I was given an older TC Contender. I want to buy a rifle barrel. Gun will be used for deer hunting, longest shot is 200 yards. What caliber?

300 blackout
6.8 SPC

Lots of options. I really like my 7-30 Waters barrel. Look at EABCO, SSK industries and Bullberry barrelworks sites since there are lots of options.

There were some interesting calibers made for the Contender over the years, most are mostly obscure now but some have done well.

If going with a TC barrel, 6.8spc or 7-30 Waters would get you there and there are lots more loads for the 6.8 than the one hard to find load for the 7-30.

Or a 6.5 grendel but not sure if anyone makes.

Grendel is available for the Encore but with the rim diameter and 50k pressure it would stretch the older frames on Contenders or at least could if shot s good bit.

Sure the Contender is chambered in some higher pressured cartridges but they have a small cartridge head exerting less pressure on the case head when firing. The Contender is also chambered in some with much larger case heads like 30-30 and 45-70 but they are at lower pressure.

A G2 Contender should be able to take the pressure of the Grendel but the older thin sided frames not so much. Actually I am not sure if the older ones are up to lots of shooting of a 6.8 but see TC does chamber barrels in that cartridge.

30-30 or 7-30

6 TCU,6.5 TCU,7 TCU,300 Black Out, 7-30 Waters. I have had good luck out of these and a few others out of a pistol. Didn't have much luck with 30-30, out of a 10" and 14" barrel.

My wife had a 300 blackout barrel set up for hogs and really likes it.

There was a 6.8 barrel listed for months in the classifieds, you might see if it's still there

I would agree with all of them except the Blackout. If you are going to run 125 grain bullets to get a good 200 yard round, you could go with a 30-30 instead and get a lot more punch. The great thing about a 30-30 in a Contender (or any single-shot) is that you can use spitzer bullets in it without any problems. My 30-30 load for Contenders uses a Nosler Ballistic Tip.

My kids gun is a contender G1 with a MGM barrel in a 300 blackout. The little gun uses a chote M4 stock and has a 16.25 inch barrel, neat little rig for young kids. My daughter is 9 and big for her age, so she is ready to graduate--the gun works great for 5-8 year olds--and heck 40 year olds--great little stand gun We hand loaded for it and found 130 grain TSX bullets were great on exotics, deer and pigs we run a AAC suppressor on it, and it's a family favorite.

7-30 waters is a good suggestion too. My gunsmith stand hunts with a G2 in a 7-30 waters improved with a 20 in barrel...he fills his tags every year with that little gun...

MGM will make a fast twist 223 too...not a bad option either....

Ed

7-30 Waters. It is a sweet gun and I have taken deer with it out to 250 yards. I ordered it with a muzzle brake and my kids started using it when they were about 5 years old. No recoil but it will put a hurt on your ears.

I love my 7 /30 waters!
It is made from 30 /30 brass.
A very good way to if you reload.

I can't argue that the 7X30 Waters isn't a great round, it is, but i might just stick with a 30/30 barrel, you may be able to find one cheaper.

I own a 300 BO in my AR and have several lever 30-30. WOW did not know it was going to be this hard.

I have two 8" threaded barrels coming in from MGM for a Contender pistol
45 ACP and 300 blackout..
Going to be fun!