Author Topic: Age of contender owners (Read 13335 times)

butchen · « **Reply #30 on:** September 17, 2011, 02:14:51 PM »

Quote from: Austin from NC on September 17, 2011, 07:16:51 AM

........................ it was a Encore 308. Wish i would have waited for a contender. .............................

Austin

Austin why do you wished you had waited for a Contender? the Encore will do every thing the Contender will do and LOTS more........or is it the weight? I have both and love my Contender had her for 30+ years and shoot from 223 to 45-70 and a bunch in between. Just got an Encore when I turned 50 this year in a 308w 15" and a custom 500 S&W MGM 12"barrel. I still shoot the Contender lots. Because of the weight I like to carry it more. But got a bandolero holster for the Encore and it's easier to carry. So I will be hunting with it more now.

Not trying to say it's a bad thing. Just was wondering why the Contender?
Thanks

Dirty Tiger · « **Reply #31 on:** September 17, 2011, 02:35:09 PM »

I'm 59 bought my first contender in 1977. Payed around 200 for the complete gun. Additional barrels were about 60 bucks. Currently have 2 contender frames and one encore. I've lost track of the number and caliber of barrels.

jays375 · « **Reply #32 on:** September 17, 2011, 04:56:32 PM »

Well when I turned 21 my contender was waiting for me to pick up.It was when the stainless models were released.My buddy went out and bought a 44 mag Desert Eagle.Me a Super 14 in 7x30 Waters with the factory muzzle tamer and a Leupold straight 4 power.In a few weeks I will be 39.Still have it except now has a Thompson scope and fitted with Pachmyer grips and forend.Plus the collection has grown and still looking for more.It still makes me giggle when I shoot any of them because of the accuracy.I hope to enjoy them for years to come.My friend on the other hand dumped his Desert Eagle.Finally decided it didn't have much purpose than burn ammo.

Axehandle · « **Reply #33 on:** September 17, 2011, 05:13:30 PM »

First Contender in 1975. It was an octagon barrel 45 Colt. Current TC count is about 45 calibers with 2 Contender frames, one G2 frame, 6 Encore frames, Bullberry wood, Bullberry barrels, Virgin Valley Barrels, TC Custom Shop barrels GNR wildcats. All handgun, no rifles. Lots of Leupold and Burris scopes. 59 Years old..

Austin from NC · « **Reply #34 on:** September 19, 2011, 06:40:09 AM »

I'm currently working on my first contender. This thread inspired me to offer my encore rifle to trade. The 308 I bought then was more than I could handle both recoil and weight wise so it sat till a few weeks ago. Now I love it. It will probably be my big game handgun of choice. Wish me luck on the trade i'm trying to get a contender with 2 barrels for it. Hopefully 26 will be the age I get my first contender.

Austin

BCB · « **Reply #35 on:** September 19, 2011, 12:27:46 PM »

Quote from: bluedog6 on September 15, 2011, 01:27:18 PM

I have noticed that most contender owners are older people. I never see anyone younger(30 or under) shooting contenders. I am 47 and most are older than me. Why is this?

Fifty-nine...

Been shootin' them for nearly 30 years...

Is there some way to set up a poll and you could get really good info and a graph to look at it quickly...

BCB

bluedog6 · « **Reply #36 on:** September 19, 2011, 12:42:47 PM »

That's a great idea. I don't know how, but I like the idea!

BCB · « **Reply #37 on:** September 19, 2011, 12:54:07 PM »

Quote from: bluedog6 on September 19, 2011, 12:42:47 PM

That's a great idea. I don't know how, but I like the idea!

Yea, I don't know how either, but on other sites it is pretty simple...

I would be interesed in seeing those results myself...

BCB

geronimo.tn · « **Reply #38 on:** September 19, 2011, 01:51:46 PM »

I'm 59, with Armour Alloy Contender frame with 12" Bullberry bull barrel chambered in .45 LC , 2X Burris scope..

Hafast · « **Reply #39 on:** September 20, 2011, 06:07:26 AM »

I'm 64 and started like Curtis with a 10" octagonal barrel in 256 Win Mag. Boy, the number of coyotes I shot around Waco, Texas is probably around 200. McClendon county used to pay $12 per scalp turned in to the court house. More than paid for my guns and reloading stuff. I started with the Lee hand loader. Got to where the occasional primer going bang didn't phase me.

Rogerdog · « **Reply #40 on:** September 20, 2011, 11:17:06 AM »

39 here. I bought my first contender at a gun show a couple years ago with five barrels. I've since added a sixth. I remember looking at the Gun Annual back in the early eighties and thinking that contenders were about the stupidest gun ever made. I personally bought mine to use as a test mule for reloads. Since buying it, it has been the gun found most often in my hand for the past two years. In fact my seven year old and I went after squirrels this weekend and I used the trusty contender. We didn't get any squirrels but did some plinking at the creek on the way home.

