contender

[dave22250]

When did they make the 1 lug barrel and the step lug barrel and what is the differance I'm new to contender shot encore for years and than got into contenders just recently.

[Curtis]

what is the differance

Well, for starters you may be talking about two separate parts of the same barrel so your question is hard to answer directly.  The once piece lug description usually refers to the locking bolt and there were one piece locking bolts and later there were split locking bolts (the split bolt actually has a couple of versions) that made breaking the action a bit easier.  The stepped lug you refer to would have to be the block or boss that the barrel is welded to.  There were flat bottom ones and then later ones had a small step along the bottom instead of being flat.  I do not know the reason for the change.  Hope this helps.
 
Curtis

[dave22250]

I was thinking split lug not stepped ,what is the diff in the two

[Curtis]

The split locking bolt makes it easier to break the action since Contenders manufactured once the design was changed were made to break one side slightly before the other side, spreading the effort.  Lots of the problems I see people having with lock-up issues and stuck actions have to do with trying to use a solid bolt barrel on a later action.  The answer is to swap out the solid bolt and install a split bolt.
 
All of my frames except my stainless frame lock up fine on my solid bolt barrels, so I relegate my stainless frame to my carbine barrels which all have split bolts.  All four of my blued frames are from '79 to '81 vintage and so far have functioned flawlessly with either the solid or split bolt.  Later vintage frames are more likely to be incompatible with solid bolts from what I've seen.  I have absolutely no experience with the G2 however, so I cannot comment on it.
 
Curtis
 
P.S.  There are quite a few fellows here who are more knowledgeable than me (Ladobe, Hopalong, 30 Herrett and others), so maybe someone else will chime in shortly.