School me on the T/C Contender?

[NMRevolverGuy]

Hello all,

I like "Cool" (See; Weird) guns. I like single shot guns. So I THINK I really like the T/C Contender. But it seems like it's a bit of a cult following type of gun, though of high quality, and I just don't know much about 'em. Can anyone school me on these things? Are they of good quality? Do the old barrels and parts fit the G2 frames? Can butt stocks and pistol grips both fit the new frames? Is there any advantage to the g2 frames vs the older ones? Is there a company that usually has all of these things readily available for order? Sorry all the questions, I just really like to learn about interesting weapon platforms

 

[critter]

Can't answer all your questions, but here's what I have. I have an older Contender model with 2 barrels. Both are super 14", one in 30-30 and one in .223.

I think quality is absolutely ''top drawer''. The .223 will shoot 3-shot 100 yd groups of 3/8" with my handloads. The 30-30 is worse: about 7/8".

The 30-30 has taken a lot (for me anyway!) of deer (whitetails) from 'up close and personal' to past 150 yards. I use 125 gr Nosler BT's over IMR 4198 (I think that is the right powder) and that load is a quick killer. I am careful with bullet placement.

You will have a lot of fun with the TC and want more stuff to go with it-new calibers, more scopes, etc, so beware of the 'cult' that you are entering!

 

[cfullgraf]

Contenders are fun and flexible. Barrels are till available for all generation frames. I beleive there is one generation of frame that will not accept other barrels.

The generation 1 frames, I have three, have adjustable triggers which are nice. I believe the current models are like the Encore frames and do not have adjustable triggers.

I shot IHMSA silhouette in the eighties with one of mine using a 7mm International Rimmed Super 14 barrel. I also have a 10" 357 Magnum, a 21" 22 Hornet carbine barrel and a 22" 221 Remington Fireball barrel.

The Contender carbines are fun but do not put a short barrel on the frame with a rifle butt stock. You will run afoul with the government.

 

[BullRunBear]

I have two of the first generation Contender frames and seven barrels: 10 or 12 inch length, some with scopes. I've been told the G2 gear won't fit the original Contenders but never investigated too much as I m so pleased with the originals.

Quality is excellent and they are a hand loader's dream, which is part of their appeal for me. I also like the pace of single shot shooting. That's no surprise as over half my other target shooting is with muzzle loaders and other BP guns. (I have some younger friends who like their Glocks and don't care for such a slow expenditure of ammo.) Their potential for accuracy is beyond my ability to meet it.

I don't hunt anymore but if I did I'd have no qualms using a Contender. The only problem with them is that kids or adults with small or weak hands might have trouble opening the action.

Jeff

 

[Taurus 617 CCW]

There is some good information on another forum about the G1, G2, and Encore fit. In short, barrels for the G2 will also fit the G1 but the Encore is a completely different animal. The frame is wider. I used to have a G1 Contender in .44 magnum and eventually wanted to put a .22 long rifle barrel on it but I couldn't find a used barrel for a decent price so I sold the gun. It was a fun oddity for sure. I got some great looks at the range when I shot it, having a 14" ported barrel.

Here's the link to the other forum:
http://www.thefirearmsforum.com/threads/will-a-encore-barrel-fit-a-contender.52790/

 

[Peter M. Eick]

They are fun, accurate and parts and barrels are readily available. I bought one specifically to use as a pressure vessel for developing loads but then later found out that the action is somewhat springy and a poor choice for hot loads.

I find it gets tedious quickly though. Crack it open, put a round in, aim and shoot it off, hit a 10 and repeat. It gets old quickly at under about 50 yrds.

 

[WestKentucky]

One frame, two barrels currently for me. 7-30 waters 10" and 44 mag 16", pistol configuration only at this point. The 7-30 is a dream to shoot, the 44 is a thumper and a half. I like mine well enough that at least once s week I hit ebay and gunbroker looking for deals on barrels.

 

[hoghunting]

I've been told the G2 gear won't fit the original Contenders but never investigated too much

Barrels for the G2 will fit the Contenders - T/C's older Armoralloy finish will only fit that finish. Fore arms for the G2 will also fit the Contenders, the angle for the grip changed with the G2, so pistol grips and buttstocks for the G2 will not fit the Contender without modification.

