Some really interesting stories. Here is mine.

My interest started when a co-worker showed me his collection of TC Contenders and Remington XP 100's. He was big into silhouette shooting and his Dad had a FFL. I don't remember what chamberings he had, but I was surely impressed. That was about 15 years ago, and though I never bought one then I have since wanted to get a Contender. At long last I made the deal, buying a barely used stainless frame and two barrels just one short year ago. Now without question, I have 'Contenderitis', and a bad case of it according to my wife (if only she knew). She tells me that she thinks she should start a Contender widow's club. And she just doesn't appreciate it when I suggest that I should buy another frame for her to use. I just don't understand why. I wish now, that I had followed up and bought one 15 years ago. Guess I am now making up for lost time.

Dave

[ 03-05-2003, 06:43: Message edited by: Davit_M ]

Well i guess it was 1994 my stepson came over to the house to shoot a pistol he had bought.He showed up with a 30-30 barrel and two frames.We shot a couple of boxes of ammo and i was very impressed.He offered the extra frame to me for $100.00 i said yes not really knowing the value of it.Couple of weeks later i found a 223 rem 14" barrel at a gun show for $99.00 so i was set.That was about 17 barrels and a couple of frames ago now and i have enjoyed shooting and loading all of them.I still have all of my long guns and revolvers but i really like the contenders.

This does bring back memories.

I started out with Contenders in 1976, being married and starting a family, there was not much money to go around. Contenders seemed like the way to shoot a lot of different calibers and not invest too much. I started with a 10" .22, 10" .38 and a 10" .222. Shot mostly paper with those for a few years. I have also had a 14" Super 14 in .44Mag, .223 Carbine, 10" .44 Hot Shot barrel, 10" .22 Hornet and that is all I can remember right now from those days. Was always trading them off for another caliber cause cash was short.

Back then there was a stray dog, which I am sure now was actually a coyote in our area. It stayed in the woods most the time and went after chickens and ran after sheep. Always growled, never barked at anyone. With having small children running outside, I thought would not be good to let this animal run loose. A neighbor dog took up with running with it too. One day I saw it chasing chickens with the neighbor dog. I went out with my .222 contender and got within about 35 yards of it without it spotting me. He was quartering away from me and I shot just behind his ribs. He dropped like a rock and that was the end of his running days.

Not my idea of sport, but could not put up with him taking chickens, running sheep or possibly harming the kids.

Then walking through a gun show I spotted a custom 6.5 Ingram 15" barrel with peep sights. I had to have that, so the deal was made. STM says around 135.00 with dies. That barrel was and still is a great shooter. Eventually replaced sights with a scope and proceeded to take it chuck hunting. Killed several with that barrel before I let it go.

Sold the whole setup off many years ago and went about 10 years without a Contender. About 3 years ago I got another and have been buying barrels ever since. The bug will not go away and I am always thinking of another caliber I have to have.

Currently - 12" .41Mag Bullberry, 15" VVC 6mm TCU, 22" VVC .221 Fireball, 22" 257 JDJ is on the way. And of course I am thinking of the next caliber I need.

It is still an inexpensive way to have many calibers, but the changing of barrels is not my idea of fun, and once you get the rig to shoot the way you want who wants to take it apart, so I will get frame for as many of the barrels as I can.

Has been a lot of fun and am STILL waiting for the G2 to come out so I can try one of those. Never got into and Encore, but may try that some day too.

My main deer hunting area in MN is a shotgun zone (handguns are legal statewide). I was getting tired of having deer anywhere from 100 to 200 yards away and not being able to shoot at them (using a 20 ga shotgun with open sights). So, the natural thing to do was get a Contender and scope a 30-30 barrel.

I did have a S&W M66 357 mag but that just wasn't what I wanted to use for whitetails at those ranges.

We'll see what happens in about 8 months, can't wait already!

Dave