45/70

[alan in ga]

Who's playing with their 45/70 barrel Contender? I've got my 12 1/2" barrel G2 here and only shot a few test loads w/300 gr JHPs out of it.
I enjoy paper patching lead bullets and also like the Speer 250 SWC swaged factory bullets patched for this bore size. It's a great light bullet and I've punch a large hole in a 135 lb 8pt buck with it out of a NEF Handi Rifle in 45/70.
Now to play with this bullet in the Contender G2.
Just for the record, I've sold all my Handi rifles. No reason to play with them anymore since I've decided the Contender is a bit better. I had probably about 15 Handi rifles! Great little guns, just got all the enjoyment I could out of them have gone/come back to Contenders.
Wtih the news about T/C being 'moved', it might not be a long time before the barrel choices are realy limited!
Hope MTM and other after market barrel makers stay in business for T/Cs!

Picture: The expanded bullet was recovered from a [approx] 135 lb buck. Entered rear of ribcage as deer was quartering away from me at about 35 yards. Travelled thru chest lungs/ribs, exited chest and entered left front leg where it penetrated bone and was found as a 'lump' under the skin of same leg. Works for me!

[Ladobe]

Alan,
IMO Contender barrel choices will remain as they are now easily as long as you are still alive pard, and well beyond.   There are millions of them out there, and for well over 200 cartridges to choose from.    You may have to shoo the moths out of that tight coin purse of yours and buy some of them custom to get what you want, but both used and new barrels will still be out there by the train loads to pick from.   Even if the end result of the TC breakup is as bad as bad gets to where new "factory" barrels are dropped, the custom barrel makers are not going anywhere and more new folks will jump on that bandwagon.   In fact their business will increase substantially if only the used and custom markets remain.    Frames?   Even if new frames stop being produced the TC's will live on, and if anything go way up in value.   The frames have already proved they can live on indefinately even with constant use, so folks are always going to be in the market for barrels for them.
Start counting your pennies old friend. 

Hope MTM and other after market barrel makers stay in business for T/Cs!

As far as I know Mary Tyler Moore does not make TC barrels.   

Larry

[alan in ga]

Ha, yeah, meant MGM barrels.
I totally agree about factory vs. Shilen based or other quality based barrels. I've sold several factory barrels in the past couple months, a 22LR 10" bull, a 30/30 reamed to Ackley Improved, and a .357 Herrett barrel w/dies. Might sell off either the 45/70 or .357 Maximum too depending on which shoots better.
I am tending to think I want a .357 Maximum or Magnum in a bull barrel of rifle length. I'd love to have it with a can and use subsonic ammo [or factory 38 Spl] ammo for coyotes that are increasing in numbers around here. The cost of the can and another $200 Fed permit is what stops me so far!
I've been one to preach about the benefits of aftermarket [Shilen/Lilja/Pac Nor] barrels for my bolt rifles, just have not listened to my own preaching when it comes to Contenders. I like the rifle barrels for G2s. I've been a deer hunter since 1967 and enjoyed rifles for that ever since. However the last 4 years I've been hunting in my own county that is spotted with subdivisions and is a "archery only" county. I still enjoy tinkering with contenders though and occasionally get to shoot problem coyotes for nearby cattle owners and home owners with pets that get harrassed by coyotes.
After I get rid of another 'factory barrel' or two I may order up an MGM or Bullberry for serious accuracy.

[Ladobe]

Metro Goldwyn Mayer doesn't make Contender barrels either pard.     
I get it... you must be thinking of the VVCG boys, or as I used to call them the very, very careless (made) guns boys.   

I'm sure you know that at fairly long ranges a PCP will get the job done on coyotes just fine.  So will that last replacemnt barrel you got from TC.   Neither needs a can unless you're shooting where you shouldn't be.

By far the majority of factory barrels from TC have been very acceptable shooters, shooting better than many folks can.   Premium barrel blanks do make a difference though as you know, a huge difference if the ranges get long to very long and the targets small.   Even so they are more than a lot of folks need for the shooting they do, so might not be a necessary investment for them.   Being a very serious predator and long range varmint hunter pretty much all of my life, and doing ADC for land owners nearly that long, custom barrels were tools I considered necessary.   My favorites always were SSK and Bullberry (Shilen and Wilson) for the TC's, I tried some others, but always went back to those two; and mostly Douglas, Lija, Hart  and Kreiger for the rifles and bolt specialty handguns.