Stepped Barrel will not fit early 17XXX SN frame. BACK AGAIN

[Mikebiker]

Hello All,

Well the 44 Mag barrel is gone but now I have the same problem with the new 223 Barrel. It has the step and 2 piece latch. Sould I machine the barrel or the trigger assembly to make it fit?

This is my first post and I have a question for the more experienced TC Contender guys. I have an early 17XXX range Contender frame that a later stepped barrel will not fit correctly. It closes and locks up tight but will not open. There is a stub on the lever assembly that actually hits the bottom of the step just at the front of the angled section. This will not allow the lever to go up into the frame far enough to allow it to unlock. Has anyone else encountered this and what is the fix. The same barrel will open on a frame in the 21XXX range. Both are 44 Mag barrels.

[Incitatus]

This is something that has been talked about a lot.  Basically, you have to gently stone the surfaces of the catch until it works correctly. 

Does anyone have an illustration of what the internal mechanism looks like?  It seems that there would be a market for "universal" catches that would work on any frame.


BTW, when you get your next 7 or 8 frames (which you will) just get a few earlier ones to go with your earlier barrels (of which you will accumulate a number).

Ed's Diktat: There is no Contender problem that cannot be solved with more Contender frames and barrels.

[Mikebiker]

It is not the catch / latch that is the problem. The actual trigger guard housing is hitting the bottom of the barrel lug not allowing it go up far enough to disengage the locking lug.

Currently I have 2 frames and 3 barrels, a modest beginning.

[Keith L]

Wo made that barrel?  I have never seen a stepped contender barrel.

[Ladobe]

Keith:  He's referring to the stepped recoil block that started with the T-5 vintage barrels (all prior barrels had flat bottom RB's).

[Mikebiker]

No longer a problem. I sold the 44 barrel today and will be looking for a different caliber replacement.
   Thanks!

[Mikebiker]

Well the 44 Mag barrel is gone but now I have the same problem with the new 223 Barrel. It has the step and 2 piece latch. Should I machine the barrel or the trigger assembly to make it fit?

[dant]

Check for contact ( machinists "ink", thin coat of grease, whatever )between the bottom of the lug and the inside of the trigger guard directly under the hinge pin hole. It probably isn't the step on the lug itself causing you problems but the metal under the hinge pin hole is just a little thicker on the newer barrels. if that's the problem, take a little metal off the lug or inside of the triggger guard where it's making contact, it doesn't take much. the trigger guard if you want it to work with other newer barrels.