Question about an old contender and barrel

[spook1]

I just picked up an old contender pistol package and have a few questions about it.  It is the old style frame and has the cougar or mountain lion on a cliff engraved on the sides.  First of all, what barrels will work on this gun.  Can I only get the old contender barrels and not the new G2 barrels? 

Also, the pistol came with the super 14 44mag barel tht is ported or braked on the end.  What is a fair asking price for this barrel.  I have a nice Redhawk 44 mag that I shoot pretty well and don't really need another 44.  The furniture on the pistol is the wood grip with the black rubber on the back and the wood forend.  Sorry for so many questions, I just had the chance to purchase this at a great price and the trigger breaks like glass.  I am just trying to find out a little about it and see what all I can do with it.

Thanks,
Brad

[Tommyt]

You can shoot just all the Barrels TC had out Until they put the G2 on the Market
Now the Barrels that are Sold as G2 Barrels will not fit Due to a BRAD the TC put on the Lug
I just sold my only G2 or I would have  a pic for you
 Does your Frame have a selector switch??If so it has had the TC Easy Open Up Grade
 Which is supposed to make it Safer and Open /lock up better and more compatible with the Different ERA Barrels
 some older barrels have  Single locking pin's (can't think of the Proper name) you just call TC and they send you out the Double ones and you just swap them out.

the wood grip with the black rubber on the back

I think those are called Herret Grip  either way they are Nice
 So now that I babbled away if your buying a Barrel here be sure it doesn't have the G2  brad and you'll be able to make it
work
 I had my cat faced changed out ($75)too easy open and Regret it
I liked what I had
 Your 44mag in good Condition should get you  180 or if your selling it too Guys that take time to explain Frames and Barrels
I'd give them (me) a Deep Discount  @ at least 50% off sale

Welcome too TC addiction Its Terrific

Tom

[Keith L]

The only Contender barrel that doesn't fit is the muzzleloader barrel.  The rest can fit, G-2 or not, but may not if the locking bolts don't fit well.  They may have to be polished or replaced.

Contender and G-2 were built for compatability with the one barrel exception.

Also, many Contenders had the upgrade to their hammers without changing to the Easy Open configuration, so that is not diagnostic.

Good luck with your new gun!

[Ladobe]

Welcome to the world of Contenders and Encores.   The Classic Contenders have served me very well and kept me more than just entertained for over 40 years in competitive shooting and hunting.   As for what you can do with your Contender... just about anything you would ever want to actually.   It's one of the most versatile and reliable platforms ever and doesn't give up anything to the Encore for my uses.    (Before you Encore fans freak, if I was just starting out now with the TC's and only had the choice between a G2 and Encore, I'd go with the Encore.)

The investment cast full body cougar was on different versions of the classic frames for 30 years.   But its easy enough to find what year your frame is.  There is a link to frame MFG dates in the sticky at the top of this forum.   Blued classic frames after serial 195,000 were all Easy Open, all stainless frames are EO.  The type (vintage) of hammer selector has nothing to do with it since as Keith said many early frames have upgraded hammers but not EO conversions.   

I wouldn't be caught dead with a G2, but I've never heard that one about the G2 "brad" before.   Keith covered the barrel interchangeability already.   The barrel locking bolts assemblies are referred to as solid on the early barrels, split on later barrels and can be easily changed.  TC used to make several sizes of them, which was handy for taking up wear and headspacing.    They only made one size fits all though toward the end of classic frame production when they changed to the last vintage classic frames with a renewable breech block.

You can get a better trigger on a Classic frame than a G2 frame.   All 20 of my tuned CC farmes have reworked triggers that are simply excellent.

Your grip is not the Herret grip.   It was called the Competitor grip.

Your barrel with the factory brake is called a Hunter barrel, not a Super 14.

