Way past SS age but new to contenders So I have some ??????

[Beans]

 FWIW I have shot handguns/rifles in competition and have reloaded for rifle and pistols  since 1970.
I have wanted a TC for years but never followup on the desire until now.
I have a chance to pick up a TC with four barrels, 30H, 223, 44mag, and a 357 mag barrel/no choke.
It has black rubber grips and a black forearm. It also has 2 TC scopes. Everything looks like it is in 95+%. The seller is firm on $800.00.
I know it is not an encore but how do I tell the difference between the G3 (what  ever that is) and a regular contender and what difference does that make?
I shoot several .223 rifles and perfer the 77 Gr bullets in that cal. Can TC barrels be had with a 1/7 twist?
Is the 5.56  Govt load too much for the TC? (Yes, I know the difference between the  .223 and the 5.56 chamber and know that the .223 chamber has/should  be reamed to shoot the 5.56).
My other handguns are chambered for the ..45 ACP, 45 Colt and 9mm. Can barrels be found in.45 ACP and the 9MM?
Any other thoughts or suggestions that may be helpful.
I am looking forward to having a great relationship with the TC. Our local range where I work as a range master goes out to 600 yards.
 
 
 

[Iowa Fox]

Well Beans, from one old guy on SS to another I'll take a stab at your questions. First, if you have wanted a TC for years you should do it. I have been enjoying them for 40 plus years and hopefully have lots more years to go. $800 firm is a fair asking price for every thing you listed. I would be looking for the original sights and wood grips for the frame in that price if it were me, also 30H dies. On Contenders there were only 2 versions G1 or the latter G2. The G1s are flat sided and the G2s have the gussets on the frame looking just like a mimiature Encore. The G1s were improved with easy open and other enhansments at S/N 195,000. I would only buy the latter at this time in my envolvment with T/Cs. I do have one non easy open which is my orginal frame I started with. It is now tucked away in its original box, it has paid its dues and launched me into Contenders. On the barrels, a 10" 30H barrel is an accurate sweet shooter which I have shot a lot of. You are going to need form and reloading dies for it as it is a handload only round formed from 30/30 brass. The 223 does the best in a 14" barrel as the 10" is a little short. The 223 T/C barrels all came with 1-12 rifling unless special order from their custom shop. The 1-12 do the best with 55 gr. or under bullets. The 5.56 is a little hot for the Contender in my opinion, why put up with all that noise from the militery rounds. You can order 1-7 223 barrels but it is going to be from a custom maker. The 44 mag will give you BRUTAL recoil from a 10" barrel unless you shoot 9 grains of Unique in handloads. The 14" 44 mag barrels were much better on recoil. The 357 bull 10" barrels where good sweet shooters for the most part. The TC scopes were good and they had a lifetime warranty while they were owned by TC. I'm not sure about scope warranty now that TC is owned by S&W. A 45 acp or 9mm in a T/C barrel? Yes they made a few but I never wanted on as there are much better choices for the single shot barrels that are easier to load for. There are a few other old guys that hang around here that have squeezed the TC trigger almost as much as I have, maybe they will chime in.

[Beans]

Thanks for the information.  I have a loaner set of reloading dies and a case forming die on the way from a fellow SASS shooter and plenty of 30-30 brass. the .30 Herrett was the only caliber dies I didn't have for the TC.
I have shot a lot of 44 mag in my model 29 and 629 but have now settled on only using 44 special brass and mild loads.
My days of wanting the baddest, loudest, hardest recoiling loads are past. I just shoot for fun now. Accuracy is now the name of my game. Eiddy bitty groups are what I am after now even if the loads only go PUFT instead of BANGINGYOUREARSOFFANDMAKINGYOUR HANDSHURT loads.
Retirement is great. Go to the range fire a round. scope it out. Take a sip of coffee on the cold day, lemonade on the Hot ones.
Load it up and then fire another round. I try to spend a couple of day a week just relaxing, enjoying the outdoors and of course trying to shoot eibby bitty groups.
With the exception of the .223, I shoot cast bullets 98% of the time in the other calibers.  I am wanting to try them in the .30 Herrett. Just for grins.

