orienteeer
Member
my local shop has a pre-owned t/c contender in 22lr match barrel for $429. the condition looks just perfect, judging by the flawless stock. i may be infatuated, so i thought i'd toss it up to the forum. comments?
Fair price for t/c contender?
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Coltdriver
Member
Prices vary depending on where you are.
There are also a few other factors.
Is the receiver a newer or older version? The older versions were pretty hard to unlatch. They made an upgrade to an easy open frame by moving the pivot point in the newer versions. You can get an old frame upgraded by the factory for, I think, the cost of postage.
What is the furniture like? It can range from plastic to factory wood to really nice aftermarket wood.
When you say match barrel do you mean a Match Grade Machine or Virgin Valley barrel or is it a heavy factory barrel? Even the factory match barrels get a little higher priced, especially in rifle length.
Here in Denver you can get one used with a pistol barrel (under 16 inch) for 300 to 350 at for example the Firing Line in Aurora.
A frame with factory plastic or wood should run about 250. A pistol barrel with a forearm from 100 to 150 for factory grade, 150 to 200 for a rifle barrel. Either should come with at least scope bases. The sky is the limit for a custom barrel.
The last one I bought used was a rifle with a 16 inch factory .223 barrel, I paid $285. It was factory wood in good shape, perfectly functional but not a safe queen.
But New York is not Denver and you may pay a little more. If you have a rifle barrel with nice wood you may be about right. If its a pistol barrel I'd say you may want to decide what matters. $50 one way or another isn't going to ruin your day right?
The only problem with Contenders is that you can easily add a pistol or rifle caliber for 100 to 200 bucks and the barrels will multiply in your collection. They are a lot of fun and the market for barrels is pretty liquid.
So unless they are plentiful in your area and you can shop it does not sound like you are getting ripped off at that price.
If you buy it post a picture and show us what you got.
There are also a few other factors.
Is the receiver a newer or older version? The older versions were pretty hard to unlatch. They made an upgrade to an easy open frame by moving the pivot point in the newer versions. You can get an old frame upgraded by the factory for, I think, the cost of postage.
What is the furniture like? It can range from plastic to factory wood to really nice aftermarket wood.
When you say match barrel do you mean a Match Grade Machine or Virgin Valley barrel or is it a heavy factory barrel? Even the factory match barrels get a little higher priced, especially in rifle length.
Here in Denver you can get one used with a pistol barrel (under 16 inch) for 300 to 350 at for example the Firing Line in Aurora.
A frame with factory plastic or wood should run about 250. A pistol barrel with a forearm from 100 to 150 for factory grade, 150 to 200 for a rifle barrel. Either should come with at least scope bases. The sky is the limit for a custom barrel.
The last one I bought used was a rifle with a 16 inch factory .223 barrel, I paid $285. It was factory wood in good shape, perfectly functional but not a safe queen.
But New York is not Denver and you may pay a little more. If you have a rifle barrel with nice wood you may be about right. If its a pistol barrel I'd say you may want to decide what matters. $50 one way or another isn't going to ruin your day right?
The only problem with Contenders is that you can easily add a pistol or rifle caliber for 100 to 200 bucks and the barrels will multiply in your collection. They are a lot of fun and the market for barrels is pretty liquid.
So unless they are plentiful in your area and you can shop it does not sound like you are getting ripped off at that price.
If you buy it post a picture and show us what you got.
orienteeer
Member
colt -
thanks for your input. it sounds like you know the ins & outs of this firearm.
the barrel is a heavy, T/C factory rifle barrel that's engraved match.
as i mentioned, the beautiful solid wood furniture is, as far as i could see, flawless, which is what got my blood rushing. i hate picking up a gun at a shop & finding the stock all dinged up.
i don't know if the action is "new" or "old" version.
i'm strictly a target shooter, & plan to put a good scope on this gun.
any more suggestions/opinions are welcome.
thanks for your input. it sounds like you know the ins & outs of this firearm.
the barrel is a heavy, T/C factory rifle barrel that's engraved match.
as i mentioned, the beautiful solid wood furniture is, as far as i could see, flawless, which is what got my blood rushing. i hate picking up a gun at a shop & finding the stock all dinged up.
i don't know if the action is "new" or "old" version.
i'm strictly a target shooter, & plan to put a good scope on this gun.
any more suggestions/opinions are welcome.
Coltdriver
Member
Well with a factory match rifle barrel in .22 what are you waiting for? That is a fair to a good deal!
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