New to me Contender Carbine (original) and a few ???s

[Anonym]

Well, after shooting an Encore 209x50 for several years, I finally purchased a Contender.  I had found an original SS Contender Carbine that a guy wanted to get rid of pretty cheap, so I took the plunge.  I don't think he was too familiar with it since he told me he had never seen one engraved on the side and thought it was custom.  Anyway, I finally went to pick it up.



Seller told me the 21" barrel was a 30-30 and the 16" barrel was a 22 Long.  I went to pick it up this evening and was surprised when he pulled out some 22 ammo to go with it and it was 22WMR!  I took a look and found that the 16" barrel was indeed a 22WMR from the Custom Shop!  Not exactly sure what makes it different, but it does have a nice target crown.  

For the price I paid, I'm extremely satisfied.  The 30-30 barrel has a great bore with a few handling marks on the exterior.  The 22mag barrel looks fantastic!  The only problem I have is that the 22mag barrel is a bull and won't fit the standard forend.  Guess I'm going to have to make another investment...  

[Hopalong7]

     The only difference between your Custom Shop barrel and a factory S-16 22WMR(which, BTW, is no longer made)is the contour....yours is a bull and the S-16 had the same contour as your 21" 30-30.  If you want to use the same forend for both you can relieve a small amount of material from the front half of the barrel channel and then use a spacer around the front forend screw boss when using the 30-30 barrel.  A lot of us do this anyway just to free float the forend.
Walt

[Anonym]

Walt,

Excellent information!  I was wondering what made it "custom".  I'm actually going to pick up a G2 forend and open up my options of barrels for this set-up.

I managed to shoot it a bit and was really impressed with the rifle.  She's extremely light and easy to handle, but the recoil on the 30-30 was nothing.  There's a bit of muzzle jump with the shorter barrel, but the accuracy was great.  

I put on the 22mag barrel with no forend just to get a few rounds off and it was a hoot!  It's pretty loud with that short barrel, but there's no recoil and accuracy was excellent.

I can't wait to put a few rounds down range from a benched position to see how well she holds.  I think my next barrel is going to be a carbine length .223.

Here's my next question.  In all honesty, what's your preference between the old carbine length barrels and the new G2 barrels?  I like the shorty 21" tapered barrel of the 30-30, but I also like a little more length and a heavier profile for precision shooting.  Anybody have any opinions as to which would be the better barrel, or does it matter?

Justin

[3leggedturtle]

I have 24"tapered 38 Spl barrel and 24" 256WM bull bbl they both handle nice. Either of them will do 1 inch at 100 yards. Have 21" 223AI gtapered its a one holer a 100 if  i  can hold it.  Also have 18" bull 45ACP and 16" Taperd 9mm they al are a pleasure to carry but the 38 and 45 are my favorite to carry thru the woods

[Anonym]

I think I'm leaning more towards the 23" bull.  If I need a quick handling brush gun, I can stick w/ the 30-30, and if I need a shorty in smaller caliber, I'll slap on the 22mag.  This might give me a little more velocity, and a little more stability for doing some longer range plinking but still light enough for field work.

Thanks everyone for the comments and information!  Anyone have any other caliber recommendations for this fun little package?  Here in Indiana, rifles for deer hunting are limited to "pistol" calibers.  Maybe I'll start saving up for a nice pistol barrel and grip set next...

Justin

[Curtis]

*small thread hi-jack.  3leggedturtle, what powder are you using for your 256WM?

Thanks,
Curtis

[3leggedturtle]

*small thread hi-jack.  3leggedturtle, what powder are you using for your 256WM?

Thanks,
Curtis

  Am using H335, getting 2350FPS with 86 gr Rem FP.  This is a chronoe'd  average.  Bullet expands very easily;  at 170 yards they turn themselves inside out when they hit dirt, and they completely blow apart sealed cans of old veggies into a fine mist   If i was in Indiana I would get a 18" to 20" 357 Mag barrel.  Tapered if you want a light handy rifle. 

[woodchukhntr]

Anonym,

That's a nice setup you bought.

I was out with my 16-1/4" .35 Remington barrel today.  I love it because it is so light and easy to handle.  My 16-1/4" .223 barrel makes a good walking rifle in the summer.  My other barrels are 23"  .17 HMR, .22 Hornet, .204 Ruger a .50 ML barrel and a 10" .44 Mag.  Now I need a 16-1/4" .44.

[Anonym]

Thanks!  I'm really enjoying it and can't wait to pick up a 223 barrel for mine.  Now a 16.25" .44 mag barrel... if you find more than one, let me know!

[Hopalong7]

     I much prefer the 21" tapered barrel to the new 23" G-2 barrel.  Now to be fair, i've only tried one 23" barrel and that was a 17Mach II.  It was muzzle heavy to me but, of course the little 17 has very little hole and a lot of metal. It is due to be cut and recrowned at 'bout 20", maybe a little less.
    Unfortunately, since they aren't made anymore, the 21" and 16.25" barrels have become a little rare and pricey.
    Anonym, My favorite spring gobbler weapon is my 16.25" 22WMR w/ rifle scope, but, pistol grip.  I sit up against the base of a big white oak and pull the pistol grip against my chest to shoot.
    woodchukhntr,  Your old 45-70 barrel is now 18" and is in pistol configuration....I Love it.
Walt

[3leggedturtle]

 Anonym,  nice looking bbls   BTW    Withthe 22 mag you aint giving up nothing in velocity  There was only 175 fps difference tween 21" and 10" bareels with Hndy 30 gr loads .  The Super-X 40 JHP's were about 100fps difference,  If you want a nice small game round the 45gr dynapoint shoots to POA up 75 yards as the Super-X  ..  I waited until '06 to get 22mag but it is by far my favorite round to shoot and  plink with.   Have 3 of 'em  and just passed on a Handi  chambered in one.  If i found a stainlees barrel like yours i would jump on it.   Good shooting   and good luck with the addiction cause 3 bbls are too many and 12 is just getting started 

[Anonym]

Well, I decided to go ahead and place an order for a new 23" heavy SS .223 for this puppy and take advantage of TCs $50 rebate program, which more than paid for the new forearm that I needed for the 22mag barrel anyway!

Yea, I avoided the addiction with my Encore, but this Contender is just too much to resist...