Contender lock up problem

[LaOtto222]

I have an older Contender serial number 77XXX. I sent it in and got the "easy open" conversion done because I wanted to buy/use new barrels for it. I got it back + all of the barrels that I sent in. All of the "old" barrels fit good and tight on lock up. They had converted those over to the newer lugs (dual instead of single). I purchased a 23" 221 Fire Ball barrel through Fox Ridge. It is loose at lock up. You can feel it wiggle back and forth at lock up. There also is a very visible gap between the receiver and the breech of the barrel. Is there anything I can do short of sending it back to make the lock up tighter? Is this the nature of the new barrels on old frames?

[Davemuzz]

LaOtto,

I also own an older Contender frame that I sent back to have the easy open conversion done. I have bot new "factory" (not fox ridge) barrels and they lock up with no problems at all. If you have a wiggle, then you have a problem....barrel, not frame.

Just a SWAG on my part, but if you have a noticeable gap between the barrel and frame, (you could measure this with a feelers gauge and compare it to your other ones) that may be contributing to the wiggle. I would say give Fox Ridge a call and ask them.

You could always change out the lugs from one of your barrels that work and see if that makes a difference....but I would call Fox Ridge first.

I would not shoot it though.

Dave

[LaOtto222]

Thank you for your response Dave. I guess I will end up sending it back.   I know that TC stands behind their products pretty well. Years ago I had a hammer spring break. They sent me a new style spring (no charge) that lasted until I had the conversion done. Back then I was shooting it a lot more than I do now. Some where around 3500 rounds a year. I was hoping for more responses and opinions, but either there is no one with experience in this or I did not state the problem very well.

[Ladobe]

I'll try to toss some possibilities out here for you in case you want to check some yourself before you send everything back to TC.

You don't say if the "gap or wiggle" is top to bottom or side to side when locked up, but in either case:   Since your frame was made the second half of 1977, it probably has some wear, especially at the bottom of the breech block where the barrels lugs lock up.   TC makes several "sizes" of lugs, from the minus side thru 0 to the plus side.   They used to mark the size on the lugs, but I don't think they do anymore, making it harder for you to check now.   When you sent the frame in for easy open mods along with your barrels, they would have installed lugs that compensate for that wear, if any.   Your new barrel however probably has mid-range lugs on it so it would fit the largest number of frames out there.   You can check the lugs on your new barrel and compare them to those fitted by TC on your old barrels though with a dial veneer caliper.   If there is a big difference in their dimensions, that may be your problem - probably with the new barrels lugs being smaller than those on the other barrels.   If your wiggle is top to bottom, it is most likely the lugs.   You can measure the differences with a feeler gauge as suggested.   FWIW, siide to side slop can sometimes be compensated for by installing a larger lug on the sloppy side and smaller on the other (I think the reason TC went from solid to split lugs in the first place).   

It is also possible the new barrels mounting block is out of line a little and slipped past quality control... or the hinge pin hole is elongated.   But TC will make good if those.   I doubt its a hinge pin problem though, or the other barrels wouldn't lock up solidly.   Doubt its a bent or stretched frame either... TC should have caught either of those while they had it.

All is very important though as the lockup is your headspacing and final accuracy of the barrel.   Doesn't matter whether for a rimmed or rimless case - both have to headspace evenly against the breech face for best accuracy.

HTH - good luck.

[LaOtto222]

I was not aware of the different lug sizes. That could very well be the problem. The wiggle is side t side and the gap I was talking about is at the top. I have shot it quite a bit. I will check them to see if that is the problem. Thank you for your time in responding to my questions.