I have a old style contender handgun in layaway. One thing I can't decide on is to get a 7-30 water's, or 30-30 win barrel for it, what is your thought's on this. ( I do not reload, but have a freind who will reload for ether one)
This will be used for deer hunting in Northern Michigan, Shot's are 150 yard's or less. All round's will be handloaded. Barrel will be 10"-14".

I vote .30-30 because it handles cast bullets so well.

There are many 7-30 Waters rifles and handguns in use around here. It is not uncommon to see 7-30 brass on the ground at our local range. If its on the ground it is in pretty common use. I have three friends who shoot the 7-30 and all are fanatical about tha cartridge.

Not enough information here. What is the barrel length? For what will you use the pistol, hunting, target, plinking? For example, the 7-30 will have lower recoil in factory loads and will more likely expand on game animals, particularly in a 10" barrel. .30-30 loads will be less expensive and far easier to find. Handloading can change things around if you rely completely on handloads.

I would take the 7-30 Waters over the 30-30 in a Contender. Either one you choose you don't want a 10 barrel, that is where you would want something like a .357 Maximum or .44 Magnum.

The 7-30 is an excellent, and very proven, round in the Contender for deer sized game within 200 yards. Would likely be an excellent vermin round as well when utilizing some of the lighter bullets. You, or your friend, will have to handload it to reachfull potential though...pointy bullets make a pretty big difference when you are only starting them out around 2400fps.

Now you boys stop giving him bad advice... he needs a .35 Rem! :D

Recoil with factory 200 grain loads might get to be a bit of a handful, though.

.35 Rem is a pussycat in my XP-100R, but that's a whole lot more handgun than a Contender/G2. The drop is pretty darn pronounced between 100 and 200 yards when using factory ammo...maybe I should pick up a box of LEVERevolution .35 Rem ammo and see how it fares in the XP! :)

If you are shooting at typical "woods" range, as in 100 yards and under, the .35 Rem would be another barrel for you to consider if you are not worried about the additional recoil.

I have both in 14" Hunter (with brake), and both work fine. 7-30 brass is harder to find, and not straight forward to make since the shoulder is farther forward. That said, I prefer the 7-30 for the infamous "Whatever" reason :)

If you are shooting handloads, the difference isn't worth mentioning. Both callibers have excellent bullets available that will work quite well at the velocities attainable with a 14" barrel.

I personally use Beartooth 140 LFNGC bullets with the noses softened according to the technical manual with excellent results (3 shots, 3 deer), albiet at under 100yds. I also spent a lot of time at the range and at the bench to develop those loads. Either calliber will require the same effort IMHO.

Thanks for all the replys, and vote's. The 7-30 waters win's by a landslide, (my choice also). I will be picking up a barrel within a month. Can't wait to start shooting this baby.

My 2 pennies go for the 35 remington also. I have a super 14 that has been magna ported and love it. If you don't reload you are gonna get expensive for the 7-30. If you have to buy a barrel i would look into a 35. If I had to choose between the 2 you mention, I would go 30-30. Whatever you decide go for the 14" barrel Steve

Thanks for all the replys, and vote's. The 7-30 waters win's by a landslide, (my choice also). I will be picking up a barrel within a month. Can't wait to start shooting this baby.
i've taken 3 deer w/ my 7-30 waters, 140 gr. nosler ballistic tips. at a little over 100 yards you can't tell the difference on the inside of the deer if it was a contender or a rifle.(HEART/ LUNG SHOTS ONLY, PLEASE.)

Get the .30-30, then send it to SSK and have it rechambered for the .309 JDJ. 165 gr. bullet at 2304 fps and 300 yard groups that are as tight as you can hold (which means for me usually around 5 inches), how can you go wrong?

Way to go Mike G. 35 REM here also

Can't vote poll is closed, but I would vote for the 30-30.

I have a lever action Marlin rifle, so my life would be simpler to keep the same ammo for both guns.

A little off-topic, but I say if you have a strong wrist then get a .45-70 barrel. :D

A little off-topic, but I say if you have a strong wrist then get a .45-70 barrel. :D

It came with a .45-70 super 16" barrel, a little more than I want for whitail at 100yrds or less. As a side note, little $ shortage has delayed a new barrel at this time, hope to have one before summer end's.

I have an 18 inch carbine barrel in 30-30 on a contender frame and I really like it. If the shots were long and the barrel long I would probably go for the flatter shooting 7-30 but my vote goes to the 30-30 on this one.

The techs at Fox Ridge Outfitters I spoke to several years ago said they hunted whitetails with 7mm-08 contender pistol barrels and tried to convince me to buy one for my encore. I wonder how the 30-30 barrels would perform with the new Hornaday leverevolution ammunition.