Looking at the G2 pictures, it seems that TC intended to strengthen the Contender frame - which implies to me that there is some perceived weakness in the old design. I've also seen mention of "stretched" frames on the used market. I always thought the gun was indestructible. Others, apparently, think differently. Since there are so many calibers available for the frame, it's hard to quantify its lifespan. Opinions requested: What is the lifespan for a frame shooting "average" power cartridges? - .44 Mag, 30 Herret, etc. Can anybody state how many rounds they have put through their barrel/frame? I put over 1000 through a well worn frame with a .223 barrel and never noticed any wear. Just curious to see what the bigger caliber users have seen. Thanks in advance.

I have shoot about 2500 round of 45/70 in a frame and it is 15 year old and it is still good. I have shoot 2000 of round of 358 JDJ in my other frame along with 2000 or 3000 221 fireball and around 1500 357 Mag. and this frame is doing good

Ferdinand,
There is no "think" about it in regard to:

"I've also seen mention of "stretched" frames on the used market. I always thought the gun was indestructible. Others, apparently, think differently."

Look at the frame from the top looking down into the frame. Just in front of the breech there is a cut out in the sides of the frame running vertically. The thickness of the frame's sides at this point is only about .110" from memory. You have coat hangers in your closet that are thicker than this, yet this thin side is what holds things together when you pull the trigger. Just draw a line from the center of the hinge pin hole to the point where the side of the frame sweeps up into the breech area. That is the appoximate line of force.

This thin area has always been the weak spot in the frame and is where the stretching originates when loads that put too much force back on the breech face are fired. Reinforcing the frame at this point has been needed from the beginning; however, in the 60's when handgun varminting was the impetous for the Contender's introduction, cartridges intended to be used in the Contender were relatively mild. Warren Center probably had no idea or intention for us to shoot some of the rounds we have managed to shoot in the Contender for much of the last 36 years.

A frame, as noted, can be running strong for many thousands of rounds so long as the frame's strength limits are not exceeded, yet just a few hot rounds, if hot enough, can stretch the frame and ruin it, which I have done at least several times over the years getting a handle on just where to stop with pressures.

The G2 is gussetted where the side meets the breech and will be stronger, yes, but the next area to give way is the lip of the barrel lug under the locking bolts. Excess force out the back of the barrel will bend the lower lip of the barrel lug down creating a loose lockup and a ruined barrel. Even though the G2 will be stronger, it is not intended for cartridges hotter than those used in the previous Contender design.

Contender frames are great, but you still must respect their limits. If you do that they will last a long, long time. For example, I test fired with one frame almost exclusively for about 10 years before it began to show signs of stretching and was due for replacement. And this included many hundreds of rounds of factory .444 Marlin ammo and hot loads in various wildcats based on .444 Marlin and .307 Win. brass.

Mike

I had a very early 4 digit gun 256 win mag and 45/410 had no problems till 1975 I started IHMSA shooting in 357 Herrit. streched the frame in under 500rds have never heard of later frames having this problem. I switched to 308 XP

This question my be more up Bellms ally, but anyone who can shed light in the subject GOOD.
I have heard Rumors that the 357 Herrett is hard on frames? Some claim JD at SSk has said that more frames have been stretched by the HERRETT
than any other round.
What is your thoughts???
Fireball

Thanks for the info all. Frame stretching tendancy is obviously worse for some calibers than others. I wonder what the critical variable is - working pressure, projectile weight, or some other factor. I'm not much of a ballistic engineer, but I imagine that there is are specific traits that yield more frame stretch. I guess I have become a little paranoid about gun wear after shooting two guns to the point where they no longer functioned properly, and apparently were beyond being restored to normal performance levels.