NWShooter69
New member
Good or bad, looking for advice before I buy one. Looking at the 7-30 Waters.Anything to look for or avoid?
Tell me the good and the bad about Contenders......
- Thread starter NWShooter69
- Start date
I have a couple frames and maybe 8 barrels and the 7/30 Waters is one of my favorites in a 14" barrel also agree with first post can be very addicting ,
I personally like the old style better than the G2 I think they have better triggers and they are adjustable they also still take the same barrels so for me I would take a user adjustable trigger over the G2 BTW their may not be as many barrels for the Contender as for the encore but there are barrels avalible that will take from pdogs to Elk, 17M2 to 375JDJ
I personally like the old style better than the G2 I think they have better triggers and they are adjustable they also still take the same barrels so for me I would take a user adjustable trigger over the G2 BTW their may not be as many barrels for the Contender as for the encore but there are barrels avalible that will take from pdogs to Elk, 17M2 to 375JDJ
ARCOREY
New member
Much better trigger than the Encores and user adjustable. Stock and grip options are getting tougher since they have taken a back seat to the Encore and G2 in production. Some base and ring combos are hard to find, but still out there. I had a 7-30 hunter barrel with the brake. Hated the break, it was an ear splitting, hair parting, flame thrower, so I traded it off
. Still have the 30-30 super 14" barrel and a 10" 22LR bull. Also have a second frame with cross bolt selector on the hammer instead of the selector switch and a 21" 22LR tapered and a custom shops 21" 223rem no taper bull and a thumbhole stock and benchrest forearm. They can be addictive. Best thing I did was to have a machinist buddy make me extra hanger bars for each barrel so I didn't have to remove them during barrel swaps. The hanger bar for the forearm and adjustable trigger are what make them better than the newer T/C's in my opinion. I put the Pachmayer grip and forearm on my pistol and like it much better than the factory grips.
Some gun porn pictures
10" 22LR with T/C rail mount 2.5x scope, will bust eggs at 100yds.
30-30 win shooting 130gr. Speer Spitzer HP's wearing Burris 2x-7x scope in Leupold offset dovetail rings
21" T/C custom shops 223rem matte finish bull barrel no taper. Custom shops thumbhole stock and benchrest forearm.
Good luck with your Contender pursuit
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Some gun porn pictures
10" 22LR with T/C rail mount 2.5x scope, will bust eggs at 100yds.
30-30 win shooting 130gr. Speer Spitzer HP's wearing Burris 2x-7x scope in Leupold offset dovetail rings
21" T/C custom shops 223rem matte finish bull barrel no taper. Custom shops thumbhole stock and benchrest forearm.
Good luck with your Contender pursuit
I hear the Contender is being phased out in favor of the Encore?? I don't see me ever get rid of my stuff - have G1 and G2 versions. Encore is heavier, but can be had in larger calibers, but I didn't get mine to slay large critters at long distances. My 6.5 TCU should do about anything this body can make a pistol do.
The Famous Grouse
New member
I'm assuming you're referring to the Contender in a handgun configuration.
I have one in 7-30 Waters, Super 14 barrel.
Pros:
- Excellent performance and accuracy in the lightweight Contender frame.
- If you can handload--and you'd probably better be able to with the Waters- you can geta wide range of bullets.
- Terminal performance is excellent. Last fall, I knocked a buck over like he was a steel target. He never took an additional step. 130 grain Nosler.
Cons:
WARNING: Adding a hammer extension creates huge issues in cold weather. This is a well-known issue among cold weather Contender users. Everyone knew but me. The hammer extension combined with the fact that a spring is weaker in cold weather due to metal contraction, slows the hammer down just enough that it often won't touch off the primer.
This HAS happened to me and cost me a nice buck AND a nice doe before the Contentder community clued me in on what I was doing wrong. Click! Click! S#$%! You have been warned, do not add hammer extensions for cold weather use.
- Avoid the muzzle brake at all costs. Nasty, nasty business.
- The hammer can be problematic on a scoped handgun if you hunt in cold weather with gloves.
- As with all scoped handguns with heavy recoil, you must take the usual steps to make sure your scope doesn't come loose. Loctite blue on all threads and heads, rubber cement, and then you must monitor constantly so you know WHEN something starts to come loose. Don't forget, your base must also be extra secured, not just the rings.
- Recoil is significant, but manageable IMO. Obviously, a 7-30 is not going to be a plinking handgun.
Grouse
I have one in 7-30 Waters, Super 14 barrel.
Pros:
- Excellent performance and accuracy in the lightweight Contender frame.
- If you can handload--and you'd probably better be able to with the Waters- you can geta wide range of bullets.
- Terminal performance is excellent. Last fall, I knocked a buck over like he was a steel target. He never took an additional step. 130 grain Nosler.
Cons:
WARNING: Adding a hammer extension creates huge issues in cold weather. This is a well-known issue among cold weather Contender users. Everyone knew but me. The hammer extension combined with the fact that a spring is weaker in cold weather due to metal contraction, slows the hammer down just enough that it often won't touch off the primer.
This HAS happened to me and cost me a nice buck AND a nice doe before the Contentder community clued me in on what I was doing wrong. Click! Click! S#$%! You have been warned, do not add hammer extensions for cold weather use.
- Avoid the muzzle brake at all costs. Nasty, nasty business.
- The hammer can be problematic on a scoped handgun if you hunt in cold weather with gloves.
