TC Contenders

[Jeff H]

I have a love/hate thing going on with my 22Hornet.

LOVE: The rifle is accurate, easy to carry and very effective. (an oddball 37 gr. Calhoun HP bullet over a bunch of little gun at just over 2850fps is like dynamite on groundhogs and the one Coyote hit with it didn't go another step.
HATE: Loading and handling the fiddly fragile cases. I have a bunch of W/W cases and the necks fold up if you so much as look at them wrong.

I used to use it as a calling rifle for predators, but have pretty much switched to the evil black rifles now. Plenty accurate, the 223R/5.56 is effective, and follow up shots, when needed, can't be made any easier.

Man, I spent a loooong time mulling this one over, kicking it back and forth and even had compiled a complete Hornet H&R Handi Rifle (in pieces), dies, brass - the works, until I finally decided that I should just go with the 222. I load my 222 with cast only to just over 1800 fps anyway, the brass is tough, durable, big enough, but not too big, and I would gain no advantage with the Hornet in terms of squeezing into a smaller/cuter action. Mine's in a CZ 527 Carbine (once I get the barrel cut/crowned.

I'm not saying everyone should replace their Hornets with 22s, I just did it that way because I didn't need both, but wanted at least one. I COULD get a 222 Contender barrel and I'm sure it would be a dandy package, but my 527 is the one Mauserly rifle I decided to keep - gotta have at least one Mauser.

 

[L Ross]

Okay you Contender Carbine aficionados, I'm going to have to order a barrel from an after market maker. What do you think of .300 BO as a Tender carbine caliber? I just sold a Rossi carbine in 7.62x39 that the grandson of one of my shoot attendees sort of fell in love with. A few 5 gallon buckets of .223 brass around here.

 

[todd]

MGM barrels

 

[Rick H]

What do you think of .300 BO as a Tender carbine caliber?

It depends entirely on what you wish to do with it. The Blackout is a rimless case optimized for semi-auto subsonic use. The 30 Herrett is made from plentiful 30-30 brass and appears to do anything the 300 BO does with the advantage (In the Contender) of using a rimmed case.
Actually, in the carbine, I would opt for the 30-30. The 30-30 will do anything you can ask of a 30 cal. cartridge in the Contender, from mild to wild, and there is no need for making cases.

 

[richhodg66]

Dad loved Contenders and had a ton of them and spare barrels over the years. I only got one by the time he had downsized, standard octagon barrel one in .44 Magnum.

I did buy a Contender carbine in .17 HMR, but not because of caliber (useless cartridge to me). It is quite accurate and easy to shoot well. I recently gt a .22 LR barrel which is likely to get shot a lot more, but the contour is different so I need to get the forend figured out before I can shoot it.

 

[todd]

It depends entirely on what you wish to do with it. The Blackout is a rimless case optimized for semi-auto subsonic use. The 30 Herrett is made from plentiful 30-30 brass and appears to do anything the 300 BO does with the advantage (In the Contender) of using a rimmed case.
Actually, in the carbine, I would opt for the 30-30. The 30-30 will do anything you can ask of a 30 cal. cartridge in the Contender, from mild to wild, and there is no need for making cases.

he needs a 35/30-30. lol!!!!!

 

[Jeff H]

Okay you Contender Carbine aficionados, I'm going to have to order a barrel from an after market maker. What do you think of .300 BO as a Tender carbine caliber? I just sold a Rossi carbine in 7.62x39 that the grandson of one of my shoot attendees sort of fell in love with. A few 5 gallon buckets of .223 brass around here.

The 300 BLK is one cool cartridge. Mine was in a H&R Handi-Rifle and I had a ball with it - all cast. Love that little round.

I thoroughly mulled over all the pluses and minuses of each of the 30 cal candidate I chose, to identify the ONE I intended to settle upon for my ONE bottle-necked rifle cartridge, the 300 BLK and the 7.62x39 were both on the list for various good reasons.

When all is said and done - the 30/30 beats the other two, hands down, when it comes to a carbine cartridge, period. I won't go into the list of pros and cons and I won't bother to argue with anyone over it. You have enough sense to sort it out and make your own choices and compromises to suit your needs and wants and I get no commission from Winchester for selling their 30 WCF.

