Any of you guys shootin one of these? I'm lookin at buyin a custom contender carbine or havin a barrel rechambered for it. Bein the frugal (cheap skate) that I am, Im lookin for a used barrel, dies and brass. Any help or suggestions would be appreciated. Hugh out

Hugh

I had a factory .30-30 Win Contender Carbine 21" barrel rechambered to .309 JDJ. I was getting 2,300 fps from the 30-30 and 2,550 fps from the .309 JDJ using the 165gr Nosler Partition. I might have been able to get a bit more out of the .309 but I don't think it would have ever equalled a .308 Win's published ballistics.

That 250 fps greater velocity gave me about 125yds greater distance in terms of desireable terminal velocity (200yds for the .30-30 and 325yds for the .309 JDJ). Funny thing is I never shot anything past 100yds with the rifle and would have done just fine with the .30-30 barrel and factory ammo, if that's what I had chosen to do. I didn't enjoy shooting or loading the JDJ nearly as much as I did the .30-30 in the Contender carbine. I ended up selling the barrel, with dies, brass etc to a "collector". I now don't have a centrefire rifle barrel for the Contender but I did find a sweet pre-64 vintage M94 in .30-30 which is a real peach. Give the .30-30 Win a try before you go for the .309 JDJ. You might find it will do everything you ask of it.

I got a ss .30-30 TC Hunter barrel on sale for $100 years ago and had JD rechamber it to .309 JDJ. Best move ever. With 165 gr. Nosler BT bullets I am getting 2304.2 fps and half-inch 5 shot groups at 100 yards and MOA out to 300 yards which is the furthest I have tested. Of course that is shooting from a very solid bench rest position.