Any Contender Love

[XP100]

G1 and G2 grips are not interchangable but barrels are. My G32 Frame is serial # G94XX. 4 digit but can't remember it right now

 

[41 nut son]

I do believe the biggest advantage to the G2 was that the hammer could be pulled back, released, and then pulled back again and fired. The G1 had to be opened up again in order to "re-cock" the hammer once it was let down. In my opinion the G2 was a much better frame to use bird hunting with a super 14" 45/410 barrel as a result.

 

[Guv]

The G2 should have still had an adjustable trigger. I hope the upcoming one adds this feature back.

Maybe some G2’s had an adjustable trigger, my 30-30 rifle did not.

 

[WV338]

I love them. I’ve got a 350 GNR, 6.5 BRM, and 7 TCU.

 

[mpmax]

Down to one barrel, 357maximum.
EZ-open G1, silhouette sight, and pachmayr grips. If you’re only going to have one, make it a good one.

 

[Pál_K]

Am I the only crazy person who would rather have multiple Contenders, each with a dedicated barrel, rather than a bunch of barrels for one Contender frame?

The idea of swapping barrels, though that is part of the design, bothers me because I like to see complete firearms.

I am the same way with cameras and lenses. I won't have a camera and then have three different focal length lenses for it: I'll have three cameras, each with a dedicated lens of a fixed focal length (or short zoom). Yes, I know that means if I go for a walk or drive, I have to commit to the camera and lens I've chosen. The consequence of this behavioural quirk is that in reality I have well over 100 cameras and lenses -- but maybe that's mostly because I love cameras.

Just one Contender though.

 

[Guv]

NO!
I have four barrels and four frames!
I also have Bellm oversize hinge pins on all of them.
One day I will add a .375 Win. I will also add a fifth frame, grip and forearm
You are Never Alone

 

[Dan in MI]

Well, I probably run about 50/50 barrels to frames. I think I'm at three complete with five loose barrels. Way fewer than in days gone by. I've always kept a minimum of two though, rimfire and centerfire.

EDIT - ya went and made me kill the cat (curiosity kills the cat...) Three complete and nine barrels.

 

[JBP]

NO!
I have four barrels and four frames!
I also have Bellm oversize hinge pins on all of them.
One day I will add a .375 Win. I will also add a fifth frame, grip and forearm
You are Never Alone

Of all of my 30 caliber barrels I enjoyed shooting the .375 Winchester the most. Only issue I had with it was availability of ammo and when available very pricey, I just did a lookup on Gun Broker and could not find any under $3.00 a round. Ammo Seek gave some better results with some under $2.50. Definitely better to roll your own. When I sold my .375 barrel I also sold my remaining 19 boxes of WINCHESTER 375 WIN SUPER X 200gr POWER-POINT 20rd BOX. Received over $1k for it. Of course that was during the pandemic when ammo costs were ridiculous although someone on GB wants $169.90 for a single box.

 

[Uncle Howie]

The G2 should have still had an adjustable trigger. I hope the upcoming one adds this feature back.

Maybe some G2's had an adjustable trigger, my 30-30 rifle did not.

I’m curious if the Contender WILL come back.

I’m enough of a pessimist to wonder if the company will actually come back… much less the Contender.

I’m hopeful for both coming back, but I fall into the “cautiously optimistic” category.

 

[Bob Wright]

I had no experience with the Contender until I visited my daughter in Ohio, about 1981 or so. There live a man near them that made custom barrels for the Contender, J.D. Jones. Well, a group of shooting buddies took me out one day and introduced me to a full range of barrels. Started out with the .30-30, then .35 Remingotn, .338 Woodswalker, .444 JRS (Jones Rhino stomper) and .45-70. The .45-70 was loaded with 500 gr. cast bullets lubed with Teflon tape. THAT was a handfull!

I understand J.D. has sold out SKS Industries and has moved to Arizona.

Bob Wright

 

[Watertender]

I am sure Miss Penny loves contender very much! (Couldn't resist)!!!

 

[Bob Wright]

It was during my ikntroduction to the Contender that I experienced a hang fire of sorts. I was shooting a Contender with the .35 Remington when I squeezed off a shot, nothing happened. The trigger "broke" but the hammer stayed back. I held the pistol downrange for about one minute, with my ttringer alongside the frame out of the trigger guard. Then I raised the pistol to about 45 degrees when it fired. I was using a two handed hold, and the front sight caught me under my right cheekbone, making a neat little gash.

