| Question on Barrels for '70? Contender [message #47352] |
Sat, 17 September 2022 01:46  |
Senzog
Messages: 2
Registered: September 2022
Location: Wisconsin
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Forum Newbie |
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Hi! Have wanted a T/C Contender for years, finally just picked one up at a local funshow.
Firstly, thanks for all the stickied info on this site. I just had a fun couple hours of going down the rabbit hole, of "so what do I have here..."
As far as I can tell, it's a ~1970 that did NOT get the easy-open fix.. and has the first-revision hammer (no safety, no external firing pin selector)
So... My question is... Barrel compatibility...
Do I need to stick to hexagonal barrels? Should I only stick to the similarly ancient looking barrels?
Also... With the 44mag choke... Should I take this off and leave it off? I only intend to ever shoot solid projectiles of factory 44mag ammo.... Hoping modern hunting loads are OK in this old gun!
Many thanks for all you do here!
--Sen
[Updated on: Sat, 17 September 2022 01:47] Report message to a moderator |
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| Re: Question on Barrels for '70? Contender [message #47354 is a reply to message #47352] |
Sat, 17 September 2022 09:57  |
gemihur
Messages: 312
Registered: March 2012
Location: Ridgelines of Virginia
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Forum Regular |
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You've got a nice early one there.
And with a snap on forearm, definitely a feature.
Congratulations!
Remove the choke tube when using 44 mag rounds and reinstall it when using hotshot loads.
It is actually not a choke at all but rather a centrifugal arrestor as it acts to detent the spiral of the rifling before the shot column leaves the barrel.
If you intend to only use 44 mag cartridges, yes, leave it off.
Check out this: http://www.encoreclassifieds.com/forum/index.php?t=msg&t h=8557&start=0&
Any 44 mag that comply with SAMMI will be safe to use
It will be a handful, tho.
If you reload, consider Trail Boss.
Think twice...shoot once.
[Updated on: Sat, 17 September 2022 09:59] Report message to a moderator |
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| Re: Question on Barrels for '70? Contender [message #47355 is a reply to message #47354] |
Sat, 17 September 2022 10:20 |
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cajuntec
Messages: 1250
Registered: November 2009
Location: Williamsburg, VA
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Top Contributor
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Welcome!
gemihur covered it really well, and I agree, you have a nice specimen right there. Congrats on the purchase of a fine looking firearm.
I have one of those, and I use a 10" round bull barrel .45 Colt and a 10" round bull barrel .357 Magnum on it. So no... you don't need to only run hex barrels on it. But you will need a different forearm to match any non-hex / non-snap on stud barrels you may purchase at a later date. You may find that different locking bolt configurations (what some incorrectly call a "locking lug") may be better or worse for that frame. I've got a solid bolt barrel, and a split bolt barrel. They both work equally well, but I've had some of each that took some fitting / changing of the locking bolts to make work easier / correctly. You might get lucky and never have to play around with that, but if you purchase a lot of barrels in the future, you are bound to run into one or more that just needs a bit of locking bolt tweaking or a swap.
I do try to keep to flat lug barrels in the non-easy open frames. They seem to give me much less issues, although I have successfully run a few step-lug barrels in them without issue. Flat lug barrels came in fewer chamberings, but there are still quite a few to choose from.
.44 Mag is a handful in that piece. I've wacked the knuckles of my support hand more times than I care to count using .44 Mag loads. Nice thing though... you can also shoot .44 Specials out of it for a milder recoil that still uses a big projectile - but I'd recommend 180 grain bullets in the Special, vice the 240 grain I usually use in the Magnum.
Of particular praise to you - Thank you for reading all the resources that many of us have put together over the years, vice just jumping on the site and asking questions that were already answered in that section. Many overlook those very valuable tools, or just don't want to take the time to go through them. But my hat is off to you for taking the time to research what you had before asking further questions. That's awesome, and I appreciate it!
Enjoy your new purchase, and let us know how you like it after you get it out to the range.
All the best,
Glenn
If at first you don't succeed... buy newer / better equipment!
[Updated on: Sat, 17 September 2022 10:23] Report message to a moderator |
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| Re: Question on Barrels for '70? Contender [message #47399 is a reply to message #47356] |
Mon, 31 October 2022 13:53 |
Senzog
Messages: 2
Registered: September 2022
Location: Wisconsin
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Forum Newbie |
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Thanks for the info and kind words, gemihur and cajuntec! I was waiting for email-notifications that never came... happened to check back here on a whim and saw your awesome replies.
I did get it out to the range, with factory 240gr 44mag, it certainly kicks, but is fun as hell to shoot. Tried a few shots one-handed (as I intend to use it in the deer-stand, for close-range if one walks by my right-side) - and THAT was downright unpleasant, hahaha... but doable. I was definitely surprised with how good the trigger is on this thing.... I was consistently putting holes on a paper-plate at 75yds. For me at least, with pistol iron-sights, that was impressive.
The fore-end hasn't snapped off on it's own yet - but i've only shot about 20 'tame' 240gr factory loads through it...
Now to try and find a .35 Remington barrel...
I've seen on other forums that folks have had issues with them, but i'm too interested to care. I have a scout-setup lever-gun in 35Rem and to put that ammo to use in a handgun would be amazing....
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