New to contenders - Questions!!!

[bigheaddaddy]

Hello from western NC.

I am thinking about getting a contender.  I shoot and reload .357 mag (SP-101 3") and .41 mag (Blackhawk 6.5" and Redhawk 5.5").  I have run across an old style contender (non-G2) with a 10" octogon barrel.  While it is used, it appears to be in very good condition as there are no cosmetic issues.  The price is around $350, but I may be able to get it down a little.  My questions are"
1)  I know what to look for in used revolvers and semi's, but is there anything special that I need to be on the lookout for when inspecting a used contender?
2)  I definitely want a .41 mag barrel.  It shouldn't be too hard to find one in either a 10" or 12" barrel, should it?
3)  The contender I am considering has an octogon barrel.  Will round barrels work with this forearm or will I have to stick with octogon barrels?
4)  I know my reloading recipes may have to be altered to get the best accuracy out of the contender, but are there any special precautions that I need to take when loading for the contender? 
5)  I know it's hard to price a gun unseen, but does $350 seem like a fair price range given no structural or cosmetic defects? 

I mainly shoot holes in paper, but I have been know to take the .41 deer hunting on occasion.  I would also like to get a 22lr barrel for squirrel hunting. 

Thanks in advance for your help!

[kynardsj]

IMHO $350.00 for a Contender, even with the octagon barrel, is fair if it's in good shape. I had an 10 inch octagon in 357 mag that was a great shooter. If the forearm is cut for octagon barrels I'm pretty sure you'll have to get another to fit the round barrels. While I haven't seen any 41 mag barrels there probably are some out there. Just load the rounds as you have been for your revolvers and see if the accuracy is there. Tweak it if you have to. While I don't own Contenders at this time, I'm into the Encores, I have owned several in the past and they are a lot of fun. Welcome to the addiction. 

[Flynmoose]

Welcome aboard! The octogon barrel forearms only work with octogon barrels. Don't
worry about that detail, forearms are plentiful, just like barrels. As far as loading, just
start at the lower level of published loads and work up until you find the sweet spot.
You will find that with a closed chamber you get more bang for your powder buck. As
far as price, I would look at condition and shoot it first if possible. If it shoots OK I
would buy it myself if the wife would let me. A GBO sponsor, EDs TCs will have most
everything you could need/want in a  barrel...or two..or three.
FM

[wvjoetc]

First WELCOME, The price 350 price is not bad, so anything under that is good, the last bare frame I bought was 260.  Any serial number above 195,000 is what is called easyopen frame, and barrels can be changed out.  You can look on GunBroker to get an idea on what the asking price on Contenders are now.  The 41 and 357 are good shooters you won't be unhappy there.  Keep your eye on the classifieds here for good deals and good trade deals.  S&W now owns Thompson and they are in the process of moving the plant, so hard to say how all this will shake out, but for now there are lots of parts out there.

Joe

[flipajig]

Welcom to the madness of a tender.. 350 is a good price if its in good shape. my G2 was 550 with a 15in Bullberry in 7-30 waters Base and rings with a Burris 2x7 EER scope. That was 2.5 years ago and now I have a total of 5 barrels and scopes. Watch out they Multiply.
so far they all are shooters my 44 mag barrel I had to work with it more than the others but I was able to find a load that it liked.
like stated above start at the lowest charge and work up when reloading. as a example out of my SBH a 200 JHP is running aorund 1300 rpm and out of my super 14 in 44 mag its running 1620 so start low and work up.

[bigheaddaddy]

Thanks to all for the replies. 

Advice well taken on the reloads.  I am a firm believer in starting low and working up.  I've not had any problems in the past, and I don't want to start now.  My son and wife also shoot my reloads, so safety is my MAIN concern.

I have been a TC fan for many years,  I have a TC .36 cal Seneca that I bought in the early 80's as well as a .50 cal Omega inline.  I love the smell of burnt black powder!  Both are excellent shooters, and I look forward to getting a contender.

There's a gun show in Charlotte this weekend, so I'm going down to see what I can find there.  I hear that Contenders are rare and often waaaayyy overpriced at these shows, but it doesn't hurt to look.  I may get lucky and run across something.

Thanks again!

[bigheaddaddy]

Believe it or not, I only saw 1 contender at the Charlotte show, and it wasn in poor condition and very expensive.  I'm now back to the contender I found last week.  It's an old style (SN#82xxx) which puts the manufacture date in 1978.  I do not know if it has had the easy open conversion or not.  It has a 10" octogon .357 mag barrel with open sights (not sure of manufacturer).  Cosmetically it appears to be in great shape (no rust or damage to wood). 

How can I tell if this contender has had he easy open conversion?  If it hasn't, can I still send it to TC for the conversion given the plant closing situation?  I don't have a good understanding of the easy open feature.  Can someone provide an explanation?

Thanks!

[Curtis]

If it is original (not easy-open) the pivot pin will be close to the bottom corner of the frame toward the muzzle end.  If it has been converted to easy-open, the pivot pin will be just above the trigger.

Curtis

[Incitatus]

Believe it or not, I only saw 1 contender at the Charlotte show, and it wasn in poor condition and very expensive.  I'm now back to the contender I found last week.  It's an old style (SN#82xxx) which puts the manufacture date in 1978.  I do not know if it has had the easy open conversion or not.  It has a 10" octogon .357 mag barrel with open sights (not sure of manufacturer).  Cosmetically it appears to be in great shape (no rust or damage to wood). 

How can I tell if this contender has had he easy open conversion?  If it hasn't, can I still send it to TC for the conversion given the plant closing situation?  I don't have a good understanding of the easy open feature.  Can someone provide an explanation?

Thanks!

The point of pivot was moved to provide more leverage for the "easy open" capability.  That feature is factory standard in later Contenders.

I bought a minty early Contender with a wildcat barrel last year.  I sold the barrel and the frame ended up costing me around $130.  I never converted it because I don't find it that tough a thing to open.  With the earlier contenders some later barrels do not fit properly so that they will not fire.  Supposedly, you can stone the latches on the barrel to get them to fit.  I know which barrels shoot with the older frame and simply use those.  You will (I stress "will") end up with more frames and barrels so I would not worry too much about everything working with everything.  Thats just me but I really didn't want to modify an old handgun when I didn't really have a pressing need.