Contender barrel 7-30 or 6.8spc

[Noreaster]

Looking to add another barrel to my collection. Somewhere in the area of a 130 yd deer caliber, for someone who doesn't roll their own, which do you prefer. Is the 6.8 capable of taking deer that far?

 

[hoghunting]

I've never tried the 6.8, but thoroughly enjoy the 7-30 Waters. I handload and have taken numerous hogs and deer with the longest shot being just over 200 yds. You're pretty limited with factory ammo though.

 

[bull bob]

If you don't reload, one of the better rounds for this application would be 30-30 Win., especially in a 14" barrel. Easy on recoil, adequate for deer out to say 200 yds., and easy to find ammo.

 

[Magnum Wheel Man]

have both, but can't compare apples to oranges...

1st off, I almost only exclusively handload, but I do have both a 7-30 Waters barrel (14") & a 6.8 SPC barrel (21")... also have a 10" 30-30 barrel that is accurate enough for deer out to 150 yards

personally I think the SPC has the most "potential" but since you don't handload, I think you'd have to check factory ammo available... a quick check, & I didn't find too many "real" hunting specific 6.8 ( that is actually in stock... I checked Midway )... maybe you can find it loaded with a good hunting bullet, looks like there are quite a few made... so, that would be my 1st choice, provided you can get a good hunting bullet... otherwise I really do like the 7-30 Waters... I've never used it on game, but most all factory ammo is going to be loaded for hunting game...

 

[Cemo]

I have killed deer with my Contender 7-30 with 16 1/4" barrel using 120 gr. at approx. 25-2600fps. Performance has been great. The 6.8 offer similar velocity and bullet weights, it should have similar performance. Hopefully I will find out this season as I now have a AR15 in 6.8 that I intend to use.

 

[Noreaster]

Thanks for the info. Commercial ammo for the 7-30 is pretty much 120 grain SP. The 6.8 seems more 110 vmax and fmj target stuff, but there are other configurations out there. I currently use a 14inch 44 mag and I'm looking to extend the range and a little less recoil for extended range sessions.

Silver State Armory has a good selection of 6.8 hunting loads in 110 grain; Nossler Accubond, Barns TSX, Sierra Pro Hunter. They also have a 140 grain load but it list you must have a spec II chamber.

 

[Magnum Wheel Man]

I wouldn't use either of those loads for deer...

but here are a few that I would hunt with... some in stock, some not...

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/13...10-grain-sierra-pro-hunter-tactical-box-of-20

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/41...ock-x-bullet-hollow-point-lead-free-box-of-20

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/67...ock-x-bullet-hollow-point-lead-free-box-of-20

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/47...-110-grain-nosler-accubond-tactical-box-of-20

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/15...okt-ultra-bonded-pointed-soft-point-box-of-20

 

[WMBigs]

I loaded the 7-30 Waters with the 140 gr ballistic tips. Many deer taken with that, 200yards about max. On the other hand, the Federal load 129?gr took many deer. Great deer round.

 

[thickice]

Maybe it was just my barrel, but I had a lot of extraction problems with my 6.8. The extractor would slip past the base of the cartridge.

 

[OkieCruffler]

If you don't handload I'm anothrer who would advise against either. 30-30 will give you alot more options. Or you could make a friend who does reload.