I've used Contender pistols for 25 years and don't plan on stopping.

 

[Steve in PA]

T/C Contenders are like chicken wings..........ya can't just have one!!!!

 

[MCgunner]

IMHO, the absolute BEST possible handgun hunting system. I say system, I just change barrels and hunt small game to large. I have a scoped .22 10", a .410/.45 Colt 10" iron sighted, a scoped .30-30 12" Hunter barrel (compensated), and a 7mm TCU with IHMSA rear click adjustable sight that I used to shoot IHMSA with for a while until I bored of it.

TCs at the range will embarrass lots of rifles off the bench. In the field, they will bring home the venison. THAT is what they're really for. They're fun, though, with barrels like the .410, kinda worthless for field uses, but fun to shoot informal trap (you have to be quick) or small game or nuisance birds out to 20 yards or so.

Quality of the gun is second to none.

 

[cfullgraf]

T/C's older Armoralloy finish will only fit that finish.

That's the model Contender that I could not remember that will not interchange barrels with the original and G2 frames.

 

[WestKentucky]

.410 is on my short list for the Rs. Rabbits, Rattlers, and treeRats. I might eventually get down to only 1 gun...doubt it but maybe.

 

[witchhunter]

I have two frames and 4 barrels so far. I have .22 LR, .22 Hornet, .221 Fireball and a .357 Maximum. The Hornet and the Fireball are my pdog guns, the .221 works out to almost 300 yards. I have killed mule deer and a big bear with the maximum. I am in the market for a 17 Fireball next.

 

[sugerwater]

Have an old Contender in 22lr with a 2X7 scope. Lots of fun to shoot and very
accurate.

 

[VoodooMountain]

I had surgery a couple years ago and the doctor told me I could no longer use a rifle with "recoil"

First thing I did was get a Contender in 7x30 waters with a 14" barrel. GREAT handgun for hunting out to 200 yards on CPX2.

I recommend buying the Contender Reloading books Volumes 1&2. It glosses over the different caliber options.

You should familiarize yourself with JD Jones and SSK industries, as well.

All contender and G2 barrels interchange but the Encore barrels don't.

Buy a couple spare parts while you can

 

[NMRevolverGuy]

Thanks for all the information! Seems like one hell of a platform. But what exactly is the deal with the 7-30 waters? It's a cartridge I've only seen referred to in conjunction with the T/C. It seems to be a rifle cartridge, but I understand it has light recoil out of a contender handgun?

 

[VoodooMountain]

The 7x30 Waters is 30-30 brass necked down to accept 7mm bullets as the name would imply. Due to 30-30 case it works well in single shot applications but not so well in a bolt gun (usually) so it's a niche round. Ballistically, it's about as good as it's going to get from this platform especially considering components are plentiful.

Out of a 14" barrel it has plenty of oomph and recoil is less than many 44 mag rounds from the contender.

 

[robhof]

I also have 2 frames and 4 barrels, as well as a stock. I don't have the 7 30 Waters, even though I reload, which is the only way to get the caliber, I find the 30 30 barrel in both rifle configuration and pistol with the 14" barrel for pistol is the most versatile. That caliber has taken the most deer for me over the years, it's light and easier to carry than a conventional rifle, light trigger and match grade accuracy with all calibers. I've used the .223 with a 14" bull barrel for prairie dogs at 150 yds and it was deadly.

 

[MCgunner]

.410 is on my short list for the Rs. Rabbits, Rattlers, and treeRats. I might eventually get down to only 1 gun...doubt it but maybe.

So long as you're inside 20 yards. I shot a rabbit on the run at 17 yards paced, once. I shot at a squirrel about 25 yards, knocked leaves down all around him, and he just fussed at me and went on. Mine's a 10", been thinkin' of maybe trading for a .22 hornet barrel at a gun show or something if I could find a deal. I can live without the .410. .45 colt out of that barrel has a HUGE free bore, isn't too accurate, and leads the barrel with lead bullets. All in all, I wouldn't miss it. It's fun to shoot starlings with, I can say that.

 

[MCgunner]

7x30 waters was developed for the Contender. Firing spitzer boat tail bullets, it's got an advantage in BC and there for down range energy, but hell, I load a 150 Nosler BT in my .30-30 and it's done in every deer I've shot with it.

