Author Topic: Just another newbie post... (Read 326 times)

BrianD · « **on:** January 21, 2004, 10:03:06 AM »

Greetings folks!

I've been going through a lot of old posts here over the last couple of days and though I should at least introduce myself.

I bought my first contender frame over the weekend. Unfortunately I didn't find this board until afterward, but I always seem to do things in that order.

The frame is a pre easy open serial number 45xxx (ca 2nd half of 1975 according to a list someone here posted) My interest in owning a TC is for IHMSA stuff and will probably end up with a 22lr and a 7tcu barrel to start off with.

I have some questions about having the easy open conversion done, and if I am going to have trouble with newer barrels with this frame. Will the new barrels fit? The consensus seems to be yes, but I see a lot of people having problems. I'm an instant gratification sort of guy and would like to start shooting it now give it up next winter for the conversion (if ever) Will this work, or am I going to have a problem with barrels?

Thanks for all the info you folks have already given to me!

-Brian

flatlander · « **Reply #1 on:** January 21, 2004, 11:33:42 AM »

No problems with the barrels. From my personal experience, barrel interchange just isn't an issue. I haven't seen a barrel that won't mount on my contender or any of my buddies, and we own a whole range of frames. That's what they are supposed to do. Are there exceptions? Yup, but I haven't seen one, so enjoy and don't worry about it too much! And welcome to our obsession. Save your pennies, because 2 probably won't cut it once you get going.

Mayor of Hobbs Knob · « **Reply #2 on:** January 21, 2004, 12:47:18 PM »

Hey flatlander,
Wish I shared you experience with barrel match-ups. Mine are real fussy. Of nine barrels and four frames it's a constant battle to match them up. My 1971 frame has two barrels it likes (solid lock-lugs) My G-2 has four that it takes with no complaint and the two middle aged frames share the rest. I swear sometime I going to send them all to T/C but that will never happen. A word of advice. If you get swapping lock-lugs around, (and you will) for heaven sakes keep track of what goes with what. I now have a small bag of lugs that I know nothing about. And, if someone offers to give you a spare set, look that gift horse in the mouth!
Does all this bother me? Not much. I love playing with them.

Mayor

BrianD · « **Reply #3 on:** January 22, 2004, 09:40:26 AM »

Thanks for the info. I'll probably leave it as it is for now and send it in for a conversion next fall.

Just for the record, I stopped by a fellow IHMSA shooters house last night and we tried a few of his barrels on my frame. They all fit and locked up although the 22lr barrel he had was real hard to open. My new 22lr barrel came in this morning and it is much easier to open.

He loaned me a 30 Carbine barrel and a few rounds that I fired off today. I may have to add that caliber to the list for field pistol. :grin:

-Brian