I Actually GOT an E-mail from Huas of Arms Saying my SSK50 was READY

[Jeff H]

I wasn't sure where to put this, and I swear there was a thread regarding this, but I couldn't find it and settled on this sub-forum since the Contender started out as a pistol.

Got the e-mail at 5:53 today, called at 6:03, but got Marty's voice-mail.

Guess what my first priority is going to be tomorrow morning.

I was just thinking about this today and decided (again) that I was going pretty much figure on this not happening. Decided that I would at least put together a replacement parts order for some of the small, easy to lose bits they sell under the SSK50 brand and probably be done with it.

 

[Ben]

UUUmmmm, guess I'm just not in the loop.
What is an SSK50 ?

 

[JonB]

I think this is the tread.

SSK new owners?

Lehigh Defense has bought JD Jones' SSK Industries, i was wondering if they are any good making Contender barrels? SSK used to be good, if not great. MGM does a wonderful Encore barrel. Bullberry also is good, but i don't have any. i want to buy a 10" Contender in 45 Colt from SSK, but if they...

www.artfulbullet.com

 

[david s]

Contender frames.

 

[Jeff H]

UUUmmmm, guess I'm just not in the loop.
What is an SSK50 ?

Like @david s says - a REMAKE of the ORIGINAL Contender (easy-open) by SSK Industries, sold through Haus of Arms.

About four and a half years ago, Marty Ebbinghaus, owner of Haus of Arms started talking about them and taking orders for them. I threw in and ordered one. Waited, gave up, kept my name on the list.

I talked to Marty this morning, settled up and stopped by my FFL on the way to work to get it shipped.

What do I need with another Contender frame? Well, something "old" that many of us liked that was discontinued is BACK. NOt that something from 1967 is "old," but I'm pretty tired of "new" plastic stuff and cartridges we don't need. Tired of seeing good old, tried and true stuff displaced with new stuff. Nothing against new stuff, but stop taking away the OLD STUFF! I bought mine for the sake of supporting the effort, but will probably now spend hours deciding whether I should get another barrel, WHICH barrel, another stock set,...

I'm excited that an older gun will now be available to younger shooters.

 

[todd]

i only have one Contender....

 

[Jeff H]

i only have one Contender....

WHAT??

You need at least one more as a collection of assembled spare parts!

This is another encouraging thing about SSK Industry's endeavor though - they do have numerous NEW Contender spare parts available. I have three because I prefer to keep each barrel I use ready to roll with a frame and stock-set, sighting, etc. If something breaks, I can swap frames until I can repair the broken one.

I have only have two other long arms these days now and one is a shotgun I never use/hope to never use, as it's a dedicated defensive tool.

 

[Bret4207]

So they are selling new Contender frames? I don't know how much they changed over the years but I know the later ones used different barrels than the early ones. I'll have to take a look.

 

[RicinYakima]

Sold all of mine except the 10 inch 32/20. None of them ever fit my hand well.

 

[todd]

Thank you!

I've been looking. I'm very cautious about spending (twice the money since 2020) money on contemporary authors and being disappointed, so the recommendation is greatly appreciated.

WHAT??

You need at least one more as a collection of assembled spare parts!

This is another encouraging thing about SSK Industry's endeavor though - they do have numerous NEW Contender spare parts available. I have three because I prefer to keep each barrel I use ready to roll with a frame and stock-set, sighting, etc. If something breaks, I can swap frames until I can repair the broken one.

I have only have two other long arms these days now and one is a shotgun I never use/hope to never use, as it's a dedicated defensive tool.

i want to get another one when i have enuff money. my barrels are the 14" muzzle brake in 7-30 Waters (my dad's (RIP)), 10" 22 Hornet, 10" 30 and 357 Herrett.

 

[david s]

There supposed to be the easy open frames that use the barrels with the split lugs. Price wise compared to Contenders on the used market they aren't bad. I haven't actually seen any of these as I still have four of the original Contender frames.

 

[Jeff H]

Sold all of mine except the 10 inch 32/20. None of them ever fit my hand well.

None of mine do either.



They all have carbine stocks on them.

 

[richhodg66]

Is MGM still making barrels for Contenders? A few years ago, I bought a nice Conender rifle in .17 HMR just because it was too good a deal not to. I have been seriously contemplating getting them to make a rifle barrel for it that would be in a more useful and cast friendly caliber.

