G2 barrels on an older T/C contender

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clutch

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One of these days I'm going to want to buy another barrel for my T/C contender. I bought mine back in the mid to late 80's so it isn't a G2.

What is the story about buying a barrel for my frame?

Currently I have a .22LR, .30/30, and a 357 Herrett barrel, all at 10".

Oh yes, since this is registered as a pistol, can I get a stock and legal length barrel to turn it into a rifle and keep my freedom?

Clutch
 
I have a G-2 and some of the older barrels you can have problems with them locking up.
The newer barrels you should not have any problems with it. As for changeing from a pistol to a rifle you are good. You cant go from a rifle to a pistol but you can go from a pistol to a rifle. On your barrel leanth you have to be over 16'' I have a super 14 in
44mag that has a locked and pined muzzle break and it 16 3/16'' So im able to use it as a pistol or a short barreld carbine.
I hope that I have helped
FLIP.
 
Newest barrels are supposed to be made to fit correctly on older Contenders and the newest G2 versions.
As stated, some of the older barrels do not fit correctly on G2 frames without some fitting work.

Also as stated, a pistol serial numbered frame can be made into a rifle and returned to a pistol.
A rifle serialed frame cannot be made into a pistol.
 
Stainless barrels are no problem.
There were some 'Armor Alloy' barrels that only fit Armor Alloy frames, but that should be the only square peg.
All Contender barrels should fit all Contenders or G-2s.
 
What did I but!

I have just bought a contender I thought was a G-2 but it is different now that I have had a chance to really look at it. I am fairly new to these and have an encore I love with .45 Colt, 22LR and .410 barrels. This new one is very small and light. It came with two octagon barrels that seem to be brand new and are about 8 3/4" long in 22LR and 357Mag. There is a screw head in the face of the trigger you have to turn in order to change between the 357 and 22. I did not think this was an old pistol as you really can't tell it has ever been fired I mean perfect. Also the grip and for-stock are small in fact the for-end actually has no screw but snaps onto the barrels.
1. Is this a G-2 or did they make something else in the past or is it something new?
2. Can I buy new grips for a G-2 or does it take something different?
3. Will G-2 barrels fit this frame?
Any info would be great. Phil
 

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Ledets, what type of safety is on it? A slide bar in the hammer?
Pics and/or a S/N would help but it sounds like you have an early G1 frame. G2 barrels should fit.
 
I have just bought a contender I thought was a G-2 but it is different now that I have had a chance to really look at it. I am fairly new to these and have an encore I love with .45 Colt, 22LR and .410 barrels. This new one is very small and light. It came with two octagon barrels that seem to be brand new and are about 8 3/4" long in 22LR and 357Mag. There is a screw head in the face of the trigger you have to turn in order to change between the 357 and 22. I did not think this was an old pistol as you really can't tell it has ever been fired I mean perfect. Also the grip and for-stock are small in fact the for-end actually has no screw but snaps onto the barrels.
1. Is this a G-2 or did they make something else in the past or is it something new?
2. Can I buy new grips for a G-2 or does it take something different?
3. Will G-2 barrels fit this frame?
Any info would be great. Phil
Click to expand...

Congratulations, you have the original Contender. It's one of the older models before they put the rimfire/centerfire selector on top of the hammer.

The 8" octagon barrels are more valuable than the 10" octagons or 10" tapered barrels. All Contender barrels should fit the original Contender and the G-2. One problem with the snap on forends is they tend to pop off under heavy recoil. Full power .357 mag ammo in a lightweight barrel like yours will probably pop them off. Later models had forends secured with screws.

Lemme guess, you're grip is pretty funky looking with a thumb rest on the left side? Later models came with a more plain grip with a rubber back strap. G-2 grips will not fit the original Contender, but there are several companies that make them, plus there's a good supply of older grips.

From what you've described you have a fairly valuable gun there. That setup would probably sell for more than $600 on Gunbroker.com.

Nice find, welcome to The High Road.
 
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Don't know with out contacting TC. Just something I wrote down a couple years back about frame to possible avoid after lookibg thru many many sites on TC history. Then desided not to follow thru with buying a TC. I will see if I can find again
 
From your home page search for LASC-TC barrel you will find all the info on changes and shorycomeing with the up to '83 barrels and frames and the after '83. Can't find the one I found before but that must have been about when the design on barrels and frame had some upgrads. The LASC is Los Angles Silhouette Club
 
G-2 & older barrels

The "Not easy open" under 195,000 will take G-2 barrels,
maybe, its a trial & error situation, my 134,000 SN currently is sporting a 17M2 barrel with twin locking bolts. I also fits every other newer barrel I've tried, I guess I'm just lucky,
However, the G-2 frames will not necessarily close on a single locking bolt older barrel, Then I polish the bolts, & everything works.
Jim
 
From your home page search for LASC-TC barrel you will find all the info on changes and shorycomeing with the up to '83 barrels and frames and the after '83. Can't find the one I found before but that must have been about when the design on barrels and frame had some upgrads. The LASC is Los Angles Silhouette Club
Click to expand...

Thank you.

The "Not easy open" under 195,000 will take G-2 barrels,
maybe, its a trial & error situation, my 134,000 SN currently is sporting a 17M2 barrel with twin locking bolts. I also fits every other newer barrel I've tried, I guess I'm just lucky,
However, the G-2 frames will not necessarily close on a single locking bolt older barrel, Then I polish the bolts, & everything works.
Jim
Click to expand...

That was my understanding of things as well.
My shooting partner has an old non-easy opening Contender (I''ll have to check on the ser. #) and he has bought several barrles recently including some new ones from MGM and one from Bulberry (had to wait so long it might be a pre-'83 ;) ). He has had no problems.

Welcome Cattail and thanks for posting.
 
Thanks so much for the info I have not been able to find any info but you are right about the grips the dove tail above my hand almost killed me. I loaded a 200g cast round nose over 11.5g of 2400 with a mag primer. It all went off real well until I pulled the trigger and the top of my hand felt the brunt of the dove tail. Very distressing as I was hoping for a more pleasurable event. Thanks again for your knowledge. I will continue to look for some grips for the G-1 Phil
 
Okay I added a pic. It seems to be an early g1 and seems to have quit a limited selection of barrels made for it but the grip is the worst thing about it.
 
The grips are easy to change.The older one you have is ok with light recoiling calibers,but not the heavier ones.I have a t/c grip with a rubber insert along the backstrap.I don't remember what it is called,but it works pretty well with mine.
 
They do have nice triggers though, don't they?

Yeah, heavy magnum loads can be a bit much with the octagon barrels. Even with my 10" tapered barrel it's a handful.
Recoil is one reason they came out with the G-2. It's a bit heavier and the grip angle is different. Triggers on the G-2 are pretty lousy though compared to the original.

Gunbroker.com is a great place to find factory grips, and other barrels. You gun should be fine with any Contender/G2 barrel out there.
If I were shooting heavy loads I would check out some of the aftermarket grip makers.

http://www.TonysForendsandGrips.net/
http://specialtypistols.infopop.cc/eve/forums
 
I will 2nd Tony's Forends and Grips, he made me a nice set in classic walnut.
Or you should be able to find a used set of Pachmyers.
 
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