Author Topic: Age of contender owners (Read 13850 times)

sawcarver · « **Reply #90 on:** December 22, 2011, 02:49:48 PM »

I am 29 now and I got my first contender when I was 21. It is an early 70's frame and came with .44 hot shot, 22lr, and 45/410 barrels.

I have traded off the hot shot barrel and I currently have 22lr 10" .223 14", 45/410 10", 22 mag 21", and a .444 marlin 14" Opening day this year I took a doe at 176 yards with the .444 that is my longest deer kill with the pistol, there have been a few coyotes at longer with the .223

I just got an encore, so far I have only been using it as a rifle, .50cal, 22-250, and .308 but I just got a .308 pistol barrel and grips for it.............

Jim Leheny · « **Reply #91 on:** December 26, 2011, 10:20:54 AM »

Bought my 1st G2 at age 67, second one 2 months later SS. Now enjoy a "not easy open" but it is, and barrels from 17 M2 to 45/70, all pistols, keep switching back to semi Pistols & the accuracy lessons learned have improved the SA accuracy also. enjoying them for 7 years so far. Reloading everything.
Jim

Flash · « **Reply #92 on:** December 27, 2011, 03:06:17 AM »

Gosh, I'm 55 and have already been through the T/C craze and left. There are so many guns I enjoy that I'd have to be a millionaire to keep them all. My first one was in my early thirties and one that sold me on collecting them for almost 20 years. I found a 7mmTCU with the slide safety on the hammer and the shop owner knew the ball bearing and spring were missing. The condition of sale was that he'd send it back for repair, for anyone who bought it. The price was quite reasonable at the time, $200 out the door for frame and barrel. When it was returned by T/C, it had the same serial number but it was a brand new, "Easy Open" frame with a new set of cushioned grips and they returned the silhouette Ram head grips. They even replaced the locking lugs on the barrel to work with the frame..........all for free. I thought the shop owner was going to fall off his stool when we opened the box but the paperwork was already completed and that serial number was legally mine. This sold me on T/C for quite a long time and allowed me to find some really unusual aftermarket stuff with the biggest one being a wire stock. The grip accepted the end with a spring loaded mechanism to hold the stock in place. The butt area became two parallel rods, the same size steel as the rest of the frame and it could be removed from the grip in seconds. It was obviously illegal on a anything from a Super 14 on down but boy it was cool.

rjr9603 · « **Reply #93 on:** December 27, 2011, 04:03:06 AM »

I am 31 now. I started by buying a Contender when I was 21 after looking at them in the Fox Ridge catalogs for years. I now have a several Contenders and several Encores in both pistol and rifle setups.

Yellowriver · « **Reply #94 on:** December 27, 2011, 03:11:57 PM »

I was 31 then I got my contender to keep my encore from getting lonely. My 7 year old son and 11 year old daughter love the encore with muzzy barrel and buttstock. Both shot bucks this year with it. Sure when they are a little older they will want to try the contender and the 375 win barrel.

buckeye509 · « **Reply #95 on:** December 28, 2011, 08:54:40 AM »

Got my first one in 93 and I'm 56 now. Lots of fun!

Incitatus · « **Reply #96 on:** December 30, 2011, 01:04:09 PM »

61, got my first Contender about 2 years ago.

I like archery and BP too. I think it is a precision, take your time and do it right sort of thing.

antlery · « **Reply #97 on:** December 30, 2011, 01:53:29 PM »

I am 52 and have been shooting Contenders for 30 years I guess. My first one was a .22 lr and I shot the heck out of it. My favorite now is a Contender Carbine in 30-30 Ackley Improved and it is amazing how accurate this one is. It is a factory stainless bull barrel rechambered by MGM. It is one of the finest and most interesting deer rifles I have ever had the good fortune to fool with.
Happy New Year to everyone and Good Shooting Contenders.

