Contender, 357 maximum plus xtras...is this a good deal?

[HappyHunter]

I just found a Contender, used, blue, serial number 301xxx.  
Caliber is 357 Maximum.  12 inch barrel with iron sights.

Also included is super 16 barrel with front (rear missing) iron sight in 223 Rem.  Leupold base and rings with Simmons Pro Hunger scope (3x9x40)  

Comes with walnut pistol forend and grip.  Also composite rifle stock and forend.  

Asking price was $600, they will take $550.  (I offered $500).

Condition is probably 90-95% with only typical wear marks no abuse.

Trigger is excellant, must have been worked,  very crisp and I estimate at 3.5 to 4 lbs.

How is price?  

What about the 357 Maximum?....Is this a caliber I can get dies and brass for?  

Thanks for help,

Fred  :-)

[pinduck]

It wouldn't be too bad at $500.00 or maybe $525.00. You can get dies but brass is starting to get hard to find in .357 max. Wish you luck

[helobill]

From what I've seen lately that sounds okay. Just bought a bare frame from Ed's for $175, grips run about $30-40 (Warner guns has the best prices I've found on new grips and forends), barrels run from $125 to $200 each on gunbroker, auction arms and ebay. However, you gotta temper that with the 357 max problem of finding brass. If you do a search on this site, finding 357 max brass has been discussed a couple times so maybe you can get some ideas. If you're willing to go searching out brass I'd see if he takes the $500. If you don't want to mess with the brass, see if he'll sell it with just the one barrel. Or you can always sell the barrel or trade it away in the trading forum right here, I'm sure someone will want it.
Helicopter Bill

[Bullseye]

Graf & Sons always has brass in stock at the current time.  I just bought 500 pieces for about $65 and it should last me my lifetime.  I would do the same if your are worried about it getting scarce.  The max is an excellent round for accuracy and does quit nice on deer.  If you want to sell it their is a good market for them.

[HappyHunter]

Thanks everyone,  I have found brass at midwayusa and midsouth.  

I also discovered that it is same dies for 357 mag.  It   does seem to be an interesting round I am not afraid of  getting brass at all.

Is the frame the "new" easy open type.

Incidently the seller is Gander Mountain.

Thanks again,

Fred  a/k/a  HappyHunter

[Gregory]

Fred / Happyhunter

Have you checked Blythe's and Fetla's in Valparaiso.  If your talking about the Gander Mtn store in Merrillville, I always thought their prices were high.

I picked up a used Encore with a 15" 243 barrel from Blythe's for $150 about five yrs ago.  Last time I stopped in there I think he had sold all his used TC stuff to Dennis Eicher, out of Indianapolis, who used to do the Valparaiso gun shows at the fairgrounds.

I would put a price of no more than $150 on a used blue frame, and no more than $150 for each barrel.  I have no idea what that Simmons scope is worth.  You made them a fair offer.

Natchez also has 357 Max brass:
http://search.cartserver.com/search/search.cgi?bool=AND&maxhits=20&cartid=a-7002&category=All&keywords_1=*&keywords=357+brass&go=Find+It%21

Get a price on the same outfit from Ed's and see how the price compares.

[BNoz01]

Perhaps you are unaware, but the 357 Maximum will chamber and fire 357 Mag and 38 Special ammo.  Also, most reloading die manufacturers make a single reloading die to handle all three cartridges.  

So, you might just want to start out shooting 357 Mag ammo at first.  If this is sufficiently accurate, then stick with this.  And unless some other reason surfaces (long range shooting or hunting), don't even worry about the 357 Max cartridge.

B. Noz.

[HappyHunter]

Gregory,

Fetla's  has no Encore/contender used anything.

Blythes has one blue condender (non easy open) with 12 in 22lr for $400. and a super 14 ss with tc scope and easy open frame in 44 mag for $500.

Fred.

[Gregory]

Gregory,

Fetla's  has no Encore/contender used anything.

Blythes has one blue condender (non easy open) with 12 in 22lr for $400. and a super 14 ss with tc scope and easy open frame in 44 mag for $500.

Fred.

Fred
Last time I spoke with Les Blythe (I was in Valpo last summer) he was complaining how slow business was.  At those prices, for used contenders, I can see why!

B. Noz.
TC does not recommend shooting 357 Mag or 38 Spec. out of a 357 Maximum.  Ringing of the chamber willl occur just were the shorter cartridge ends and over time, they say, the 357 Max brass will fail at that spot.  I wish I knew that at the time I got mine AA frame, it came with both a 357 Mag and Max barrel.  I sold of the Mag barrel thinking I wouldn't need it.