Badge54 · « **Reply #41 on:** September 20, 2011, 04:28:11 PM »

I had a .22lr match when I was 22 or so... It became my favorite gun. As money goes when in your 20's I had to sell it to eat... SO now I'm in my 40's and with some implied permission from the wife I have been buying some of the guns I had to let go... THE Contender was the one I wanted first... I now have a .22lr match, .44mag and a 30-30 in handgun.

Been a long time coming but I replaced that early loss.

Badge54

Austin from NC · « **Reply #42 on:** September 20, 2011, 07:02:20 PM »

My contender is supposed to ship out tommorrow or the next day so 26 is the age I got my first contender barring any problems. That is at least 10 years too late. It is a stainless g2 frame, pachmayer grips, and 10 in blued 30 herrett barrel. The first barrel I plan to add is definately gonna be a 10inch or less 22lr. Then either a 44mag or 357max/mag. I can't wait.

Austin

qwikrick · « **Reply #43 on:** September 21, 2011, 07:42:26 PM »

47 here, and if I remember correctly I got my first T/C at 25

Iowa Fox · « **Reply #44 on:** September 22, 2011, 07:18:52 PM »

63 here. Purchased my first one when I was in my twenties. Still have the first and many other frames and barrels. Lots of good shooting memories from over the years.

bluedog6 · « **Reply #45 on:** September 23, 2011, 01:43:10 AM »

Has everyone seen the other post on this subject? I think the poll will provide some interesting numbers. Check it out.

Alfred · « **Reply #46 on:** September 24, 2011, 02:33:36 PM »

72 here- bought my first contender not long after they came out- old saw handle and a 44 mag and 30-30 oct bbls. Kicked like a mule- still have it , but now have 6 frames and 36 bbls. I still have contenderitis. Kids already know who is getting what.

butchen · « **Reply #47 on:** September 24, 2011, 03:03:10 PM »

Quote from: Alfred on September 24, 2011, 02:33:36 PM

.............................................. Kids already know who is getting what.

my kids have done the same thing. one gets the contender and barrels, the other gets the encore and barrels ........the oldest one even has taken my Ruger 10" SS SBH.......got to love the kids ........right .........not even sick and they are splitting my guns and knives .....

jumpsteady · « **Reply #48 on:** September 25, 2011, 11:07:18 AM »

25 when I got my first Contender. 10" 44 mag. Then I decided I wanted a .357 Max, so I bought one of those barrels too. Then I decided that I wanted a new G2 frame so I sold the original Contender and 44 barrel and bought a G2. Picked it up last week. I am now 27 and have a G2 with a 12" .357 Max Hunter barrel.

Grandpa Jack · « **Reply #49 on:** September 30, 2011, 04:16:46 PM »

Born in 44. Got my first Contender in 76 or 77 in 14" 30-30 to shoot IHMSA. Moved into 30H & 357H and others and eventually to 7TCU and .223, my two current favorites along with my 23" .204R. Dad gave me a single shot H&R 12 gauge for my 12th birthday and a single shot .22 a couple months later for Christmas. Lived on a farm and he would let me go out by myself with 1 shell. When I shot it, I came back to him to ask for another one. Been in love with single shots and precision shot placement ever since. This poor start got me to 20th place in the Leech Cup at Camp Perry in 1970-That's 1000yds with iron sights! I was shooting military then so was using a M14. But still love and shoot my Contenders. Want to add a 30-30 AI or 7 Waters next.

Gdbyrd · « **Reply #50 on:** October 01, 2011, 06:40:43 PM »

I had my first contender when my dad handed it down to me when I was 13. I purchased an Encore when I was 23.

I enjoy the single shots. I think it's a very attractive platform. The only thing people don't like about it from my personal encounters is that it's "old" school, not quick on follow up shots, or just the fact that it's a break action. It's all personal preference. But in my local gun shop, they have 90% bolt actions. There are maybe 2-3 break actions and they're cheapy shotguns. So maybe it's a familiarity thing. My first gun was an over/under savage 22/.410.

phoneman7 · « **Reply #51 on:** October 01, 2011, 08:10:11 PM »

always wanted a contender as a kid reading dad's old American riflemans and guns and ammo. The ads with the guy with the scoped contender broke open about to load a 35 remington in it. I had several old TC catalogs (the little ones). Looked at em hanging on the wall at the local sporting goods store in the hunter config in 30-30. Always wanted a 10" 30-30. Fast forward to my college years when i actually had a little bit of spending money for the first time. Went to a gunshow with an old virginia dreagoon 44 mag and a savage 110 in 30-06. Looked all over for a contender, that was my goal. Finally a guy asked me what i was looking to get for em and i told him i was looking for a contender. He pulled out a stainless 15" 223 encore and i swapped even for it. 2 days later had a 44 mag barrel that i got buy trading an old winchester 1400 ranger. Then came the laminated stocks and 26" 7 mag barrel. That was one bad mama. Finally traded it for a browning light 12 since the encore was just too heavy for my liking and i really didn't need the 7 mag. Finally got the fever again aout a year ago and bought a 44 original 10" and found a 45/410 barrel on gunbroker. The old style is so much sweeter than the encore IMO for pistols. Anyway, i hope to draw blood with it this season other than the rattlesnake that the 410 demolished. I've been a fan a long time and i'm only 30.

