Long range Contender-G2 barrels?
After supper I was looking through Gary's GNR reloading manual.
I was contemplating on the topic of what would be a great long range deer/antelope round.
When I look at the numbers the 7 mm GNR looks quite impressive. It seems to hit a balance of sorts with bullet weight and velocity.
The only downside , at least right now, would be getting 30-30 brass to handload for it.
John, the 7mmGNR, and the 30GNR
On the 30-30 case are great lighter rounds. Also look at the .310GNR on a 405 win case. It’s a 30-30 on steroids. I shoot those 3 a bunch, but the 378GNR is my favorite. You certainly don’t need it for deer and antelope. The 30GNR can shoot 30-30, (that fireforms it) then you can reload the brass to 30GNR with a light fast load for range. Wish you were closer, ( wrong side of the State) you could stop by and try them all.
if deer and antelope are your 2 main species then I would go
with the 7 GNR. I have taken several antelope with it. For that matter I have taken even more animals with the 30 GNR. But the 7 GNR was developed for small body animals at fairly long range and it does very well at that.
If you think you might go after larger bodied deer, or cow elk then the 310 GNR is the way to go. The big 200 lb midwestern deer are the perfect target for the 310 GNR. The 310 GNR will beat the 300 Savage and loaded in equal length barrels will equal the 30-06, so for the bigger bodied animals that would be your best bet. Out of a rifle the 30-06 will beat the 310 GNR in a 12" barrel by about 175 fps but run the 310 GNR in the same length barrel and it easily equals the 30-06 and in some bullet weights will beat the 30-06. On my last several African safaris I have used the 310 GNR extensively taking animals the size of cow elk with ease. And my Red Lechwe at a measured 190 yards it dropped him with one shot. And they are a large plains game animal.
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So it just depends upon what game you plan on hunting.