The Contender expert, Jeff Jolley, said the frames had been used in wrking up some potent loads and likely had some burred parts. I believe it was the gun J.D. used to take an African elephant.

Bob Wright

 

[dannyd]

Anyone else still have their TC display mat.

 

[Hankus]

Actually, member @contender seems to be a pretty stand-up guy

 

[Pál_K]

Anyone else still have their TC display mat.

View attachment 49610

No, I wish I had. I do have a bunch of issues of their magazine, though.

 

[Dan in MI]

Anyone else still have their TC display mat.

View attachment 49610

A friend has one I’m going to steal someday.

 

[J. Yuma]

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.

somewhere in my future is a T/C .44 mag

 

[Johnnu2]

Anyone else still have their TC display mat.

View attachment 49610

YUP...... I've framed mine and have it hanging near my reloading bench in my tiny workshop.

J.

 

[Dan in MI]

16 minute video from the new owners on what's going on with the transition.

It's on facebook so I'm not sure how well this link works for everyone'

https://fb.watch/tihgKdPbE3/
https://fb.watch/tihgKdPbE3/

 

[dannyd]

The triggers on my frames were reworked by the late Jim Ishmael of Texas, both still 11 oz.'s after thousands of rounds.

 

[wproct]

I hate talking about Contenders because I just can't seem to be able to keep them. At one time I owned 2 stainless steel Gen 1 contenders, a .22 Match 10 inch heavy bbl on one and a vent rib 10 inch 45LC and .410 barrel on the other, and like a dummy sold them both. Then later on I bought a blued steel Gen 1 Contender and I had a 10 inch heavy bbl .22 magnum bbl and a 10 inch vent rib 45LLC and .410 bbl, and once again sold them. Still makes me sick to think of it.

 

[contender]

"Still makes me sick to think of it."

We call the disease; "Seller Remorse!" The cure is to buy & NEVER sell.

 

[crf801evo]

I have a 204 contender that shoots real well. I'm thinking of adding a handgun at some point

 

[Bullthrower338]

I sold one and gave a friend each a frame, leaving me only 4 G1 frames, I still have remorse of letting them go!

 

[bpimwheel]

Well, here is my additions to this thread.

Five easy open Contender frames (G1 Type III)
Two Stainless (Angry Couger head)
Three Blued (Couger on a Ledge)

Barrels are all 14 inch (Super 14)
Calibers are:
17 Rem - Blued
223 Rem - Stainless
6.5 JDJ - Stainless
6.5 JDJ - Blued
6.8 Rem - Blued
309 JDJ - Stainless
35 Rem - Stainless
375 JDJ - Stainless

Great fun to shoot especially the 309 & 375 JDJ's. Even more fun to make the brass from 444 Marlin brass.

6.5 JDJ is made from 225 Win and getting darn hard to find, and when you do find it, realllllll expensive.

Luckily about 3 years ago I bought out a retiring gunsmith in Arizona and in it was 2000 pieces of 225 brass. Brand new in Winchester boxes. Also about 2800 once fired loose pieces.

Glad I did, because in 1975 while stationed at Ft Hood, Tx I bought a 1965 Winchester Model 70 w/varmint barrel in caliber 225 Winchester. Never realized that 225 Win would become a dead caliber and manufactures would quit making the brass.

Would like to find a Super 14" 30-30 original T/C from N.H. time.

 

[Bhait]

My favorite is the 14 inch .223 barrel.

 

[dobegrant.45]

I only have one left, a gen1 with a 10” .223 barrel and a 2x8 Nikon scope

 

[eveled]

8.75" octagon.22Hornet

10" octagon .22lr .22mag 9mm .38 special .357 mag 30/30 .30M1 .44 Mag .45 Colt .45ACP.

Bull barrels
10" .357 .45/.410

14 .357 .223 30/30

Just one frame G1 type 2

 

[Pál_K]

View attachment 51847
8.75" octagon.22Hornet

10" octagon .22lr .22mag 9mm .38 special .357 mag 30/30 .30M1 .44 Mag .45 Colt .45ACP.

Bull barrels
10" .357 .45/.410

14 .357 .223 30/30

Just one frame G1 type 2

If those were mine, I'd have to buy 15 frames.