Any Contender Love

[Guv]

As the title asks,
Any Contender fans out there?
The 2 together are from left to right a
7-1/2” 44 Mag and a 10” .357 Mag
Next a scoped 10” .357 Max and last a10” 25-35 Win.
All awesome!

 

[Pál_K]

A T/C Contender in .30-30 with a 10" barrel. I use this for IHMSA Silhouette in Production class. Bought new in 1988.

 

[Bullthrower338]

Big Fan here! 22lr, 17 ackley bee, 17 REM. 218 bee, 222, 7-30 waters, 357 herrett, 44 mag, 45 Colt/410, 375 JDJ, 300 Whisper, 300 Savage and I’m sure I’m missing several. All G1 frames

 

[Pál_K]

At a Silhouette match I once shot someone else's Contender in .22 Hornet - that is such a sweet and pleasant round in the Contender.

@Bullthrower338 - nice Cape Buffalo!

 

[Guv]

Big Fan here! 22lr, 17 ackley bee, 17 REM. 218 bee, 222, 7-30 waters, 357 herrett, 44 mag, 45 Colt/410, 375 JDJ, 300 Whisper, 300 Savage and I'm sure I'm missing several. All G1 frames

I had a G2 30-30 rifle, nice gun but I prefer the G1.

 

[Busterswoodshop]

I have a G2.
My favorite is the 14 inch .223 barrel.

 

[BULL'S-EYE]

Love 'em! But...They're VERY addictive.
T/C was recently acquired from S&W...And, hopefully new Contenders will be available on the market again in the next year or two?..

 

[Johnnu2]

Probably 35 yrs ago (?) I was at a big LGS far from my house. Was with an enabler buddy who spotted a used Contender barrel in .357 Herrett, scoped with a cheap Simmons fixed power scope, along with a set of RCBS dies and a bag of brass... I did not own anything "Contender" at the time, but the price was "right" (or so I was told). I still have that boomer and often thrill the range peoples with it while shooting at 100yds. Keeping with my 'minimalist' philosophy, I only have two extra barrels: 221 Fireball and 22LR. A very satisfying purchase over these many years. Won't buy anymore, won't sell what I have

J.

 

[dannyd]

Yep, love my TC's

 

[hittman]

I’ve got one of those from the mid to late 70s with the box.
Think the 357 barrel is 8 inches. The other barrel is 222 with a Redfield scope and it’s in the 10 inch range.
Came to me from the man who bought it new.

 

[Hawk-in-Wi]

G2 carbine in 45 ML
G1 carbines in 223, 30-30, 7x30 Waters , 375Win., and 405 Win.
G1pistol in 22LR , 357 mag., 41 mag., 222rem., 7mmTCU,
seems like i'm missing a few but can't think of what they are and 'm not digging into the safe just to see LOL

 

[dannyd]

Or, 32/20 six and half inch barrel is fun to shoot too. Shot 20,855 rounds out of all of 32/20 barrels, mostly Hunter's pistol silhouette.

 

[Dan in MI]

Been shooting Contenders since 1983. Not even sure I can list all the calibers I’ve owned.

 

[Dan in MI]

Love 'em! But...They're VERY addictive.
T/C was recently acquired from S&W...And, hopefully new Contenders will be available on the market again in the next year or two?..

You’ve got that all messed up. Smith bought TC years ago. Completely ignored the brand and nearly destroyed it. Early this year the previous owner of TC. That sold to Smith bought it back. We’ll see if he can return TC to its previous glory.

 

[BULL'S-EYE]

Exactly how did I get "it all messed up"..?

 

[Guv]

You've got that all messed up. Smith bought TC years ago. Completely ignored the brand and nearly destroyed it. Early this year the previous owner of TC. That sold to Smith bought it back. We'll see if he can return TC to its previous glory.

I have heard the same.

 

[Dan in MI]

Sorry, read that wrong at 4am. Read it as "S&W recently acquired" no "from."

 

[XP100]

G2 45 ML carbine blued wood furniture Unfired, AS NEW. 23" Stainless 223 bbl/ walnut 4end, 10" 30-30 bbl no 4 end & G2 Walnut pistol grip, couple small marks in wood. As much as I like my TC's I am 74 and don't use it here in Fl. I am going to be selling everything. Also have 2 Encore franmes and several barrels, all rifle barrels.

 

[Hawk-in-Wi]

G2 45 ML carbine blued wood furniture Unfired, AS NEW. 23" Stainless 223 bbl/ walnut 4end, 10" 30-30 bbl no 4 end & G2 Walnut pistol grip, couple small marks in wood. As much as I like my TC's I am 74 and don't use it here in Fl. I am going to be selling everything. Also have 2 Encore franmes and several barrels, all rifle barrels.

oh ya can't forget the Encores , I think I have 4 frames , with rifle barrels in 204 Ruger , 243 Win, 280 Rem , 7mm mag , 500 S&W and 50 cal ML and then you have to add in a couple 50cal ML Omega, darn T/C they have a lot of my money


If you decide to sell your T/C stuff list them here I'm sure they will sell

 

[hittman]

Is there a list by date or serial number that tells us whether something is a G1, G2, etc?
Can I tell by looking at the gun ( receivers? ) or barrels?
Correct to assume that means "Generation" 1 or 2?

