[willyC]

have an original contender with 4X burris on .35 rem, 4X leopold on .445supermag, and 2 1/2-7x burris on 7x30 waters. all pistol scopes with long eye relief. i love them all but have spent many hours shooting and hunting and am very accustomed to the sight picture. these pieces of equipment are top notch...get one and get used to it...you'll like it ! remember...at 7 power and higher, you MUST be very steady to get good results.

[willyC]

fellow pennsylvanian !! hang in there !! the original contender is the best. I love my 13 oz. trigger. but you better be damn good and ready when you touch it. even at that light weight i am comfortable hunting with it...223, 7x30waters, .35rem, and .445supermag. muzzletamers on the two largest calibers...al scoped and VERY accurate. gave up on rifles many moons ago. handload,of course.

[highplainsman]

Have not got to shoot this past week! Accuracy with 55 grain Sellier & Bellot was kind of disappointing. Picked up some 50 grain Remington HPs and will try them maybe later today. Of course I have been checkeing the web for hand loads and am looking forward to trying some of these. Any input on handloads for the .223 would be appreciated.

[willyC]

hey highplainsman !!spent a whole season working on .223. what an education !! my gun is a late model contender #333789 and the barrel is TC 14" bull and I used a Burris 2 1/2-7x pistol scope. I tried several bullet weights and designs,55gr lead cast with gas checks, 55gr FMJ, 68gr HPBT and had very mediocre success. I then tried a little 50gr Sierra spitzer and switched from H335 to AA2460. As I recall the H335 loads were right out of the T/C load book. I used several powder charges (weights) with little variation on the target papers. My good combos are as follows...
AA2460 26.5gr, 50gr Sierra spitzer, Rem 7 1/2 BR primer, and my barrel likes an OAL between 2.271 to 2.275(varying this didn't seem to affect performance. this powder charge put 6 shots in one hole 1/4"x3/8". increase to 27gr powder put 8 shots in 3/4"x1" hole. icrease to 27.5gr powder put 3shots in a hole that looked like a pregnant figure 8. these groups were all shot at 50yds. an inch to inch and a half high of bullseye. that was good enough for me ! love to take it out for groundhogs ! none of these loads produced sticky extractions or flattened, blown back primers for me but you should check all of this info and start low and work up. I was really hoping to get a tack driving load with the heavy hollowpoint but never quite hit the right combo. I mat get enthused and try again someday. all of the H335 loads,while within the range discribed in the loadbooks,produced sticky extractions !! I also will try a bunch of different off the shelf stuff...have found in the past a few brands that shoot as well as my handloads in other calibers...don't always have time to cook up a batch of ammo when you need them ! TRY, TRY, TRY.

[highplainsman]

Thanks willyC! The Remingtons went into about 5/8" three shot triangular pattern at about 60 yds. My rest wasn't real solid and from a good rest I might be able to improve that. I feel better already and will keep your hand loads in mind and I do remember the old warning about reducing loads by about 10% and working up slowly.

[willyC]

Does anyone out there shoot .226 JDJ or 6MM JDJ ? Interested, but little info available even from SSK. Facts and figures are what I'm looking for...would like to compare the two...looking for a hot groundhog shooter...223 not getting it done for me. Original frame #333xxx w/14" bull T/C. Help if ya can. Thanks

[willyC]

Hey forget the 45-75....you willnever use it. i have a BIG banger and it's good for nothing except maybe blue whale !

[willyC]

i really get steamed when i log in and type a giant responce and hit send, and the site loses my blog and tells me i'm not logged on !!!! waste 15 min talking to yourself basically ! any one else have this happen ?

[GUNZABLAZIN]

I HAVE ONE FRAME, AND THREE BBL'S, ALL SUPER 14

17 REM.
30/30
445 SUPER MAG
THE FIRST WHITETAIL I EVER SHOT WAS WITH THE 445, AT ABOUT 90 YDS, SINCE THEN I HAVE SHOT 4 WITH THE THE 30/30.

