Hunting Washington Forum
Washington State Hunting Forum and Northwest Resource Site
Please
login
or
register
.
1 Hour
1 Day
1 Week
1 Month
Forever
Login with username, password and session length
News:
Free:
Contests & Raffles
.
Home
Help
Calendar
Advertise
Login
Register
Hunting Washington Forum
»
Equipment & Gear
»
Guns and Ammo
»
Who Shoots Contenders?
Advertisement
Advertise Here
« previous
next »
Print
Pages: [
1
]
2
All
Go Down
Author
Topic: Who Shoots Contenders? (Read 2939 times)
Hornseeker
Trade Count:
(
0
)
Frontiersman
Join Date: Dec 2007
Posts: 3097
Who Shoots Contenders?
«
on:
July 15, 2010, 07:58:27 AM »
I have a *censored* for a contender.... gotta get one asap! Whos got one? Tell me about it! Which barrels?
Logged
Chuck Norris puts the "Laughter" in "Manslaughter"
Advertise Here
CP
Trade Count:
(
+6
)
Old Salt
Join Date: Mar 2008
Posts: 6995
Location: Mukilteo
Re: Who Shoots Contenders?
«
Reply #1 on:
July 15, 2010, 08:13:37 AM »
I used to shoot one. .22 LR & .44mag. Took a deer with the .44 and shot a few quail with .44 shotshells, some rabbits with the .22.
Very accurate and solid weapon but it got a bit heavy to pack around.
Logged
Hornseeker
Trade Count:
(
0
)
Frontiersman
Join Date: Dec 2007
Posts: 3097
Re: Who Shoots Contenders?
«
Reply #2 on:
July 15, 2010, 11:16:12 AM »
Main reason I'm giving it consideration is that I have a new dirt bike/trail bike and packing a contender on it would be way easier than packing my rifle.
Logged
Chuck Norris puts the "Laughter" in "Manslaughter"
carpsniperg2
Site Sponsor
Global Moderator
Trade Count:
(
+126
)
Legend
Join Date: Sep 2009
Posts: 31527
Location: Goldendale,WA
Re: Who Shoots Contenders?
«
Reply #3 on:
July 15, 2010, 11:37:07 AM »
i just got one about a month or so ago, very nice handgun been shooting them a long time but got a killer deal and bought mine. if i was going to buy a new one i would buy the encore pistol myself but used is pretty impossible to find of those guns. but they have some realy cool cals 22-250-7mm-08 30-06 7mm etc a little more choice. the standardc ontender has like 10-13 barrels then there is the g2 that takes a few more as well. if ya look back or do a search for contender you might see the pics i posted of mine.
Logged
Owner: SPLIT DIAMOND TACTICAL
Firearms/Transfers/Parts/Optics
2011 HW Head Competition Winner
jackelope
Administrator
Trade Count:
(
+29
)
Legend
Join Date: Mar 2007
Posts: 50177
Location: Duvall, WA
Groups: jackelope
Re: Who Shoots Contenders?
«
Reply #4 on:
July 15, 2010, 11:41:59 AM »
I shoot an Encore rifle and my dad hunts with a Contender pistol in 7mm TCU. Great gun. It's a shooter to 150 yards or so.
Logged
" In today's instant gratification society, more and more pressure revolves around success and the measurement of one's prowess as a hunter by inches on a score chart or field photos produced on social media. Don't fall into the trap. Hunting is-and always will be- about the hunt, the adventure, the views, and time spent with close friends and family. " Ryan Hatfield
My posts, opinions and statements do not represent those of this forum
NRA4LIFE
Site Sponsor
Past Sponsor
Trade Count:
(
+10
)
Old Salt
Join Date: Nov 2007
Posts: 6057
Location: Maple Valley
Groups: NRA
Re: Who Shoots Contenders?
«
Reply #5 on:
July 15, 2010, 11:52:35 AM »
I have the combo .45 Colt/.410 barrel that is a lot of fun. .410 doesn't pattern real well though. I also have a .223 barrel with a 4X Leupold on it. That sumbitch drives tacks at 100 yards. Great little gun.
Logged
Look man, some times you just gotta roll the dice
JackOfAllTrades
Rasbo said I Ain't Right.
Trade Count:
(
0
)
Old Salt
Join Date: Feb 2009
Posts: 6509
Location: Lynden, WA.
Μολὼν λαβέ
Re: Who Shoots Contenders?
«
Reply #6 on:
July 15, 2010, 12:01:03 PM »
Hornseeker, What did you get for a trail bike?
-Steve
Logged
The NRA says I'm a Master!
Colt's, Ruger's, Dan Wesson, & Kimber are my friends!
Proud to be a U.S. Navy Veteran.
If you never follow your dreams, you'll never go anywhere.
