Question for Huey

[pacecars]

I could have sent a PM but figured some of the others might be interested. Since I am getting back in to single shot pistols (damn I am obsessive once I get something in my mind) I am going to get a Contender also. I know the Encore has more choices power wise but I always found it heavy in a pistol. JD Jones fuels my imagination as a kid and I always had factory barrels in the Contender but dreamed of his SSK barrels so having said that I will be getting a .375 JDJ barrel because to me it is the iconic JDJ caliber, a 6.5 JDJ or .309 JDJ for deer or maybe both. Now the question for Huey: I know you have had or have a .250-3000 chambered Contender which is also a round I love and would love to have one. After looking at the new SSK site I see they also offer a .250 Improved in the Contender. Do you think that is a better choice because of less back thrust with the less taper?

[Encore64]

Ronnie, I'd pass on either one unless you are obsessed with nostalgia (like me) or have to have correctly headstamped brass.

The 25-35 Ackley Improved is the way to go. Mine gets an easy 2800 fps with a 100 grn bullet. I have brass that has been fired 14 times and still going strong.

Something to remember, but won't be well received by some, is reality trumps propaganda.

So many of the Contender Barrel Builders put out a lot of information that wasn't accurate or completely accurate to hype their products.

I'm not saying their products weren't great. But, many of the gun myths are just that.

The 250 Savage is completely safe in the Contender. I've shot one since 1994 and added a 300 Savage shortly after that. They were shot a lot on early frames and I've never had one loosen or stretch.

[Lee Martin]

I agree with Huey. The .25-35 Ackley Improved or .257 JDJ is the way to go. I built a .257 Dart Contender barrel years ago. The Dart is an old benchrest round, done on .220 Swift brass cut back. It mirrors the .250 Savage dimensionally and in performance. Here's a write-up I did on the cartridge:

www.singleactions.com/files/257Dart.pdf

The .25-35 Improved will give you all the speed you'll ever need. It also has a slightly smaller base, decreasing the area of back thrust. My dad built a standard .25-35 Win Contender barrel in the 80's and it's still one of his favorites.

-Lee
www.singleaactions.com
"Chasing perfection five shots at a time"

[45MAN]

uum, A 100gr .257 BULLET @ 2,800fps OR A 120gr .264 BULLET @ 2,500fps (14" CONTENDER IN 6.5JDJ), WHICH TO GET? HARD TO ARGUE AGAINST THE DOCUMENTED SUCCESS OF THE 6.5JDJ ON GAME.

[Encore64]

I agree on the 6.5 JDJ being an excellent cartridge. My advice on the 25-35 AI was to address .257 Caliber hunting rounds.

Still, if I were getting a 6.5 Wildcat it would be a 6.5 BRM. Simply because 30-30 Brass is much easier to find.

All of these types of rounds are decendents of P.O. Ackley's Work. The 6.5 BRM is the same but with the 30° based on Harvey Donaldson's Bench Rest work.

People can start with different parent cases, change the neck length or shoulder angle, vary the leads in the throats, etc. But, the bottom line is the origin remains the same.

Rumors like "Weak 30-30 Brass" not being suitable is straight up B.S. A reputation left over from the springy Win 94 Action and used to sell proprietary cartridges.

Some many people simply believe what they read or what they're told and run with it.

All that is made up to convince people they need what the seller is offering...

[pacecars]

After doing a few searches for .225 Winchester, .444 Marlin and .220 Swift (for the 6.5 Mini Dreadnaught) I believe, like Huey said, the .30-30 based 6.5 is the way to go. I will play with the BF 6.5 BRM and see if that will keep me satisfied for now. Oh yeah the nostalgia thing is strong though

[Lee Martin]

That's the only problem with the small JDJ rounds. .225 Win brass is hard to come by. You can form them from .30-30, but everyone cites how the hulls aren't as strong. I have made .225 Winchester from .375 Winchester. Plenty strong, but you still need to thin the rim thickness. Plus it requires a lot of annealing and progressive neck sizing.

Truth be told, the old .30-30 will take any of the pressures we run in the Contender.

-Lee
www.singleactions.com
"Chasing perfection five shots at a time"

[Encore64]

The demand was so strong that JD introduced the 6.5-30 JDJ which was simply the 30-30 necked down and fireformed to 40°. Ackley made the same cartridge decades before.

What I always found peculiar was JD was the person who convinced me the 30-30 Ackley was the single best cartridge for the Contender.

Forty years later, I'm still convinced that this is true. Problem was it was an existing round and gave credit to one of the all time greats.

The confusing part to me was why it was so great, but the brass was too weak for other calibers.

[45MAN]

I STILL HAVE SMALL STASHES OF R-P 444 MARLIN CASES AND WINCHESTER 225 CASES FROM BACK IN THE 1980's WHEN I FIRST GOT INTO JDJ CARTRIDGES, SOME OF WHICH I MAY BE WILLING TO SHARE OR TRADE WITH A WORTHY FORUM MEMBER IN NEED.

[Encore64]

Yep, me too. I have two barrels in 375 JDJ. Both factory G2 Barrels, 14" and 23".

While I don't have a 6.5 JDJ, I do have a Custom 225 Winchester 22" G2 Barrel. It has a long throated chamber and 1-7" Twist. I had it built just for heavy bullets. Have 500+ new 225 Win Cases.

But, still today, I'd recommend buying barrels chambered for easier to find brass for...

[pacecars]

Jan 11, 2023 17:33:32 GMT -5 Encore64 said:

Yep, me too. I have two barrels in 375 JDJ. Both factory G2 Barrels, 14" and 23".

While I don't have a 6.5 JDJ, I do have a Custom 225 Winchester 22" G2 Barrel. It has a long throated chamber and 1-7" Twist. I had it built just for heavy bullets. Have 500+ new 225 Win Cases.

But, still today, I'd recommend buying barrels chambered for easier to find brass for...

I have seriously contemplated a .225 Contender with a 1:7 or even 1:6 twist to run the heavies. It would make a heck of a deer/antelope (and if I ever hit the lottery) sheep round

[500fksjr]

Great stuff gents!!

[taffin]

My three top JDJ/SSK contenders in order are the 6.5 JDJ, .375 JDJ, and the .257 JDJ. When I retired the 6.5 it had over 24 straight one shot kills everything from turkey to Waterbuck with a whole Lotta whitetails in between.

[Encore64]

I've got several taboo calibers in the Contender. Have shot many of them for 30+ years with zero issues.

225 Win, 250 and 300 Savage, 6.5x54MS, 7x57 Mauser, etc.

None of these have been reduced loads and all were on original actions as opposed to the newer, stronger G2.

I regret not adding a 8x57 Mauser while JD still owned SSK...

[pacecars]

The new SSK lists the two Savage rounds as available in the Contender. Bullberry has the 6.5x54 Mannlicher as available in their Contender barrels. MGM is a little mor conservative