Author Topic: older contender trigger problem  (Read 1063 times)

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Offline gdog243

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older contender trigger problem
« on: October 09, 2010, 12:45:44 PM »
     I bought  my first contender after joining this  forum.A  older contender in 44mag which I am going to deer hunt with this year. The date  year is 1985. You open and shut the action cock the hammer and the gun shoots just fine.
Open and shut the action pull the trigger without cocking the hammer. The trigger will move maybe 1/16 of inch. Then try to cock the hammer after pulling of the trigger  and the hammer will not stay cocked without repeating the opening and shut of the action again. Any info or thoughts?? Thanks GWARD

Offline Bigeasy

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Re: older contender trigger problem
« Reply #1 on: October 09, 2010, 01:11:11 PM »
Mine does the same thing.  I believe it is designed that way, and not a defect.

Larry
Personal opinion is a good thing, and everyone is entitled to one.  The hard part is separating informed opinion from someone who is just blowing hot air....

Offline Keith L

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Re: older contender trigger problem
« Reply #2 on: October 09, 2010, 01:37:09 PM »
There are those that prefer this to the G2.  You can practice the trigger pull without dry firing.  That is the way it was designed.
"Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy."  Benjamin Franklin

Offline shot1

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Re: older contender trigger problem
« Reply #3 on: October 09, 2010, 02:18:56 PM »
It is supposed to work like that. The G2 is the only Contender that you can let the hammer down and recock it without having to open and shut the action.

Offline billythekid55

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Re: older contender trigger problem
« Reply #4 on: October 09, 2010, 04:36:16 PM »
gdog,

You can call or email Thompson Center Arms customer service, give them your serial number, and they will send you the correct owner's manual, free of charge. It took somewhere around a week to get mine.

http://www.tcarms.com

T/C Customer Service
Repair-Warranty-Parts

Phone: 1-866-730-1614
Email: tca_customerservice@tcarms.com

You may have already seen this post.  I found a lot of useful information.  I purchased my first contender earlier this year.
Contender basics for Newbies:
http://www.gboreloaded.com/forums/index.php?topic=120719.0;wap2
Hunter Education Instructor
NRA Member

Offline Dezynco

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Re: older contender trigger problem
« Reply #5 on: October 10, 2010, 04:52:08 AM »
That's the way the old style Contenders were designed.  The new G2 Contender doesn't do this.  However, the general concensus is that the old Contenders have a much better trigger, the take-up, overtravel, pull wieght, and general overall quality is better.  Therefore, the old Contender is still a much sought after item.

On the other side of the fence, the G2 is a little bit beefier, allowing one or two cartridges that would be risky in the old Contender (444 Marlin, 30-40 Krag, 7.62x39 and a few others).  The grip angle of the G2 feels better (to me that is).  The G2 is a simpler design also, and is relatively easy for anyone to work on.  The trigger pull of the G2 can be lightend by simply changing out the sear spring with a lighter spring.

Hope this helps, there is nothing wrong with your Contender....

Offline gdog243

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Re: older contender trigger problem
« Reply #6 on: October 10, 2010, 06:10:54 AM »
Guys thanks for the replies. It is great to know that nothing wrong with my contender.  GWARD

Offline Hopalong7

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Re: older contender trigger problem
« Reply #7 on: October 11, 2010, 08:24:33 AM »
        YOU CAN, with a little practice, re-cock the trigger withOUT opening the action on the original Contender. ;)
Walt

Offline P.A. Myers

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Re: older contender trigger problem
« Reply #8 on: October 12, 2010, 03:52:04 PM »
Whaaat?
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never give in except to convictions of honor and good sense”
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Offline Keith L

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Re: older contender trigger problem
« Reply #9 on: October 12, 2010, 04:13:17 PM »
The trick is to pull the release and then only move the breech open enough to reset the trigger.  It doesn't take much.  Then you close it again and you can shoot.  In other words you open the breech but not much.  It can be handy if you have to re-set the trigger and don't want game to see much movement.  Trouble for me is I have never been able to do it while the pistol is on the rest and aimed at the game like I can with my G2s.
"Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy."  Benjamin Franklin

Offline P.A. Myers

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Re: older contender trigger problem
« Reply #10 on: October 12, 2010, 08:43:08 PM »
OH.
“Never give in, never give in, never; never; never; never - in nothing, great or small, large or petty -
never give in except to convictions of honor and good sense”
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Offline BCB

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Re: older contender trigger problem
« Reply #11 on: October 13, 2010, 01:41:46 PM »
     I bought  my first contender after joining this  forum.A  older contender in 44mag which I am going to deer hunt with this year. The date  year is 1985. You open and shut the action cock the hammer and the gun shoots just fine.
Open and shut the action pull the trigger without cocking the hammer. The trigger will move maybe 1/16 of inch. Then try to cock the hammer after pulling of the trigger  and the hammer will not stay cocked without repeating the opening and shut of the action again. Any info or thoughts?? Thanks GWARD

That is the way they are and those who have given advise about having to recock it are also correct.  Never tried the method mentioned about only partially opening the action...

ONE WARNING WITH A LIVE ROUND IN THE CHAMBER:  After you pull the trigger with the hammer not cocked as you mentioned, if you pull the hammer back to attempt to set the hammer in place to be fired and you accidently let go of the hammer, THE CONTENDER WILL DISCHARGE.  Cold clumsy hands can lead to an accident easily...

That is one of the safety issues that I have with the pre-G2 models.  YET, I only want the pre-G2 models.  As someone mentioned, the triggers are somewhat adjustable and they have the overtravel screw.

Good-luck...BCB