How to hold the Contender to keep for getting knuckle knock!

[Zenshin]

I've got a new Contender g2 with an 8" 44 magnum barrel.  Lots of fun with 44 specials and lightly loaded 44 magnums.  With full load 44 magnums the fingers of my none trigger finger hand take a hard rap.  How do you grip/hold the dang thing correctly?  Thanks,  Dennis

[Flash]

I shoot hot 30-30 and 7x30 rounds which are head and shoulders above 44mag loads and don't get knocked at all. Hold it like someone's going to take it away from you. You are expecting to roll like a single action and it won't. Grip it like you mean it with everything but your trigger finger. If you give it enough room to move, it certainly will.

[Curtis]

Disclaimer:  I don't have a G2, only classic Contenders.
 
On my shorter barrels, I palm the bottom of the grip with my off hand.  The same on my 14" barrels if I have something to rest the forend on, but if not I usually either cradle or hold the forend lightly with my off hand.  No knuckle knock because my off hand is out of the way of the trigger guard spur.
 
Curtis
 
Curtis

[SHOOTALL]

The super 14 , 44 mag loaded to Ruger TC loads kicked harder than my 7X30 waters . GET A SHOOTING GLOVE or wrap a band-aid around the finger .

[Curtis]

The super 14 , 44 mag loaded to Ruger TC loads kicked harder than my 7X30 waters

Shootall, I had to scratch my head on that one too.  My 7-30 is a pussycat compared to the recoil of my 44 Mag.  A stout charge of H-110 behind a 300 gr. XTP is an adventure!  I don't know how "hot" Flash is loading his 7-30 but mine is pushing a 120 BT at the low 2600s.
 
Curtis

[Flash]

35.5 grains of H335 w/120 Bt. Another grain behind a 180 grain hpbt  in my 30-30


these are in my g2. I wouldn't attempt it in an original contender. Don't know how fast they're going but..........they let you know you're shooting them.

[7-30 Waters]

Given the fact your shooting a short barrel makes it difficult to shoot your pistol without getting knuckle whacked. My 12" 357 Maximum barrel knuckle whacks me to.


15" 357 Herrett vs 12" 357 Maximum and same bullet, the Herrett is a pleasure to shoot.

[SHOOTALL]

The super 14 , 44 mag loaded to Ruger TC loads kicked harder than my 7X30 waters

Shootall, I had to scratch my head on that one too.  My 7-30 is a pussycat compared to the recoil of my 44 Mag.  A stout charge of H-110 behind a 300 gr. XTP is an adventure!  I don't know how "hot" Flash is loading his 7-30 but mine is pushing a 120 BT at the low 2600s.
 
Curtis

that's what I found , the old TC stock with the alum plate that came to a sharp corner would sometimes gey the heel of my hand with 44 mag ouch !

[jem44357]

This is what I did to my Super 14 in 30-30. It is a piece of tygon tubing. I split it part way and slipped it on. Thanks to this thread I see it is time to replace it, it has been on for more than 15 yrs. It has dried out, became brittle and split on the backside... guess I need to shoot it more often.
 

 

 
Jim

[MePlat]

I will probably get slammed for my opinion but here goes.
I DO NOT put any fingers behind the guard spur on either the Contender or Encore.
I put 2 fingers on the curve of the spur and 2 down lower on the grip below the tip of the spur.
All I do is support the gun with the weak hand and take all she has with the strong hand.
The gun recoils away from my weak hand.
I have Never ever had guard spur bite from anything I have ever shot in a Contender or the Encore.
All anyone needs to do is support the gun with the offhand not hold it
Forget the wrap around holds that one tries to use with a revolver or semi-auto.  They are not a rapid fire gun so let them do their thing.
There are few calibers that most shoot that one cannot control with one hand while supporting the gun with the weak hand not holding the gun with a wrap around grip.
 