In the 80s, Winchester came out with a M94 in 7x30 Waters. It didn't stick, but that might be why you're thinkin' of it as a rifle round.

 

[cfullgraf]

But what exactly is the deal with the 7-30 waters?

I have a 7mm International Rimmed Contender barrel. The 7 mm Int Rimmed is similar to the 7-30 Waters being formed from the 30-30 case. The performance from each is similar.

7mm Int Rimmed wa designed by Elgin Gates for as an inexpensive entry unlimited gun for handgun silhouette. Just rechamber a 7 TCU barrel for a Contender, pass the brass through the sizing die and off you go.

The 200 meter rams were relatively easy shots with my Contender.

 

[Steve in PA]

The blued T/C Contender in my picture (minus scope when picture was taken) is a 14" chambered in 7-30 Waters. It is an awesome cartridge. I used it to take a deer this past hunting season.

Accuracy is astounding. Easily shoots sub-moa. Finding factory ammo can be hard. Last year I was able to score 200 pieces of factory Federal 7-30 brass. Luckily, .30/30 brass can be easily formed into 7-30 brass.

 

[WestKentucky]

A lot of rifle rounds have lighter recoil than would be expected out of a short barrel. Bottlenecks especially...but I'm not sure why. I'm sure somebody can explain the physics there...straightwalled cases like 44 mag or 45-70 are impressively brutal on that frame when the same rounds in a rifle are stiff but not unmanageable. My 7-30 kicks easily less than 1/3 as hard as my 44 mag. It's so big of a difference my 7-30 is teasing max load and is pleasant whereas my 44 mag I load minimum loads under light bullets, and it's still not pleasant. Dropping way down into special loads brings it around, but that's a huge expense to load a bullet just to hit 750fps. My friends are all terrified of the 7-30 because I managed to get each one behind a true full-house 44 magnum.

 

[Grumulkin]

In Contenders, I've only used the G1 models. The G2 models are a smaller version of the Encore and I've shot Encores a lot. I don't think the trigger gets any better than that on the G1 Contenders. With a little work (or money given to a gunsmith) you can also make the trigger on an Encore very good with a Bellm spring kit. I believe Mr. Bellm sells kits for the G2 Contender as well.

A couple of after market barrel makers I didn't see mentioned (maybe I missed them) are EABCO and Match Grade Machine. Another source for barrels and frames is Ed's Contenders (call and don't bother to e-mail and you should get through eventually).

If you intend to shoot rimfire cartridges, I think the G1 Contender has the best system. Sadly, they're not making the G1 frame any longer. At this time, I'd probably go with an Encore as that platform gives many more options than the Contender though it is a bit larger and heavier.

Years ago I had both a 22 LR and a 30/30 Winchester barrel for my Contender handgun. One day, my son, who was probably 13 or 14 at the time, and I were shooting it at my range. I took the Contender up to the house, switched the 22 LR barrel for the 30/30 barrel and returned with a cartridge in the chamber and offered to let him shoot it.

Now the barrels, while both stainless steel, were different the 30/30 barrel having a brake and being longer; differences he didn't notice. He accepted the invitation and I cautioned him to hold on tight. He said, "aw dad, it doesn't kick very much." When he touched that round off, the look on his face told a different story. And no, his fragile ego wasn't injured nor was he forever turned against shooting nor did he develop a flinch.



A crow taken at a bit over 300 yards with my Contender in 204 Ruger.



Another victim taken at a little over 250 yards with the 204 Ruger.



Taken out the upstairs window of my office with the 204 Ruger. Range probably about 50 yards.



Taken with the Contender in its 357 Herrett version in South Africa.

 

[Pete D.]

The big problem with Contenders is the barrels. They multiply. You start with one and then you turn around a couple of times and there is another .....and it keeps happening. I started with a Ten inch .357.....then a .22 barrel appeared, then another, then a 45/70.....
I didn't know what to do or who to turn to.....so I kept shooting....another receiver....more barrels....
And then....the Encore appeared....
I know that it is too late for me....I am too far gone. You....you have a chance to avoid all this...you have been warned.
Pete the barrel addict