Wondering about contender barrels

[crateslinger]

I bought a contender frame with a forestock used for $159. A couple of weeks later I picked up a crisp 30/30 barrel for $125. No problem with these prices... I found, however, that the forestock came with two screws and the barrel only takes one. It fits and shoots fine. Also the bed is much wider in the forestock than the width of the barrel. I have seen barrels on ebay called "super 14" and maybe even "super 16", not sure. I guess this stock is for these bigger barrels. The 30/30 is only 10" long. Can anyone give me a quick rundown on these things? I have done a quick search for information from the company, but only found commercial info on the new g2. I would rather hear from an experienced shooter anyway. In particular I am curious how big this frame can go. Can I put a 45/70 on there? How long do these barrels get?

thanks.

http://www.eabco.com/barels01.html

http://www.sskindustries.com/

Thompson/Center Contender G-2: the discriminating shooter's pistol
Guns Magazine, Dec, 2004 by Glenn Barnes
new

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Is that ugly thing really a handgun?" "You have got to be joking!" "Ain't nobody gonna be crazy enough to buy one of those!" "Come on, a single-shot pistol for hunting? Give me a break." "Why don't you just stick that sissy-looking pea-shooter back in the counter and let me see a real gun."

Actually, these were some of the more pleasant statements issued from traditional minded shooters and handgun hunters when Thompson/Center first unveiled their revolutionary new Contender handgun design in 1967. Fortunately, I was barely out of diapers in 1967 and missed out on all the name-calling, rock throwing, and general blasting of this upstart gun company.

Shooters in general, and handgunners in particular, have always held strong beliefs (read stubborn and opinionated) about what constitutes the perfect hand-held firearm, and the new Thompson/Center did not measure up to their standards in any shape, form, or fashion, especially shape. With its full-length rib, break-open design, and an action that sported a wild critter on its side, who could blame them? It kinda resembled the Star Trek pistol Mom and Dad gave me for Christmas one year. Serious shooters were predicting a bleak future for Thompson/Center and some were even gathering in the gun graveyard with shovels in their hands ready to help usher it into the great beyond.

Amidst all the bashing and hair pulling usually associated with any new design on the market, a few savvy shooters decided to give it a try before relegating it to the bone-yard, and what they discovered softened the hearts and brought tears of joy to the eyes of hardened traditional minded shooters the world over. "That ugly thing really shoots! It's accurate!" "No, I ain't joking!" "You're darn right I'm crazy enough to buy one of those!" "A single shot pistol for hunting? Why not, I'll give it a try." "Put that real gun back in the counter and let me see the sissy-looking pea-shooter again." It's kinda funny how tight little groups can change minds and break the molds of what's traditional and what isn't, ain't it?

Initially offered in .22 LR, .22 WMR, .22 Hornet, .22 Jet, and .38 Special, the Contender didn't exactly cater to the whims and needs of serious big game hunters, but these smaller calibers were sheer dynamite in the hands of small game nimrods. It wasn't long, however, before Thompson/Center realized the wild critter emblazoned on the sides of their frame was a real brute and was perfectly capable of handling more powerful cartridges up to and including the .45-70 Government. In fact, according to Thompson/Center Association historians, the Contender has been chambered in more than 75 different calibers both standard and wildcats over the years. Some peashooter, huh?

Aside from its superb precision in all chamberings, the Contender's main attraction has always been its ability to quickly shapeshift into another caliber by simply replacing the barrel and, with the turn of a small lever on the hammer, you can go from a rimfire to a centerfire. Let's see, we've got extreme accuracy, unmatched versatility, and racy if somewhat futuristic good looks, not to mention a budget satisfying price tag. What isn't there to love?

But wait, there's more! The original Contender has been redesigned into what could arguably be considered the ultimate single shot handgun of all time. Thompson/Center calls it the G-2 Contender. The G-2 is the first major design enhancement in the Contender's 35-year history, which in itself is an achievement of notable proportions. Key structural elements of the original design remain untouched, such as its simple break open action, swift barrel replacement, firing pin system, and its adaptability to the use of optics. As a bonus, all those Contender barrels you've been hoarding all these years fit perfectly on the new G-2 without any modification.