You doubt it?  Here is a video of my 458 Win Mag in action with a 550 gr bullet at 1720 fps from 14 inches.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KIQntjxQ_pk

[Hank08]

Meplat has the right idea. I sit the forend in my left hand where it balances and is supported, leaving the right hand to operate the trigger and take the recoil. The best forend for this is the Pachmayr.  At one time I held the world record for standing offhand, long range silhouette using this method. It's the most solid + not whacking your knuckle.
H08

[Steve P]

I have several frames and barrels from .22LR to 44 mag, 45LC, 300 Bower Alaskan, etc.  I have never had one rap my knuckles.  I don't grip them to death, but I don't let them slip in my hands either.  Have taken a good womp on the elbow a few times shooting from the bench.
I use a glove with a few of my wood grips as they do bruise the palm of my hand if I dont.  Still have all the skin and hair on my knuckles tho.....
Can't help with this one.
Steve 
 
 

[Dezynco]

Meplat has the right idea. I sit the
forend in my left hand where it balances and is supported, leaving the right
hand to operate the trigger and take the recoil. The best forend for this is the
Pachmayr.  At one time I held the world record for standing offhand, long range
silhouette using this method. It's the most solid + not whacking your
knuckle.
H08

With my heavy recoiling barrels, I hang on for dear life with both fists wrapped around the grip.  I point the first two fingers of my "off hand" towards the target to keep them out from behind the break-open spur.    Hang on tight with the shooting hand, use the off hand to keep the thing from hitting you between the eyes!  I also wear a soft leather glove on my shooting hand to keep the trigger guard fron rapping the knuckle on my trigger finger when I shoot my 8" 45-70.  It will crush into your hand so much that the back of the trigger guard will rap your trigger finger! 

[Curtis]

I will probably get slammed for my opinion but here goes.

I would not dare to slam someone who shoots 458 win mag from a pistol!    From the looks of the video she has a bit of torque in addition to the recoil.  Nevertheless, I agree with your hold.  My hold that I mentioned above also has the gun recoiling away from the weak hand in all cases.  Even though I have three fingers on the grip (strong hand) I guess my fingers are slim enough to not get bitten.

 
Curtis

[Maryland Hunter]

Great thread, and a lot of good advice. I was wondering the same thing, as the spur seems ready to strike, the way that I was holding it. I wrap my fingers around the outside of the lever, or just hold onto the forearm, and it seems to work well for me so far.
 
MH

[chiefs50]

35.5 grains of H335 w/120 Bt. Another grain behind a 180 grain hpbt  in my 30-30


these are in my g2. I wouldn't attempt it in an original contender. Don't know how fast they're going but..........they let you know you're shooting them.

I wasn't aware that the g2 could handle higher pressure loads than the original Contender.  I guess you learn something new every day.  Or is it that the G2 just has a different trigger guard configuration?
 
Mike

[Curtis]

I wasn't aware that the g2 could handle higher pressure loads than the original
Contender.

That is a popular misconception but TC makes no such claim.  I don't know where that info comes from other than appearance (the "bosses" on the side similar in styling to the Encore which can handle the high pressure loads) or wishful thinking.  The principal danger with marginally high pressure loads such as the 444 marlin is frame stretch which would ruin your frame, not catastrophic failure which would ruin your day.  Again, TC makes no claim as to the G2s ability to resist frame stretch, but in time anecdotal evidence may suggest such.  So far I have not seen anything to convince me.
 

Or is it that the G2 just has a different trigger guard configuration?

Mainly the grip angle was changed with the G2, presumably in answer to these type problems.  Obviously the trigger guard spur was changed but I don't know to what extent this helps since I don't own a G2.

 
Curtis

[spinafish]

Bulberry barrels mentions some chambering are only available for the G2..don't know the reasoning..

[Curtis]

Good point, Spinafish.  They certainly know more than I do about what will work.  Also there is the muzzle loader barrel that has the stud to keep it from being used on a "classic" Contender frame.  Still, I personally wouldn't push a G2 beyond what I would my older frames.
 
Curtis
 
P.S.  Took a look a Bullberry's offerings and the 375-444 Marlin (wouldn't that be the same as a 375 JDJ?) and 444 Marlin are the only calibers they offer as G2 only.