Source for Contender barrels?

[Jason]

I'm new to the Contender game and am wanting to get a couple barrels for silhouette shooting. I'll need both 22lr and 357Mag (not any other kind of 357) in 12" barrels with no sights. These barrels will be for an old style Contender, not a G2, and will need to be fairly heavy but not massive. I have to make a weight limit of 5lbs total weight on the gun with about 24 ounces of scope/mounts, but I want to just barely make it so that I can have all the weight I can to help me hold steady. I'm not dead set on stainless or blued, but I guess I'd take stainless all else being equal. Where should I start looking for barrels like this?

[Madmark]

What kind of silhouette shooting are you gonna do? In IHMSA, the 10" barrel is more versatile, as the maximum barrel length for a production gun is 10" (10 3/4 actually). A 12" doesn't gain you much velocity, and some folks swear that the longer the barrel, the more chance of your movement effecting bullet flight! In the standing divisions I have seen this to be possible.
The G2 and older Contenders use the same barrels. E-bay and Gunbroker have lots of used TC barrels, but getting a good deal may take some patience. There are a few 10" .22 barrels on both our new and old TC classifieds. Eds TC's has about anything you need, but you need patience and persistance to get ahold of him. Also, the guys in your silhouette club may have extras laying around. Good luck!

[Joe58]

I just purchased a .17HMR barrel from Contender Cache.

Their prices are fair and he has a good selection.

And best of all he answers his phone and emails. I got tired of waiting for the other fellow to get back to me.

May want to give him a look.

http://www.contendercache.com/CPrice.htm

[Jason]

I'm only shooting the NRA hunter pistol and smallbore hunter pistol matches at my local range. I don't intend to shoot any IMHSA matches. I want the longer barrel for steadier hold. I'm considering just getting a couple Bullberry barrels made and calling it good.

Edit: I've changed my mind on barrel selection, too. I'm going with a 22 Hornet barrel instead of the 357 Mag barrel. The feel between the 22lr barrel and 22 Hornet barrel should be very similar if I use the same scope and mount setup, and I'll be able to use a taco hold with the 22 Hornet barrel.

[Graybeard]

Jason if you're planning to shoot NRA Hunter Pistol I think you should check the rules before buying. Now understand I've been out of the game a long time and the rules might have changed but unless they have you can't use a 12" barrel nor a .22 Hornet. Be sure by checking current rules.

In my day only straight wall pistol cartridges and a few specifically exempted others like the .270 Ren were allowed. At that time the Hornet was not and the barrel limit was 10" and a fraction, I think 10.5" if I recall correctly. I also don't recall that we were allowed a full five pounds.

[Dave Shooter]

I just purchased a .17HMR barrel from Contender Cache.

Their prices are fair and he has a good selection.

And best of all he answers his phone and emails. I got tired of waiting for the other fellow to get back to me.

May want to give him a look.

http://www.contendercache.com/CPrice.htm

   Thanks Joe58 for the info. I just picked-up a N.I.B. Barrel for my TCR Hunter w/mag receiver from foxridge for $125.00 about $70.00 less than the other guy guess what at least they answer their phone calls.
Dave Shooter

[Jason]

Jason if you're planning to shoot NRA Hunter Pistol I think you should check the rules before buying. Now understand I've been out of the game a long time and the rules might have changed but unless they have you can't use a 12" barrel nor a .22 Hornet. Be sure by checking current rules.

In my day only straight wall pistol cartridges and a few specifically exempted others like the .270 Ren were allowed. At that time the Hornet was not and the barrel limit was 10" and a fraction, I think 10.5" if I recall correctly. I also don't recall that we were allowed a full five pounds.

Thanks for the reply, Bill. The rules did indeed get changed to allow for 12" barrels when T/C changed their factory barrels to 12" for most models. They also removed the "factory barrel" phrase and upped the weight limit including scope and mounts to five pounds. The 22 Hornet in the allowed cartridge list, the 12" barrel limit, and the five pound total weight limit are all in the current (January '04) rulebook I got from the NRA, so I can't say for sure when those got changed. The removal of "factory barrel" phrase is in the list of changes for '06.