Anyone hunting with 7-30 Waters in a Contender? How do you like it?

I've also been considering the 6.8 rem. It looks like an attractive round.

I use a lot of 7mm's, and the 7x30 Waters is my top pick for a Contender for deer sized game. I would choose it over the 6.8 myself.

I see that the 6.8 (in text) shoots flatter with higher energy, and is in a much smaller cartridge. I don't reload at this point, and wonder if the 6.8 might shoot better from a 14 inch barrel. Looks to be designed more for a shorter barrel. I still do like the 7-30, but wonder about the 6.8. I favor shock value, and the Waters is heavier. ????

Ask Anniex. She has one.From the way she talks about it she really likes it. She took a whitetail and a Russian boar with it so far.

Thanks, I sent her a PM.

I would be looking at a 14 inch bull in a contender. I like the fact that it is rimmed. I have no real world experience with either. Thanks for the input, by the way, guys.

I had one in a std Contender I used 120gr Vmax Hornady bullets in mine.
It was fun to shoot recoil was not bad

May want to look at the 30-30AI too.

The 30-30 AI would require handloading. I'm not equipped for it, so it's not really an option, unless I could find a shop to do it for me. around here, it's probably a slim to none chance.

I've got 3 6.8's, a 14" Contender, a 16 1/4" Bushmaster and a 16 1/4" Ruger 'Hawkeye'. It's a good round, but ammo can be the dickens to find and the round works best with 110gr'ers or lighter. I reload, so bullet wt is not a problem. Never shot a 7-08, but know several who do and swear by it.

You're correct in that the 6.8 was developed for the 14 - 16" barrel length and does quite well in the short lenght.

If you put your bullet in the right spot I don’t think your game is going to know the difference. That being said I really liked my 7-30 Waters, but I also handload. The only reason I got rid of it is because if replaced it with a 30-30AI barrel.

I can get handloads if it's a common round. I just have to have someone else make some work-ups to find a good load for the gun. What combination did you use for your 7-30? What kind of velocity and energy ?

Sent you a PM Al!!

I have a Contender Super-14" with the T/C Muzzle Tamer. The recoil is mild and accuracy is excellent. Using the 120 grain Nosler Ballistic Tip and WW748 or Varget I have killed over a dozen deer as far as 150 yards. They have all been one shot kills. I do not know what the velocity is, as it has not been chronographed. Be that as it may, it kills efficiently and usually exits after expanding. Cases are easily fire formed from .30-30's.

Thanks guys!

I personally think the 7-30 Waters is a much better round than the 6.8 Rem.

The 6.8 seems better suited for lighter bullets, where the 7-30 Waters will handle a bit more bullet weight.

Since you don't handload (time to start...

), the 6.8 may seem a bit more attractive, and paper ballistics would favor it when comparing factory ammo. But the 7-30 waters is the better round. Handloading really makes the 7-30 come into it's own.

Regards
Rog

Neither offers a decent "factory" hunting round, for the shortgun, so you are gonna have to load them to hunt with them. The Waters has more potential than the SPC, and it is rimmed to boot.

I have hunted with both 10" & 14" Contenders chambered for the 7-30 Waters. I used 120gr. Nosler Ballistic Tips in both barrels, with the 10" preferring W-748 and the 14" preferring H-4895. I obtained 2258 FPS from the 10" and 2436 FPS from the 14" with the 120gr. Nosler Ballistic Tips.

I took 4 Whitetails and my cousin's husband took 1 Whitetail with the 10" 7-30 Waters with 5 shots. I took 2 Whitetails with the 14" with 2 shots. All were one shot kills and none traveled over 30 - 40 yards after being hit. Bullet performance was excellent.

Both of the 7-30 Waters Contenders I have had would print 3/4" to 1 1/2" 5 shot groups at 100 yards.

I have also used the .30-30 AI in a 14" Contender with the same results shooting a 125gr. Nosler Ballistic Tip.

I have never even shot a 6.8 SPC so I can not comment on it. Handloads with the right bullets make the 7-30 Waters shine in my opinion. I currently have a T/C Custom Shop 7-30 Waters Barrel that I am considering having rechambered to the 7x30 JDJ (an improved version of the 7-30 Waters).

