O.K fellas looking for some input from some of you who know a lot more than me. First of all 100% of my handgun hunting experience is with a wheelgun. I would like to try the single shot but I have never even shot one so I need a little input on what caliber to go with looking at a T/C encore or contender. OH yeh most of my shots would proably be in the 150 Yard range most of the time. Any input is greatly appreciated.

what you shooting at?

Oh yea Sorry about that it would be used 100% for deer. Guess I should have thrown that in makes it a little easier to give some input.

Ground hogs to coyotes to deer, and maybe elk at lower ranges, can be taken with a 7mm08.
To me its an all around great caliber and the recoil is managable wiht no brake, to hardly nothing if you put a break on it..
JMO

yep.....depends on what yer shootin at. since it's yer first....i'll say go with the smaller lighter contender. both are large handguns, if yer used to revolvers only.

also depends on whether or not ya reload yer own ammo. there is a seemingly endless list of calibers that are available to handload for nearly exclusively. i'll give my pick of options for both.

for deer........a 14" 30-30 or 30-30ackley improved.

for varmints.....a 14" .223 or 6tcu.

I'm with Kyle...go w/ a Contender...they are lighter and thinner in the hand. I'd get a 14" 30-30 Winchester...any deer to 150yds will be D-E-A-D. Factory ammo is cheap and if you reload the possibilities from varmints to large deer are endless!!

Scope it w/ a 2-6X and you are ready to go. The most important thing is to PRACTICE, PRACTICE, then PRACTICE some more!! I would also highly suggest getting a .22LR barrel equipped with a similar type of optic that your big game barrel will wear...you can shoot 500 rounds a day for only $8!!

Thanks guys. I had thought about the 30-30 and also the 35 rem both. I have deer hunted with both in long guns before, both proved effective at 100-150 yard range. I already load some of my own stuff but not currently loading any 30-30.Thanks for the input so far as usual the guys here are quick and the most helpful I've ever experienced on the web.

I agree with the rest, but since you reload
30-30 easy to find factory ammo
7-08
7-30 WATERS

The 7-30 Waters is also a GREAT round in the Contender...and now knowing that you reload we can make better suggestions. The 7mm bullets are great and would double better as a dual purpose varmint/deer gun. I like the 30-30 because of the 110gr Hornady SP bullet...they are always available in bulk for CHEAP!! Makes for great practice!!

My pet 30-30 load uses a bulk powder from Accurate (DATA2200) and a bulk 130gr SP bullet (looks like the 130gr Hornady). The velocity is around 2300fps and plenty capable of killing clay bird targets to 250yds w/ a 4X scope.

The .35 Rem is also wonderful...mine launchs a 180gr SSPB to almost 2200fps and is super accurate. It also shoots M.O.C.B. (Minute of Clay Bird) to 250yds......when I do my part... ...which is always!! You can use bulk cheapo .357" pistol bullets and reduced load for practice.

The 7-08 is great...used it on several deer last year to nearly 300yds. But this is an Encore only cartridge...too high pressure for a Contender.

In A Contender for one who loads I would say 7x30 Waters as my top pick, w/the 30-30 as my second choice.

ahhh....ya do reload some. that definately widens the path of options. almost makes picking only ONE even harder

i converted my 35remington to a rimmed version using the 303 british case. i tell ya....i dearly love that thing. deadly accurate, n "no doubt" horsepower for much longer ranges than one would think out of a ol "brush gun" cartridge. took my deer this past season at roughly 200yrds with ease using the 180gr hornady ssp.

i also love the 30-30AI. i think of it more as a dual purpose coyote/deer gun than the 35rem though.

these two are my favorites ....even though i could kill a deer with any one of em i have.

I'm with the others on the 7x30 Waters, & personaly I prefer the Contender for looks & weight. If you thought you might jump up to hogs or some such I would probably switch to the .35 Rem. But for the use you indicate I don't think you can do better than the 7x30 Waters.
'course that's the sweet thing about the Contender isn't it? New barrel = new gun! It can be addictive. Thankfully ( ) my budget is my concience so I only have .22 Hornet & .444 Marlin!

7-30 waters should be a very good caliber n it has a reputation of doing great. one problem i have with it is there may only be a couple bullets er three suitable for deer n still get good expansion imo.

with the 30 calibers such as my 30-30AI, i feel like i have more bullet options available to me.

whats everyone elses thoughts on that?


the 30AI can push 150gr bullets to roughly equal or get very close to the 7-30 with 120's. the 30AI can push 125-130gr bullets to 2500-2600fps out of a 14" barrel.

As you can see there are as many answers as there are people here Caliber can also be a personal and or practical choice. I have used the 35rem, 30-30 and 7-30waters, I liked them all but found the 7-30 better for me than the 30-30 and the 35rem was ok. If I was only after deer I'd stick with the 30-30 case (for cost) and try a few of the rounds listed above. The one that feels good...

Kyle...I was able to run the Water and 30-30AI side by side over the same chrony on the same day. My safest and most accurate load for each gun would shoot at 2450fps...a 120gr bullet in the Waters and a 130gr bullet in the 30-30AI.

2600fps from the 30-30AI is a bit HOT in my barrel and cases only lasted a few loads...I've reached the same velocity in the Waters and had the same result in case life...short! I'd like to try a Waters Improved some day...thinking that would be SWEET!

.30 caliber bullet selection in the 125gr area is better...I do agree. That's why I like a .30 cal anything...32-20, 30 Herrett, Winny, Winny AI, 309, etc. Stepping up to the 139-150gr and the selection is about equal.

I agree the 7-30 first and then the 30-30 unless you want a little more oomph for a few more bucks you could go with the 309jdj, I had JD rechamber a factory 30-30 barrel for me and it is a sweet heart.

hmmmm.......barrels are different in a lotta cases dan, as we know.
2588fps with 130's in my AI were fine with easy extraction etc. accuracy is good too.......or last i shot. ain't shot the sucker for a while now.

win factory 30-30 150gr hp's shot out of the 14" AI ran roughly 2250fps from memory. those are the only 150's i've shot out mine here. i do have data from a very reliable source of 2350-2400fps with the 150's in the improved case from different barrels. judging from the factory ammo.....an extra 100fps should be easy. of course......variations between barrels etc are to be expected.