When I decided to go to the Contender platform, it ruled out the 7.62x39, but it was at the bottom of the list of those three anyway, so it came down to the 300 BLK and the 30/30.

There are a lot of people who will claim the 7.62x39 and 300 BLK "equal" the 30/30. The kinetic energy argument always comes up and then there's the "pointy-bullet" BS right behind it. Not all 30/30s are tube-fed, and you can put pointy bullets in a Contender if you want to. Why "BS?" because I don't intend to shoot past 200 yards with the 30/30 and flat-nosed bullets won't be much of a disadvantage at that distance.

I shoot cast only in mine, and MAYBE the 300 BLK or 7.62x39 WOULD equal the 30/30 the way I shoot it, but I have the option, if I chose to exercise it, to shoot 170 grain bullets at 2200 fps with EASE and with numerous, common powders and without excessive pressure or any other special tricks, expensive bullets or exotic powders,...

Hey, if it HAS to fit into an AR-15 magazine, it's a totally different story, but it doesn't, so the 30/30 won out in my case.

 

[RBHarter]

Why is there no 30 PPC or X39 AI ?
That would cure the special magazine issues , give it a genuine pairing to the 30-30 , and still be suited to 230/250 gr subs . You know if your into gas guns . I'm sure even steel cases would fire form mostly ok .

Of all the cartridges that have been blown straight with 45° shoulders I just don't get it .....

 

[Missionary]

I am considering a 375 / Krag. I like 38's. From RB to 275 grains it will hunt any critter I will ever see.
But a 35 Krag would be right in there also. That long neck.... Never owned a Krag I did not like loading for. I think we still have five.

 

[richhodg66]

I like the .375 bore size a lot too, and have been shooting a .38-55 a lot for the past few years. While I think a .375 Krag or .375/.303 Brit would be cool, I think I am gonna look around for a .375 Ruger and learn to load it down a bit. Seems like a guy could do .375 Winchester ballistics pretty easily and it would make a great woods deer rifle.

 

[Jeff H]

I like the .375 bore size a lot too, and have been shooting a .38-55 a lot for the past few years....

That caliber has been taunting me. I HAVE what I NEED (and then just a little) and haven't gotten it all wrung out completely, since I basically started all over again a few years ago. I've done very well moving stuff I don't need/didn't use and have done exceptionally well at avoiding that old trap of accumulating a bunch more cool stuff I don't have time for,...

BUT... a 24" .375" Contender Carbine with iron (peep) sights keeps calling to me. I think the 38-55, or a 375W loaded to 38-55 levels would be the berries, but my ducks are not all in a row on the things I have and need - and need to finish "dialing in" - loads, slings, cases, sights on a couple, etc. But I'm close.

It was a true test of my commitment to this concept of a limited personal battery to watch a 24" 28-55 Contender Carbine barrel, with sights, sell for $312 on eBay recently - and NOT bid on it. It may have been a mistake to pass on it, as an MGM barrel (even without sights) will probably cost me over $500 by the time I feel all my other stuff is up to speed such that I can afford an irresponsible "fling."

Man, that caliber - that cartridge sure calls to me though.

 

[Jeff H]

Well, I'm feeling a bit foolish right now...

I was so proud of myself for resisting the urge to buy that 38-55 barrel - which went for $312.

This morning, I was thinking about my original choice of 357 Mag barrels (18", non-tapered MGM, 1:14" twist) and, although I love it, I am still curious about a slimmer, lighter, tapered, somewhat longer 357 barrel, and went to MGM's site to price one. I can't complain one bit about the barrel I have - I'm just interested in trying a slimmer barrel and adding sights. The current barrel length and diameter are still preferable for the can I'm waiting on (so much for electronically submitted Form 4s being approved in one to three months) so, I'm not regretting this barrel at all, just thinking about another one.

Well, tapered is not even an option, and the price is an even hundred bucks more than I paid just three years ago - $475! OUCH! I didn't even bother to price D/T'ing for a front sight.

A word to the already wise; if you already have Contender stuff, hang onto it, and if you DON'T, but want to have Contender stuff, don't dink around. I got into it late and paid what I thought was more than I should have, but got what I wanted. I never expected the prices to climb that much more on something so antithetical to the popular choices of today's market.

