Still having trouble with Contender forend

[Duckhunter39480]

I may have been asking the wrong questions so I will begin again.  My only Contender is a G2 that I purchased just after it came out.  I mistakenly believed that all the carbine barrels would accept the G2 carbine forend.  I have learned that these come in many varieties and while there is a "standard", I may not know what the standard is.

I recently purchased a 30 Herrett carbine barrel that has a single attachment lug and my G2 forend does not fit.   The lug is approximate 6 11/16 inches from the breech end of the barrel.  The front hole on my G2 forearm fits a barrel that has the attachment lug 7 1/16 inches from the breech end of the barrel. 

Would any of you Contender shooters who own a 14" Contender barrel provide me with the distance from the breech end of your barrel to the centerline of the front and rear lugs on the barrel.  If either of these line up, I can order a standard Contender forearm for a 14" barrel.  If they do not, I will order a forend and drill it to fit my barrel

I would like to find a forend that will fit but I'm still trying to find out if there are any made that will fit this barrel.

Thanks for all the help in this project.  Every bit of information gets me a little closer to the firing line.

[Madmark]

3.580" and 6.725" is what I get on my 7tcu Super 14.

[Duckhunter39480]

Thanks, that sounds like the two hole pistol barrel will solve my problem.  I'll let you know how it works out.

[contender*]

I'm pretty sure a regular Contender forearm (or grip for that matter) will NOT fit the G2. It hasnothing to do with the barrel it's the frame fitment that is different. Someone please correct me if I'm wrong.
You may need to drill a G2 forend to fit your barrel.

[Duckhunter39480]

You may be correct about the G2 forearm.  If the pistol barrel doesn't fit, drilling a G2 forend is my next step.  I'm too far down this road to quit now.  I am determined to fire off a few rounds of the famous 30 Herrett.  Like so many other things where the journey is the adventure, getting a 35 year old barrel to fire for the first time is the adventure.  "Trouble, what trouble?"  I just hope it shoots well.

[Keith L]

I have a mix of G2 and original Contender barrels and regularly mix forearms with no problem.  One of the odd ball early forearms needed a little trim, but most are fine.  Grips do not interchange.  They are different angle and such.

[OLDHandgunner]

I have a mix of G2 and original Contender barrels and regularly mix forearms with no problem.  One of the odd ball early forearms needed a little trim, but most are fine.  Grips do not interchange.  They are different angle and such.

Me too. I mix and match most of mine.

[Dezynco]

Between my Dad and I, we have a hodge-podge of different barrels, forearms, and frames.  We have something to fit everything!

However, if you are just have you drawers in a knot to shoot your new/old 30 Herret, you can shoot it without the forearm.  Just be careful not to lose the hinge pin.

I've got a couple of old Contender forearms that I had to sand off a little of the ears to get them not to rub against the "straps" on the side of the G2 frame.  I just take a rough piece of sandpaper on a flat surface and take about 1/8" off the ears of the forearm.  Then I smooth with some 220, then some 400 grit.  After that, rub a little Tru-Oil onto the bare wood and it looks like it came that way!

You may have to modify a forearm to get it to fit, just take your time and will be OK.

[wallask]

I did not know that T/C made a .30 Herrett CARBINE barrel 35 years ago. In fact I don't think T/C made any carbine barrels that long ago. Someone please chime in.

[Duckhunter39480]

That's part of the trouble; The barrel was made by Texas Contenders in Houston, Tx.  The only reference I have heard to Texas Contenders indicated that James Kendricks manufactured barrels for the Contender and contributed to the adoption and use of carbine length barrels by T/C.  He may have been one of the first manufacturers of carbine barrels.  One of the respondents to earlier questions stated that Kendrick made barrels in the "early 70's".  I am uncertain of the actual dates of manufacturer.  I am sure that it did not pre-date the first 30 Herrett cartridge of 1972 so the "35 years ago" may be off by several years.  I am sure that the barrel is old enough that most of the users of T/C products have never heard of Texas Contenders barrels.

[Hopalong7]

T/C didn't produce carbine barrels until 1986.  Kendrick made them much earlier and since there were no "factory" carbines....there were no forends for them either...so Kendrick made them with screw spacing so S-14 forends would fit them.  I've never had one but understand that most of them shot pretty good.  GOOD SHOOTIN',  Walt 

[RonF]

Not all Texas Contenders forends use the Super 14 spacing.  I have one that has a single screw, but I haven't measured where it is.  I also have one that uses the old snap-on hardware to retain a carbine forend.

RonF

[Duckhunter39480]

I have the forend problem solved for my G2 and the Texas Contender barrel.  I ordered a Choate 2 hole pistol forend from Midway and this didn't fit either.  However, after some minor shaving of material from the inside of the "ears" and body, I was able to get the forend in position.  I also had to sand out the barrel channel a little but I am ready to shoot. 

Thanks to all of you who responded.  Now to make brass and load some ammo.  I'll let you know how it shoots.

[Jim Stacy]

Frank Kendricks(owner of Texas Contenders) had a shop on Westlow street in Houston , been there several times. Ingram barrels , in carbine length were made before Frank started making Carbines.He hired some of the gunsmiths from another large gun shop that closed about that time and started producing TC barrels. I was acquainted with Frank in the early 70's . He traded me a carbine set up for my 10" 17K Hornet barrel( bought that barrel for 42.50 at Rays Hardware store in Dallas). Frank was also quite a TC collector. He met with the TC people and they looked over his carbine set up and later produced their own. He was a likable fellow that just produced something he wanted that TC didn't have at the time. He used good barrel blanks , believe he used good quality Douglas and not sure if he used any Shilen or not. Ed Shilen was just beginning to get know at that time. Just my little personal history with Frank and his barrels.

[Dezynco]

Sounds like Duckhunter may be on the road to a nice shooting experience.  Let us know how it goes!  Hard to believe that TC Contenders have been around as long as I have!  I remember reading something about the "Texas Carbine" in my youth, my Dad is an avid gun collector/shooter and has always had a subscription to Guns and Ammo, as well as Shooting Times.

I recently purchased a TC Contender barrel that is nearly as old as I am, still shoots great!

[Possum]

I think I am going to send my Ingram barrel (yes Jim S., I still have it  )with the same single screw you are talking about to this guy and have him do me a custom forend just for the barrel.  He makes them for the contender and encore and is quite reasonable.  this is a pic of the forend style i am talking about




It works with the Pach forend and hanger system, but I like the wood look and the forend running right up to the end of the barrel.  Glad you are on the way to shooting!