Just bought my first Contender!

[waco]

I just bought a used Contender off Gunbroker. It came with two 10" barrels. .45 Colt and .30-30
I'm excited to get this and try it out. I've never shot one before. Both barrels wear open sights. I have an RCBS SAA 270 mold and a Lyman 311041. Feel free to share any loads you have had good luck with.
Im already looking at other barrels and not earning any points with the wife. :)
i remember my dad and uncle both having Contenders when I was a kid back in the late 70's early 80's. They are both gone now but this will be great for bringing back childhood memories.
I'm up for any tips or advice from you guys who own Contenders, especially ones in these calibers.
How hot can I run the .45 Colt loads? What is the recoil like with full power .30-30 loads?
thanks for the input.
Waco.

[Jupiter7]

As top published loads in the 45colt are only around 30k PSI, they are safe, recoil can be brisk at the top end. 30-30 will do better in a 10" barrel with faster powders like 2400. Recoil is negligible, kinda like warm 357's.

here's a good link to loading the 45-270SAA boolit:

http://www.riflemagazine.com/magazine/PDF/HL%20246partial.pdf

[waco]

Thanks for the link!

[LUCKYDAWG13]

See if your 45 will also take a 410 a lot of them did and don't shoot
that good lot of bullet jump

[jeepyj]

See if your 45 will also take a 410 a lot of them did and don't shoot
that good lot of bullet jump
Plus might want to make sure here isn't a choke in it. My 223 barrel is the most fun followed by 357mag. I use the 357 most because I cast a 358156GC and it groups extremely well. I was lucky and obtained 5 different barrels on a deal with mine. I still have yet to develop loads for two of the barrels. One is a 44mag the other is 45 / 410 with two different chokes. Best of luck there very addictive.
jeepyj

[waco]

The 45 barrel is just labeled 45. Not 45/410 according to the seller.

[7br]

Iffn you get a chance, a .22 hornet barrel is a hoot.

[waco]

Iffn you get a chance, a .22 hornet barrel is a hoot.

I was thinking K hornet. :)

[RickinTN]

Not in a contender but in a rifle I've been having good luck with 15.4 grains of 2400 with a 178 grain cast bullet. Probably be worth a try with your 311041.
Good Luck and enjoy it,
Rick

[Moonie]

I had a 'tender in 7-30 Waters, was the first firearm I purchased for myself at age 21, 25 years ago. It has been gone for many years now but I did add a 357max barrel to it. A few weeks ago at a gun show I had that nostalgic feeling and ended up bringing home an Encore in 270 Winchester, 15"... Yea, been looking at barrels too lol

[shoot-n-lead]

Killed my first handgun deer about 30yrs ago, with a 44mag Contender. I have a couple of frames and a pile of barrels and eventually sold them all off except for the original frame, the original 44 barrel and a 22 barrel. Don't shoot it much any more as I have long since taken the challenge of open sighted single actions to heart and mostly concentrate on them. But, the Contender is a good platform...'cept that 10" 44mag with stout loads eats me up...much easier on me in the Bisley.

[Garyshome]

Congrads!

[ratboy]

I was thinking K hornet. :)

and so it begins.
it starts with "that looks like a fun one"
then it will be "well, i already have the dies....."
next you will wonder where all these barrels came from and why your lead supply is running low.
proceed with caution.;)

[LUCKYDAWG13]

The 45 barrel is just labeled 45. Not 45/410 according to the seller.

the one that i had was too. the seller also told me it was just a 45 but after i got the barrel and looked down the barrel
you could see that it was reamed out for a 410. that was a deal beaker for me and sent barrel back.
the 45 only barrels are hard to find i hope you lucked out and got one

[44man]

The most accurate boolit in my 30-30 Tender was the RCBS 308-165 SIL. I used 4759 but forget the load. It was accurate enough to hit pennies at 100 with a scope from bags.
Starting with paper on a 13" diameter piece of firewood log, the boolits all went through the wood at 100. I though I was going to catch my lead---NOT.
Some boolits went halfway, turned and came out the top. Amazing thing to see.

