New guy with a Contender

[2slow]

I've been lurking here for a while and finally signed up for an account a couple days ago.  Thought I would say hello to everyone.  So, Hello!
I picked up my first Contender about a month ago.  I had been looking at them for a while and then I ran across a deal I couldn't pass up.  It is the old style Contender with the cougar on the side.  It was laying in the case at a local gun shop.  It has a super 14 blue bull barrel in .223 and another one in .44 Mag.  The .223 barrel has a Burris 4x scope and the .44 Mag has a red dot on it.  This thing has the best trigger of any gun I have or have ever shot for that matter. 
Well everyone, thanks for the great site and all the useful information. 
Time for me to get back to lurking.
Take care!

[Rog]

Howdy! and Welcome!

I hope you know you've just started down the road to an addicition for which there is no cure.....

Congrats on the purchase.  I hope you enjoy them.

Rog

[irold]

Welcome....lots of good information here, and some very helpful folks .  Sounds like you have an excellent start , those two are probably two of the better barrels for the contender.  The 44 , well , not much to be said for the 44 , it will do it all....and the 223 in the 14' , good for the longer ranges perhaps and the smaller critters you may want to go after.    Good luck and good shooting

[Catfish]

I hope it`s a G-2 or you have very small fingers. I cannot shoot the old frames with a .44 mag. barrel or any barrel with alot of recoil. That little screw behind the trigger gaurd eats a hole in my fingure. The Encore frame or the new G-2 frames are good to go though. I took 4 deer in 3 years with an Encore with a .357 max. barrel. You are on the right path now though, I have 2 Encore frames and 3 Contender frames, not sure about barrels,acouple extra, but some guys have piles of them. You know that you have to get another frame so that you don`t have to keep changeing from the pistole grip to the rifle stock. 

[Graycg]

Welcome to contender world!
   You have two good barrels to start with, but don't let the recoil of the 44 get to  you.  I have found the contender recoils significantly more than a revolver in 44 mag.  Just go easy with it.  There are a few must have barrels you should consider beyond the 223 and the 44 you have.  First, I think the 357 mag is awesome in the contender, a great all around fun to shoot load.  You might also want to consider getting a 22 LR barrel, also fun and cheap to shoot, great practice also. After the bug has really set in, you might want to get a 7x30 waters or a 35 remington or 357 maximum barrel for your hunting pleasure if you choose to go after deer or pigs.

best of luck,
 regards,
 Graycg

[DEACONLLB]

HI AND WELCOME TO THE WORLD OF CONTENDERS
I HAVE A NUMBER OF CONTENDERS AND I FIND THAT THE ONLY WAY I AM ABLE TO SHOOT THE 44MAG IS WITH A SET OF PACKMIRE LIM SAVER GRIPS THEY MAKE IT A LITTLE MORE EASY ON THE RECOIL.
DEACONLLB

[2slow]

Thanks for the warm welcome everyone! 
I don't find the recoil to be all that terrible with the .44.  It is the old frame and it has whacked my fingers a couple of times, but it is still fun to shoot.  I plan on having this in the tree with me opening morning of deer season this year.  I can't wait.
As far as other barrels, I was thinking maybe a .357 max and a .22LR on down the road.  Some of the others would be nice, but here in Ohio I can only hunt with straight walled cartridges for deer.  I like the .223 with ballistic tips for ground hogs and they shoot well out of this as well.
Thanks again!

[reward]

You could try different manufacturers as well, I have a 44mag super 14", no muzzle tamer, I shoot american eagle hollow points, 180gr I think, doesn't seem to have the recoil of the higher dollar loads, I shoot out to 70 yards when hunting and they are more than effective. I have a 14" 223, 10 45lc/ 410, and just ordered my first carbine barrel, 23" 30/30, with a composite stock and forend form ed's t/c, he's got about the best prices around and is a great guy to deal with! Good luck and have fun!

[hunterspistol]

     Welcome to the Contender group.  I have those "old style" with the cougar, several.  Did you know the one with the pin for the triggerguard directly above the trigger is the best silhouette pistol they made?  It's called a type 2, there was originally a type 1 with the pin up near the front of the frame. 

Don't feel guilty about the price, some people just can't drive a Cadillac, that's all. My little collection goes on year after year, like you, since the first time I shot a Contender. I went to the range today with my TC, still loving every minute.