I just ordered a stainless G2 Contender pistol in 7-30 Waters off of the internet a few nights ago. Went to the bank yesterday and had a money order drafted and sent in the payment. The gun should be at my FFL dealer by next Friday or perhaps the following Monday. Now I need to purchase some factory ammo and start collecting brass. I guess reloading is in my future. I've been reading up on this round for some time and it seems to be perfect medicine for whitetail in my part of the country...I have a Bushnell 3200 2-6x32 Firefly scope that I will be mounting on top. I'm just no sure what scope mount and rings I am going to purchase yet...Any recommendations?

Leupold double dove tail. That is all I use anymore on my TC’s. They are doing just fine on my 45-70 and my 375 H&H. When you want to start handloading for it, call TC. The tech’s will go out of there way to help you an they have been handloading a long time! 1800-243-4570 ext 752. The complete reloaders guide for the Contender is also VERY good.

The 7-30 Waters has become my favorite Contender barrel along with my .22lr barrel. It has very low recoil and muzzle blast. I get about 1.5-2" groups at 100 yards with factory loads in my barrel. My handloads using A2460 and 120 gr Nosler BT will go under an inch. The factory load should serve you well until you start reloading.

35-38 grains of AA4064 works well under a Hornady 120 V-Max for deer. The Hornady 7mm 120 V-Max is also the Hornady 7mm 120 Single Shot Pistol Bullet. When the bullets is shot at velocities below 2600 fps it expands like just fine because of the Hornady Interlock ring in the jacket.

Good luck with your Waters. I sure am enjoying my new G-2 frame along with my new 357 Herrett barrel.

I used to have dovetail bases and rings but they didn't offer enough flexibility of position nor the ability to move a scope from one barrel to another so I changed everything to Weaver bases and Leupold aluminum rings. On everything from 22 Hornet to 45/70 and just fine. YMMV, Rod.

P.S. Excellent choice of caliber for first one, I'd suggest getting a 22 LR Match set up the same way (optically) for cheap practice.

Most people think I am crazy, but I use 33.5 grains of H335 with a 139 Hornady SPBT. I have been able to shoot ½ groups, or less, at 100 yards. It isn’t as fast, but it shoots lights out in both my pistol and my Wife’s carbine. My Lyman book has H335 as the suggested powder for a 130 and 140 bullet. What is funny is that I have been using that load for over 10 years. H335 doesn’t do to hot with 140 Nosler bullets. It averages 2-3 in groups in my gun“s”.

Hi there Hulee hear!!!Few month ago Hunlee get deal on 7-30 water barrel butt was in rifle length.Freind to hunlee have 7-30 water barrel cut to 17 inch and Hunlee then buy new Burris 3-12x power scope for barrel....Very nice and good shooter for Hunlee....Hunlee just buy aluminum Leupold scope ring to hold 3-12x power in place!!!!Been shooting to 300 meter with good result and Hunlee have plan of going to Wyomging to compeet against XP and FART in long range shootin contest!!!Hunlee know that they is no chance of winning shooting against XP and FART butt hunlee go annaway!!!Hunlee load up alot of 7-30 water ammo befor going there....Good luck with new 7-30 water barrel,,,Hunlee is sure you like it as much as Hunlee...Life has been very good to hunlee,Hunlee has fathered many children and is very good looking...Many nice thing has come to Hunlee aswell

hunlee

ol KYODE has fathered a few children, although not nearly as many as hunlee. KYODE think hunlee is a hoot, and wish him success with long rangers.

Well...The gun came in last Saturday and I picked it up from my FFL on Sunday. Today, I purchased a scope rail and rings...I opted for the Weaver mount with Weaver Quad-lock 4x4 rings...The setup looks great on my Contender...Now to get out and shoot it.

Hunlee hope you have good like with 7-30 water!!!

hunlee

Has anyone loaded the 120 Vmax with 748 Win?? I have 5 ea. in 35,36,37 & 38 grns loaded but have not shot them OAL of 2.870

What was the OAL on the Vmax Load

Was any charge more accurate?

WNY, I see you will mount the Bushnell 2-6X Firefly on your 7-30
Have you used this scope on any other handguns??? I had a 2-6X
Bushnell that I managed to destroy on my 454 and returned it to Bushnell. They replaced the broken scope, free of charge, with their 2-6X Firefly, however, I have not yet mounted it on any of my handguns. Your the first handgunner that I`ve read of who also has a variable Firefly and wanted to hear their thoughts.

James, on the Bushnell Firefly 2x6 i'm just getting use to the thick crosshairs. The more I look through it the more I get use to it. Sorta like a woman in your reloading room. This is mounted on a 6.5 TCU barrel that is dedicated to deer at ranges from 25 yards to 100 yards in mixed type of cover. Dave

The 2-6x32 Elite 3200 Firefly scope is the first firefly scope that I have purchased. I have only used red dot sites in the past but I do own another 2x20 scope made by Swift that does not have enough eye relief for my liking. The closest that the Swift came to being used was a one day stint on my Ruger Super Blackhawk Hunter...One trip to the range showed me that the Swift didn't allow me to get in to a comfortable stance while shooting. I didn't like having to pull my arms in to bring the scope closer because of the smaller eye relief. Lesson learned...The reticle on the FF is a little wider than I would like for a varmint or target rig but the 7-30 is going to be used on whitetail in ranges generally less than 100 yards. The width of the reticle will not be a factor for me. The eye relief is absolutely perfect at 20". I have pretty long arms so that is a plus. I may use the Swift in the future on a 22lr Match barrel for the Contender though so all may not be lost on that scope.

Here are a couple pics of the new gun with the scope mounted on Weaver Quad-Lock Rings and a Weaver base.

that is a nice looking rig thanks i have a set of the weaver rings now i know what they will looklike. have you shot the gun?
if so how is it i have the older contenders and the encores.
larry

Nice looking handguns.

I haven't had time to get to the range with work and the family but I am going down to the Southern Tier to go turkey hunting on Wednesday night...I'll be taking the G2. There is an impromptu range that a friend set up on his property and I will have at it down there.

where in the southern tier are you coming? that is were i am.
i know its big but not that big.

Scio/Wellsville area...

Hunlee is very angsus to hear about how your 7-30 water shoot!!!After range work Hunlee wood like to see another picture of great group you shoot with 7-30 water...Hunlee is allso proud owner of 7-30 water barrel along with 223 and 375 Windchester

hunlee

ok i am west of there in randolph that is a ways from here
been out that way not bad have fun with the turkeys.

This load has taken some nice whitetails for me over the years.


140 grain Nosler Ballistic tip.
30.5 grains of Hodgdon H322
Groups .750 at 100 yards