Ok I have been into the contender seen for going on 2 years now. I have gotten most of my parts used off of Ebay.
Things I have learned:
1. I don't like the pacymeyer presentatin grips I have had 3 and none of allowed easy opening of the gun. In fact some actually jammed it closed.
2. Not all iron sights are the same, there are different heights to the blade of both the front and rear on some.
3. Pacmeyer forends work ok, but add quite a bit of weight when compared factory T/C forends in wood and composite. I perfer the slimmer forend in both 10" and 14" the one with
the little angled nub on the end. Available in both wood and composite.
4. Contender forend screws are 10-32. You can get them with a hex head and never have to worry about stripping or damaging the screw head again. Their cheap around .15$ get a few extra and a few in different lengths. 3/8, and 5/8 is what is stock in the 14" forend I believe. You DON"T have to pay $5+ for replacement screws. I built a small kit for my range bag that has 3/8, 1/2, 5/8, 3/4" lengths for different configurations.
5. 23" barrels take a different forend then the 14", or 21".
6. 10" barrels CAN use the 14" forends with only the rear screw utilized.
7. A couple of washers between the forend and the barrel on the barrel screws will save ya $50+ over a bedding job.
8. Get a grip that fits and is comfortable!!! This adds a ton to the contender experience both in accuracy and comfort.
9. G2 and Old style grips ARE NOT interchangeable.
OTHERS PLEASE FEEL FREE TO ADD MORE TO THIS LIST. Let our experience help other so they can save the probally close to $100 I have spent on parts and things that don't fit, work and I just simple don't like in the end.
10. Most grips for either style Contender are held on with assorted length 1/4" allen head machine screws, doesn't hurt to have spares.
11. If you don't have a spare hammer spring, get one. Also make a slave pin to install it with. Take a piece of 3/16" round rod and cut it to 3/8" length, clean up the burrs. It will be invaluable in installing the spring should the need arise....and it will.
12. I also keep several types of locking bolts on hand. If I buy a barrel that won't lock up correctly I can work out the problem.
13. If you have Pachmyer Presentation grips that don't work, won't let you unlock the gun. There is an easy fix with a dremel tool and a rotary burr. Takes five minutes.
14. 23" bull barrels make far better carbine set ups than tapered 21" barrels. The weight is much better balanced and not nearly as whippy and unstable.
15. It is nearly impossible to 'not have frame marks' on a blued barrel...unless of course you never put it on a frame.
16. The least amount of contact your foreend has to the barrel AND the frame the more consistently your gun will shoot.
17. Avoid getting any kind of lubricant/cleaner/solvent into the action parts of the gun unless you can remove that product before you use the gun.
I could go on...........