I'm not complaining, as I picked the Contender stuff I wanted and bought it with funds from stuff I didn't/couldn't use any more. I'm glad I did that. If I never find or can afford more Contender stuff, I still can't complain. My thoughts about adding another barrel went from considering a superfluous hardware acquisition to drawing back rather quickly form a downright frivolous idea in a click of the mouse this morning.

 

[richhodg66]

Stopped in a very small LGS yesterday hadn't been in for a while, he had a Contender with a .32-20, .35 Remington and 7-30 Waters barrels for $1100. The 7-30 Barrel was about 14" long and stainless, also ported, all turn offs, the other two were probably 12" blued. Probably a good deal for someone.

 

[L Ross]

I have not updated this thread in awhile so here's what's happening with my Contender project. I have picked up a Schermeier grip and a Herrett grip for the two frames I have. I scored a 10" bull .22 barrel with a fore end. Last night I "won" an Ebay auction for a Super 14 barrel in .357 Herrett that has a Redfield base and rings on it. Still in search of a walnut Super 14 fore end.

My gun smithing buddy is coming this weekend to do some shooting. He will have his Super 14 .357 Herrett Contender as one toy and he found a Burris 7X pistol scope with target turrets on it just like the one I used to shoot silhouette with. He played with the scout rifle concept quite a few years ago and had the new Burris, and put it back in the box when he was done. He thought he knew which drawer it was in and he found it and will sell it to me.

I put the .22 barrel on the older Tender frame and experienced many misfires with it. Switched it to my other frame and it was 100% reliable. So there will be some inspection, cleaning, and other TLC this weekend to see what is amiss.

 

[Wiresguy]

I had a Contender with 7mm TCU Super 14 barrel back in the early 80's. It was fun to shoot and the RCBS 145gr worked well in it. That was a long time ago.

If a feller was looking at buying a used Contender (not carbine) today, what should he avoid / be on the lookout for?

 

[Bret4207]

I like the .375 bore size a lot too, and have been shooting a .38-55 a lot for the past few years. While I think a .375 Krag or .375/.303 Brit would be cool, I think I am gonna look around for a .375 Ruger and learn to load it down a bit. Seems like a guy could do .375 Winchester ballistics pretty easily and it would make a great woods deer rifle.

Oooooooo! A 375/303B!!! Never even thought of that! There's the answer for all those ratty SMLEs out there in closets across the nation. Used to be $25.00 rifles. Dang man, now you have me trying to remember where I saw some of those...

 

[L Ross]

Wiresguy, I can't help you on that question. Many years ago when I shot a couple of Contenders for some form of handgun silhouette we just bought them and shot them. I was the only guy shooting cast that I knew of. Heck in .22 we all shot CCI Mini-Mags. After I got run out of silhouette, and shot a deer with the .30-30 barrel, I eventually got rid of them, stupid me, now I'm learning all over again. I also now know too much about casting, sizing, loading, throats, leades, slugging, pound casts, chamber casts, twists, action spring back, locking lugs, easy open vs original, G1, G2, case forming, annealing, powder coating, and shortages for this ever to be the innocent fun this once was.

I'd say get a G1 Contender with the Easy Open action in a common as dirt caliber, (.357 magnum), stick a 4 power Leupold pistol scope on it and try to wear it out. Oh if I could only listen to myself.

 

[Rick]

After I got run out of silhouette,

Huh?

 

[Bret4207]

Huh?

Probably an interesting story...

 

[Wiresguy]

Wiresguy, I can't help you on that question. Many years ago when I shot a couple of Contenders for some form of handgun silhouette we just bought them and shot them. I was the only guy shooting cast that I knew of. Heck in .22 we all shot CCI Mini-Mags. After I got run out of silhouette, and shot a deer with the .30-30 barrel, I eventually got rid of them, stupid me, now I'm learning all over again. I also now know too much about casting, sizing, loading, throats, leades, slugging, pound casts, chamber casts, twists, action spring back, locking lugs, easy open vs original, G1, G2, case forming, annealing, powder coating, and shortages for this ever to be the innocent fun this once was.

I'd say get a G1 Contender with the Easy Open action in a common as dirt caliber, (.357 magnum), stick a 4 power Leupold pistol scope on it and try to wear it out. Oh if I could only listen to myself.

That was very helpful. Thank you!