[white eagle]

I have had a few over the years a 7mm tcu,7-30 Waters and a 300 Savage
you will find the fun seems to be as limitless as the barrel selection
have a good one

[44man]

Friend has a 7 TCU and it is pop can accurate at 200, open sights, Creedmore.
The only thing I did not like was the trigger guard with my fingers so I never went to a larger caliber then the 30-30.
7-30 Waters is almost the same as the 7R, 30-30 case necked. I have the 7R Wichita and it is good for 1" at 200 meters, both are great calibers. I killed deer with the 7R, 10" barrel.
I believe the 7R was first before the Waters.
Too bad the lever gun in Waters has gone away. Old "NEED MORE POWER" thing.
300 Savage sounds interesting but I would stay away from something like the 45-70.

[waco]

.45-70 sounds brutal in a contender. 44Mag and 22 K Hornet sound fun though. I'm sure I'll be shopping soon. I'll cross my fingers about the 45 Colt barrel......

[44man]

The Tender is a great gun and only my big hands and knuckles limit the recoil I can handle. I get too close to steel!
.44 would be fine too. You will enjoy the gun.
I can't shoot a Bisley either, trashes my knuckle. Need a filler behind the guard.

[waco]

I'm looking forward to getting it. I'll try to load up some of the 311041's this weekend. I'll try 2400 and 4759.

[44man]

Let us know, I loved mine but always had to sell to buy some other gun. Still the same under SS.

[MT Gianni]

I like the 165 gr Ranch dog in my 30-30 tender. Mine is a 14" bbl.

[waco]

I'm not sure how well I'll be able to shoot the .30-30 with open sites. I might have to look into getting a scope for that one.

[tommag]

Just for grins, that 10" 30-30 is too short to make use of rifle powders, but a published load of 335 at dusk makes a really cool looking fireball.
Faster powders, like 2400 work better in that short bbl.

[waco]

How do you tell a G1 contender from a G2?

[tommag]

I don't know, but if someone here doesn't help you, you might try specialty pistols http://specialtypistols.infopop.cc/eve/forums

[LUCKYDAWG13]

on a Contender you need to open the action and close it to cock the hammer back on a G2 you do not if you decide not to take a shot and let the hammer down with you thumb with
a Contender you will have to open the action up close it then cock the hammer back to shoot on a G2 you do not

[pkie44]

How do you tell a G1 contender from a G2?
G2 looks like a miniature Encore.

[waco]

Good to know. Thank you guys.

[Tar Heel]

Here is a G1 Frame

116893


Here is a G2 Frame

116894

The Legacy barrels will fit onto the G1 or G2 frames and the G2 barrels on the G1 frames. None of the "Contender" G1 or G2 barrels work on the "Encore". That's a whole different animal.

Sell you house now. You will need the money for all the barrels!

[waco]

Very nice! Thanks!

[waco]

I had some Lyman 311041 cast up with a 20bhn alloy. I sized them to .311" and lubed with BAC. I plan on loading some with 2400 and some with 4759. I'll report back after I get a chance to test them. It will be a couple weeks I'm sure.

[5Shot]

I always wanted one in 45-70...must be the sadomasochistic side of me...

[waco]

Getting ready!

think I'll try a mid charge of SR4759 first.

[John Allen]

Contenders are an incredible addiction. I am always looking for barrels I do not have.

[waco]

Contenders are an incredible addiction. I am always looking for barrels I do not have.

Well, I can't wait to join ya!!!!

[waco]

I always wanted one in 45-70...must be the sadomasochistic side of me...

It does sound fun! Light loads of coarse!

[waco]

I'm ready to try it out!!!

[LUCKYDAWG13]

there is a reloading manual just for contenders http://www.midwayusa.com/product/672709/loadbooks-usa-thompson-center-contender-volume-2-reloading-manual-calibers-30-m1-carbine-to-45-70-government

[pmer]

I usually always had a contender but am down to one barrel. A 18" inch 17 mach IV with carbine wood for it. It has quite a few notches on it from prairie dogs to coyote. It has a bipod and a 6.5 x 20 Nikon with a 4'' sun shade, the scope looks pretty big on it LOL.