Price depends on condition and buyer.   Many folks don't like the Hunter barrels (except maybe the 45/70 Hunter) as they are very loud and the 44MAG even with hot loads doesn't need the brake on a 14" bull barrel.   $180-185 is probably a good number for a used Hunter barrel in great shape.

Good luck and enjoy that Classic.

[spook1]

Guys, thank you for all of your help.  You really do know your TC's.  But I do have another question.  I am confused about the Easy Open Configuration.  Just what exactly is this?  My contender does have the selector switch, but I understand this doesn't confirm anything.  Also, where can you get the replacement barrel locking bolts assemblies to help accept newer barrels more easily?  Again sorry for the questions.

Thanks,
Brad

[skb2706]

With that only one black powder barrel exception all 'tender barrels will work or with very minor work be made to work. I have barrels and frames from all eras and they all work.

The easy open frames or frames that have been made into easy open can be identified by the position of the trigger assembly pivot. Pre 'easy open' or early frames the trigger assembly pivot was at the very forward end of the trigger assembly. The 'easy open' frames the pivot is located near the middle. Ifthe frame has been modified to be easy open it will have the original hole plus the new hole for re-location.

[Curtis]

Also, where can you get the replacement barrel locking bolts assemblies to help accept newer barrels more easily?

Actually the locking lugs are part of the barrel.  Vintage barrel's locking lugs were solid (one piece) and don't work well with some frames, mainly newer ones (not necessarily G2).  All barrels after a certain date (probably some time in the 80s but I'm sure someone here knows specifically) were made with split locking lugs.

Since the most common lockup problems are with older barrels on newer frames, you should be good depending on just how late your serial number is.  Refer to the serial number list that was mentioned earlier in the thread.

Curtis

[Ladobe]

No apology needed at all for asking questions pard.   That's how you learn (and how most folks learned who hadn't been active in Contenders from their birth using all of the variations in turn as they were released by TC like some of us have).

Also, where can you get the replacement barrel locking bolts assemblies to help accept newer barrels more easily? 

Unless it has changed since S&W took over TC (and Tim P. retired), they will send you a new split bolt assembly for free.   Just give them a call.

[Slowpoke Slim]

The only thing I would add to all of this is that you may not ever need to replace any locking lugs. Treat it as a case by case, or barrel by barrel issue. I have an early frame, pre-easy open, and I have some original barrels, a couple of brand new production barrels, two custom barrels ( one thanks to Larry), and they ALL open, close, lock up and shoot JUST FINE with my original frame. My original barrels have solid lugs, and my new production barrels have split lugs, all work fine.

Don't worry about the lugs until you've tried the barrel out on your frame. You may need to do absolutely NOTHING!!

[Ken ONeill]

Spook 1,
Ladobe has written a very concise set of answers to your questions, and I agree with all of his points.
On your last item of confusion regarding the Easy Open Features, one other thing that a novice can look for to see if the frame has the feature, is that the trigger will have its adjustment screw in the center of the top of the trigger. Earlier frames will have a different trigger contour, and the adjustment screw is offset to the side of the top of the trigger.
Pre-G2 Contenders are fabulous.

[mbk]

If I remember correctly serial #196,000 (number stamped behind hammer) was the cut off between old style and easy open frames.  Buy a frame on either side and you are good with all style locking lugs 

[Ladobe]

195,000 actually (late 1981), but who's counting.   

[Steve P]

Good answers to your questions above.  Now go out and shoot that 44 barrel.  See how much you enjoy the better accuracy and tamer recoil.  What an excellent Contender you have.

How much do you want for that redhawk?

Steve 

[hunterspistol]

  You're going to love it, I have several. I like the Competitor grips but, when you get to the magnums in factory ammo, the Pachmayer Decelerator can help a lot. Easy Open means there's a pin above the trigger that shows. You can make it easier by pulling the trigger guard when you close it, it doesn't lock down real hard that way.

 A man just has to love a pistol that can fire rifle rounds, no doubt about it.