Contender advice needed

[bdog]

I am looking at buying a TC with a 14" 223 bbl for prairie dogs. I really don't know much about them, but I have heard that there were various different variations over the years and some are better than others. I am looking at a used TC serial #1691xx with a 14" 223. Any insight into the vintage of this and if it is good? It appears to be in great shape. Alternatively I found a brand new G2 with 14" 223 for $100 more than the used one. Are there advantages to the G2 that would justify this cost?

[rickyp]

For just $100.00 more I would go with the G-2
I like the idea of being able to recook it with out breaking the action. this would be better for hunting.

but nothing wrong with the older Contenders.

[Special Ed]

I prefer the older Contenders.
The Pachmayr grips are not available for the G2 & the factory grips don't fit my hand.
The older frames also had a lighter trigger pull.

But there is nothing wrong with a G2.
   

[skb2706]

For strictly shooting prairie dogs it will make little different ...at least functionally which one you choose. I have both and prefer the G2 for hunting as well but during pd shoots I switch back and forth alot. Even tho ammo for your .223 is pretty much dirt cheap....you will still get the most...accuracy wise from handloading.
Does the original Contender have the "easy open" feature ? Again not mandatory but a little handier to work with.
With the gun setup correctly and a good scope you can be effective beyond 200 yds.

[poncaguy]

I just bought a new G2 frame to replace my old Contender which was very hard to open with certain barrels. The G2 works like a charm. I put my 20-25 year old 14" 223 barrel and scoped it with a Burris 2X. Haven't shot it yet, but it sure opens easier now,

[jro45]

I have the Contender with 7 or 8 barrels and don't have any problems with it. I've broke a couple springs in it but it has a lifetime warrenty and was fixed no cost.  Great gun!

[BCB]

bdog,

That Contender you mention was made around the very early 1980's--perhaps in 1980.  I have one that was made about that same time and it has been very dependable.  As a matter of fact, no problems whatsoever.  I have a Super 14" 223 barrel for it and it loves Hornady 50 SSPSP bullets and H-335.

I recently purchased another Contender, late 1980's, and it has a 16" 223 barrel.  It will outshoot the 14" barrel, yet the 14" barrel is still an M.O.A. shooter out to 150 yards or so.  I didn't want one of the new G2's.  I prefer the older style as the triggers are better.  I have friends that have the G2's and they are very good frames.  Still, I looked and waited until I could find and purchase the older style.  Just my preference I guess.  Good-luck...BCB

[poncaguy]

Shot my 223 14" barrel yesterday on my new G2 frame, 1" at 100 yards, very good trigger, and, oh, so easy to open! Just waiting for rubber grip so I can shoot my 45-70 barrel and 357 Max barrel...........prefer the new G2  by a mile!

[Catfish]

I picked up an old .222 barrel for a Contender a while back. I put 4 out of 5 shot in at .620 at 100 yrds. with a 2X scope. I have sunce put a 2 x 8 Leupold on it but have not grouped it yet. It`s on an old frame, and I litened the trigger up to where it`s real nice. I would recomand that you hit a few gun shows and pick up and old frame and a use barrel in .222 or .223. I`ve never seen a barrel in eather cal. that has been shot out and you`ll save your self alot of money. I`m shooting 40 gn. Serria bullets in mine, never tried anything else and the way it`s shooting I doubt I will.

[poncaguy]

I've had  my Contender barrels since the 70's,  14"  357 Max, 14" 223,  15" 45-70 (ported) and 10" 45/410. All great barrels, but the G2 is a big improvement over my old frame. Also have a Encore 15" 7mm-08 Encore pistol, going to add a bunch of barrels to it. Older I get (64), the more I enjoy my pitols over my rifles.

[bgjohn]

The older "easy open" frame. You can tune the trigger without taking it to a gunsmith. The G2's i've seen have a poor trigger pull compared to mine.
JM

[C A Plater]

If you want one with a cat whisker trigger, your best bet is the older frame.  The G2 can be improve too but it is a bit more involved.  The older Contender trigger mechanism is more of a set trigger and has some over travel and take up adjustments.  With some judicious honing and spring trimming, you can get a true varmint grade trigger.  With the G2 you need to replace some springs and the mechanism is a bit trickier to hone correctly.   I helped my Encore quite a bit by smoothing some of the internal rough casting edges and that was enough for me but then this is a heavy caliber carbine so it didn't need that fine a trigger.

[Vietvet]

Let's see if I remeber this correctly.  The "very" old Contender frames, the ones where there was NO safety on the hammer and you rotated the firing pin by cocking the hammer and then moving the pin, were really not meant for the high power rifle cartridges.  They would develope cracks in the "web" just in front of the breech block.  Always used a lupe to check both sides when purchasing a used receiver.  Had a .223 that cracked that way.

[timothy]

In case you dont know you had to open the action to recock the hammer on the old models. The action was very stiff on the old ones too. The g2 remedied these two features. Personally I'd pay 100$ more for a brand new one with warranty

[jlevach]

I personally prefer the old style(non G2) easy open version of the contender. I currently have 2 EO frames and 1 older frame and see no need for a 4th frame at this time. If i ever do it WILL be a Contender frame NOT a G2. Sorry just don't care for the susposed "Improvments" I do just fine with my Contenders. They are every bit as accurate and the triggers are much bettth as far as I am concerned. I also like being able to dryfire with out slaming the hammer on the frame every time. I currently have a very old style super 14"  223 barrel and it give me excellent groups as far as I can see to shoot(about 100 yards) Its also a powerful long range plinker too. Makes more of a splash than a 22lr at long range(for a handgun). I would buy your used gun and enjoy it. Just remember READ THE MANUAL FIRST. Also ALL contenders have lifetime warrentys from the first off the assembly like to the current G2 models that has'nt changed.
Jim L