Thanks for the replys guys...
I've been kind of wanting something in 204, but am currently playing with a few 17 calibers for shorter distances, I also didn't realize that 204 Ruger barrels were commonly available for the Contenders... but I have always been a slower heavier bullet kind of guy, not normally the light bullet hyper velocity type... anyone shoot much 204 out to 300 yards enough to know how it bucks the breeze consistantly at that distance ???
I'm currently building a faster twist 223 barrel ( 1 in 8 twist )... it ended up being a heavy bull barrel 17" long... so I'll be able to shoot 68 grainish bullets in the 223... I also already have a 222 barrel in carbine length, but while it's extremely accurate at 100 yards, its a slower twist barrel, & will likely lose a bit of that accuracy to the wind at 300 yards...
I have a 14" 7-30 Waters barrel, & like that cartridge... so I'm thinking of a carbine length barrel...
part of the trouble ( for me anyway ) with the TCU cartridges, is getting enough cartridges to shoot through out the summer... sizing the 223 brass is kind of a pain ( I think I have only about 40 sized 7mm TCU cases )... but feel the 6mm or 6.5mm might be slightly better at the 300 yard distances... a little more mustard ??? ( my TCU barrels are all either 10" or 14", so I'd still have to buy a carbine length barrel for the 300 yard distances )
the 6.8 Rem ( SPC ) seems like an interesting cartridge, which at 1st I had no need for... ( being it was designed for the AR platform ??? ) & I had gotten rid of my AR, long before the cartridges developement... however I only receintly learned they were making barrels for the Contenders in 6.8... I also have alot of 270 bullets, though maybe not the ideal to use in the 6.8 for 300 yards... bt I'd need dies & brass & a barrel to shoot that cartridge... I'm looking at component & loading tool availability right now...
appreciate any other comments...