God bless you all.

ebonitekid767 · « **Reply #98 on:** January 01, 2012, 10:41:34 AM »

25 here!

donkey445 · « **Reply #99 on:** January 03, 2012, 08:51:31 AM »

25 years old here as well and I have aquired 4 frames and 8 barrels so far. I have been shooting contenders since I was 18.

mrmurl · « **Reply #100 on:** January 05, 2012, 04:06:01 AM »

I will soon be 67 years old and retired. (Best job I ever had, doesn't pay real well though) I bought my first Contender an octagon barrel 45/410 in the spring of 1968, still have it. I added an octagon .22, 221 Fireball, a 14" .35 Remington. I have now added another second generation frame and .223 barrel. I also have an Encore with a .223 barrel, a 22-250, a .243, a .308, and a 12 gauge barrels. Still looking for more, would like to have a G2 with some carbine barrels. Got any laying around.

reloading_rich · « **Reply #101 on:** January 11, 2012, 03:11:35 PM »

I'm 59 and bought my first Contender in 1982. It was a Super 14 chambered for 30-30 Winchester. Today I have 15 frames and over 65 barrels. Most are Contenders but I have a few Encore frames and about 10 barrels for the Encore. As somebody previously mentioned I believe it is a state of mind regarding accuracy and owning a Contender. I see youngun's at the range today just blast away and have no concern for accuracy. What I call "spray & pray". Once at the range I was going for a target change and walked past the young fella's target that sat next to me. He had the largest target I think I have ever seen and he was using every bit of it. There were bullet holes all over the place. It looked more like a shotgun pattern than a group. I casually said to him that he was getting his gun zero'd. He looked back at me and said "It is already zero'd, I'm just practicing now". He looked over at my target and his jaw dropped, he said "what are you some kind of machine?".

alan in ga · « **Reply #102 on:** January 13, 2012, 02:45:55 AM »

First was a Super 14 in .35 Remington, about 1976. It was purchased at SPORTCO here in Marietta, GA for the lowest price known to me at that time: $189. I had been reading about Bob Milek and Steve Herritt's adventures with the .357 Herrett, and from all I could tell the .35 Rem was an oversight that they must have well, overlooked, at least in the 14" barrel. A short while later Milek wrote an article about what he had come to discover might be the "best .357 Herrett", the .35 Rem....but in a bolt pistol I think. I felt justified in my choice of chamberings! I mounted a Leupold 2X on it, and the crosshairs would cover groups at 100 yards. I shot all pistol bullets at first, 158 gr Soft points with little recoil. Someone at an indoor pistol range who was a .45ACP/Colt 1911 fanatic told me I would never want to shoot the 200 grain factory loads in the Contender as it would probably rip my arm off at the shoulder. So I found a box and shot them....hardly any recoil. I say hardly any, just nothing like what I was told it would have. I believe the 44 mag Contenders, even in Super 14 form gave a sharper more uncomfortable recoil than my .35 Rem with any load!
I've gotten "into and out of" Contenders roughly 3 times in my life [Ladobe laughing here I"m sure...LOL}....it seems I can't make up my mind what I want. I tinker with threaded barrel bolt rifles mostly and delve into rebarreling with the lathes I've had [or friend's lathes]. The Contender doesn't have as much 'tinkerability' as far as barrels other than the ability to buy already made barrels. I think if T/C had offered them in UNchambered barrels I would have delved into them more as I enjoy chambering/crowning barrels.
I'd guess that I've had about 7 or 8 frames, maybe about 10 or 12 barrels.
Right now I have:
1) 23" blued/bull 17HMR barrel [very accurate!]
2) 20" Bullberry 22LR MATCH blued/bull barrel [love how even CB Longs engrave bullet when chambering!]
3) 12.5" SS 45/70 bull barrel [does not recoil as bad as I had feared at least with 300JHPs loaded. I cut the muzzle break off - don't care for MBs at all]