Critical thinking keeps people from freaking the hell out every time some half baked blogger forgets his meds. Unlike some of you, I do not have TawkethOutOfAnus© syndrome.
Bigshooter
Political & Covid-19 Topics
Trade Count:
(
+7
)
Old Salt
Join Date: Aug 2007
Posts: 6367
Location: Lewis Co
High Wide And Heavy
Re: Who Shoots Contenders?
«
Reply #7 on:
July 15, 2010, 12:06:37 PM »
I have .410 10inch and a 25-35 12inch.
My dad has a few I think his favorites are the .358jdj, .35rem, .44mag, and .444. I know he really likes the .358jdj. He has killed a lot of deer with it and the .35rem.
Logged
Welcome to liberal America, where the truth is condemned and facts are ignored so as not to "offend" anyone
"Borders, language, culture."
STIKNSTRINGBOW
Non-Hunting Topics
Trade Count:
(
+2
)
Frontiersman
Join Date: Aug 2008
Posts: 4366
Location: Chehalis
Re: Who Shoots Contenders?
«
Reply #8 on:
July 15, 2010, 12:28:21 PM »
I used to own and hunted with a Contender, I had a 30/30 barrel with a Burris scope, and a .357/38 barrel.
Then I got into Archery and sold it.
When my father passed away, I inherited his Contender
.45 LC/.410, .44 Mag, .30 M1, and .22 barrel with a Leopold Scope, I plan on getting more barrels when my financial situation improves.
Logged
The mountains are calling and I must go."
- John Muir
"I go to nature to be soothed and healed, and to have my senses put in order."
- John Burroughs
NASP Certified Basic Archery Instructor
NASP Certified Basic Archery Instructor Trainer
woodswalker
Curmudgeon in training
Washington For Wildlife
Trade Count:
(
+14
)
Sourdough
Join Date: Jan 2009
Posts: 1764
Location: on the way to Stevens Pass
Groups: NRA Life Member, Ducks Unlimited, RMEF, SRPA WHEIA
Re: Who Shoots Contenders?
«
Reply #9 on:
July 15, 2010, 12:45:51 PM »
I have several with a good selection of barrels, 30 and 357 Herrett, .22LR, .44 Mag, 30-30, 357 Mag, .223, 45 long colt, 32-20 and .22 Mag.
Love them! fun to shoot, lighter than a rifle but not as easy to pack as a pistol.
Logged
A Smith & Wesson Beats Four Aces.
Whatta ya mean I can't have one of each?
What we have here is...Washington Department of NO Fish and WATCHABLE Wildlife.
WDFW is going farther and farther backwards....we need FISH AND GAME back!
klickitat
Trade Count:
(
0
)
Tracker
Join Date: Sep 2008
Posts: 66
Re: Who Shoots Contenders?
«
Reply #10 on:
July 15, 2010, 01:07:50 PM »
I have a 1st gen. frame and 2 barrels. I have a 14" .223 with a 4X scope and a 10" .444 Marlin barrel. I have shot a few times but I need to get a new scope on it.
I wanted a Contender because I wanted to carry a .223 for coyotes and bobcats when I was hunting beer. The .444 was purchased because I never know when a Cape Buffalo is going to wonder through the back yard. Actually I some how acquired 12 boxes of .444 over the years and decided I needed a gun to go along with it.
Logged
CP
Trade Count:
(
+6
)
Old Salt
Join Date: Mar 2008
Posts: 6995
Location: Mukilteo
Re: Who Shoots Contenders?
«
Reply #11 on:
July 15, 2010, 01:11:06 PM »
I miss it:
Logged
yorketransport
Political & Covid-19 Topics
Trade Count:
(
+12
)
Frontiersman
Join Date: Apr 2009
Posts: 3310
Location: Yelm
Preferred pronouns: were/was
Re: Who Shoots Contenders?
«
Reply #12 on:
July 15, 2010, 08:43:35 PM »
I've played with the Contender for a few years. I've had 5 frames and the following barrels: 10" 222 Rem, 357 Mag, 7mm TCU, 44mag, 45/410, 45 Win Mag, 22LR; 12" 35 Rem, 357 Max, 45-70; 14" 7mm TCU, 35 Rem, 375 JDJ, 30-30, 223, 44 mag, 45/410, and 16" 45-70 and 300 BS barrels. Of all of these, the 10" 7mm TCU and the 14" 35 Rem and one frame are the only ones that are still with me. The 7mm TCU because it makes such a great sidearm while on a mountain bike, and the 35 Rem because I shot my first deer with it (a 110 yard bang flop
).
I love the versatility of the Contender but the inconsistency would drive me nuts! One day a barrel would be shooting 1" groups at 100 yards. The next day I could go out with the same load from the same batch of reloads, and get 3" groups. It didn't matter who did the shooting. I just couldn't get consistency out of a Contender. I know that there are tricks you can do with adjusting the sizing dies that are supposed to help, but I just kind of lost interest for now. I have ADHD when it comes to guns though. In a few years I'll be frantically trying to get back all of the barrels that I sold or traded off.