phoneman7 · « **Reply #52 on:** October 01, 2011, 08:12:58 PM »

by the way, single shots have always intrigued me. Finally bought one of those bucket list guns 2 years ago, Ruger #1 tropical in 375 H&H. Talk about a sweetie. One day i'll own a sharps and a trapdoor, but thats another day.

redleg11b · « **Reply #53 on:** October 02, 2011, 06:17:19 AM »

34 here and on my second Contender. Had one back about 7 years ago, but had to get rid of it, along with a few other things, to pay off the divorce attorney. I got an Encore and had a lot of fun with it, but found it too heavy for use as a pistol in the calibers I was using (5.7x28, 22LR, .308). I got rid of it and traded for my Contender. I have thought recently about getting rid of it, but it is just a fun little gun. I prefer bolt-action rifles, not because of the magazines, but because I like getting prone and tightening up a sling and making as small a hole as possible. I'm thinking about getting some carbine items for my 'Tender for summer walkabouts in the hay fields. I have LR and .357 Mag pistol barrels, both scoped at this point and have fun punching paper. I'm not yet confident enough with it as a pistol for anything but that at this point. It is definately a different feel than a stock in the shoulder. I may still get rid of it, but until then, I'm enjoying it. Small holes and one-shot kills are my game. No need for anything more, but wants and likes are a different story. I ditched all my semi-auto rifles. They were fun at the range, but more expensive to feed than my kids. Easy choice to make

.

poncaguy · « **Reply #54 on:** October 04, 2011, 01:02:52 PM »

I'm 70, was young when TC's came out.Bought one, was hooked. Have 2 Contenderes and 2 Encores, and a BUNCH of barrels for both..............

wallacem · « **Reply #55 on:** October 09, 2011, 03:46:34 AM »

Here is the real answer to this question! the smarter we get - the more apt we are to own a Contender or Encore. After that, the smarter we become, the more of them we collect. then it seems we go over the hill. When we get way too many, we start to think,, "what am I thinking, I can't shoot this many. But we still collect more! I am 68 and bought my first Contender in 1983. Own way more than I need, but not as many as I would like to. Wallacem in Ga

Win 1917 · « **Reply #56 on:** October 16, 2011, 07:50:47 AM »

I'm 35 and bought my first Encore 4 years ago. Got first Contender 3 years ago and now almost exclusively shoot Contenders. I had first seen Contenders when I was in high school and thought the interchangeable barrel feature was pretty cool. I'd never shot one though and didn't know anybody that owned one so it was always "that wierd looking 30-30 pistol" that was too expensive and never got one.
Single shots have always been my primary gun since I started shooting so having one round seems perfectly normal. The majority of hunters I talk to though view single shots as kids guns or something. They funny thing to me is that the same people who are perfectly happy to go afield with a bow or muzzleloader all of a sudden think a 30-06 that's only a little slower to reload than a bolt action is somehow an insurmountable handicap and it's really just a stroke of luck that one can take a deer with it.

barber · « **Reply #57 on:** October 17, 2011, 11:11:45 AM »

I'll be 80 next month

ken613 · « **Reply #58 on:** October 20, 2011, 10:26:30 AM »

I'm 42 (soon 43

).

Been fooling with Contenders for the past 15 years or so. My first, IIRC, was a stainless frame with a blue 7-30 waters carbine bbl and a blue Hornet bbl. I've been hot and cold on them ever since. Currently own a stainless G2 frame setup as a 209x50 (my favorite ML of all time) and a standard blue frame with .44 mag carbine bbl., .375 Win carbine bbl, and EABCO 16" 22 mag bbl.

I fooled with only 2 pistol bbl's in all that time. A 10" .222 and a Super 14" in 45-70. My preference was always to use it as a quick little carbine.

Also like the Encore....use it as my main turkey gun: 12 ga; slug gun pro hunter 20 ga; and my daughter's deer rifle 7mm-08 and ML Katahdin

Some people complain about them not being classy looking guns, I'll agree, most aren't, but there is no other firearm on the market which offers more for the price.

Ken

geronimo.tn · « **Reply #59 on:** October 23, 2011, 09:58:39 PM »

Have my original Alloy II frame which came with a 10" 7MM TCU barrel...
Now at 59

, I use a 12" Bull Berry barrel chambered in 45 Colt with a 2X Burris scope for deer hunting.