Fooling with Contenders

[Gordon]

I'm surprised this forum doesn't have a lot of Contender threads. Afterall it is the correct venue, or is it that people get bored with single shots?
Anyway I bought recently a mint old 1973 made Contender from an estate that came with a .256 Winchester Magnum Octagon Barrel with a 2.8x Bushnell Phantom II scope, a .44 mag Vent Rib internal choked 10" barrel with a foreend , and an octagon 10" 45colt /.410 externally choke barrel.They came with .256 dies and 150 rounds of .256 ammo, I already have a 1978 Contender and a pile of barrels , but what the heck for $500!
I was interested in the .256 Winchester Magnum barrel, always wanted one but really didnt want to complicate my life. Well I fired 100 rounds of the factory ammo, keeping a box of the Winchester white box Super Speed ammo for posterity. The 60 grain bullet clocked 2370 fps at 15 feet at sea level. I got 3" groups off a sand bag at 50 yards, the Phantom 2 is OK, but not like a modern 1" scope. The gun was sighted EXACTLY dead center at 50 yards with a 6" hold on a 1" bullesye.I am leaving that barrel on the frame so I will shoot the next varmint that comes around the ranch!
I tried the .44mag Hot Shot barrel with a few of the 36 .44 Hot Shot rounds that were included. It throws an 18" pattern at 50 feet with the 1/2 oz. of #7.5 shot . I fired a couple .44mag 240 grain rounds after I removed the choke tube, won't be doing much of that as the bare threads will gets fouled up and the fixed flip up sights were not real close to aim.
I tried the old external choke .45 barrel with a few 2.5" 7.5 4.10 shells to see how they compared to the .44 Hot Shot. The pattern at 50 feet was a little larger , close to 2 feet around BUT the shot was more uniformly spread . I moved back to 25 yards and the 30" pattern was thin , but the quail outline had 5 hits in it!
I didn't have any shotgun barrels any more ,I traded my old .410 barrel for a .22 K hornet one many years ago. This old Contender has the very high gloss finish and is very well made like only the first series were when Warren Center was trying to make a name for himself and get the guns going. Anyway, a little Contender nostalgia in the venue where it's supposed to be at!

 

[Shawnee]

Hi Gordon...

T/C Contenders, especially the originals and the Super-14 are muy interesting in many circles. Awesome that you picked up a .256 barrel. That alone is worth a few hundred dollars. It will shoot very, very well, too, once you start handloading for it.
In the mid-80s I had a good friend who collected Contenders and their barrels, and happened to be an extremely talented reloader. Using his reloads from a 30 Herrett barrel I managed to put 9 shots from a bench into less than an inch at 100 yards and then, when that 10th shot was staring me in the face I crumbled and threw it wide enough to make the 10-shot group measure 1.1". I don't remember what brand/model scope Jerry had on the Herrett barrel but I'm sure it was the best available at the time.
I will likely buy the next Super-14 I can scrounge with a .22 Hornet barrel if the price is anywhere near reasonable.

 

[MCgunner]

Good find. I have an old external choke .410/.45 Colt also and I like the fact that the barrel is just 7" with the choke removed. 25 yards is pushing the limit for it on small game, but I've taken squirrel with it. As a hunter, I have uses for this barrel.

 

[P95Carry]

Fear not Gordon There is a hardcore of us enthusiasts around.

I got my fairly early Contender some while back from a THR member and love the thing, always have. It stays for most part in its .223 config' - my favorite. Tell you what that groups almost tighter at 100 yds than the Ruger 77 MkII does!!!!

The .44 mag barrel tho is another nice option and since taking pics a long time ago I got a .45/.410 barrel too. Of course the jump for the .45 slug is way too long really for hyper accuracy but - it's a ''fun'' barrel. I do want yet and probably finally with this, to get a ''thuddy-thuddy'' barrel.

One think I like a lot with mine is the Pacmeyr grips and forend - feels real nice.

 

[critter]

I havd a Contender with 2 barrels, both the 14" ss bull barrels. One is in .223 and the other a 30-30 Win. Either will do 3 shots under 1" at 100 yds any day I care to do so.

I've shot quite a few vermin with the .223 and killed several whitetails with the 30-30, one at 175 yds.