I've decided to move over to the Savage Striker platform for my switch barrel handgun fix. I can get Savage take off barrels for about $50 instead of the $150-200 that Contender barrels cost. Plus I can chamber any cartridge that can safely fit into a Savage bolt action. Right now I have 204 Ruger, 243 Win, 7mm-08, 25-06, and 300 WSM barrels sitting on my work bench. Then there's the 338/284 Win barrel that should be here soon, and the 338-375 Ruger barrel that Benchmark is making for me right now. You won't fit that in a Contender!
Andrew
Logged
dad98684
Washington For Wildlife
Trade Count:
(
0
)
Hunter
Join Date: Jun 2010
Posts: 148
Location: vancouver
Re: Who Shoots Contenders?
«
Reply #13 on:
July 16, 2010, 08:49:42 AM »
i have had tc encores for 10 years or so. i had taken a few deer with my 270 15" with scope, but the 45/410 is was my favorite. i have move on to the rifle configuration now with 3 different barrels, 300 win mag, 20 ga smooth, and a 22lr. i am looking to add a 45/70 with iron sights to my collection.
Logged
Todd_ID
Trade Count:
(
+1
)
Frontiersman
Join Date: Apr 2008
Posts: 2926
Location: Clarkston
Hunt Hard!
Re: Who Shoots Contenders?
«
Reply #14 on:
July 17, 2010, 09:04:48 PM »
I have one with 3 barrels: .223, .357, and .35 Rem. The hands down favorite is the .223 with a Tru-Glo 2X Red Dot on it. It shoots much better than I do, for sure; a gopher at 50 yards isn't too safe. The .35 Rem needs a bigger man than me shooting it to make it a true 100 yard gun on a deer. I know that sucker is going to go off, and I flinch every time. The .357 is fun for playing because of the low recoil and cheap ammo, but it's pretty much a third wheel. The .223 is on all the time for ground squirrels; the .35 Rem comes out when a buddy wants to shoot it, and the .357 gets left home most of the time.
Logged
Bring a GPS! It's awkward to have to eat your buddies!
Advertise Here
Print
Pages: [
1
]
2
All
Go Up
« previous
next »
Hunting Washington Forum
»
Equipment & Gear
»
Guns and Ammo
»
Who Shoots Contenders?
Advertisement
Advertise Here
Quick Links
Front Page
Donate To Forum
Advertise on H-W
Recent Posts
Articles
Forum Rules
Recent Topics
Cowiche Quality Buck
by
buglebuster
[
Today
at 07:10:20 AM]
2025 Draw Results
by
Elkaholic daWg
[
Today
at 07:02:27 AM]
Son drawn - Silver Dollar Youth Any Elk - Help?
by
Rugergunsite308
[
Today
at 06:27:17 AM]
Bow mount trolling motors
by
CP
[
Today
at 06:03:13 AM]
SE raffle tags holder
by
HntnFsh
[
Today
at 05:39:57 AM]
11th Annual 'Pull For Scouting' Clay Crushing Classic
by
high_hunter
[
Today
at 12:27:18 AM]
AKC lab puppies! Born 06/10/2025 follow as they grow!!!
by
high_hunter
[
Today
at 12:21:33 AM]
Ritzville Rifle Buck - GMU 284
by
high_hunter
[
Yesterday
at 11:49:16 PM]
Antlerless Moose more than once?
by
shootem
[
Yesterday
at 11:25:51 PM]
Nooksack Muzzleloader Bull Tag
by
high_hunter
[
Yesterday
at 10:42:24 PM]
My wife drew quality deer DESERT rifle 10/18-10/26!!!!!
by
high_hunter
[
Yesterday
at 10:17:15 PM]
Palouse buck deer
by
blumtnelkndeer
[
Yesterday
at 10:14:00 PM]
Drew Quality
by
Jimmer
[
Yesterday
at 09:34:00 PM]
Nevada guide draw Mule Deer
by
Beastmonger1987
[
Yesterday
at 09:33:34 PM]
Quality Swakane
by
Rainier10
[
Yesterday
at 09:09:17 PM]
Observatory quality bull rifle
by
buglebuster
[
Yesterday
at 09:00:02 PM]
Anterless 1334 muzzle loader
by
Bdawg
[
Yesterday
at 08:46:31 PM]
A little Martini Cadet varmint rifle I have been working on
by
JDHasty
[
Yesterday
at 08:43:33 PM]
Pogue Quality
by
geauxtigers
[
Yesterday
at 08:38:35 PM]
2025 OILS!
by
HUNTNORTHWEST
[
Yesterday
at 07:46:27 PM]
SimplePortal 2.3.7 © 2008-2025, SimplePortal