After killing many deer with the 7-30 barrel I want to try a somewhat larger caliber. My shots have been from 50 to 150 yards. I have been considering a .309 JDJ barrel for my Contender. Cor Bon sold me their last two boxes of Nosler .30 caliber 150 grain Ballistic Tip bullets for $9.50 per box. Is this a good .309 JDJ bullet? What kind of performance can I expect from this caliber, and what whitetail loads work well? Is a muzzle brake necessary? Any help would be appreciated.

309 JDJ is an excellent caliber. Basically, about the same as a 308 in an Encore. Its reputation was made with the 165 gr Hornady @ about 2400 fps. Good flat shooting hard hitting one --- you will like it. It is quite a bit more than the 7-30. The 30-30 AI & 300 Savage come close to it in the Contender. However, they can't quite get there.

Fireforming brass is an extra required step.

IMHO, muzzle brake not required.

A muzzle break isn't required but mine is magnaported. For longer range it's my first choice for deer hunting. I use the 150 Nosler BT's exclusively in it and they will shoot 1/2" at 100 yards with little troubles. You can rechamber a 30-30 bbl. but SSK builds a better barrel in my opinion. To reload it you'll need the 309 JDJ dies from SSK and also a 308 Win die FL sizer to step down the 444 case initially. Using the 309 dies to size the 444 down will not work because of the shoulder angle.

Gary and Wtroper have pretty well said it all. My 14" Contender .309 barrel is not ported. Recoil is about like a .308 in an XP or an Encore, perhaps slightly heavier. I use 165 Ballistic Tips mostly, but have also used some 150's & other 165's. I have mostly used Reloader 15 over the years, but JD usually recommends the various 4350's. Velocity is slightly lower with it than with RE 15, but so is the pressure. I've been planning to switch one day, and probably will when my loaded ammo is gone next year.
I've had my barrel at least 15 years, and have been very satisfied with the caliber. Shoots flat, kills well.

Thank you for the information.

Yup, the 150 BT's are about optimum for deer size and below animals.

Bill in OR

Gary,

It has been some years since I had my 309 bbl. However, I think I recall running the 444 brass through the 375 or the 338 JDJ die first, then on to the 309 for fire forming. Is my recall faulty? Has happened before.

I am considering purchasing a 309 bbl (from my best friend's widow) --- mostly because it was Jerry's gun. However, if I do, I will be shooting it & have not made 309s in 12+ yrs.

BTW -- my other choices are a 300 Sav contender, a 411 JDJ, a Clement's Ruger in 218 Bee, etc. I do not want to highjack this thread. I need to start another to get opinions.

I had a 300 Savage Bullberry about 15 +/- years ago I choose it over the 309 just because of the brass.-- However keep in mind the 300 is a bit much for the old contender and may be border line for the G2.

I now have a 308 Encore that I am very happy with--Just a bit of extra weight does not make much differane to me on a SSP

the old 300 savage was a thumper with the Hornady 130 SSPB and H4895

H2OBUG.

See my recent post under shooter's bench. My late best friend had a 300 Sav bbl for a contender. Yes, it is a little borderline, but it is a shooter. With factory 150s it would not quite get to 309 velocities, but it was close.

I had a 30-30 AI made to try to get "even with" his 300 Sav. Never quite got there. Close, but not there. BTW --- back then he & I both also had 309 bbls. Pretty much duplication of effort out in the real world, IMHO.

The 300 is fine if you keep is on the mild side--However if primer start to get flat and such you must keep in mind you are on the edge.

BTW I wish I still had mine

I Love my 30 GNR (30-30 AI)... I would have to say the 309 or Savage would be great thumpers!!!

My 309 shoots great. I've only taken one animal with it, Black Hawaiian ram.. If I remember right, it was loaded with the 125 grain Nosler Ballistic Tip.

I have used my 309 suing 150 BT's to take over a dozen whitetail and mule deer. It has also taken a top ten all time aoudad, top four black buck and an axis buck. All were one shot kills out to over 200 yards.

I bought my 309JDJ fifteen years ago and have taken 20 deer with it. I shot this 6 point in WV last year at 240 yds. I shoot the Nosler 165 gr BT at 2325 fps.

I had one 20 years ago and it would shoot, like .75 @ 100 all day. 165gr balistic tips with 4350. i do not remember the charge weight. Being 22 i sold it to buy something else, what a dummy. If anyone runs across a barrel with (the confessor) engraved in it, That was mine.