Relief!

[Possum]

Received notification that TC had received my frame and barrel today.  I did learn an important lesson.  If you want to follow USPS's shipping of the item, then it has to be sent registered mail.  Costs a little more, but they handle it with care and track it all the way to the destination.  

My guess is that TC will convert the frame and I won't have anymore problems.  For you guys who have never been charged for the conversion those days are over.  $55 and it is supposed to come back fine.  Thanks for all the help I received!  This is why this is one of the top rated forums on the Net.

[b square]

Just curious..........what is your Contender being "converted" to?

[Possum]

Sorry about that.  I had a problem with newer barrels fitting an older Contender frame.  Was going to change the lugs out on the newer barrel until the barrel got stuck in the frame and had to take the frame apart to get the barrel out.  Finally decided to send it back to the factory and get the "easy-open" conversion done.  Then there was the question about how to ship just the frame and 1 barrel.  Anyway, they got it today so it must have shipped okay.

[b square]

Thanks for clearing that up! I have another question.........when T/C converts an older frame to the "easy open" version, what exactly are they changing? Do you have to request the factory to not replace anything internal thats been modified ( such as a trigger job)?

[drdoolittle_1]

b square,
It is my understanding that T/C will remove any non-factory parts in trigger and return it to factory specs. The then return it along with the non-factory parts. Just what others have stated on here(not from my personal experience!).
Cheers,
Dave

[Possum]

You need to take everything that is not factory off of the frame.  When a conversion is done, the way I understand it, they drill another pin hole above the trigger and attach the newer trigger assembly to the frame.  This allows the frame to open better and also should make it more compatible with newer barrels.  You will still have the old trigger assembly pin hole toward the front of the frame. Sometimes it will work with the old and the new barrels and sometimes you have to have certain barrels matched to the frame.  That is why I sent the 30-30 barrel with the frame - to make sure it would work when it came back.  If I had a pistol with an aftermarket trigger spring, I would probably take it out before I sent it back.  

Also, from what I have heard, the trigger adjustment will be better than the original old style.  I don't know that for sure, but that is what I have been hearing.

[b square]

Thanks for the info.........Hey Possum, when you get it back from T/C, let us know what you think of the new improved gun ( and what kind of turnaround time the factory actually has). I may want to go this route with one of my old frames.

[Rol Page]

Bought my first Contender a little over a year ago, had the conversion done for $55, and have been very happy with it.  To my knowledge, it did not have any custom trigger parts, but I bought it used.  Turn around was about 10 days as I remember, not sure exactly.

Super 14 .22LR will hold less than 1" @ 50 yds.
Super 14 .223 Rem. holds less than 1" @ 100 yds w/ Winchester 45gr. varmint loads.

[Gregory]

Thanks for clearing that up! I have another question.........when T/C converts an older frame to the "easy open" version, what exactly are they changing? Do you have to request the factory to not replace anything internal thats been modified ( such as a trigger job)?

Sent an Encore in to replace a broken hammer spur and TC "undid" a VV trigger job, I had done.  Pissed me off!

[Possum]

I'm sure it varies, but they told me up to 6 weeks.  I guess they cover their bases like that.  I would be extremely pleased with 10 days to two weeks.  I would imagine they have to put factory parts back in the frames due to liability.

[Possum]

Three week turnaround (21 days).  Not too bad.  As for the trigger and the updated features, I won't know a lot until I visit at the range tomorrow.  The trigger is very smooth - just heavy.  I have a remedy for that, though.  

The newer 30-30 barrel, that would not work with the old, now converted frame, is fine.  I sent it with the frame and they replaced the locking lugs and matched them to the frame.  Now the .22 Oct barrel that would work fine with both newer and older frames will not work with the recently converted frame.  Go figure.  The only thing the Oct barrel has that is different is the solid locking lug.  It is not split like the newer barrels.  My other .35 Rem barrel works great with both frames.  


One difference is the newer converted trigger hammer's range when cocked is greater than the original range.  I have  an older grip that came on this old frame that has a different contour than the newer grips.  It will not allow the converted hammer to range for enough back to lock in place.  I have a different grip coming tomorrow, so that is not a problem anyway -just a difference.  I think I am going to order another set of split locking lugs and switch them out.  I am pretty sure that is the problem with the .22 barrel.