Author Topic: How much for an old contender (Read 624 times)

halfwhit · « **on:** April 28, 2005, 07:21:20 PM »

I am not sure if this is the proper place to put this so if not just let me know.
I have been half looking to pick up a contender for quite a while and have even picked up a couple of barrels and a thumbhole carbine stock (you can tell you are sick when you have barrels and stocks for guns you have never owned and reloading stuff for cartridges you have never had) anyway I found an older contender in pretty good shape the other day the only problem was I would have to buy both the barrels with the frame. They are a 44 mag and a 256 but the old octagon style and the 256 had an old bushnell phantom scope on it. I was thinking since it seems to be a bit of a pain to find contenders around here maybe I should just pick it up, how do the octagon barrels rate? Are they still pretty good shooters or would I be better off with the newer style? also in a funny twist of course the last barrel I bought was a 12" bull 256. so maybe I could just sell one off. What would be a reasonably good price for me to pay for the contender with the two barrels? (the 44 is NOT the one with the choke) thanks for the help sorry for the rambling.

armory414 · « **Reply #1 on:** April 29, 2005, 02:32:50 AM »

I got a good deal on my first Contender, $225 with 10" .44 mag barrel. The nice thing about used Contenders is that if you have to buy it with the barrel, you can always sell the barrel. Octagon barrels are supposed to be as accurate as any of the others, and are also collectible, probably more so for the .256. You shouldn't have any problem selling the barrels and getting back some of your money (or you can put them up on EBay and possibly even make a profit!!!)

Curtis · « **Reply #2 on:** April 29, 2005, 02:44:32 AM »

My 256 and 44 mag barrels are octagon. The rest (listed below) are either 10 bull or super 14. The 256 oct I have is every bit as accurate as my 223 10 inch bull. I like the octagon barrels (in anything but the hard kicking calibers) for better balance.

The 44 mag octagon is a hard kicker and does not resell for as much $$ as others. I recently put a scope and mount atop mine and it seemed to tone down the recoil some, but it is still stout.

I guess the only negative I remember hearing on the old octagon barrels was the 44 and 30-30 and it was recoil. Accuracy is good.

Curtis

Racepres · « **Reply #3 on:** April 29, 2005, 04:34:13 AM »

Quote

The 44 mag octagon is a hard kicker and does not resell for as much $$ as others. I recently put a scope and mount atop mine and it seemed to tone down the recoil some, but it is still stout.

I guess the only negative I remember hearing on the old octagon barrels was the 44 and 30-30 and it was recoil. Accuracy is good.

I agree completely.... FWIW
Marty

halfwhit · « **Reply #4 on:** April 29, 2005, 05:45:00 AM »

Thanks for the help. I think I will probably go pick it up. Only problem is once I have one I will have to get some more barrels. I have gotten some tcr stuff from ed and had good results where else should I check for barrels? Also if where would be the best place to try to sell the barrels, if I do that? What would be a fair price?

DropTheHammer · « **Reply #5 on:** April 29, 2005, 07:29:39 AM »

Sell them on ebay and you will get top dollar. I've recently started to thin out my neglected sporting goods inventory and found ebay to be quite the seller's market.