Author Topic: Who would you trust to do a trigger job on your Contender. . (Read 1359 times)

Gunner · « **on:** August 25, 2004, 03:59:21 PM »

I have a SS Contender frame that is in need of a trigger job. I use the gun for IHMSA, so I figure a 2 to 2 1/2" lb pull will work for me. But who can I trust to do it and do it right so I can shoot a match without worrying if the gun will fail on the line.

Thanks
Gunner

southern utah · « **Reply #1 on:** August 25, 2004, 04:24:22 PM »

Fred at Bullberry, he is back loggged though. Good friend and only 15 miles from me. Give them a call. http://www.bullberry.com/

palgeno · « **Reply #2 on:** August 26, 2004, 03:21:37 AM »

Some (most?) Contenders can be simply adjusted and lubed to get down to a crisp 1 1/4 lb trigger without any stoning---and this can be done by nearly anyone with a little patience---just use the external adjustments----this is not the case for G2's or Encores. Give it a try. pg

Fred McIntire · « **Reply #3 on:** August 26, 2004, 04:56:01 PM »

This man comes highly reccomended. I am going to have him do the trigger job on my Encore. I don't have his telephone number handy. A search on www.411.com should hopefully turn up his telephone number.

James D. Henry
32660 Amarylis Avenue
Barstow, California 92311

Good luck.

Ladobe · « **Reply #4 on:** August 26, 2004, 07:37:11 PM »

Easy answer for me...

First choice is Jim Henry - he is THE Contender Mechanic
Fred Smith is second (Bullberry)
JD Jones (SSK)

All of my frames are 8 ounces or less, and no one else touches my Contenders - I learned the hard way with a couple of the other "well known" shops. Very scarry.

All three are long time friends... Fred and JD are easy to find, but if anyone needs to get ahold of Jim for work and can't find him elsewhere, let me know and I'll hook you up with him. Can drop him your email addy, or see if he wants his phone number given out.

Ladobe

Fred McIntire · « **Reply #5 on:** August 27, 2004, 06:04:52 AM »

Gunner;

You have a private message in your mailbox.

Good luck,
Fred

Keith L · « **Reply #6 on:** August 27, 2004, 06:12:52 AM »

I am confused. I thougth the original Contenders were superior to the G2s because the triggers were adjustable by the user for the perfect pull and weight. The SS contenders were of the original persuasion, so why need to send them anywhere?

Graybeard · « **Reply #7 on:** August 27, 2004, 06:48:47 AM »

Quote

I am confused. I thougth the original Contenders were superior to the G2s because the triggers were adjustable by the user for the perfect pull and weight. The SS contenders were of the original persuasion, so why need to send them anywhere?

Not precisely correct but basically true.

The adjustment screw on the Contenders adjusts one thing. Sear engagement. I've seen them set such that you couldn't even close them with sear disengaging. It was NOT a pull weight adjustment. Not ever.

BUT it is rather simple to change out the springs that do determine (for the most part) trigger pull weight. It's not that difficult to also pull out the moving parts and to polish them using Crocus cloth or a fine hard arkansas stone.

For a couple hours investment in time anyone who feels reasonably comfortable in taking their contender apart can do just as good a job as anyone given you have the right springs.

BUT if you mess with that sear with a stone you have likely messed up big time. That is where the truly bad and unsafe trigger jobs happen.

Gunner · « **Reply #8 on:** August 28, 2004, 05:33:04 PM »

Thanks everyone.

Gunner

54914 · « **Reply #9 on:** September 01, 2004, 04:56:01 AM »

I use Jim Henry. He not only does a "trigger job', but completely dissassembles your frame and matches all interior parts to reduce all tolerances. He also does a "IHMSA legal" trigger job. Replacing springs from a bic lighter is not IHMSA legal. If you send him the barrels, he will match the locking bolts also. All is done with original T/C parts.

I am headed to L.A. tommorrow and hope to have him work on my frames while I am there.

Larry H.

Pookee · « **Reply #10 on:** September 05, 2004, 07:13:22 AM »

What is a "IHMSA legal" trigger?
Why are Bic springs not legal? Not stock parts?

PDM1 · « **Reply #11 on:** September 06, 2004, 06:36:38 AM »

If you are using your contender frame for a production class, you cannot change the stock springs, sear, trigger, etc. You can however shorten the stock spring about 1/2 a coil.

Paul

54914 · « **Reply #12 on:** September 07, 2004, 02:41:12 PM »

Well, I just got back from having my guns worked on by Jim Henry. He worked on a used frame I had purchased and found that the firing pin bushing had been thinned by a dremel tool and was .007" out of square. Not only was this not 'IHMSA legal', but it was poorly done. He put in a new one and went through both of my frames and all six barrels, matching bolts and replacing worn springs and pins. He only charged me half of what I expected so I gave him a $20 tip.

