Has any one out there had a problem with a contender carbine opening after the shot? I have been dealing with this problem since the begining with the new 7TCU 21' Carbine barrel. It has been back to T/C twice & happened again today.

I think that I may have found the problem, But not sure if that's it or not.

While I'm on sand bags sighting in on my target I have the barrel resting on the forend right where the trigger guard meets it.

What I think is going on is the trigger guard is hitting the sand bags on the recoil & opening the gun. If this is what's going on is there something I need to do to repair the problem, beyond the obvious of backing off the sand bags a bit. Which I did try & opening stopped. I didn't have this problem when I fired the frame in a pistol configuration & always leaned on the sand bags in the same mannor. Is it different for some reason due to the weight & length of the barrel? Also is something on the frame out of adjustment. I never had a problem with barrels opening prior to shooting the frame as a carbine. I'm interested in any theories or answers.
Rich Jake

Rich,

Guns generally recoil backward, so the trigger guard should not hit the front rest under recoil.

I've fired 21" carbine barrels from sandbag rests many times without the gun opening up, so I don't think the length or weight of the barrel is a factor. It sounds more like the gun is not locking up well enough to handle the pressure (those aren't overloads you're shooting, are they)?

Have you sent the barrel AND frame back to T/C? Try that and see whether they can recreate the problem.

Have you done, or had any work done to the frame or barrel?

George

George
The barrel has been back to them twice already. The last time they wanted the frame as well. So I shipped them both. The last time they replaced the locking lugs & extractor. They also reamed the hinge pin holes in my frame bigger(which I was not happy about). The loads were at the heaviest,were about 1/2 a grain below max in the loading manuals. I'm really at a loss don'tknow what to think about this. According to T/C if the frame was not within tolerences they would have fixed it or replaced it as necessary.
Rich Jake

Rich, I've had the same problem on my first barrel that had been rechambered to 309JDJ. I was using about 1 1/2grs too much powder. when I backed off this problem stopped. It could also be the locking bolts. I think TC makes at least 3 different sizes. If you have to send it back to TC,send them the loads you are using when this happens.

Jules
T/C replaced the lugs. Which means that It has been fired with at least two different size lugs. When you back off on your loads for the 6.5 how hot was your loads in the data you were using?
Rich Jake

309 not 6.5 Rich. I was using H414 witch is not listed in the SSK data for this round. So I really can't answer this properly. But I was pushin 165s ove 2400fps with it. I ended up with a load that gave me 2350fps with 1 1/2grs less.

If your leaning into the gun, into the bags, you sure could be 'helping" it open.

Cas
That's what I think is happening. I was just wondering if I should back off on the triggerguard return spring screw just a bit. I think that I tightened it all the way before shipping it to T/C. I guess that I could use some lock tight on the treads to keep it from backing out.
Rich Jake

Rich

Help me out here......exactly where is the trigger guard return spring screw????

It is under the grip or stock. If you remove the grip or stock it is right behind the trigger guard. When I was changing the pistol grip to the carbine stock. I found the screw almost falling out so I tightened it all the way, if you look on Mike's site he mentions that your can over tighten this screw & cause problems. It pulls the trigger group up and causes trouble.
Rich Jake

GonHuntin
Did you find it ?
Rich Jake

Rich

I haven't looked, don't want to take my grips off to see it, but wanted to know where it is. I have been shooting contenders for a long time and have never turned that screw, in fact, I don't ever remember seeing it???? Most of my frames are old pre -easy open frames, do they have that screw too???

I believe it does. If you want to see the spring and screw go to www.steve@1cox.com and look at the Contender diagram. You can see the spring and screw behind the trigger guard, in front of the lug where the grip attaches.
Rich Jake

Rich,

For what it is worth, clear Nail Polish works better for me on these action screws than locktite, as all it takes is a good solvent to bust it loose if need be. LockTite can be tricky to remove over the long haul if it has set in really good and cured well.

Sounds like you might try backing the screw out just a bit, then shooting. Also don't lean into the carbine or bear down on it when shooting from the bench. The gun should simply rest steadily, and be snug in the bags.

Mike has good info on locking lugs etc on his site. Just because T/C replaced them does not mean that they managed to do so with the correct set. Test them out and see....BTW, do you have any other frames that you can try your components out on? If you experience the same problem while using a different frame and the same barrel and components, that could eliminate the frame from the equation and make identifying the obstacle that much easier.

Let us know how it works out!

Sean
I backed off on the screw just a bit & locktited it. I have used clear nail polish before on threads. My wife loves it when I seal her stuff to fix my guns! I won't be able to go to the range this weekend as the club I belong to has a cowboy shoot. So it will have to wait till next weekend. I will also try what you said with the sand bags as well. I will keep you updated.
Thanks everyone for the help.
Rich Jake

Rich,

No problem! I'll look forward to hearing how it turns out