Author Topic: g2 compaired to older contender (Read 1515 times)

DEACONLLB · « **on:** March 13, 2008, 11:27:15 AM »

Other than the easy open part and being able to cock the hammer without opening the receiver is there any advantage over the older contenders? second question if I send an older contender to be converted will it then cock without opening the receiver? I know the grip angle is different on the g2. Looking to buy a g2 but do not know if it will be of an advantage once the older one is converted.

Thanks for your info.
Deaconllb

Czech_too · « **Reply #1 on:** March 13, 2008, 12:02:53 PM »

Other than being able to cock the hammer w/o opening the receiver, I wouldn't say there is any 'advantage'. I think of it as being a minor inconvenience. Having an older frame converted to easy open will not change the hammer/receiver operation. If I only had one frame and that being an older one and than had, or wanted, some newer barrels, then I'd make the change to easy open. Just my opinion.

Brian, in Ohio

Ladobe · « **Reply #2 on:** March 13, 2008, 12:20:06 PM »

In answer to both of your questions, the classic frames can be re cocked without opening the action, so that is not a difference between them and the G2's. Comes down to personal choice on which frame.

Curtis · « **Reply #3 on:** March 13, 2008, 12:43:35 PM »

The triggers are said to be not quite as good on the G2 as the older style frames, but both my frames are old style non-easy-open so I can't speak to that first hand. I just like the older frames, they're purdy!

Curtis

Keith L · « **Reply #4 on:** March 13, 2008, 01:01:30 PM »

I have some of both and like both styles. I interchange barrels freely between them without problems.

Ladobe, I have to open my older frames to re-cock them. What am I doing wrong? They are pre-easy open.

My G2 triggers are crisp and 2-2.5 pounds which is what I like for hunting. Many need them lighter for other things, and the G2s would need a trigger job for that.

rural17 · « **Reply #5 on:** March 13, 2008, 01:05:05 PM »

Ladobe, Please explain how to re-cock an older style frame without opening the action? This is a trick that would come in more than handy for me. I think I have heard of it being done but just can't remember how to do it.
Thanks Jeff

Slowpoke Slim · « **Reply #6 on:** March 13, 2008, 02:44:10 PM »

Me too,

I have a pre easy open frame and I didn't know there was a way to cock it without "cracking" it open again. Mines got the firing pin screw in the back of the hammer and the cross bolt safety on the hammer. Is there a way to do that one too?

Thanks.

Curtis · « **Reply #7 on:** March 13, 2008, 05:40:40 PM »

I have to agree with Ladobe to a point. You don't have to "open" the action but you at least have to depress the trigger guard all the way to reset the sear and hammer block. Once the old style Contenders hammer has been lowered without taking a shot not only will the hammer not lock back again, the hammer block safety has fallen and the gun is in an unsafe condition (a drop resulting in a hammer strike can fire the gun) until the trigger guard is depressed fully to reset things. At least in my experience.

Curtis

encore58 · « **Reply #8 on:** March 14, 2008, 06:41:11 AM »

G2 frames are suppose to be bit stronger than the older frames, can be re-cocked without opening the action, have excellent triggers and overall look better in my opinion. I have one G2 and two regular Contenders.

Ladobe · « **Reply #9 on:** March 14, 2008, 06:48:42 AM »

Re cocking Classic frames...

It's been posted on this forum (and every gun forum) many times over the years as it is a very common misconception that "experts" just seem to need to continue to spread. But Curtis pretty much has it.

With the EO frames a relatively slight squeeze of the trigger guard will reset and let you re cock the action. On the pre EO frames the "squeeze" has to be up to it's full travel depending on the frame. Obviously easiest with the EO frames, but either way, you do not have to open the action.

Just takes a little practice and T & A to find what each frame needs to accomplish it. BTW, that's Trial & Error, not the other T & A.

L.

Ladobe · « **Reply #10 on:** March 14, 2008, 07:18:09 AM »

More misconceptions...

The G2 is not stronger than a Classic frame in the sense of what the factory considers safe to shoot on it. Anything that can safely be shot on the G2 can also be shot on a Classic fame in good condition.

The G2 is no more than TC's "Lawyer" or "Drop Test" frame. Their answer to this law suit crazy world we live in now.