I catch myself dreaming about a 38-40 rifle barrel with a peep sight sometimes.

[ubetcha]

The most accurate boolit in my 30-30 Tender was the RCBS 308-165 SIL. I used 4759 but forget the load. It was accurate enough to hit pennies at 100 with a scope from bags.
Starting with paper on a 13" diameter piece of firewood log, the boolits all went through the wood at 100. I though I was going to catch my lead---NOT.
Some boolits went halfway, turned and came out the top. Amazing thing to see.
+1 for the RCBS 165sil. I water drop mine of WW and size to .310 and have a 14" bbl. My current load is 18gr SR4759. But now that 4759 is going away, I have to come up with something else. I'm going to try R-7. I use mine for IHMSA sil. Going to the last match for the year today in fact, but won' be using the 30-30. I think the scope pooped out because the last time I shot it, I thought I was using a shot gun. My new addition is a G2 with a 357mag bbl rechambered to 357 max by Mike Bellm. What a pleasure to shoot. Back in the early days of IHMSA they used 10gr of Unique under the 31141 in the 30-30 with accuracy to knock down 200m rams. I have not tried that load yet

[44man]

Maybe enough calls will change Hodgdon. I just got 16# of 4759 from Midsouth.

[waco]

I just bought 16 pounds of it recently myself.

[waco]

Ready for some 45 Colt loads. Where to start? RCBS 45-270-SAA
sized and lubed, 277gr.

[waco]

117043

[waco]

19gr. of 2400 to start.

[41mag]

Well in the 45 Colt loads I can tell you that around 13grs of HS-6 with that boolit rocks out of my 7." Redhawk, accurate to much further than I am with it. Also AA-9 works well with it too. You should have no issues with the Tier I or II loads in that link previously posted.

And yes picking up barrels for a Contender is only slightly less addictive than picking up a new mold....
Now then don't that make you feel MUCH better.:bigsmyl2:

I have a couple of them in 10" .357's, one in 7x30, a .223 AI and 30-30 AI and a 44 all in 14". Of them all I think the .223 AI is my favorite, but they all will drive tacks.

If your looking to mount a scope, you might look for a steel Weaver type base, or possibly a steel quick release mount. Depending on the recoil that is. I like the Weaver type rail base and have several barrels set up with them. Once I mounted the scope on one, it makes swapping it around pretty quick and easy. Bases are MUCH cheaper than optics....

[Lonegun1894]

Just make sure you leave the occasional barrel for the rest of us to find.

[LUCKYDAWG13]

well did you get you new toy yet

[waco]

well did you get you new toy yet

I think it should be here Monday or so. It was a gunbroker purchase.

[mtgrs737]

I have had a 14" 30-30 barreled contender for 35 years now but have always shot jacketed out of it. I used 130 hornady bullets as the 150 gr. bullets produced stinging recoil with the rubber backed stock grip. Then I installed a Pachmayr gripper type grip on it and it made a huge difference in the felt recoil. I recommend you look into one for your contender.

[waco]

I have had a 14" 30-30 barreled contender for 35 years now but have always shot jacketed out of it. I used 130 hornady bullets as the 150 gr. bullets produced stinging recoil with the rubber backed stock grip. Then I installed a Pachmayr gripper type grip on it and it made a huge difference in the felt recoil. I recommend you look into one for your contender.

Yes sir. Will do.

[LUCKYDAWG13]

got it yet lets see some picks hows it shoot for you

[rexherring]

My old Contender had the 10 inch thin octagon and shot well. Got a nice small mule deer buck at 70 yds with a 125 gr HP loaded with 5744. The .223 14 inch bull with scope was a tack driver out to 200 yds and claimed many prairie dogs. Fun guns.

[waco]

Still waiting.....

[waco]

I'll be able to pick it up Tuesday!