[Flynmoose]

I have a 45acp barrel made by MGM, it shoots great with LaserCast 200gr SWCs. They will make whatever you may need for the TC.
FM

[Iowa Fox]

The Contender does a nice job shooting cast in the 223. 5# of wheel weights will turn out a nice pile of the little projectiles. The Cast Boolit forum has some nice stickies on shooting cast in the 223.

[deerman406]

Everyone with good advise, I would call Mike Bellm and get that 357 barrel made to a 357 Maximum, go to his website and check out his page on the Maximum. Once you get started it will be hard to stop, if ya really want to take advantage of that 600 yard range get that 223 barrel turned into a .309 JDJ, a 165 grain bullet at 2400fps or so maybe a bit less with the 10" barrel but wow!! Good Luck and enjoy! Shawn

[Beans]

Well I got it. DOB of the TC is 1983. So now my adventure begins

[Ladobe]

Nice find, it will be an enjoyable adventure for you.   You are never too old to start Contender adventure.   I was going on 19 when I got my first, had a truck load them up until about the same time I was old enough to draw SS, and it was a wonderful ride.   
 
You've got an early easy open Contender frame (there is no such thing as a G1) that should serve you very well.   Can easily be made even better (if it hasn't already been) with a trigger and/or tuning job that will make it as sweet as it gets - neither that expensive to add to it from the best of the best that does it.   A trigger that breaks like glass at a pull weight you are comfortable with from a whisper up, faster lock time, etc.   And you're starting with some excellent barrels.   The sky is pretty much the limit as far as barrels for it if you buy custom and not just factory... for current factory loaded cartridges, long discontinued one and many wildcats.   My list of acceptable cartridges for them is around 250 choices, and a few more that require the frame to be beefed up - and there are many more possible that I just never tried myself or heard of others trying.   Many of them that will rival just about any other firearm from plinking to serious target/match to hunting anything that walks the earth.   Same with the furniture... many different factory versions of grips, forends, etc, some aftermarket commercial and just about anything you want custom from Plain Jane to laminates to the highest exhibition grade woods.   Yep, the adventure begins for you, and nothing but how thick your wallet is will limit it.     

[Richard P]

Nice going, Beans.   Sooner or later we all realize we may as well have our toys and play with them than just wish we had them.  Now you are going to come to realize you ''need'' a couple of scope sights. 
I believe if you wish to engage tiny targets with tiny bullets you need to be able to see well. Optics give you that capability.  Now go enjoy your treasure.  And, be sure to report back on your progress. Richard

[trex1310]

I'm just a little south of 7 decades myself and I still shoot my contender
on a regular basis. I started back in the late 70's and have never stopped.
I've gotten rid of all my wildcat barrels except the 7mm TCU. A .223
case necked up to 7mm. I also got rid of the 10" .44 magnum. The most
brutal recoil I have ever experienced. My barrels are .22LR(10"), .22Mag(14"),
.223(14"), 7mmTCU(10"), ,357Mag(10") and .44Mag(14"). I treasure the T-C
and you will too.

[Junior1942]

....... I also got rid of the 10" .44 magnum. The most
brutal recoil I have ever experienced. .......

I'm glad you posted that, trex1310 .  I've been thinking of getting one.  My weak right wrist couldn't handle the recoil, I've suspected and now I know.

[trex1310]

....... I also got rid of the 10" .44 magnum. The most
brutal recoil I have ever experienced. .......

I'm glad you posted that, trex1310 .  I've been thinking of getting one.  My weak right wrist couldn't handle the recoil, I've suspected and now I know.

It cured me for good. I have a 14" .44 that is nowhere near as bad. I think that
damn 10" .44 ruined my right elbow.

[Ladobe]

....... I also got rid of the 10" .44 magnum. The most
brutal recoil I have ever experienced. .......

I'm glad you posted that, trex1310 .  I've been thinking of getting one.  My weak right wrist couldn't handle the recoil, I've suspected and now I know.

It cured me for good. I have a 14" .44 that is nowhere near as bad. I think that
damn 10" .44 ruined my right elbow.

There is a big difference between a 10" octagon and a 10" bull in perceived recoil.   Folks that don't like the octagon often get by fine with the bull.   If either is too much for anyone, they will be missing out on a lot of great cartridges for the Contender.