not look good either! hehe!!

LOL........dangit!...just my luck.

a .338 or .358x444 sure is floatin around in my mind. only problem is.......there ain't no $ floatin around in there. ....or brains either fer that matter.

Man that gun will shoot!!!! nice looking rugers also. I use a 4.5" 45 LC ruger as my backup gun.
nmhunter

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Man that gun will shoot!!!!

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yep..........n my 14" 35rem rimmed will shoot 180gr hornady's like that too i'm like dan.......amazing on large caliber peeestols.

the .338 has even more horsepower too. just don't know if i could handle one for long without a brake. the 35rem IS plenty without one and still be able to shoot several rounds in a range session fairly comfortable without ill effect to the hand.

With all the Contender barrels that I currently own (around 25 or so) and all the ones I have owned at one time or another...there have only been two that WOULD NOT perform...no matter what I did! A 10" .30 Herrett and Super 14 7-30 Waters...both were returned to the factory (at the same time)...they cleaned them (which I had done also) and test fired, recrowned them and test fired...then concluded that I must be right...I told them that from the beginning!! The Waters was replaced with a Waters but the Herrett could not be replaced from the factory so I asked for a Super 14 .22 Hornet.

Other than those two exceptions...all my T/C's will shoot great!! My .35 Rem shoots almost the same load as KYODE does and will group five rounds very, very near the magic one inch group. My .338JDJ#2 will shoot five rounds under an inch. Heck...my .375JDJ will shoot 225gr Hornady SP's into 1.25" groups!! That kinda accuracy from a thumper is just amazing!