My gun looks like the one pictured in post #2 above.

 

[Dan in MI]

I wonder what the rebirth of TC is going to do to the long awaited SSK-50. The news on the delivered early frames isn't always rosy.

Is there a list by date or serial number that tells us whether something is a G1, G2, etc?
Can I tell by looking at the gun ( receivers? ) or barrels?
Correct to assume that means "Generation" 1 or 2?

My gun looks like the one pictured in post #2 above.

G1 is what we all know as a Contender. There are Type variants as updates were made but all are Contenders.

G2 is the Encore looking version with the wide reinforcement ribs across the top of the frame.

I don't know all the type variants, most are by hammer changes. No safety, slide safety, switch safety.
On frames there is early and then the easy open. easy open has the pivot pin above the trigger.

 

[dannyd]

Before I went back to Sandbox in 1991, callled TC to order a spring, thank goodness the lady talked me into ordering in bulk. Been able to keep them repaired for years.

 

[contender]

Any love for Contenders huh? Well,,,,,,,,, with my handle name,, I think it's a bit obvious.

 

[hittman]

IF internet searching is correct ….. G2s came out in 2000 or later.
My serial number 1183xx is apparently 1979 production.

Some say the Contender was type 1 then “upgraded” or changed to type 2 made easier to open, then G2.

Here’s another dang rabbit hole to run down LOL.

 

[John D]

I have 2 frames and 14 barrels all 10 & 14 inch. The ones i can remember without opening
the safe are: 22rf, 223, 22 hornet, 30 carbine, 7mm TCU, 357mag, 357herrett, 30 herrett,
30-30, 35Rem, 44mag, 45colt (no 410).....

 

[Hawk-in-Wi]

I wonder what the rebirth of TC is going to do to the long awaited SSK-50. The news on the delivered early frames isn't always rosy.



G1 is what we all know as a Contender. There are Type variants as updates were made but all are Contenders.

G2 is the Encore looking version with the wide reinforcement ribs across the top of the frame.

I don't know all the type variants, most are by hammer changes. No safety, slide safety, switch safety.
On frames there is early and then the easy open. easy open has the pivot pin above the trigger.

I believe the very first Contenders had smooth sided frame and then soon changed to
the early G1 frames had some kind of Cougar etched on the side of the frame, as he said above the G2 has the wide reinforced ribs along the top of the frame opening

using links to Gunbroker to get pictures for you

early G1 frame , selector switch is in the front of the hammer, the hammer is cocked and then you use a screw driver to turn it to either rimfire or centerfire
https://www.gunbroker.com/item/1056246240

G1 frame , I believe this would be a type 2, look at the hammer , the selector , for either center fire or rimfire, is the older push (side to side )
https://www.gunbroker.com/item/1056737345
G1 frame the last version selector switch on top of the hammer
https://www.gunbroker.com/item/1045188998
G2 frame see the reinforcements along the top edge of the opening
https://www.gunbroker.com/item/1056485456
I'm sure others will be along to add more

 

[hittman]

using links to Gunbroker to get pictures for you

G1 frame , I believe this would be a type 2, look at the hammer , the selector , for either center fire or rimfire, is the older push (side to side )
https://www.gunbroker.com/item/1056737345

Thanks Hawk! Excellent info ….. mine is this one you linked to.

 

[JBP]

As the title asks,
Any Contender fans out there?
The 2 together are from left to right a
7-1/2" 44 Mag and a 10" .357 Mag
Next a scoped 10" .357 Max and last a10" 25-35 Win.
All awesome!

Back in 1998 I suffered a detached retina that required surgery and was advised to cut down on recoil. So I sold off my 30 caliber rifles and shotgun (I do miss trap shooting) but still wanted to shoot larger calibers so enter the Contender. I started off with a 30/30 barrel but built that up to a .22 Hornet, .222, .223, .35 Remington, and .375 Winchester. Also was introduced to the 10mm with a Contender barrel. When the G2 frame came out and T/C introduced the 17HMR and .204 Ruger I got those barrels to pair with my rifles of those calibers. The action would not open all the way after firing a round in those barrels. I called T/C and a gunsmith told me that the engineers blew it and had me send in the barrels for a fix. Didn't do any good and I ended selling those two barrels. During the pandemic I started having eye issues again and was reminded by my retina specialist (who is also a shooter) to cut the recoil. I had a 14" .38 Super barrel made by Bullberry Legacy out in Utah and sold all of the others.

 

[Guv]

I bet that 375 was a handful!
I've always wanted one.

 

[Dan in MI]

Hank beat me to it, but here are the images in one place. I though there was a second version of the cast puma, but can't place it.

EDIT-- Well, DUH, The two cast pumas here are different.