The 375 Winchester family grows

[TedH]

Picked up this 375 Win. Contender to join in with my Marlin 375 and my Winchester 94 Big Bore 375. Trying to decide what scope and what mount/rings to go with. This is my first Contender, so I'm open to suggestions from you Contender guys.

[Leverluver]

I'm open to suggestions from you Contender guys.

Plugs and muffs

[TedH]

I'm open to suggestions from you Contender guys.

Plugs and muffs

Duly noted.

[AJMD429]

Personally, I'd mount a Williams FP with a Target knob for elevation (get the 'Target' model but sub-out a regular windage knob). It's what I keep on my 357 Maximum. Aperture 'IN' for target use, and out for 'Ghost Ring' effect when afield.

[missionary5155]

Greetings
Nice looking group ! One good caliber to have plenty of. I guess any rifle cartridge that is caliber .38 has a lot of merits.
So tell us a little about that brake on the Contender ... I was next to a range table once when the shooter touched one off in caliber .44 I think. With ear plugs and muffs over the plugs it was unpleasant to be near off to the side. I moved.
Mike in Peru

[TedH]

Personally, I'd mount a Williams FP with a Target knob for elevation (get the 'Target' model but sub-out a regular windage knob). It's what I keep on my 357 Maximum. Aperture 'IN' for target use, and out for 'Ghost Ring' effect when afield.

Still have to put something up front though.

[TedH]

Greetings
Nice looking group ! One good caliber to have plenty of. I guess any rifle cartridge that is caliber .38 has a lot of merits.
So tell us a little about that brake on the Contender ... I was next to a range table once when the shooter touched one off in caliber .44 I think. With ear plugs and muffs over the plugs it was unpleasant to be near off to the side. I moved.
Mike in Peru

I was told by a friend that it was a factory TC barrel/compensater. I haven't shot it yet, but yes I agree it's going to be loud and probably some significant blast/shock too.

[Pete44ru]

.

Ted, once upon a time I ordered a 14" Muzzle Tamer barrel from the T/C Custom Shop (Fox River Outfitters) for my G1 Contender.

The rubber bumpers are a good thing, but the recoil's not all that bad - certainly nowhere near the recoil from a .45-70 Hunter I bought when the Hunter model was first introduced.

I no longer handgun hunt, but when I did, I found low-powered (around 2x, +/-), fixed-magnification scopes the best for most hunting use.

(I hunted with .44 S&W M-29's, a Ruger SRH .454, plus G1 & G2 Contenders in various different chamberings like .30-30, .35 Rem, .375W, & .45-70)

I especially like T/C's Lobo scopes, as they have/had switchable (on/off) illuminated crosshairs that came in handy when hunting those shadowy buck bedrooms, like Black Cedar Swamps, etc.

I was introduced to the T/C handgun scopes via the one that was issued with that .45-70 Hunter package (gun, scope, soft case); but today, you'll most likely need to search online for a used T/C scope.

What's really nice about a Contender (Encore's not included) is that you can obtain 21" & 23" rifle-length barrels, and legally install Contender Carbine stocks on your frame - then switch as you please from handgun to rifle to handgun (whatever), as long as a barrel less then 16" long aren't on the frame with a carbine buttstock.



.

[GoatGuy]

Plugs and muffs

TedH - having (operative word) HAD a Contender chambered in 30-30 years ago I heartily concur, ...and would also recommend a shooting glove!

[SteveR]

The recoil from a Contender is really not bad, like all handguns, shooting from the bench is felt more. I have shot mostly 445 super mag from the contender, and its not to bad. I think the 454 full power loads in my Freedom Arms 83 is worse. And yes earplugs are needed, as with all shooting.

Steve

[t.r.]

Many years ago, I was stationed in Michigan with USAF. My hunting buddy had a TC Contender chambered for a wildcat named 357 Herrett. This cartridge is a shortened 30-30 case with neck enlarged to 35 caliber. Of course he built his own ammo and had great fun doing so. I missed a running 6 point buck one morning but he dropped it in mid stride with his handgun. The bullet made a big hole as I recall. He had a Leupold fixed power handgun scope mounted to this TC but I do not know the power setting. He carried his handgun in a custom leather holster crafted by a saddle shop.

Years later, we hunted together in Colorado for elk. He brought his custom Remington in 280 Improved and toppled a medium sized bull with this outfit. Distance was about 175 yards or so. My buddy enjoys hunting with "non-factory made" ammo. He always forms his own brass.

TR

[mohavesam]

I lived and hunted in MI for many years, and one of my favorites was the 375Win Contender for corn & bean-stuffed whitetails.
In the "shotgun zone" in that state, F&G allowed straight-walled cartridges of at least 35 caliber in a handgun. So that put me and my 375 in compliance and with a significant range advantage. Made a perfect tree-stand handgun with the ability to hit a kill zone across the beanfield if needed. Only the 480Ruger out-shined the 375Win for my purposes, but that's a different story.

I started with the 12" Hunter barrel with the factory porting. Accuracy from a rest was stunning. I eventually acquired a Super 14" barrel and had a 2.5" compensator soldered on, making the same barrel legal whether I used the pistol stock or a shoulder stock (in the rifle zones), so I had best confidence in the scope/barrel package year-round.I also had 38-55 rounds that gave reduced recoil and velocity, but still delivered a 375-cal whack.

As to blast: Buy a decent pair of electronic shooting muffs that amplify woods sounds yet clip gunshot reports to a safe level. This is 2015 afterall and there is no excuse for damaging your hearing permanently. I also have a couple Big Bore 375 guns and they're among the last to go. Everyone wants to shoot them when they're out in the daylight, and I have to warn them; That ain't no thutty-thutty!

[TedH]

I started with the 12" Hunter barrel with the factory porting. Accuracy from a rest was stunning. !

That's encouraging. Now I am wondering if 2x would be enough magnification, or if I'd be better off with a fixed 4x or a variable.

[SteveR]

I started with the 12" Hunter barrel with the factory porting. Accuracy from a rest was stunning. !

That's encouraging. Now I am wondering if 2x would be enough magnification, or if I'd be better off with a fixed 4x or a variable.

I have a 2x Leopold on my 44 Redhawk, and with the 375 I would go with a variable EER, you will have the range for the extra magnification where 2x was good to 50-100yards.

Steve