Gordon
Member
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!
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!