[ede]

Considering a Contender. From what I see on GB there's a G1 and G2. Big question is do the barrels fit either frame? Do grips and fore ends fit either frame? Is there anything I should avoid? Anything I should seek out? I tried looking at the TC website and didn't gain much from it. My other thought is a Savage Striker but really liek the interchangeable barrels with the Contender. Thanks

 

[Sigobsessed]

I don't know much about the tc's but I have a striker in 308 it's very accurate and the recoil is a lot of fun. I use it for deer hunting and target shooting if your recoil sensitive rifle caliber pistols are not for you. I love heavy recoil it puts a big grin on my face but it's not for everyone. I like the striker over the contender because it's bolt action and holds three rounds as apposed to a single shot ymmv.

 

[vafish]

G1 and G2 barrels can be used in either frame. The older G1 barrels with the single piece locking block may be more difficult to open. TC used to upgrade barrels for free. Not sure if they still do. Th G2's use a different grip. Fore ends are specific to the type of barrel.

The only G2 barrel that won't fit a G1 frame are the muzzle loader barrels.

I've been a Contender owner for 32 years.

 

[RWBlue]

I have an Encore (big brother to Contender). I like it, but...

For hand gun hunting, it is good. To be honest in certain cartridges it is more gun than most can handle.
For single shot stuff it is good.
I don't like the cost of extra barrels. It is too much for what I am getting.
I don't like it being a single shot. When I am laid out with natural point of aim and dead on...then I have to do it all over again for the next shot.

http://www.bullberry.com/
BullBerry made my 22LR barrel. It is VERY accurate.

Wish list:
12ga barrel smooth bore cheap
460S&W pistol
45-410 pistol

OP
What cartridge are you looking to get?
What game are you going after?

 

[byf43]

G1 and G2 barrels can be used in either frame. The older G1 barrels with the single piece locking block may be more difficult to open. TC used to upgrade barrels for free. Not sure if they still do. Th G2's use a different grip. Fore ends are specific to the type of barrel.

The only G2 barrel that won't fit a G1 frame are the muzzle loader barrels.

I've been a Contender owner for 32 years.

^^^This is how I remember them to be.

Contender owner since '83.

 

[vafish]

There was a run of G1 Contenders with a matte chrome finish that the barrels did not interchange with the blued guns IIRC.

 

[ede]

I'm thinking of the following calibers/barrels
.22 Hornet, .218 bee, .17 Hornet
.222 or .223
.45/.410
maybe a 7mm

 

[Green Dragoon]

There was a run of G1 Contenders with a matte chrome finish that the barrels did not interchange with the blued guns IIRC.

you are correct. I had one of the matte chrome models back in the

early 1980's. They called it Armour Alloy

 

[Bill Keith]

I've owned a G1 Contender for awhile now...got it for next to nothing as a basket case at a pawnshop about 8 years ago. It was taken apart but looked like it had all the pieces. I couldn't get it together and sent it to TC. Got it back and they had upgraded the trigger...all for no cost. I was and am impressed. I have a 22WMR barrel and a 357 maag barrel. :wavey:

 

[JFrame]

I love my G1 stainless Contender. I have 10" and 16.25" .44 mag barrels for it, but it spends most of its time as some variation of .22 LR (12" match blue, 14" match stainless, and 21" match stainless).

I have a feeling the 21" .22 will at some point have its barrel shortened and be rechambered to a .22 WMR or maybe .223.

It may not be a big deal for folks who are used to tweaking their guns, but one thing I like about the G1 frame is that its trigger can be readily customized by the owner by adjusting a set screw inside the trigger guard.


.

 

[Steve in PA]

Love my T/C Contenders.

14" stainless steel in .223 and 10" stainless steel in .22 Hornet. 14" blued 7-30 Waters and 10" .22lr.

 

[ithaca_deerslayer]

I only have one, mostly likely the G1, in 7-30 waters. Love it.

