Surprise Find-Ammo

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  • Last Post 21 September 2020
mashburn posted this 18 September 2020

I was digging around in my never ending piles of goodies today and guess what I found. I found five 20 round boxes of cast bullet .30 Herrett handloads. The big surprise is the date they were reloaded. They are dated 1978, I don't know how these survived without being fired. My Contenders have been lying idle for about 25 years now, but after the recent Contender posts on the forum, I've got the bug again so I don't think these cartridges lifespan isn't going to be too long. The .30 Herrett was what I deer hunted with for 4 or 5 years.

Mashburn

David a. Cogburn

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Duane Mellenbruch posted this 19 September 2020

And today, I put my old hex barrel 357 magnum on a new G-2 frame and went to the range.  I fired off some ammo reloaded in 1999 as well as some loaded in 2005.  Yes, I really do need to go shooting more often.  Just retired 4/1 and now with the cooler weather will be enjoying the fresh air a whole lot more these days.  Duane

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mashburn posted this 19 September 2020

Thanks, and have fun. I don't know why I quit playing with my contender. I've been retired since 1999 , maybe I just needed a contender rest or maybe my contender needed a rest, it was made in 1969.

Mashburn

David a. Cogburn

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Ken Campbell Iowa posted this 19 September 2020

all my buddies have Contenders ... i never caught the bug .. i did try to buy one of those canon-breech Competitors once, but after a few phone calls with idiots at the Competitor factory, all my warning vibes went off and i stopped the plunge .

anyway, i always thought the Contenders are 100 years too late .. they would have been great as a coach gun back when we rode in stage coaches ...

hey, i did have a pre-runner to the Contender .. a little tip-up Stevens single shot 22 lr.  ( g ) .

ken

EDIT> .. oh hey, i do have a piece of Contender equipment .. i have one of those teensy green-crosshair sights .. about 3/8 diameter and 2 inches long ... i bot it because it was so cute .. have never glued it to a gun yet, but it sure is small ...  maybe an optical sight for a Derringer ? .. deringer ...

 

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max503 posted this 19 September 2020

My best cast bullet luck with the Contender has been in 22 Hornet pistol.  That, and my 30-30 rifle barrel.  If I get time this weekend I'll kayak out to an island on the Mississippi and try for some squirrels with my 22 LR match barrel.  That thing is awesomely accurate if I can hold it steady.

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mashburn posted this 20 September 2020

Hello Ken,

If all of your buddies have contenders, then, you must get one. I am pretty sure that you probably, but am not absolutely sure that you have more gun junk (VALUED TREASURES)  than I do so therefore you must get a contender. I'll start a argument here. I like contenders but when they switched to the G2, I think they copied the H& R single shot shotgun action. I was so surprised when the first G2 came in my shop for a trigger job. When I started tearing it down I couldn't believe how simple it was, more like a H& R than a contender. All jokes aside: they are a lot of fun and addictive. Some barrels shoot and some don't. I never fooled with one that didn't shoot, I just traded it off.

Take care Ken,

Mashburn

David a. Cogburn

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mashburn posted this 20 September 2020

Hello Mas,

Thanks for your response and input.

Mashburn

David a. Cogburn

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BigMan54 posted this 21 September 2020

My Dad bought a Contender when they first came out. Got a .38Spl, and loaded it HOT. Way beyond .38-44 pressure. 

Was like a kid with a new toy, which is what it was. Said it was the perfect setup for shooting off a rest.

I haven't been without one for 40yrs. And speaking of old ammo, I recently found almost 500rds of .357mag ammo loaded in New Midway brass dated from 1988. A beyond max load meant for NM Blackhawk or Contender. That was about the time I started Cowboy Shooting. So Hot loaded ammo got pushed to the back of the shelves. But I still have a 10".357Max bbl. maybe I'll burn it up in that. Or the NM Blackhawk it was originally loaded for, if these old arthritic hands can still take it. 

Long time Caster/Reloader, Getting back into it after almost 10yrs. Life Member NRA 40+yrs, Life S.A.S.S. #375. Does this mean a description of me as a fumble-fingered knuckle-draggin' baboon. I also drool in my sleep. I firmly believe that true happiness is a warm gun. Did I mention how much I HATE auto-correct on this blasted tablet.

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