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Author Topic: Old contender, new to me.  (Read 741 times)

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Offline jimmyss

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Old contender, new to me.
« on: January 12, 2012, 12:47:18 PM »
Picked up a smoking, can't turn it down deal today. Early '81 hard open frame with a 10 inch 44 mag barrel. Missing the choke tube of course. Also missing the safety cross bar. May be why it was cheap? Great shape.

Shot it with some stiff but not hot 250 grain SWC over unique loads this afternoon. W0W! Forgot how these can kick. Had one years ago in mainly .223 but also 444 and 45-70 barrels at times. Have been looking for one for a year or more. Today was my lucky day.

Weird thing is its not an octagon nor a vent ribbed barrel. Did they make many 10 inch non ported bull barrels with choke tubes?




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Offline jimmyss

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Maybe I should introduce myself
« Reply #1 on: January 12, 2012, 03:43:04 PM »
Just realized that was my first post here. Thought for sure I had posted something before. Have enjoyed this forum for sometime now.
I myself love old single shot rifles. Rolling blocks and stevens are my favorite. Through in a Garand or '03 Springfield for fun every once in a while. Also addicted to those dang black rifles. Guess my tastes vary to anything but a bolt action. I think they are just a fad. Only have two.

Glad too find a Contender forum. As I said before, had a super 14 .223 prairie dog killer back in the late 80s early 90s. Messed with a 444 and a 45-70 barrel at times but did not keep them long. Through a divorce and sold the contender back in probably 95. Kept my eye out for one at gun shows now and then. Just happen to stop in a local gun shop(Wichita, Ks). Looking over a different rifle and noticed a contender laying on its side below the rack. Needless to say the price was more than fair and they knocked another $25 off for the sake of the haggle. Going to look for another barrel or two but not sure what yet. Have several .223s on the ar platform. Probably won't go that way but who knows.


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Offline Curtis

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Re: Old contender, new to me.
« Reply #2 on: January 13, 2012, 12:17:04 PM »
All of my Contenders except for one stainless frame are '79 to '81 vintage and I have yet to have a lock-up problem, solid lug or split, on all of my barrels.  I think you "done good".  The safety being missing is no big deal, it's useless anyway.
 
Curtis
 
P.S.  About recoil, you are right.  My 44 mag octagon is much more unpleasant than even my unbraked 14" 375 JDJ barrel.
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Lord, please help me to be half the man my dogs think I am.

Contender in 17 Rem, 22lr, 22k Hornet, 223 Rem, 256 WM, 6TCU, 7TCU, 7-30, 30 Herrett, 300 Whisper, 30-30 AI, 357 mag, 357 Herrett, 375 JDJ, 44 mag, 45/410..... so far.

Offline jimmyss

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Re: Old contender, new to me.
« Reply #3 on: January 13, 2012, 03:35:33 PM »
Realized the recent barrels with choke tubes are bull barrels like this one.   Though this one has an early looking front sight. No screw. Soldered on. Wondering if it is newer or old.
I never had trouble opening these older contenders. Squeeze with two fingers and bump the palm of your off hand against them. Pops open easy.
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Offline jimmyss

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Re: Old contender, new to me.
« Reply #4 on: January 13, 2012, 04:30:33 PM »
Forgot to ad, the safety missing makes it a speed hammer. 8)
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Offline 3leggedturtle

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Re: Old contender, new to me.
« Reply #5 on: January 14, 2012, 03:52:28 AM »
Bught my contender new in '83 with 22 hornet and a 44 mag hotshot barrel. Both are 10" bull barrels with open sights,
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Offline Da-Law-Dawg

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Re: Old contender, new to me.
« Reply #6 on: January 15, 2012, 01:29:32 AM »
Likewise, recently got back into the TC's myself.

My current frame is a '76 vintage non-easy opener. Only barrel I have out of three that's stiff is an SSK 6.5 JDJ. The other two are TC factory barrels and they are super smooth.

On recoil, the 10" barrels can be boomers. Years ago, had an octagonal 10" in .30-30. Was a handful with a 150-170gr fodder.

Welcome back to the TC community! Be careful, barrels are like Lays potato chips, can't stop with one! Just bought my fourth barrel the other day!  ;)
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Offline jimmyss

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Re: Old contender, new to me.
« Reply #7 on: January 15, 2012, 05:21:30 PM »
Reading up on contender improvements. The breech to frame fit is very tight. Less than .0015. Wonder if taking .005 off the breech would improve accuracy and ease of opening. Head space is .065 to .067. Could shim the breech face to tighten that up and leave .003 gap on the barrel itself. Would have to remove the front sight. It's not screwed on. I'm guessing solder. Probably mess up the blueing so doubt I try it. Could shorten the barrel to just remove the threads. Something I'm thinking  about. Have a lathe in the garage.
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Offline Flash

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Re: Old contender, new to me.
« Reply #8 on: January 17, 2012, 01:23:07 AM »
I wouldn't take anything off the breech face or the barrel. It's usually the locking lugs that need the modification.
I once bought a gun with the safety that was missing the little ball bearing and spring. After it going back to T/C, they returned a new frame with the same serial number. Your smoking deal could burst into flames from a call to T/C. You might wind up with a new frame.
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What doesn't kill us, makes us stronger!

Offline jimmyss

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Re: Old contender, new to me.
« Reply #9 on: January 17, 2012, 03:15:29 AM »
It's worth a call to TC. Didn't think about that. Thanks.

Stripped the barrel. Removed .003 from the breech face. Still locks up tight on .0015 shim. Going to take another .003 off and see if it creates a gap. Can not go any further with out running out of headspace.
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