No doubt the change was also made due to so many so called smiths doing unsafe trigger jobs on the Classic frames over the years. There are a lot of them that are unsafe now. Probably unsafe triggers can be done on the G2's as well, but I haven't heard of that problem with the G2's yet.

Still just comes down to personal choice on appearance. When you've been a serious user of them for 40 years like I have, it's hard to get used to a Contender without the slab frame. I even had a hard time accepting their change on the Classics to the cougar head that looks like it was scratched on the frame by a 6 year old. LOL

L.

Keith L · « **Reply #11 on:** March 14, 2008, 08:23:15 AM »

My guess is that TC was trying to build off of the success of the Encore, and styled the new Contenders to look like a mini-Encore. I think the wings are for style, but many assume that they are for strength as well. While they may add strength the frames, like Ladobe said, are rated the same, new or old.

woodchukhntr · « **Reply #12 on:** March 14, 2008, 08:42:22 AM »

I have had both versions of the older frame and like the newer "easy Open" one better. I have felt it to be a pain to have to reset the hammer after it was dropped. It has caused more than one missed shot. I would like to get G2, but there are more pressing things. The one thing that I have always disliked was the cheesy "engraving" both on the Contender and the Remington 1100.

skarke · « **Reply #13 on:** March 14, 2008, 09:29:15 AM »

Guys,

There seems to be a little confusion as to what frames are the topic of discussion. Unless I am inferring wrong, some are referring to the new G2s as "easy open" frames. This is technically wrong. The Easy open frames were those that are old style, flat side frames with serial numbers greater than 195xxx. The "old style" frames are those that are pre 195 frames. The difference between the two are slight geometric changes in design to facilitate easier opening, thus the name.

The G2 is a completely different frame, more closely resembling the Encore in design and function.

While both G2s and "old style" frames can certainly have fine triggers, most enthusiasts would lean slighly in favor of the "old style" for sweetnees. With very little tweaking, an old style can be made to have an almost benchrest quality release, while the G2s are more aptly referred to as having a fine trigger with moderate modification. The G2s seem to have a much wider factory set range, while the "old styles" are pretty consistent.

Hope this helps, and good shootin'.

skarke · « **Reply #14 on:** March 14, 2008, 09:42:51 AM »

This is an old link that compares the old style and easy opens with the Encore. Note that when this link was written the G2s were just coming out, thus specs on the G2s weren't yet available.

http://www.varminthunters.com/tech/contencore.html

hope this helps.

Dan

Davemuzz · « **Reply #15 on:** March 14, 2008, 10:13:20 AM »

Ok guys.....here is the "visual" on the difference between the "old style" of frame opening, and the "easy opening" frame:

On the Blued frame, you will notice that in the front lower corner, there is a pin. This pin is what the trigger mechanism (the lever you grab when you want to open the barrel) "pivots" on in order to open the barrel and re-set the trigger. NOW....on the stainless steel frame (yeah...the one with the cross-eyed cougar) you will notice the "pivot pin" is located directly above the trigger.....and NOT in the front lower corner as it is on the blued frame. SO....NOW what you have is simple physics involved. It's a LEVERAGE thingy!!! Just like a see-saw at the playground, when they moved the pivot point, it made the barrel "easier to open".....thus the name "EASY OPEN". Oh...and if you send in an old style frame, they will drill a new hole and put in the easy open assembly. You will now have an "open hole" in the lower corner of your frame. It's no big deal....I have one.

skarke · « **Reply #16 on:** March 14, 2008, 10:28:37 AM »

Davemuzz,

A picture (in this case, 2) is (are) worth a thousand words.

Thanks a bunch!!!

Dan

Ladobe · « **Reply #17 on:** March 14, 2008, 02:20:28 PM »

Keith - The "lawyers/drop test" was not just a guess. Terms used by Tim and Ken at the 2000 SHOT Show when they slipped the G2 prototype under the table to me to get my take on it. All the reworked triggers out there also came up in the discussion. BTW, they didn't like my assessment of the prototype G2 at all BTW.

Dan - Thanks for the clarification. I just assumed most Contender users would know the difference between at least the basic classic frames after how many times it's been discussed all over the Internet for so many years.

