t/c contender


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oklahoma caveman
February 23, 2009, 03:43 PM
is $315 a good price for a used original t/c contender with a 218 bee barrel?
can barrels still be found for the original contender?

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twoclones
February 23, 2009, 03:55 PM
I've seen a couple of Contenders this past month in the $400 - $450 range. Both had scopes included.

MatthewVanitas
February 23, 2009, 04:04 PM
So far as "original Contender". Between the Contender and the Contender G2 all the barrels are compatible, it's just the furniture that's different.

However, if the frame of a T/C is below 195,000, it's an "early Contender" and there's a chance it might not be fully compatible with later barrels. Some THR members say their early works fine with later barrels, but I had an early that simply would not fit later barrels, and the T/C factory told me that frames below 195000 tend to have that problem.

If it's an early and you ever want to change barrels on it, $315 is a little high unless it has a decent scope. If it's post-195000 $315 is a decent price. If it has a good scope, then that's a pretty good price.

oklahoma caveman
February 23, 2009, 04:08 PM
it is above 200,000. no scope. blueing is slightly blemished in 1 area.

looking at the price of barrels it may be better to save and buy new, but i have heard that the newer g2 and encore have horrid triggers and that they arent adjustable. is this true?

PO2Hammer
February 23, 2009, 04:57 PM
The G2 and Encore have much simpler ignition systems compared to the original.

My Encore came with a very nice trigger. My G2 was heavier, but a set of Mike Bellm's springs solved that nicely. I prefer the G2 to the Encore and the original Contender. Not as bulky as the Encore, but handles recoil better than the Contender, plus it can be re-cocked at anytime, unlike the original.

.218 Bee is a neat old caliber designed for lever action rifles. Brass may be a bit scarce, and it headspaces on the rim, so it may be slightly less accurate than a .222 Remington or .221 Fireball.

.22 Hornet is far more popular among Contendereers.

MatthewVanitas
February 23, 2009, 07:22 PM
it is above 200,000. no scope. blueing is slightly blemished in 1 area.

looking at the price of barrels it may be better to save and buy new, but i have heard that the newer g2 and encore have horrid triggers and that they arent adjustable. is this true?

New G2 receivers are around $350, IIRC. There are tons of used barrels on the market, and if you keep your eyes on GunBroker it's quite possible to get a barrel with decent scope for under $200 on a good day.

Is the price $315 total, no tax or shipping? If so, I'd consider buying the gun, selling the barrel on GunBroker, and using the money to buy a barrel in whatever cartridge you like more. .218 Bee being somewhat uncommon, you might get a good price for it and have money to buy a more "boring" chambering with a scope.

oklahoma caveman
February 24, 2009, 12:03 AM
Itl be $315 plus tax.

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