 

[todd]

Is MGM still making barrels for Contenders? A few years ago, I bought a nice Conender rifle in .17 HMR just because it was too good a deal not to. I have been seriously contemplating getting them to make a rifle barrel for it that would be in a more useful and cast friendly caliber.

they should be. i have an TC Encore in 23" MGM heavy factory barrels in 20 Vartarg, 444 Marlin and 500 Linebaugh. the 444 and the 500L use only cast boolits.

 

[richhodg66]

I'm kinda wanting one in a .25, originally thought .25-20 or .256 Winchester, but been thinking that .25-45 Sharps would be pretty neat and brass would never be a problem.

 

[Jeff H]

Is MGM still making barrels for Contenders? A few years ago, I bought a nice Conender rifle in .17 HMR just because it was too good a deal not to. I have been seriously contemplating getting them to make a rifle barrel for it that would be in a more useful and cast friendly caliber.

They sure do, and they're pretty proud of 'em too.

Five years ago, I about choked when I had to shell out $375 each for two blued carbine barrels, but I'd made my mind up I didn't want to gamble on a "good" chamber, so I ponied up.

NOW, they start at something more like $500! I spec'd one out that I thought I might want and it came to $525 with no really frilly frills.

When I get my SSK-50, I'll set it back and save it as a complete, assembled spare parts kit as a backup to my three originals and shop passively for a barrel at a price I can afford. Stock sets went up 25% between five years ago and a bit over a year ago. I've got a new Williams Target Peep in a box, so it will be something I don't want a scope for, but every new Contender barrel brings with it associated costs. IF I add a new barrel to my personal battery, I'm not just running right out and buying a new one like I did when I first set myself up with these.

 

[todd]

I'm kinda wanting one in a .25, originally thought .25-20 or .256 Winchester, but been thinking that .25-45 Sharps would be pretty neat and brass would never be a problem.

if i had a choice in 25 cal it would either the 25-20 or 25-35. i like my cartridges old !!!!

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Check out our chambers list! Match Grade Machine offers custom barrels in the most popular calibers for Contender G2 Thompson Center Encore and Original Contender Savage and RemAge! 450 Bushmaster 6.5mm Creedmoor 224 Valkyrie 444 Marlin 45-70 300 ACC Blackout 223 Remington 308 Winchester 300...

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[Jeff H]

By the way, I have three MGM barrels and have no complaints regarding service or quality.

24" stainless 30/30, through which I've fired a fisr mount of lead and is VERY accurate.
20" blued 357 Remington Maximum, as yet unfired/never mounted to a frame.
18" blued 357 Remington Magnum, through which I've fired a lot of lead and is VERY accurate.

Yes, you read right - it's a 357 Remington Magnum. Says so right on the side of the barrel. I'm certain whoever stenciled the Max stenciled the Mag, as I bough them at the same time. Someone probably changed the Max part to Mag and missed the Remington.

I'm going to tell people that it's a new cartridge - WAY better the antiquated 357 Mag, because instead of lengthening the 38 Special by about a tenth of an inch, like S&W did, Remington shortened the 357 Max by about a third of an inch. Voila! I have at once a RARE (only one I know of) chambering for one of the newest, latest-greatest cartridges, which:

• Shoots faster than any cartridge slower than it is
• Shoots flatter than any cartridge which has a higher trajectory than it does
• Is more powerful than any cartridge weaker than it
• Has less recoil than any cartridge with more recoil than it has

 

[richhodg66]

Both are neat cartridges, I have a couple of .25-20s and brass is scarce. With it based on a .223 case, I figure brass will never be a problem. It should download easily with that small case capacity too.

 

[todd]

my 444 and the 500L are very accurate, the 20 VT is really scary accurate, .1 to .2" at 100 yards (5 and 10 shots, bench) with careful handloads. the 20 VT doesn't get careful handloads anymore, it does shoot some sloppy reloads at 1/2 - 3/4" at 100 yards.

i had a 15", 16 1/4" and 23" MGM heavy barrels in the 6.5 Creedmoor and a 27" MGM heavy barrel in 22-250AI (1 in 8" twist) but i got bored so i sold them. i have no complaints about MGM.