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contender G2

twin60stwin60s Member Posts: 156 ✭✭✭
edited December 2008 in Ask the Experts
would you buy one or not? do the original contender barrels interchange? thx
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Comments

  • MMOMEQ-55MMOMEQ-55 Member Posts: 13,134
    edited November -1
    They are great little guns. I have a Contender and 2 Encores. The Contender barrels will fit the G2 frame along with the old Contender frame but not the Encore frame. The G2 will handlelow pressure rounds while the Encore will handle anything you put on it. Some of the best Barrels for both frame styles come from Bullberry Barrels. They make barrels in any caliber you are brave enough to shoot. I have a 14" 375JDJ barrel that kicks like a mule but will shoot cloverleafs at 100 yards. I have a 223 barrel, 44mag barrel, 380ACP barrel, all 14" and a 8" 357 mag barrel. All are Bullberry Barrels except the 44 mag is an factory barrel. That 380 is so accurate it amazes me. Bullberry had one for sale that someone had ordered but never picked up. It was originally 18" and I had it cut down to the 14". I like the 14" length best. I would have never ordered a barrel in 380ACP but it was a good deal and now that I have it I love it for plinking.

    My next purchase will be a rifle stock and forearm along with a 26" 300H&H mag barrel. I will eventually get a 204 Ruger barrel, 2506 barrel, 7mm08 barrel.
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  • sandwarriorsandwarrior Member Posts: 5,453 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    twin60's,

    Yes, the contender barrels and corresponding forearms interchange with the G2. The grips do not.

    A resounding yes on buying one. I own one in G2 and have both a 7mm TCU and .222 barrel for it. The TCU has shot consistently, 3-6" groups @ 300 yds. on calm days. Wind drift in a 10 mph wind is just over 12" so it makes it a little more difficult to call it. the little .222 is great for quick sniping jack rabbits and other small varmints. It could be a good game getter except then I would need to put a scope on it(the .222, 7mm has scope).

    If you were starting out new with the TC's I would get an Encore as a pistol. You can then get any loading you want and can configure back and forth between rifle and pistol. The G2/contender will only take low pressure or low volume rounds. The Encore takes high pressure and high volume rounds.

    Edit: you may already know this but Cont/G2 and Encore barrels/forearms DON'T interchange.

    EDIT II: Twin60's that's more like schwing-a-ding-ding-dang-dong!![:D][:D] I count 21(?) different barrels there surekill?
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  • gskyhawkgskyhawk Member Posts: 4,773
    edited November -1
    i have 1 G2 frame and 2 of the older contender frames , i purchased the G2 as a 45 cal muzzle loader and keep it as a carbine by using other carbine lenght barrels on it in 223 , 30-30 , 7x30 Waters and 375 Winchester , the other 2 frames get switched back and worth between pistol length barrels in 22match , 357mag , 357 max , 7mmtcu , 44 mag and 223

    i've never had any problems switching barrels from one frame to a different one whether its the newer G2 or the older barrels

    one thing i really like about the G2 is that you can let the hammer down from the cocked postion if you don't take the shot and not have to reopen the action to reset the sear as you do with the older frames

    myself i find the contender to be much more fun than the Encore which i also have one of , sure the Encore takes the bigger stuff but the contenders get more used, just casue they're more fun and cheaper to shoot
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  • dfletcherdfletcher Member Posts: 8,178 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I'll agree with almost all of the above, I have 3 frames and about 20 barrels from 223 to 45/70 - mostly handgun barrels. There are alot of custom barrel makers and I use Match Grade Machine mostly.
    I think the Encore is the better choice as it will handle higher pressure rifle cartridges - really shines in the 6 to 7mm calibers such as 243, 25.06, 260 Rem & 7-08. Not much recoil either with these high velocity but light bullet calibers.

    If you do get a Contender, get the new G2 as opposed to buying a used older model. The G2 is more convenient to use - easier open and you can cock & lower the hammer without opening the action. Although it takes lower pressure cartridges, the Contender is no slouch. I also have a 375 JDJ (14" bbl, no brake) and it is powerful and accurate.

    Regarding switching back and forth between handgun and rifle configuration on a handgun frame. Once a firearm has been configured as a rifle, even if the frame was manufactured as a handgun, it can not be legally reconfigured as a handgun according to ATF. This applies to T/C. Before the responses start flying, some background.

    Yes, T/C won a SCOTUS case in 1992 regarding a certain number of kits they sold that included a frame and other parts which when assembled, could be configured as a legal handgun or a not so legal SBR. The court ruled in T/C's favor in part because although some configurations were not legal, the handgun configuration was legal.

    ATF (being a bit of sore losers) did then and continues to interpret this ruling as to mean that only those frames sold in the original kitsmay be configured and reconfigured from handgun to rifle back to handgun status. Other T/C frames not part of those original kits are not afforded the same status.

    This is the legal equivilent of Heller winning his SCOTUS case and being the only person in DC affected and seems absurd on its face, but that's the current position of ATF. See page 3 of the attached thread for the 2007 ATF letter which states their position:
    http://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/showthread.php?t=124598&highlight=reconfigure+encore&page=3

    Obviously the ease with which a T/C can be reconfigured has outpaced the law, but ATF makes no distiction based on ease or convenience of reconfiguration.

    I'd bet there are literally thousands of Encore rifle frames configured as handguns and more instances of reconfiguration from handgun to rifle and back. It doesn't appear ATF is overly interested in single shot firearms, but lack of interest doesn't make it legal nor does it mean a new and less friendly ATF would continue this lack of interest. I am not certain if constructive possession applies to an SBR, but the safe bet, if you have handgun and rifle length barrels, is to have a handgun and rifle frame.
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  • surekillsurekill Member Posts: 1,926 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by twin60s
    would you buy one or not? do the original contender barrels interchange? thx

    Yes I'd buy one or more [:D].......and Yes they do.

    Encores0002.jpg
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  • twin60stwin60s Member Posts: 156 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    schwing[:D]
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  • dfletcherdfletcher Member Posts: 8,178 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by surekill
    quote:Originally posted by twin60s
    would you buy one or not? do the original contender barrels interchange? thx

    Yes I'd buy one or more [:D].......and Yes they do.

    Encores0002.jpg



    I't not an addiction - I'll bet you could quit any time you want. BTW, my eyes went cross ways when I got to about barrel 20 in your collection. Very nice.
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