- As with all scoped handguns with heavy recoil, you must take the usual steps to make sure your scope doesn't come loose. Loctite blue on all threads and heads, rubber cement, and then you must monitor constantly so you know WHEN something starts to come loose. Don't forget, your base must also be extra secured, not just the rings.
- Recoil is significant, but manageable IMO. Obviously, a 7-30 is not going to be a plinking handgun.
Grouse
Matt N.
New member
4 frames. 2 rifle 221FB and 7x30. Two pistol 44mag,7x30, 221FB, 223AI, & 22 hornet. They are addictive. Contenders may be my favorite to hand load for. The 221 FB carbine is stupid accurate. Many gun "gurus" have proclaimed that a break action rifle will not shoot that well. My FB does. I suspect I have at least 1 pistol with potential accuracy that my pistol skills are not currently up to.
I love my little Contender. I've got a factory 14" .223 barrel and a 13" MGM .30-30 Ackley barrel. I'd say that both are more accurate than I can shoot them. I like hunting with the .30-30 and have taken deer, antelope, and hogs with it. It's a pleasure to carry in a custom shoulder holster, and with a good rest is capable of cleanly killing mid-sized game at distances up to 200 yards with my handloads.
So the good: easy to carry; accurate assuming you work up a good load and learn to shoot a handgun of this nature; adaptable to various targets and game; and just flat out fun to mess around with.
The bad: not as "easy" to shoot as a rifle (obviously), so you'll need to practice more; loud, so don't forget hearing protection (and skip the brake); and watch the selector switch (mine's always in the middle "safe" position when it should be on centerfire - nothing worse than "click" when you're expecting "boom!").
So the good: easy to carry; accurate assuming you work up a good load and learn to shoot a handgun of this nature; adaptable to various targets and game; and just flat out fun to mess around with.
The bad: not as "easy" to shoot as a rifle (obviously), so you'll need to practice more; loud, so don't forget hearing protection (and skip the brake); and watch the selector switch (mine's always in the middle "safe" position when it should be on centerfire - nothing worse than "click" when you're expecting "boom!").
NWShooter69
New member
Thanks guys. This is just the info I was looking for. Im having a hard time finding one around here, so Ill get a fram and then pick up the barrel. One question though, why do the make different sized hinge pin? Are all of the tolerance from the factory that wide?
biggen0_8
New member
Yes some of them can be a little oversize in the hinge pin holes. But get yours first and see how it shoots,I never had a Contendor that needed it but I've seen a couple of Encores that did.
Also if I remember correctly, you need to look for a frame that was sold as a pistol. Not a rifle/carbine or muzzleloader, because you can turn a pistol frame into a rifle/carbine or muzzleloader but you can't do it the other way around.
I maybe wrong on that, but that's the way it sticks in my mind. Let me know guys.
Also if I remember correctly, you need to look for a frame that was sold as a pistol. Not a rifle/carbine or muzzleloader, because you can turn a pistol frame into a rifle/carbine or muzzleloader but you can't do it the other way around.
I maybe wrong on that, but that's the way it sticks in my mind. Let me know guys.
I also have never run into an issue with oversized hinge pins being needed in a contender. I have with encores. You should be really happy with the 7-30. The big thing you are going to have to figure out is what length barrel you prefer. In pistols I prefer the 10", but I hunt some pretty thick country, and offhand shots are the norm. The 14" barrels are a little harder to pack around.
Regardless I have yet to run into a contender barrel that won't shoot well with worked up handloads.
The only thing about the original contender that in my mind is a con, is that you have to reset the action so you can ear the hammer back everytime. When I was younger, I had a buck jump up in front of me, and I cocked the gun and was waiting for a shot. After five minutes, I dropped the hammer back down and took a step forward, there he was about 30 yards away. Went to cock the gun again, and the hammer wouldn't stay back. I tried to reset the action as quietly as I could, and the buck moved off. I did end up getting him about a half hour later, but in that time he added a half a mile to the drag getting him out of there.
Regardless I have yet to run into a contender barrel that won't shoot well with worked up handloads.
The only thing about the original contender that in my mind is a con, is that you have to reset the action so you can ear the hammer back everytime. When I was younger, I had a buck jump up in front of me, and I cocked the gun and was waiting for a shot. After five minutes, I dropped the hammer back down and took a step forward, there he was about 30 yards away. Went to cock the gun again, and the hammer wouldn't stay back. I tried to reset the action as quietly as I could, and the buck moved off. I did end up getting him about a half hour later, but in that time he added a half a mile to the drag getting him out of there.
2milehighguy
New member
Dont worry about 7-30 recoil, way over talked. I have a 14" Contender in .375 JDJ and even that is manageable.
If interested, I could be talked out of my 7-30. I have it in a 16"barrel. Also have dies,factory ammo, brass. I just dont use it enough anymore.
If interested, I could be talked out of my 7-30. I have it in a 16"barrel. Also have dies,factory ammo, brass. I just dont use it enough anymore.
Trenton_K
New member
Not to take away from the discussion here but you may want to check out this place. http://specialtypistols.infopop.cc/6/ubb.x
I have 2 contenders 1 pistol(7TCU and 22lr) and 1 carbine (30/30). There are a few different gneerations of actions so you have to see which you prefer.
I have 2 contenders 1 pistol(7TCU and 22lr) and 1 carbine (30/30). There are a few different gneerations of actions so you have to see which you prefer.