But one annoying thing about it is if you de-cock the hammer, you can't re-cock it without breaking open the action.

However, I believe that the G2 and Encore let you re-cock, but we would need a GT Contender expert to verify that for us

 

[JFrame]

I only have one, mostly likely the G1, in 7-30 waters. Love it.

But one annoying thing about it is if you de-cock the hammer, you can't re-cock it without breaking open the action.

However, I believe that the G2 and Encore let you re-cock, but we would need a GT Contender expert to verify that for us

You are correct, Ithaca.

It's an additional step to consider, but I never really minded the re-cocking on the G1. I just hold the barrel in the frame when I re-cock.

.

 

[dakota1911]

Have a G1 and G2.



Have an Encore in rifle format in 30-06. They are interesting pistols, and rifles. If you are interested you might look at the cost of additional barrels. Also there is a forum that deals with them. I bought my first one in the 1970s but picked up a few more in the last few years. Somewhere in google land there are a couple good sites that talk a lot about them.

 

[RWBlue]

However, I believe that the G2 and Encore let you re-cock, but we would need a GT Contender expert to verify that for us

I can recock the encore.

 

[RWBlue]

I'm thinking of the following calibers/barrels
.22 Hornet, .218 bee, .17 Hornet
.222 or .223
.45/.410
maybe a 7mm

It doesn't sound like you are looking for a hand cannon. For people looking to push the Contender, the Encore is the obvious choice.

For you, the contender might be the better option, with one exception.

The only 7mm I see is 7-30 Waters, unless you are going custom. And I don't think I have ever seen loaded ammo for 7-30 Waters.


:wavey:

 

[RWBlue]

Side question.

For those with the 45-410. I have been told that this barrel sucks. The 410 losses alot with a short barrel and the 45 is not accurate.

Thoughts/Comments?

 

[byf43]

The 7mm TC/u is a necked up .223 case and is a very good cartridge, and is easy to load for.

140 and 160 grain Sierra Spirepoint boolits are what I loaded for IHMSA, 'back in the day'.

The 7mm International Rimmed was 'supposedly' created by Elgin Gates, and is very much like the 7-30 Waters. (They MAY be the same cartridge. ????) :dunno:

I had the 7mm Int'l R for a while. With 140 grain boolits, it was a screamer!!!!! It's nothing more than a .30-30 case necked down to 7mm, or a .375 Winchester case necked down to 7mm.

The .30 Herrett is a screaming little cartridge, too.
Again, the .30-30 shortened, will push a 110 or 130 grain boolit very quickly, and can take most big game in the U.S.

I had a .44 magnum barrel, that was NOT accurate with any handload that I tried, but, was very accurate with Federal 240 gr JHP and 180 gr JHP!!!!!!
(I even broke my thumb, from the recoil and the hammer extension, with that .44!)

 

[vafish]

Side question.

For those with the 45-410. I have been told that this barrel sucks. The 410 losses alot with a short barrel and the 45 is not accurate.

Thoughts/Comments?

I haven't shot much .45 out of my .45/.410 barrel. I have a separate .45 Colt barrel.

.410 is a lot of fun out of it. Never shot it over the chrono. That might be fun for the next range trip. I have an old bolt action .410 to compare.

 

[JFrame]

(I even broke my thumb, from the recoil and the hammer extension, with that .44!)

I can believe that! I haven't touched any of the new generations of super-handgun cartridges -- but a hot .44 mag out of a Contender pistol is as mean-kicking a mother as I'd care to experience, thank you very much!

There's something about all that un-gapped force coming back, in a straight line, with that thin and nearly vertical original Contender grip. I swear, each shot felt like a kendo master was whacking the web of my hand with his bokken!

I've since purchased a nice and cushion-y Pachmayr Decelerator grip for the Contender -- but as I noted above, I've also gravitated toward it being a .22 platform for my needs...

.