T/C Contender Bullet Selection????

[shooter50]

I just picked up a T/C contender pistol chambered in 30-30. It has a 14" barrel and I installed leupold bases and rings with a (temporary) simmons 2-6x32 pistol scope. Anyway I have shot it with 125 gr Nosler Ballistic Tips, 130gr Hornady SP, 150gr Nosler Ballistic tips, and 165gr Sierra Gamekings (all hand loads). Only having the gun 2 weeks and 2 range sessions all above bullets weights (loads) group 1.5" or better at 75yards. I know I can tune the loads some more and probably shoot hole for hole granted the man behind it can do so . Actually with the 165gr sierra gamekings I already can put 5 shots you can cover with a nickel. Anyway i am worried the 165gr bullet may be too heavy for a 30-30 with a 14" barrel and I am afraid when hunting next year the bullet will not have velocity to preform correctly. I am leaning towards the 125gr Nosler and the 130gr Hornady. I am new to the single shot pistols chambered in rifle cartridges and i am hoping to get some advice from some people who have more experience in this because I am about out of bullets and would like to get some advice before I purchase anymore. Thanks in advance for any input or suggestions.

[Ridge Runner]

thats the thing about rifle calibers in pistols, lighter bullets tend to hold togather better at lower velocities than they normaly do, and the heavys tend to behave like FMJ's unless you hit heavy bone, then expansion is still iffy. Hornagy makes some single shot pistol bullets but I found them just too explosive. work with the lighter ones and see if you can get them to group for ya, they'll do better on deer.
RR

[Big Uncle]

I have a Contender that I normally use with a 14" 30-30 barrel. The 130 Hornady is my best bullet out of this setup.