Hi all, strangely I'm having trouble finding detailed data on the weight of a Contender pistol. I didn't even find it on T/C's website.
I'm sorta reading up on "trail guns", something to take on long day hikes and overnighters, so ounces count (that's what my knees tell me).
So what I'd like to hear from you is a reasonably accurate weight of a basic Contender pistol, and would welcome comments on how much can be done to reduce weight via barrel and grip selection.
Can't find the specifics either just now, but if it helps I can tell you a 10 inch bull Encore with factory stocks weighs a pound more than a 10 inch bull Contender with factory stocks. The Contender's weight will vary quite a lot depending on the barrel length, contour, chambering, grips, fore end, and sights chosen. About the lightest one I can imagine would wear wood stocks and a six inch octagon iron-sighted barrel. I'm a big fan of the Contender concept but it's the last pistol I'd take out of the safe for use as a trail gun.
I'm going to plead #1 on Mike's list and say that you really want pork chops. If you are wanting a trail gun for protection from bears and such, wouldn't a pistol in 45 acp or revolver in .357 or bigger, be a better choice? I'm betting the weight is less or, at least, very similar, and you get multiple shots. Having more than one round might not be a bad thing if things go south.
This would not be for defense, only for hunting and plinking. A .22LR barrel for squirrel and maybe cottontail, and a .44 Mag barrel or something similar for whitetail.
Originally posted by CouchTater: This would not be for defense, only for hunting and plinking.
Have a look at the older octagon barrels. You may need to have them updated to the split lug set-up. The really old barrels were set-up for a snap-on fore end, which of course tend to snap-off under serious recoil. I've seen six inch octagon barrels but I don't know if they were factory-made or bobbed later. I've never weighed them but it seems to me the rubber Pachmayr grip and the factory job with the rubber bumper are heavier than an all-wood grip. A fella could whittle on the grip and thin the fore end a bit but he won't save much weight.
Doh! Thanks for pointing out the now obvious. The T/C side was giving my browser fits and I didn't see the rest of the page. Pulled it up on my laptop and had no problem.
If 3.5 lb is right, i.e. 56 ounces, that's pretty heavy. Google was able to find a few web pages where folks gave their carbine weight at around 5.5 lb. The handgun would certainly be more compact, but for an additional 2 lb one gets a longer barrel and a shoulder stock; and I assume it can be broken in two at the hinge pin, for packing. Hmmm.
