350 yard Moose/Elk Capable 14" Barreled T/C Contender Carbine in 338JDJ #2

Camp Cook

Camp Cook

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I've been on a journey with T/C Contender carbines for over 23 years now my first experience with a Contender was in the early 80's with a Contender handgun chambered in 6.5TCU (223 case necked out to 6.5") I sold it a couple years later I next bought a 30-30 carbine for my son when he was 10 years old he's now 33.

I believe I now have the ultimate light - short 28.5" OAL - fast handling - accurate 14" barreled single shot carbine that I can put together for over 300 yard hunting of big game like moose and elk.

The cartridge is called 338JDJ #2 (444 Marlin brass necked down) loaded with .338" 180gr Accubonds @ 2500fps zeroed 2" high at 100 yards, with a dead on hold its 1 1/2" low at 200 yards and I finally got a chance to shoot it at 320 yards yesterday afternoon drop is appr 13" at this distance.

Due to the small size of this carbine I installed a Leupold compact 2-7X28mm scope the tip of the bottom post is dead on at 320 yards where the 180gr Accubond is still doing appr 1850fps.



For size comparison here is a pic comparing a 30-06 165gr Accubond on the left with a 338JDJ #2 180gr Accubond



To be legal in Canada long guns overall length has to be over 26", barrels manufactured over 18.5" cannot be shortened less than 18.5" but barrels that were manufactured shorter than 18.5" are classed as restricted which means you can cut them to any length you want and they are legal to install on a long gun as long as the OAL of the long gun is greater than the 26" min length.

My 14" barreled Contender barrels were manufactured to 14" by Match Grade Machine, SSK Ind & T/C these combo's depending on the butt stock length are 27.5" - 29" OAL.

I also have a 16" 22LR barrel manufactured for me by the T/C Custom Shop with a shortened butt stock for my son's and now grandsons the OAL is 26 3/8" which is cutting it close to the minimum OAL but totally legal.

First time at the range groupings with the 338JDJ #2 with the 180gr Accubonds were holes touching at 100 yards, appr 2" which I plan on bettering with installing a better forend at 200 yards and I haven't taken enough shots at 300 yards to know other then I'm hitting the dirt within 3" - 4" to the right of my aim point.

I have four 14" combo's now this 338JDJ #2, 375JDJ, 45 Colt & 45-70 and I'm looking for a 14" barrel in 17HMR to be my backpack grouse gun.
 
Pretty handy rig right there... should do a great job at all practical hunting ranges, on pretty much any game... and it must be a joy to carry in the field, especially in the bush or climbing and using both hands.

What does it weigh, fully rigged?

I put that same scope on my Buck Mark Sporter for the same reasons.
 
These carbines are super short easy to carry and crazy accurate and due to the recoil I don;t want them any lighter than they are...

The 338JDJ #2 with the 4 180gr Accubonds and 4 200gr bullets on the butt stock weighs 6.6lbs.

This one is a 14" barrel in 375JDJ with 3 220gr and 3 225gr bullets on the heavier laminate stock and an older Leupold Vari X 111 1-5x scope it weighs 7.4lbs.

 
Camp Cook said:
These carbines are super short easy to carry and crazy accurate and due to the recoil I don;t want them any lighter than they are...

The 338JDJ #2 with the 4 180gr Accubonds and 4 200gr bullets on the butt stock weighs 6.6lbs.

This one is a 14" barrel in 375JDJ with 3 220gr and 3 225gr bullets on the heavier laminate stock and an older Leupold Vari X 111 1-5x scope it weighs 7.4lbs.

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Why two different loads carried on the stocks? The difference won't amount to a hill of beans on the target...
 
Nothing is better then a T/C Encore or Contender!!
Lost Count after 50 Deer Shot with mine!!

(Same Frame one of the first encore endeavor frames in canada ,& Barrels from 12"-28")

Size And fast handling makes it my #1
I still Like my short 45-70 and 28" 7MM Mag Barrels the best.
 
Nice set up but you’re pushing the limits on low levels of expansion. My testing shows that the low level of expansion on accubonds is 1900fps. Even then it isn’t great. At 300 fps your velocity is barely at 1800. Your combo is a cool brush gun, but 6 more inches of barrel and a 338 federal would give you 2500 fps with a 225 accubond making it a 400 yard rifle. 6” of slim barrel would add little weight and hinder maneuverability very little. Cool brush gun but I’d carry a second barrel with me.
 
