The indoor range that's 5 minutes from me had been closed but finally re-opened under new management. I got a chance to get over there with some Contenders and work on breaking in the 25-45 barrel. So far it hasn't met a bullet it didn't like. I shot at 50 yards for initial accuracy check and load development.
Factory ammo, loaded with 87 grain Hot-Cor bullets, though it seems on the hot side for Contender, is well within the MOA range. A batch of bullets that I had worked up in another barrel with the 87s shot easily under MOA.
A ladder of Varget loads that I worked up for 100 grain hollow points ( a combination that would be impossible for the round in an AR, as originally intended) showed sub-half-MOA at both ends of the ladder with the in-between charges hanging just outside MOA. From some earlier chrony testing, I know that the low end of the ladder is pushing that 00 grain bullet to around 2350 FPS. Based on some load software data, I'm estimating the top velocities at probably 2450 FPS. I'll take that from a 16" barrel. :)
This one is a keeper for sure - recoil is mild and it'll obviously be a bug-holer when I dial in just the right loads. :)
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