Two changes will catch your eye immediately. The first is the grip frame. On pre-G-2 frames the grip angle is relatively sharp causing you to feel every foot-pound of recoil induced pain. The G-2's grip frame has been modified somewhat and in my opinion treats hands and wrists that have been ravaged by too many years of hard recoil, with kid gloves.

The second thing you'll notice is the frame itself. Gone is the legendary critter emblazoned on the side; the new G-2 is sleeker and sports a more modern look. In fact, at a quick glance, you'll think you're looking at one of Thompson/Center's legendary Encores.

What you won't notice until you pick one up and give it a closer inspection are the design modifications I like best, mostly because I'm somewhat of a lazy shooter and prefer my shooting toys to be easy to operate. Remember how stiff, and how much effort it took to break open the action on a regular Contender? Not anymore. You can toss those old thing-a-ma-gigs we used to squeeze to strengthen our wrists and hands in the garbage can. The new G-2 requires much less effort to open the action and was designed so even youngsters, or anyone with small hands could operate it with ease. The next design modification is one shooters have been demanding for years. In the original Contender design, the only way the gun can be cocked is to move the trigger guard to the rear, or as most of us did, break the action open. With the hammer cocked, and you decided to let it down, the only way to re-cock it was to break open the action again. Simply put, it was a pain in the rear end.

Not any longer. Thompson/Center first solved this aggravating design flaw when they developed the centerfire-only Encore in 1997. Basically, the two guns are the same. The Encore is just beefier and intended for larger and higher-pressure cartridges. With this nagging malady addressed, to many shooters and hunters--myself included--the G-2 Contender is without doubt the simplest to operate, most accurate and versatile single shot hunting or silhouette handgun ever conceived.

I contacted Thompson/Center and asked them to send me one of the new G-2s to see how it would perform. As I'm an inveterate revolver cartridge guy, I asked for both a .357 Magnum and a .44 Magnum barrel with standard iron sights to wring out. Obviously someone who knew me well forwarded the package, and in it was a note. It said, "Glenn, we appreciate the opportunity to provide you with our new G-2 Contender to test. Enclosed you will find two of our handgun scopes. We suggest you remove the iron sights and install the optics. We here at T/C are familiar with your legendary ability to miss your target. Hope the optics help." Gee, thanks guys, you're all heart!

Opening the box and inspecting the action and barrels, I quickly noted Thompson/Center's famous attention to detail has not been left out on the new G2. The barrels sported high polish blue so deep you could see the future in it and the muzzle is protected from scratches and dings by a well-executed and eye-pleasing crown. The hammer, trigger, and trigger guard are also blued to a mirror-like finish, and the sides of the frame sport a somewhat subdued finish, contrasting nicely with the rest of the gun.

After examining the G-2 for a few moments, I took their friendly advice and removed the iron sights and installed the scopes. Gathering a bag full of ammo and my shooting gear. I stuffed it all into my worn out range bag and headed out to see what it would do. The .44 Magnum was first to run the gauntlet. Using Black Hills 240-grain JHP factory ammo, the G-2 averaged just over two inches at 100 yards. My favorite home-brewed concoctions consisting of 23 grains of Hodgdon H-110 under Hornady's excellent 240-grain XTP bullet, and 21 grains of either Alliant 2400 or Accurate Arms No. 9 using the same Hornady bullet, were hard pressed to beat it. A few other loads using a variety of 240- and 300-grain bullets proved the .44 Magnum G-2 to be pretty much a two- to four-inch gun at 100 yards, which is plenty precise for the majority of anyone's hunting needs.

The .357 Magnum barrel mirrored the .44 Magnum's in the precision department with a fair selection of handloads and factory ammo. Average groups hovered around two to four inches with everything at 100 yards. The most accurate .357 Magnum load consisted of Hornady's 158-grain XTP over 14.7 grains of Alliant 2400, which has proved to be a superb choice in several of my revolvers as well.

