Author Topic: Contender likes to shoot  (Read 542 times)

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Offline jeff

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Contender likes to shoot
« on: January 12, 2005, 09:59:00 AM »
I think this old Contender can still shoot. My original testing resulted in disappointing 3+ inch groups and I was seriously thinking of unloading it and the stock on ebay.  The original hinge pin allowed a lot of play with the barrel after locking up. I ended up replacing it with a .376" oversized pin and finally tested again this afternoon.

I might have found a load that my old contender frame likes with it's new barrel. This is a 20" Bullberry barrel that I bought last summer, almost 100 rounds thru it now. I also bought an unfinished stock off eBay, sanded, stained and bedded it back in November and finally attached the forearm this morning. Thought I'd give one more try at the range, attached is a group that I shot yesterday at my club while testing some loads.

Maybe I found something it likes. 40 Grain V-Max, 25.5 grains of AA-2230C. Five shots @ 100 yards measure .473" extreme spread. The square is one inch.


 

 

Offline flyer05

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Contender likes to shoot
« Reply #1 on: January 12, 2005, 04:07:53 PM »
Nice, that is what I am hoping for when I get done with my setup.

Offline jeff

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Contender likes to shoot
« Reply #2 on: January 13, 2005, 02:25:29 PM »
Thanks guys.

I've been thinking about doing this for years but never got the inspiration until I saw this particular stock on eBay.  Right now it's bedded to the action , sanded and stained only.  Still more work to do before a final finish is applied.

Later   :D

Offline Flash

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Contender likes to shoot
« Reply #3 on: January 14, 2005, 02:51:52 AM »
Wow, a really nice looking gun. I like the beaver tail forearm. Who made the stock? Is it a regular seller on Ebay?
What doesn't kill us, makes us stronger!

Offline armory414

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« Reply #4 on: January 14, 2005, 07:09:55 AM »
Is that a gunstocksinc.com stock?  They sometimes sell them on eBay. . .and I've been thinking of getting one of their stocks for my Super 16 barrel, but with a thumbhole buttstock. . .

Offline jeff

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« Reply #5 on: January 14, 2005, 08:57:04 AM »
You are correct, the stock came from gunstocksinc.com by way of eBay.

Overall I like the wood.  However, there were a few things that I didn't like.

The forestock was pre-drilled and the holes did not match up with the barrel studs (location and spacing was wrong).  I'm using a Bullberry barrel hanger which requires a single screw in a different location.  The result is I have two maple plugs glued in and they did not take the stain as well.  Their forearms are not inletted and they will want your barrel if they do it.   I bought a barrel inletting tool from Midway and handled it my self  (What a PITA that was).

Inletting on the buttstock was sloppy, I had to glass bed to take up the slop.  The action was incredibly loose even with a few washers under the bolt.

The biggest problem was I had no plans to buy a long barrel at all, until I saw that stock.  What made things worse is my previous experience with Bullberry.  I knew that I wasn't going to be satisfied with a conventional barrel, I also knew that I had two other shooters from Fred.  So, if you're going to spend some money, add enough to make things shoot a little better, Right?  Incidently, the scope is a B&L Elite 4000 6-24x 40mm (what later became the Bushnell 4200).

Maybe some day I'll get that stinky old trigger worked on.

Offline 5Redman8

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« Reply #6 on: January 14, 2005, 09:56:45 AM »
My experience with gunstockinc was much of the same.  Poor inletting...poor fit....loose fit....only difference was I did not have the patience to fix their work.  Instead, i sold it with WARNING of condition and got a Lone Wolf from VVGC.

You made it work though and at least it looks okay from the side. :grin:

Kyle

Offline Flash

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« Reply #7 on: January 14, 2005, 02:08:08 PM »
Wow, I bought one of their thumbhole stocks about two years ago when they first appeared on Ebay and the fit was great. The stocks must be really cranked out now without regard to quality. Still, a good looking gun!!!
What doesn't kill us, makes us stronger!

Offline jeff

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« Reply #8 on: January 14, 2005, 04:23:38 PM »
Actually, the stock is still a work in progress.

The figure is good on both sides and at the present time it's only wearing about six coats of rubbed-in stain and no final finish yet.  

Since the cold wet weather has finally arrived, I believe that I may find some time to complete the project .