old contender and barrels

[kennisondan]

I have an older contender with a few barrels. I would like to know what barrels fit the older contender frames and conversely if I got an encore frame to allow bigger ordnance in pistol configuration would the old barrels still fit it..
also if you had an old contender would you sell it and the barrels, and go for the encore and new barrels ? I like to shoot twenty two mag,223,  four ten, thirty five remington, right now; but might want to use the contender or encore for longer range or heavy caliber shooting in addition..also may want to configure it into rifle and use some longer barrels for carbine shooting.
if the old barrels fit the newer encore frames, great... i would like to find out from this forum what you guys think.
dk

[sweetwyominghome]

The Contender and G2 barrels all interchange, albeit with a replacement of the original locking lug(s) if applicable and/or necessary. This is a simple procedure that anyone can handle.

The Contender and Encore DO NOT INTERCHANGE.

They are completely different systems. The Encore is designed to handle larger, high intensity cartridges. The Contender, with rounds the same case head size as the .223, can handle full throttle loads, but with larger case head size, the pressures must be kept around the 40000 c.u.p. range (varies slightly according to cartridge specifics) due to increased backthrust against the frame.

[skarke]

Is the serial number above 195xxx?

[kennisondan]

Serial Number : actually 3806XX is the number sequence, why ?   
so if I get G2 barrels from either custom sources or Tc OM barrels as long as it is 40k or below I am fine ? that is what I get from the answers so far.
I think that the custom guys have some hefty choices in G2 do they not. ?  My son wanted to give me a G2 barrel .. thanks.
dk
 

[Keith L]

The answer is any G2 barrel will fit any Contender frame except the factory muzzle loader barrels for the G2 will only work with G2 frames.  All the rest work.  Some of the older barrels need new locking bolts to work well with 'G2 frames, but all G2 barrels have the new locking bolts.

TC does not make a G2 barrel in chamberings unsafe for older Contenders, and neither will any of the aftermarket guys that are any good as well.  They know all it takes is for one of their barrels to blow apart a frame that it fits on to and their business will soon belong to someone else.