To be legal in Canada long guns overall length has to be over 26", barrels manufactured over 18.5" cannot be shortened less than 18.5" but barrels that were manufactured shorter than 18.5" are classed as restricted which means you can cut them to any length you want and they are legal to install on a long gun as long as the OAL of the long gun is greater than the 26" min length.
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I not sure that's right? My understanding was you can't shorten a rifle barrel below 18", period. One can be manufactured shorter than 18, but not cut shorter regardless of the length it started at...?
 
Suther said:
I not sure that's right? My understanding was you can't shorten a rifle barrel below 18", period. One can be manufactured shorter than 18, but not cut shorter regardless of the length it started at...?
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He said when it begins as a manufactured barrel UNDER 18".
 
Suther said:
I not sure that's right? My understanding was you can't shorten a rifle barrel below 18", period. One can be manufactured shorter than 18, but not cut shorter regardless of the length it started at...?
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I believe that applies to semi auto center fire only. This quote is off the nfa site,

"CC s. 84(1) “prohibited firearm” (d): If the barrel has been SHORTENED to less than 18″/457mm, after leaving the factory, “by sawing, cutting or ANY other alteration or modification” that forces the firearm into the “prohibited firearm” class.

NOTE: The firearm is NOT forced into the “prohibited firearm” class if it left the factory with the barrel at below-18″/457mm barrel length"
 
hoytcanon said:
He said when it begins as a manufactured barrel UNDER 18".
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Yes, but my understanding was a manufactured barrel under 18" can't be cut at all?

383SB said:
I believe that applies to semi auto center fire only. This quote is off the nfa site,

"CC s. 84(1) “prohibited firearm” (d): If the barrel has been SHORTENED to less than 18″/457mm, after leaving the factory, “by sawing, cutting or ANY other alteration or modification” that forces the firearm into the “prohibited firearm” class.

NOTE: The firearm is NOT forced into the “prohibited firearm” class if it left the factory with the barrel at below-18″/457mm barrel length"
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I don't think so. If you cut a barrel and the finished length is under 18" (regardless of whether it was more or less than 18 to start with) then the firearm is prohib, no?
 
Those are nice CC but don't you find them a little butt heavy for shooting? I had a 10" 44Mag barrel for my Contender, it made for a nice light 24"OAL package but I found it to be way butt heavy and the bark, even in the open, to be too much for decent off hand shooting. Shooting it from kneeling/sitting was a little scary as the flame ball singed my pant legs and the toes of my boots, lol. I guess I could have worn ear protection but I just don't do that hunting, yet. Anyways I got rid of the barrel as I just didn't like the gun that short and that loud. Maybe 14" would have been better. I really like the feel of my 18" 7-30 Waters bull and 20" 223 Rem tapered barrels but they don't have the thump of your guns. I have been thinking about an 18" 338JDJ or similar from MGM but I don't know if I'll ever hunt elk or moose again, even though I have elk in the back yard, and I sure don't need that to hunt deer or coyotes.
 
Firearms are restricted or prohibited. Barrels are just tubes of metal and you can possess any length. Trouble comes when you put a barrel on a frame and together they are less than 26 inches OAL. I have bought contender barrels as short as 10 inches from reputable companies and auction houses and never been asked for PAL. It's a gun part.
 
todbartell said:
You don't carry 2-3 different types of ammo with you out in the field?
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I don't carry two different types of ammo in the field either, but all my hunting when I go out for the day is in the same type of terrain. Usually close up. I do keep a different rifle at camp, for those days when I go to areas where shooting is longer range.
Camp cooks rifle looks very handy. How does it balance?
 
todbartell said:
You don't carry 2-3 different types of ammo with you out in the field?
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Never... pick the best load and run with it. I might test a dozen loads in finding the one, or switch to a different load and rezero everything for another application, but never two different loads for one gun in the field... weeeelll... that is actually not true, I do have a few subsonic loads made up for a few rifles for pot shooting grouse and hares, and those rounds have the headstamps coloured blue with a Sharpie... so they don't get confused... but never two different full power loads.
 
its best to have all the options covered by carrying multiple types of ammo in the field. You never know what specialty shot could arise
 
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