Longer barrel will make better velocity, better powder burn..

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I’m not a Contender fan but I’ve had a few. Cant speak to 10” vs 15” because the 30/30 I had was 14”. Very accurate gun. I shot Speer 110gr Varmiter HPs / IMR 4198 and made many groundhogs sick. I would say to go with the longer barrel. 25-30% longer barrel has to be a plus on velocity. Mine was scoped when I took it on a trade.

 

I have a 10" 30-30 barrel and shooting it is not pleasant. And shooting factory ammo results in a 6 foot fireball, once setting the grass in front of me on fire.
Switched to a 14" 30 Herrett barrel for hunting

 

If you haven't already, check on the Specialty Pistol Forums. There is a break action pistol forum there that will give you lots of information.

 

I'm a contender fan. Just my opinion, but the 15" is VERY uncomfortable to hunt with. anything over 12 should be thought of as a carbine.

I have a 10 inch 30 herrett that shoots lights out.

Since you haven't purchased it yet, I's strongly suggest a 10 in bbl for the contender in one of the T/C cartridges...30 herrett, 357 herrett,7 TCU. If you don't reload, then the 357, 41 mag 44 mag are all good out to 150 yads for hunting.


MY go to barrel is the 375 win, but that needs to be reloaded.

just my thoughts

 

I'm a contender fan. Just my opinion, but the 15" is VERY uncomfortable to hunt with. anything over 12 should be thought of as a carbine.

I thought the same as well. Since I already owned a Contender carbine in .223 Remington (21" barrel), figured the Super 16 30-30 barrel made a lot of sense. The very common 30-30 Winchester was another factor in selecting that round and not one of the better but far less available custom 30's.

 

The 30 Herrett was designed around the 10-inch barrel length. Its purpose was to get as much as possible in 30 caliber (35 as well) from the shorter 10" length. This was because of all the noise and fireball generated by the 30-30 in a ten-inch tube. The short 10-inch barrel just wasn't long enough to use all the 30-30 has to offer. Sort of like how back in the early 1960's the 221 Fireball was used in the ten-inch XP-100 pistols instead of the 222 Remington. With the 14-inch barrel (or 15) things begin to change and the 30 Herrett and 30-30 are pretty much on par. But with less of a fireball from the 30-30, although it's still there. Among the various T/C Contender barrels I have a 14 inch 30-30 that gets 30 caliber 125 grain varmint bullets and is used for antelope. The lower velocity from the 30-30 Contender as opposed to say a 30-06 allows these bullets to act more like a regular hunting bullet than an explosive varmint bullet. The accuracy potential is basically a question of how well you can hold the pistol.

 

Absolutely correct.

 

The Hornady 130gr SS (Single Shot) bullet was designed for the 30 Herrett. Unfortunately, they are not in std production right now. I have 2 boxes that I found in a small shop, with dust on them. great expansion at 10" herrett velocity on whitetails and antelope.

 

I used this back in the day in my 30/30 14" contender.
Also used it as a reduced loaded in my 30/06.
Loaded to 1500 fps capable of taking deer sized game with hardly any recoil.
Wish I could find something to replace it.

 

Haven't seen the 30 caliber 130 grain Hornady SSP bullets in a while. I do still have about 500 of the Hornady 180 grain 35 caliber SSP bullets stashed though. It's been a while since some of the odd ball bullets and brass have been just sitting on a shelf locally.

 

59801, sure missing the SST. But I think the thin skinned 125 g will probably be OK. It was nice to have a bullet designed specifically for the T/C Contender.

 

Right Jr

The 30-30 in a carbine barrel and walnut butt stock is a very nice rifle. Handles great, and if you reload you can use 150 gr spitzers. Also like it in the 375win.

I sort of like the rimmed cartridges in break action rifles (singles, doubles, drillings) for clean extraction. special ordered my cz double rifle in 8x57R, to get a rimmed shell.

 

Haven't owned a 10" but when I had my 7-30 waters the 14" was very pleasant to shoot and no muzzle jump, I would almost think a 10" 30-30 could come bouncing off the forehead if not careful.

 

Danny, my bro has a 14" 7-30. It has aheck of a muzzle flash. recoils about the same as my 10" 30 cal.

I have the extra large walnut original T/C Target grips with a thumb rest, really make recoil and muzzle rise quite manageable.

 

I’d prefer the 10”. Fun gun to hunt with! Pigs don’t stand a chance!

 

I have many fond memories of hunting and IHMSA competitions with my TCs in 7-30 Waters using scopes & iron sights.