I love to shoot them both. They are very interesting firearms and are quality shooting irons. Have fun!

 

[Smith357]

2 frames 8 barrels. I keep one frame with a pistol grip and the other with the rifle stock.

.22lr 10 inch bull w/4x Leupold, 20 inch Bullberry w/36x B&L
.223 14" w/2x7 B&L, 21" w/4x12 Redfield
.45-70 16" w/brake
.45/.410 10"
.357 10"
.410 21"

 

[Onmilo]

I have been wanting a G2 with a 16.5" barrel in .22 Hornet that I can make into a rifle, something T/C doesn't make right now.
I will probably add a .22 LR 10" barrel and a .45 Colt/.410 super 14 just for fun.

 

[Stevie-Ray]

I have a Contender Super 14 that I bought in .30-30. As was already stated, sub MOA accuracy is the norm with a 4X Leupold atop. I also have a Super 16 barrel in .45-70 that just plain hurts to shoot, especially with the 300 gr Remington loads, even after a trip to Magnaport International for a full rifle job.

 

[revolverman357]

I have an older contender in very nice condition. The two barrels I have are
16" .223rem and super 16 35rem.
.223 for varmint and 35rem for deer.
Right now I have the .223 barrel on with rifle stock and a Nikon 3-9x40 scope.

 

[P95Carry]

Haven't seen Okiecruffler for a while but IIRC he has a large selection of Contender stuff - the details of which I forget right now.

 

[duckjihad]

'bout time......I have a super 14 in 35 Remington I'm happy with. Prints 3 inchers at 100. Will reload for it and try to find a sweet spot. Think it's capable of more, if I am. Have a 2-7 Burris on it. Nice rig. Bought used. Bargain price. Turns out it no go bang when fired. TC did a nice repair job at no charge. Intend to deer hunt with it soon.

 

[PistolShooter1]

Another Contenter lover here !!

I have a stainless steel frame with a 14" SS 7-30 Waters barrel and a 375 JDJ barrel from SKS Industries.

I would highly recommend their T'SOB mount for any of the heavier recoiling calibers.

I am thinking of getting another of the new Contenters or an Encore in a pistol length barrel.

 

[MCgunner]

My barrels are 12" Hunter .30-30 scoped with 2x, .22 10" scoped with 2x, 7mmTCU with IHMSA sights, and .45 colt/.410.

 

[db_tanker]

Ya'll got me wanting to shoot a family pic of my frames and barrels.


The two that I have the most fun with is the 17 HMR carbine and the 14" 30 WCF. My 7-30 is also a hoot to play with.

I am wavering on the need of a 14" 44 Mag with the other calibers I already have...'course I could always re-chamber to a 444 Marlin or 445 SM, but I have a punisher with the 45-70 16.25"...

Heck, anyone got a 14" TC/U that they are tired of looking at?


D

 

[Harry Paget Flashman]

I had a Contender in the 70's with a .222 Remington and .44 Mag barrel(screw-on choke for Hot Shot ammo), but I sold it. The .44 was too brutal.

I missed it and bought a G2 Contender a few years ago with the .223 and .45LC/.410 barrels. Later I picked a used .221 Fireball 10" octagon barrel. Fortunately (some would say "unfortunately") I have ~1000 rds of lacquered steel case Wolf .223 that didn't quite work out for my AR. The T/C is fun to shoot at the range and a real attention getter in .221 & .223.

I want to turn it into a carbine too but can't decide what caliber.

 

[Oldnamvet]

My Contender has been pared down over the years to the barrels I use the most. .22 Hornet (rechambered from .22 LR) and 30/30. I didn't use the .223, had no use for the .45/.410, and the .45/70, although deadly on deer, was just too brutal to be fun. My .22 LR barrel I had rechambered. I can reload the Hornet for everything the .22 used to do(small game) as well as varmints out to 150 yds. 30/30 is for deer.

 

[Newguy1]

I am working on two TC projects. I have a 10 inch 221 Fireball Rimmed and a 18 inch 300-221 Fireball Rimmed. I have formed 50 round each (the 221 FBR was a bear to form, but was still fun.)