Just for fun, I installed a .223 Remington barrel I'd been hoarding for a few years because of its incredible accuracy and varmint killing abilities. It proved to be just as precise on the new G-2 using Federal's fine factory number loaded with Nosler's 55-grain Ballistic Tip, delivering five shot groups of slightly over one inch at 100 yards.

[crateslinger]

That's what i figured. How long do contender barrels get? The 22" barrels are obviously for the rifle version right? I don't understand why the rifle and pistol have the same name.

Thanks for the reply.

Continued from page 1.

Thanks to Thompson/Centers' smart-alecky comments regarding my shooting prowess, or lack thereof, I wish I could find something on the G-2 Contender to complain about--just to get even--but darn it, I can't! I hate it when that hap pens. Oh well. In short, the G-2 Contender is a fine handgun, it's accurate, reliable, bull-strong, and available in a wide variety of game killing and silhouette stomping calibers. I'm keeping mine despite what they said.

For more information, contact Thompson/Center, (603) 332-2333, www.tcarms.com.

from http://www.findarticles.com/p/articl..._n6275759/pg_2

[crateslinger]

whoa! thanks for the article... it just appeared. I'm gonna read that right now.

[Big Dog]

Sounds like that fore-end is for the carbine barrel. With a 16" or longer barrel, you'll need the carbine buttstock too to be legal.

Good price on the Contender frame - wish I'd kept mine.

[crateslinger]

it came with the frame from an old man who got his shop from his grand-dad. I trust him not to play any games. he'd sold the barrel separately to someone who already had the frame, but I'm sure this is the fore-end it cam with

Thanks for the article. Much information that I really needed. Now I can bid comfortably on one of those scoped rim-fire barrels. Even found a 45/70.

Originally Posted by crateslinger

Thanks for the article

:right:

[458Mag]

I see you have some info already and they are correct, the 10" barrel needs the forend with just one screw hole. The 14 and 16 inch barrels have two screws as do the forends. TC has carbine barrels of 21 inches and customs barrels come in many lengths. I've seen them from 5 to 28 inches. The .45-70 is the largest caliber made by TC although SSK Industries has a selection too large list here. Some of their best are the 6.5 JDJ (base case is the .225 Winchester) and the .309 and .375 JDJ {TC now offers the .375 JDJ in their pistol and carbine barrels}, base case is the .444 Marlin).
The size of the cartridge the pistol can hold depends on both the head size and pressure generated. A .223 and .308 develop about the same pressure. The .223 can be chambered in a Contender, but the .308 cannot, because the head of the cartridge is larger. A .50-70 Govt. or .50-140 Sharps can be chambered in the Contender with black powder loads only which keeps the pressure down. This is a very interesting pistol with cartridges that can take any game animal in the world, and have.

[tmar04]

Did Thompson Center make a 'bull barrel' in 14" .223 cal? Is this the one they call the Super 14? Did they also make a tapered barrel in 14" . thanks to all.

[Big Dog]

Yes, mine was the .223 Rem "Super 14". They couldn't go longer in the pistol configuration. 16" and up needs the buttstock as it is a carbine.

I was getting one inch groups at 100 yards with the .223 barrel and the fixed 4X scope. It took real concentration to do this though, and practice to get the proper grip. I'm more a rifle guy, so I sold mine.

[Indy]

I have 3 of the original Contender pistols, and two extra barrels. A pistol configured in 22LR match, a super 14 in 35 Rem, and a super 14 in 223Rem. The extra barrels are in .357 and 44 magnum. The super 14s take the two screw fore-ends, but I have a Pachmyer rubber fore-end kit that contains a steel bar drilled and tapped to convert the two screw to one screw. The foreend is Pachmyer's. Thompson Center has two screw fore-ends. I must say these are great pistols capable of firing great groups. There is a scope on the 223 and off on sandbags the groups compare with a rifle at 200 yds. The 35Rem has a red dot on it and I use it for shooting steel at 200 yds. Personally I like the cougar engraving on the side plates, but the G2 has many other improvements. They love handloads.
Indy