There is nothing like sitting in front of Jim while he goes through your guns. He does not hold anything back, but I have learned more from sitting accross from him in a half hour than I have learned anywhere else in months.

He will always get my business, and I am planning on having him tune up my guns once a year, and will immediately send him any new frames I aquire.

Larry H.

Tad Houston · « **Reply #13 on:** September 07, 2004, 07:19:04 PM »

Is jim henry in barstow? My local dealer has a guy in Barstow he swears by. May be the same guy. :-)

Javelina · « **Reply #14 on:** September 07, 2004, 07:23:22 PM »

Jim Henry IS in Barstow, California. . .he does all of my triggers and they are all outstanding. I will use no one else because his work is such high quality and FAST! I can't say enough good about the man!

Safe and good shooting to you!

Javelina

KYODE · « **Reply #15 on:** September 08, 2004, 02:32:17 AM »

well.....with jim henry in california.......what is involved in shipping frames etc. to him.......from lands far, far away, such as eastern us..... er wherever?

Javelina · « **Reply #16 on:** September 08, 2004, 05:53:51 AM »

Hello Kyode,

Kentucky IS far, far away, but fortunately for you and me, the big brown trucks go everywhere. . .

You will hear that you have to do this or that when sending things to Jim Henry, you can take or pass on any advice you hear. I do it this way, and I really don't care what anyone else thinks about it since I know there will be those that say, "you can't do that." Yes, I can. I do it all the time and will continue to do so. Anyone who doesn't like my method can use their own.

I always send frames individually through UPS in VERY small boxes with no barrel or grip, they don't look like guns, and they can be shipped for about $8-$9, and I don't add extra insurance. I always ship barrels well-wrapped and separately. Every order contains written and COMPLETE instructions on what I want done. I DO insure barrels and send them either U.S. Postal Service or UPS, depending on how I feel that day and who I think is cheaper. DO NOT SEND FRAMES VIA U.S. POSTAL SERVICE! Postal Inspectors have NO sense of humor! I never call Jim Henry ahead of time contrary to what others may do, I just send the gear, tell Jim what I'd like done in writing, and he sends it back to me with a bill. Yes, a bill. He has never asked for a credit card and has refused advance deposits, and has told me in writing that he wants to make sure I'm satisfied with his work before I pay for it. He won't take a credit card from me, and I actually sent him an accidental overpayment (in advance) with an order once. Jim Henry sent my entire check back to me uncashed with the completed work. He told me that I had sent more than the bill would be, and that I should just look at the bill he had included and only pay that amount. There are precious few people who still operate on their word and a handshake. As long as Jim Henry wants to do business that way - HE GETS ALL OF MINE AND ANYONE ELSE'S I CAN STEER HIS WAY! Can you see Bullberry, Virgin Valley, Gary Reeder or anyone else doing business that way? They don't, and wouldn't. Jim Henry can, and does. He's my kind of T/C guy.

Safe and good shooting to you!

Javelina

Graybeard · « **Reply #17 on:** September 08, 2004, 06:53:05 AM »

Quote

well.....with jim henry in california.......what is involved in shipping frames etc. to him.......from lands far, far away, such as eastern us..... er wherever?

Javelina's advice will no doubt work. How legal it is however is the question.

I don't know the answer either to that concern. I think I know that CA state law doesn't allow the importation of TC Contender or Encore frames except as rifles. I might be a bit off on that but that's what I think to be the case. That is however to be owned by CA residents.

What is legal to send under CA law to be repaired I dunno. Don't think any Federal laws prevent it but you also have to stay legal state law wise as well. The man sounds like a really good one to deal with from all the reports here. BUT I'd sure want to know CA law regarding shipping things to him that can't be brought into the state to legally own before I shipped to him.

By no means am I a PC person but I also don't wanna be a test case for some Attorney General out to make a name for himself.

Steve P · « **Reply #18 on:** September 17, 2004, 09:06:17 AM »

Jim Henry has matched every one of my silhouette barrels to the frame I use it on. He has also checked thru all of my frames to make sure all is set up near perfect as can be.

I do my own trigger jobs. That part is easy on the old (pre G2) frames. Half hour and the right tools will give you what you need.

If you can't do it yourself, send it to Jim!!

Steve

Hammer47 · « **Reply #19 on:** September 19, 2004, 03:20:28 PM »

Ladobe · « **Reply #20 on:** September 20, 2004, 05:42:20 AM »

Don't know what The Republik's exact laws are concerning TC's now days, but I'd assume that since Jim is an FFL gunsmith with a business license in the state of CA, no laws are being broken by a frame owner sending his frame to Jim for work and Jim sending it directly back to him anymore than if he were located in another state.

Makes it easy for me to be in Vegas and only a fairly short drive to visit Jim at home in Barstow, or wait for one of his many trips here to Vegas to have him do my work. As Dee said, he does very good work, is very reliable and honest, is very generous and one hell of a nice guy.

Larry