Dave - I'll still chuckling over your "cross-eyed cougar" moniker pard.

I will remember it as a purr-fect description for the classic frames built after the fire. TC would have done us all better if they had just made the rest of them flat sides instead of adding that child's play to them.

L.

DEACONLLB · « **Reply #18 on:** March 14, 2008, 02:37:05 PM »

Thanks to all who have responded to my question. you have answered all of them even showing pictures of the easy open and how it is done. I was wondering how they moved the pin and what happened to the hole that was left or if a different trigger guard was used. So now I will be happy with my older ones and buy a g2 if one comes my way, any way I need one to go with my new encore and I still have lots of room in the gun safe. again a big THANKS Deaconllb

Keith L · « **Reply #19 on:** March 14, 2008, 03:43:03 PM »

FWIW, I wasn't questioning the trigger redesign. I just keep hearing about how much stronger the G2 is because of the Encore like ears, and my guess is they are for style, not strength.

Davemuzz · « **Reply #20 on:** March 14, 2008, 04:43:04 PM »

My only beef with the new G-2's is the muzzloader barrel. You can get the M\L barrel for the G-2, but you can't mount it on the old Contender frame because of the little underlug they welded on the M\L barrel. And, of course....if you hack off the underlug, it will hook right up to the Contender....but you will void the barrel warranty. What a joke!!! A marketing gimick to sell more G-2's. I still don't own a G-2.

Dave

rand4c · « **Reply #21 on:** March 15, 2008, 02:20:36 AM »

Wasn't confused until I read thru this thread and saw the pictures but now I am..I have a "G 1" Contender with the old style tiger ( full body ) and the pin over the trigger ( no hole forward ) , serial # 306XXX .

Did they make the easy open , pre G2 , with both tigers..?

And I don't have to open the action completely to re-cock but the guard does have to travel the entire distance and open the action a hair to re-cock..If I ease the guard back a bit all it does is half cock and if I try to full cock it ,it falls to the pin.

Randy

Davemuzz · « **Reply #22 on:** March 15, 2008, 02:44:41 AM »

Quote from: rand4c on March 15, 2008, 02:20:36 AM

Wasn't confused until I read thru this thread and saw the pictures but now I am..I have a "G 1" Contender with the old style tiger ( full body ) and the pin over the trigger ( no hole forward ) , serial # 306XXX .

Yeah....T\C changed the G-1 to the "easy open" somewhere in mid-stream. I don't know the serial number....but yours is high enough to be a G-1 easy open.

Quote from: rand4c on March 15, 2008, 02:20:36 AM

Did they make the easy open , pre G2 , with both tigers..?

Yup

Quote from: rand4c on March 15, 2008, 02:20:36 AM

And I don't have to open the action completely to re-cock but the guard does have to travel the entire distance and open the action a hair to re-cock..If I ease the guard back a bit all it does is half cock and if I try to full cock it ,it falls to the pin.

Randy

That smells right. When you pull the guard that resets the action and breaks the barrel open....even if you don't open the barrel completely up.

Dave

rand4c · « **Reply #23 on:** March 15, 2008, 03:34:06 AM »

Thanks Dave...appreciate the reply..Randy

P. S. ...I spoke to T C a few months back when I bought my Contender and she was nice enough to send me a manual and I think she told me E O came into being after.. # 95,000,,,,,ooops,,,make that # 195,000

sweetwyominghome · « **Reply #24 on:** March 15, 2008, 04:47:27 AM »

rand4c wrote: "P. S. ...I spoke to T C a few months back when I bought my Contender and she was nice enough to send me a manual and I think she told me E O came into being after # 95,000"

No, it's after 195,000.

skarke · « **Reply #25 on:** March 15, 2008, 12:44:17 PM »

Cross eyed cougar............ LOL LOL LOL

You're killin me. Most accurate description heard yet!!

woodchukhntr · « **Reply #26 on:** May 14, 2008, 08:22:02 AM »

Well, now I have a G-2. I like the recocking feature and the appearance. I picked it up used with a .45 magnum black powder barrel on it. I haven't shot the .45 barrel yet, but expect a significant amount of recoil in so light a gun.