Here is a Pic of the 300-221 Fireball Rimmed:



The brass is made from 360 Dan Wesson Brass necked down.

 

[Coltdriver]

Not too far out of the Contender family I have an Encore.

Single shot rifles and pistols are outstanding once you start reloading!

I have a 204 Ruger barrel and a short 450 Marlin barrel.

The fun part is buying a new gun for the cost of a barrel. I am looking to sell my 450 Katahdin barrel and get into reloading for the 22 Hornet.

I have hit shotgun shells at 300 yards with my 204 Ruger. That round is like a laser beam to shoot and the recoil is negligible.

Revolverman357 that short 223 is very cool! I love a short handy rifle for shooting in the field. Its the downfall of the Encore that I can not get shorter barrels without going to very expensive custom barrels.

 

[Snowshoe]

Count me in

Just last week end I added a 14" .22 match barrel. Tomorrow I will order a scope.

In the Contender I have a 7-30 Waters and a .22 match.
In the Encore a .223 and a 6mm RemBR.

The 6BR was a challenge at first, it was splitting necks. A slight die adjustment and it's all good now.

Yes, all of mine are "minute of praire dog"

 

[Steve 48]

I have both the 223 and 7-30 Waters in the 14 inch barrel. Both are accurate and I use them often because its easier to carry in the truck when I am out in the country. Steve 48

 

[Joe Demko]

I've had a Super 14 .30-30 since 1978. Cool gun, fun to shoot. Anybody know where I might pick up a barrel in 7.62x39 for it? As far as I know, TC never made one.

 

[MCgunner]

:

Heck, anyone got a 14" TC/U that they are tired of looking at?

I've got a 10" I bought for IHMSA shooting, but don't shoot it anymore. I have dies and fire formed brass/ammo for it. But, I don't know what else I'd want. Perhaps a .45-70 would be fun, but I'd need a really good scope to handle that beast's pounding if I got one. I think I could be convinced to trade the 7mmTCU for a .22 hornet or perhaps a .223 barrel. Kinda fun loading a wildcat round, though. freaks out some new shooters who wonder how you could possibly shoot something they don't even make brass for.

Heck, maybe I'll just take the IHMSA sight off that barrel and sell it, use the proceeds for scope mounts and put a scope on it. That thing would be a decent deer gitter or I could try zingin' light bullets at high velocity for something to do. LOL It uses .223 brass, just necked up and fire formed to take some of the taper out of the case.

 

[fisi]

2 contenders, 1 encore and 7 barrels total. my wife says i'm cheating on her
because i spend more time with my t/c's than her.........

 

[byf43]

Had two contenders. Down to one and several barrels.

The first was a 10" .357 Mag. Bought the entire gun/barrel for $125 new!
That barrel sports a Leupold 2x EER scope and Leupold mount/rings.
Sold this TC w/ a 10" .22lr barrel to a friend that wanted a TC. I don't miss it.

The second, I won a Contender w/ 14" 7mm TC/u at a silhouette match. This will never be sold.

Traded a 10" 7mm TC/u barrel for a 14" .22 lr Match barrel.
One of the guys at the club bought a TC w/ several barrels. He had arthritis in his hands and asked me if I wanted a .30 Herrett barrel and 200 rounds of ammo. Cost. . . FREE. Yup! I'll take it. Wow!! Love this caliber!!

Had a 10" .44 magnum barrel. Had a hammer extension on the TC and broke my thumb, from recoil. Sold the .44 mag barrel for $50. It never shot well, except when using Federal 180 gr JHP or 240 gr. JHP. Handloads never shot well. That barrel would make a good fireplace poker!

Had a 14" 7mm International Rimmed barrel. (Similar to 7x30 Waters.) Smoking hot performance. 7mm TC/u does the same thing with less problems and recoil when shooting steel.

I'd like to get a .45/70 barrel (rifle length) and a stock. Or, maybe a .223 barrel (rifle length.)

Contenders are incredible pieces of machinery.

 

[Hobie]

Another addiction. I have 21 barrels and 2 frames (and 5 stocks). I'm not a big collector either. Not by a "long shot". I know of one fellow that had, at least at one time, 143 barrels and many frames (the number escapes me).

Then there are the Encores...