Larry

I have been shooting the 7-30 Waters for about 15 years. I've had the 14" bull, 21" tapered and now have the 12" w/muzzle break in the Contender. When hunting whitetail in OK I use either the 120grn Ballistic Tip where I'm shooting some distance like 200-300 yds. I use the Sierra Pro Hunter 120grn for pigs, silhouette and plinking. I have taken about 10 deer and one pig with this barrel. I shot some V-Max in this pistol but on one shot it shot through the deer like an arrow. He didn't go far but didn't like the way the bullet functioned at close range, like 20-30 yds where I hunt sometimes in thick woods.
You will not be unhappy with a 7-30 Waters in either a 12" OR 14" barrel. You can still purchase the ammo in certain places.
Where do you live in OK? I have some extra brass, formed and a set of dies if you wanted to reload.
Another kick but factory barrel in the Contender is a 14" 30-30. It will kill anything we have in OK and you can get ammo anywhere. The 30-30 I had really liked 120grn bullets but would shoot 110's and 150's real well.
Mike
Mike

Thanks Larry and Hawkeye. It is time to start;) I live in Hughes County. Little spot called Calvin. I have heard and read a lot about the 30-30 in the 14in. The 7-30 is looking much more attractive tho.

The 7-30 is the round that I recommend to "new" handgun hunters. I have started several with this round. It is accurate, shoots flat enough, has light recoil and kills deer sized animals easily. In addition the factory ammo is available to nonhandloaders.

While I personally would not choose this round for the job, year before last two of our handgun hunters at the YO killed big red deer stags with 7-30s --- both using factory 120s. Both were one shot kills -- through the heart.

IMHO, it is very close to the 6.5 JDJ in performance, particularly if you handload. I like it and recommend it to you.

Hey Al,

I have a Custom 14" 7/30 Waters that I could'nt tell you how many Whitetail Deer That I have killed with it from 20yds out to 150 yds. Most of the one shot kills very rarely will one go 20 yds before dropping. I use 120 gr Nosler BT. The 120 gr BT has serve me well as most all the bullets have past thru the Deer. I was with Anniex when she busted a huge 300+ Boar with Factory 120gr Federal ammo 1 shot to the heart even tho the bullet didnt go all the way thru it reach the heart and the huge HOG ran 70 yds and died. There again shot placement came into play, and it was a great shot for her first hog. She also killed a Deer with one shot dropped him in his tracks, at 80 yds again heart shot, with factory ammo. IMO Shot Placement has a lot to do with taken your trophy home or ended up empty handed. I also have the 6.8 SPC and it is a great round I have killed Deer with it...but IMO I would rather have my 7/30 in my hands. FWIW

Thanks, to all of you. I am a new handgun hunter, and I joined this forum before I even had a suitable hunting pistol. I had no idea there were so many people hunting with HGs and when I thought I would start, I was not sure how easy or difficult it might be. This site has been a great help, and has struck my interest even greater than my original desire for the challenge. I just ordered the 7-30 barrel from Ed's T/C in OKC, and it's on its way.

CONGRATS, I am sure you are not going to be disappointed with the 7-30 Waters.

On the other hand Ed is a great guy to do business with. I have bought a few barrels and frames from Ed over the years. He can be hard to get in touch with at times but generally has when I have been looking for.

Larry

I bought my 1st 7x30 about 35 years ago .. still have it. In about 1985 I put a Burris 3 ring mount on it and mounted a Bushnell 2x6 on top. It has remained that way all these years and I have never had to adjust the sight. It has senn several thousand rounds since without a problem and has taken more deer and varmints than I can count. I loan this gun out alot and have taught countless youngsters how to shoot and hunt with it and it has never failed to please. Possibly the only downside the the caliber is the lack of factory ammo choices. However that factory choice works well.
In a Contender you can't go wrong with that choice

My uncle uses the 12 inch barrel with a muzzle tamer in the 7/30 waters. Were haveing a little bit of trouble getting better then 1.5 inch groups at a 100 yards with 120 grain barnes bullets. It will shoot 1.5 inch with ease but he strive to close that up a little more. With that said he took two years ago a cow elk at 285 yards with one good place shot that put her down right there. He has also taken a few mule deer with the same setup and all one shot kills out to 250 yards. The amount of damage done to all the animals including a few texas hogs has been awsome and show no reason to ever doubt this round for any reason. By the way he has taken more elk then just the one I described and they all died right there where hit.

I'm looking forward to shooting it. Thanks again for all the input.

Thank you Jeffx for the compliment on my shot placements. !!!!

Al,
I spent a long time researching and ended up with the 7x30 Love it

Thanks Anniex. I ordered the barrel and already have it. Just need to get it scoped and broke in.

By the way, I love your Qoute at the bottom. I put that quote on mine, until I saw it was being used! Gotta love the Duke.