Contender in 223

[Ernie]

14-15 inch barrel will easily get you past 250 yards. If it is a older factory barrel, then, the 50 grain varmint bullet will be deadly.
If it is a custom barrel that has a fast twist rate , then the 70 or 75 grain A-Max, or the 73 grain ELD-M or the 77 grain TMK would work great on squirrels.
Are you wanting to use apistol scope or rifle scope?
Budget for the barrel?
Budget for the scope?

 

[Ernie]

Not a Contender, but my 15" H-S Precision HSP 223 Remington rocks!

Sunday GunDay: Ernie Bishop’s Bolt-Action Specialty Pistols « Daily Bulletin

Specialty Pistols -- Report from Ernie Bishop in Wyoming For those who know of me in the shooting world, you would probably know me in one of two ways: Dealer for SEB Rests or someone who does most of his competing, varminting, and or hunting with specialty pistols.

bulletin.accurateshooter.com

 

[HARPERC]

14-15 inch barrel will easily get you past 250 yards. If it is a older factory barrel, then, the 50 grain varmint bullet will be deadly.
If it is a custom barrel that has a fast twist rate , then the 70 or 75 grain A-Max, or the 73 grain ELD-M or the 77 grain TMK would work great on squirrels.
Are you wanting to use apistol scope or rifle scope?
Budget for the barrel?
Budget for the scope?

Probably $2000 scope/barrel in some combo. Not fixed.

Likely a pistol scope, but open to advice. It's currently a 7-08 with a 2x pistol scope on it.

I'm in good shape with components for .223 lightweights to heavyweights in bullets.

Not necessarily a primary gun, just my main .223 rifle getting some mileage.

 

[Ernie]

Sounds like an encore frame to me not a contender

 

[Ernie]

Bullberry or MGM if you're looking for a current fast twist barrel.
TC components are hard to find today

 

[HARPERC]

I'll have to get it out of the safe for a look.

Not well versed in those things.

 

[Ernie]

I'll have to get it out of the safe for a look.

Not well versed in those things.

Contender cannot handle a 7mm-08.
If you have a 7mm-08, then for sure you have a Encore frame. Unless you have two different TC frames.
Make sure when you are looking for a barrel, you get a Encore barrel.
Contender barrels will not fit a Encore barrel and a Encore barrel will not fit a Contender frame.

 

[HARPERC]

You're correct Encore.

Current configuration. Leupold scope.

 

[Ernie]

With the extra weight of the encore, you could easily use a rifle scope safely, if you want to.

 

[HARPERC]

Have you got a scope recommendation?

Thanks for your help!

 

[Ernie]

Even without a muzzle brake, you can easily use a rifle scope.
You may not be able to see a full FOV, but even at that, it would be a greater FOV than you would get with a LER pistol scope, and better glass.
What magnification range are you interested in?

 

[gemihur]

Great footage!
Thanks

 

[Ernie]

Dan shooting my 15" rear-grip XP in 221 Fireball Improved.

 

[HARPERC]

Even without a muzzle brake, you can easily use a rifle scope.
You may not be able to see a full FOV, but even at that, it would be a greater FOV than you would get with a LER pistol scope, and better glass.
What magnification range are you interested in?

FOV, and eye relief more important than magnification.

Lots more shooting under a 100 than over

I appreciate your help!