[Onesonek]

Sure wish I had my old flatside back. Loaded it to my brother and ended up seeling it to him when I sorta went another direction awhile.
When I got back to the TC's I ended up with the Encore. I do like the extra weight when shooting some of the harder recoilers, but the trigger no matter what will never equal the Contender. Got mine worked enough it's pretty good though.


two more



I know they ain't "tenders", but fun to hunt with non the less!

Dave

[highplainsman]

My Trading buddy can't seem to find the 45-70 barrel (probably used it for a tent stake) and the 44 mag offers enough recoil anyway. Has been wet the last week (if you can imagine that on the high plains of West Texas) and havn't been able to get out and shoot any more. Put a red Dot on the 44 mag barrel. Maybe this week! That is a nice looking set of Encores Onesonek! What all do you have there?

[pontiacjim]

Have two old style contender frames and barrels in 44 mag, 223, 7-30 Waters, 30 Herrett, 357 Herrett, 357 Mag, 30-30, 7MM TCU. The frames are #202922 and #430545. I'm new to the Contender and hooked and but I'm having problems with a few of the barrels opening. On the #202922 the 357 Herrett will not brake open and on the #430545 the 357 Herrett, 30 Herrett, 45 Colt will not open. I have to take the trigger assembly out and manually push in the lock to remove the barrel. Suggestions?

[saidnuff]

I have 2 g2 frames. If the old Frames work as well as my two I must be missing something. I've been lucky in getting some good used barrels and a couple barrels someone ordered at a gun shop and didn't pick up. I've learned to ask if they have any contender barrels around you never know what you can find.

[willyC]

Hey Pontiac, google Bellm and read EVERYTHING he has on his contender web-site. you will find very valuable info on how to diagnose contender problems. You may be dealing with broken or worn parts OR just reloading errors (headspace issues, etc. that prevent opening the action once fired). You can email him with questions. He is THE guru of all old flatside contenders. That's Mike Bellm custom T/C's out on the west coast. Good luck willyC

[willyC]

Hey saidnuff...the issue with the old flatside contenders is the superb trigger on these old models. this trigger set was not carried forward to the new G2 or Encore and it was far easier to smooth out and set the pull WAY down (mine's at 13 oz. !!) without creep or overtravel. Your trigger is not bad...just not as adjustable as the old one. The newer models are beefed up for hotter calibers. Barrels are interchangable between the flatside and G2 but not the Encore. Forend fit is different also. willyC

[skb2706]

Been into Contenders since 1978. I 've had several frames from every generation and many barrels. Still have one 'tender frame and a G2. The original has a better trigger but the G2 is far easier to hunt with.

Currently shoot mostly carbine setupsbecause they make great prairie dog rifles and we take several barrels along.

6mm 30-30 Imp.
7-30 Waters
(two) .204 Rugers
.357 max
.221 FB
having a 22-204 fast twist made up custom after the first of the year.

Foreends fit on barrels, not frames making them exclusive to barrel type as opposed to frame type.

[willyC]

SKB..where are you shooting prairie dogs??

[willyC]

Hey Onesonek...that's a sweet looking collection of hardware !! Looks like it's worth more than my old mini-blazer ! If we all knew how to post pictures, we could all check out each others toys. How ya do dat ? And what the heck is a "senior member" ??

[willyC]

wussup with this forum...you people write a quote and then fall asleep for 9 months or what ? it's supposed to be an active chat space for our favorite toy, THE CONTENDER !!! Get with it folks, let's get some info exchanging hands...how else are we gonna get any smarter unless we share each others experiences, eh ?? holy cow !!!

[highplainsman]

Lets face it willyc. Contenders are a specilty item and if most shooters are like me its just one of several firearms they own and shoot. Like you I had hoped for more input when I joined this forum but guess everyone is busy or out hunting (shooting) or too busy otherwise. I'm in the same prediciment and can't spend very much time shooting or posting besides I've got my newest aquisition to try out a Model 94 Winchester 30x30. Made in 1978 a pre-crossbolt safty model and less than a box of shells shot thru it! Was toted around some in a jeep and has a few dings on the stock but in excellent shape. Hope to get out where I can shoot it.