What I'd like? a 25/35 Win 23" Bull; a .38/.357 Mag/Max bull rifle barrel. I'm probably going to list the 12" 45/70 barrel as I've been bow hunting for the last 5 years and have pistol hunted for deer about all I care to anymore. Still would like a suppressed .35 cal rifle barrel for coyote 'suburban' nuisance animal control. I think the 30/30 Win in factory form or Ackley would be a great deer rifle in a bull barrel 23". I had one in 14" form but did not shoot it much....but I still think it is one of the best choices in carbine/rifle form for hunters. I've had several 30/30 rifles, single shot and lever, standard and Ackley,and had fun shooting .310" lead balls over miniscule power charges. The Contender with a bull barrel is a natural for an 'all round' hunting gun.

I turned 61 a few days ago. Geezer status achieved and much appreciated : )

damienph · « **Reply #103 on:** January 23, 2012, 11:13:33 AM »

I'll be 58 in less than a month. I bought my first one in 1987 (at 33) a 22LR Carbine; later added a 7-30 Waters barrel. I passed that one on to my son, he is 32. The only one that I have right now is a scoped 10" 30 Herrett. I am trying to decide between another barrel in either .22 Hornet or .222 Rem.

RustyShackleford · « **Reply #104 on:** January 25, 2012, 10:26:02 AM »

I am 60. I got my first Contender in 1975. It has a 44 mag VR bull barrel with "Hotshot" choke and a 30/30 barrel, shown below.

CHVHRAM · « **Reply #105 on:** January 30, 2012, 06:49:03 AM »

I am 53 now . Got my first contender 32 years ago . Now 2 frames and 18 barrels.

dk17hmr · « **Reply #106 on:** January 30, 2012, 07:38:26 PM »

My dad gave me my first contender for my 24th birthday, a 10" octagon 218 BEE. Now at 25 I have the 218, 20 Tactical, 7-30 waters, 444 Marlin, 6.8SPC, 375 win, 45lc, and hopefully soon I will have my 10" 25acp back from the smith.

Its worse than my AR15 collection now.

crashdummy · « **Reply #107 on:** February 20, 2012, 03:08:33 AM »

73 Earth years and still counting.
Why do they make iron sights fuzzy now days ?

OLDHandgunner · « **Reply #108 on:** February 20, 2012, 03:58:11 AM »

I've jumped over this posting for months now. Don't know why??? Old age or something.

I'm 64 years young. Bought my 1st Contender in yearly 70's. It was a .222 in 10" Octagon with 2x scope. It wasn't as accurate as I hoped it would be. And raising 4 young ones and not having money enough to buy any more barrels I did the big NO, NO. I sold it.

Jumping ahead 15yrs or so, kids grown up and out of the house I bought another T/C in 7x30 Waters, a Hunter package. And then the addiction started. 3 frames, 28ga. shotgun barrel, G-2 .50cal ML in SS, couple dozen rifle and pistol barrels from T/C, T/C Custom Shop & Bullberry.

God it's fun to be a senior.

ga41 · « **Reply #109 on:** March 03, 2012, 03:34:20 AM »

Bought my first TC at about the age of 26 back in 84 or so, Was a 14" 357 Herrett so I could easily take it back and forth from where

Mopar512 · « **Reply #110 on:** March 03, 2012, 04:46:41 AM »

59, been shooting them for 15 years.

Roger

Good shot! · « **Reply #111 on:** March 05, 2012, 03:58:54 PM »

10 inch 357, iron slights, when I was 30. Picked up many barrels since. Started using scopes at 40. Now at 63 looking to get telescope mounted.

jmohme · « **Reply #112 on:** March 11, 2012, 04:00:43 PM »

I'm in my 50's now, but have wanted a Contender since I first saw one in a 222 back in the mid 70's.
I had never taken the plunge though until this year.
We had lost our house and everything in it (including my guns) in the Texas wildfires last year. I had begun replacing some of the lost guns and once again got the Contender urge, but this time followed through and picked up a very nice old style easy open frame with three barrels. 22lr, 32 H&R mag, & an .256 Win. I also found a 14 inch .223 that I have been having a great time with.
It has been well worth the wait!

