10" contender accuracy

Steve Napier

New member
Hello,
I have a t/c contender that is an older model,so all I can use right now is the octagon barrels(older).
I am planning on sending it back to t/c , and they change something so newer barrels can be used.
My question is , What kind of accuracy can you expect from a 10" octagon barrel in 221 fireball,222, or 223 remington at about 100 yards?
Should I wait and send the gun in and buy the newer bull barrels in 10" or 14" bull barrel instead?
Thanks Steve
 
Of the three you mentioned the .221 is the most efficient in a 10" barrel. I prefer a bull barrel because it is much steadier as a varmint gun....14". I would bet that with a little practice it would be a 100 yd. prairie dog gun (that would be an accuracy prediction). I have a .221 bull barrel that is 16" that exceeds that prediction by quite aways.
 
Here is a target I shot with my brotheres 14" Fireball at 100yds with his hand rolled ammo off the bench. This is the 1st time I ever shot this gun. It does this at 100yds for him on a regular basis & he has taken a groundhog at 195yds with it to date. This is a 5 shot group with the top being the 1st shot. [image]
Fireballtarget.jpg
[/image]


EDIT-- /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused1.gif Those are 1" squares & I know that picture is bigger than that. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smiliesmack.gif
 
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Thanks,
It seems that everyone tends to favor the 14" so I will send the gun back and get it updated so I can get a 14" bull barrel.
If I am going to get a 14" I guess I may as well get a .223.
Steve
 
All you need is to install "split locking bolts" instead of the solid one piece one you have on the octagon barrel. Takes five minutes, 1/8" pin punch, small hammer and a hand clamp. You don't have to do anything to the frame.........
 
I do not understand, is this something to let me use the newer barrels.
I do not know much about this gun except that I can only use octagon barrels.
I have 2 10" octagon barrels in 45/.410 and 22 mag.
But people have told me that with the 10" barrels I would be limited to 75-100 yars max.
I called t/c and they said for 50 dollars I can send it in and my octagon barrels also, because they have to do something to them so I will be able to use them too.
But then any time I want to get older octagon barrels I would have to send them to t/c and they would upgrade them for free when I sent them in.
Thank you
Steve Napier
 
In theory.........all Contender frames will except all barrels made for any Contender with the only exception being the very newest blackpowder barrels.
Regardless of when your frame was made it should take any barrel......but older barrels had a single locking bolt (one piece) more recent barrels have split bolts.
If your frame is of older design....I believe it is serial numbers pre -195000 it has the original style opening mechanism. Frames made after that serial number have what is referred to as "easy opening". TC changed the location of the pivot on the trigger guard and made some modfications to the trigger making the gun easier to open and requiring that all barrels installed on those frames have split locking bolts.
All original TC frames can be modified to be "easy opening" for about $50.
Good luck finding a .221 FB barrel....... for some reason there are many more 10" bull barrels in .222 Rem available.
 
I can get one with rings on it for about 175.00. but it is the 10" octagon barrel and I do not know how accurate that these will be.So maybe I should stay away from that one.
Do any of you use these lightweight octagon barrels, and what kind of accuracy can one expect.
Thanks Steve
 
I have had two 'octagon barrels' both shot very well. No reason you wouldn't get 'prairie dog' accurate out to 100 yds. or more w/scoped barrel and a decent operator.
 
Thanks,
I am new to shooting these, or any pistols, so maybe I can get better with practice.
With a 10" 22 mag and a cheap pistol scope, I can barely shoot a 4" group @ 50 yards so I am a pretty sorry pistol shooter.
Maybe I should stay with rifles, but I want to be able to shoot a 3" group @ 100 yards with a centerfire round in it someday.
 
Steve,

range time is the biggest determining factor in accuracy. The more you shoot...the more accurate you get. Someday, I hope to be able to shoot as well as my handguns are capable of shooting.

WNYS
 


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