Jerry

Three44s · « **Reply #113 on:** March 12, 2012, 10:42:10 AM »

In the spring of 2011 and at the "ripe age" of 54 3/4, I bought my first frame. A contender pre-easy open ......... 158,000 range.

It came with two barrels for me to try, a super 14 in .30-30 and a 10 bull in .45/410 internal chocked. It had belonged to a long time friend who had just passed away and his son offered the frame for 200 ......... I gave it a whirl.

I eventually traded for the original barrels, I figured "Sarge" would have liked me keeping them together!!

But I am still just a "one frame guy" thus far ........... but I can't say the same about barrels...

My stack consists of:

10" bull .22 wmr
10" oct. .222 rem
14" super .223
21" tapered .223
14" super 7mm TCU
14" super .30-30 win
14" super .357 Herett
10" bull .45LC/410

............ and that's just in a year ..........

(I think I need meds!!!) ............... LOL!!

Best regards

Three 44s

Curtis · « **Reply #114 on:** March 12, 2012, 12:38:20 PM »

Quote

(I think I need meds!!!) ............... LOL!!

Save the money on the meds, you'll need it for more barrels!!!

Curtis

Ken Yerian · « **Reply #115 on:** March 22, 2012, 05:03:40 PM »

I've had many different contenders over the years since my first one in the mid 70's which was a 22 hornet. Now I'm down to one frame and three barrels. i do a lot of rabbit hunting with beagles and I cary my contender with a 45/410 barrel quite often. i still shoot my 7TCU barrel a lot also. it will really roll a coyote. I also have a 22 mag barrel that I carry squirrel hunting. I have also hunted deer with the 45/410 barrel but have been unsuccessful with it so far. I'm 59 , reload, cast bullets and enjoy all aspects of hunting with a single shot.

Ken Yerian · « **Reply #116 on:** March 22, 2012, 05:07:29 PM »

oops, I forgot that I still have my 22 hornet also.

Gunshy429 · « **Reply #117 on:** April 06, 2012, 04:10:51 AM »

Ok, Ok, I'm over 60 and collected my first "Super 14" (44 MAG) in '76. Brought home a good sized doe in North Dakota and a small buck in Alabama with open sights, when the eyes were sharp. I carried a 38 Special while on duty with the USAF. Still have the Super 14 (though it wears a 4x scope now), USAF went to M-92 and the "spray and pary" concept.

Oh and let me have this chance to publically say thanks to "DAN".
A few weeks ago I was hunting a part for my Contender and endured way too many web sites, manufactures' home pages and the "well practiced" run around from T/C. Apparently T/C doesn't like their first generation Contenders when it comes to replacement parts. I discovered Greybeard Outdoors, joined in thinking one-last-try and if I didn't find anything I would at least have a shinny 22 caliber tent peg. Dan simply asked me for my address and a bolt appeared. It fit quite nicely and I have a barrel back in service. By the way, my grandson is absolutely fascinated with the meeting of a fast 40 gr VMAX and a water bottle.
Again heartfelt thanks to Dan. The guy who came through when no one else was willing to help out.

Trapdoor33 · « **Reply #118 on:** May 30, 2012, 07:55:01 AM »

This post is so true. I was alate bloomer on Contenders I didn't get started 47 yrs old . I am now 62 yrs so for the last 15 yrs loving contenders I have 25 different barrels in about 17 different calibers. When they first came on the scene I turned my nose up at them and did not think how wrong I would be.
Trapdoor

singleVI · « **Reply #119 on:** July 06, 2012, 08:27:32 AM »

Im 23 and i just ordered a second barrel for mine. Ill have two MGM barrels. 14" .223 and a 9" .357 mag. I started helping my dad handload when i was maybe 12. I have my own full setup now, except for a powder measure, which im in the market for. Anybody know of a decently priced/accurate model?