How About 222 In a Handgun?

[wildcatter]

In December of 2019, Marty, at House Of Arms, offered a pre-production pre-production order at a introductory price to get on a waiting list for the newly anounced introduction for a new Contender. The new owners(Lehigh Defence) of SSK Industries anounced a new better Contender frame.

HELL, I forgot all about getting on it. Well 2 weeks ago, I get the call. I quit using the contender over 40 years ago because I stretched to many frames using them for hunting and Silhouette shooting using larger cartridges.

This new frame is supposed to be stronger, better Stainless Steel quality, and the best of the G1 & G2 T/C frames. IT IS! But, my interst and uses for this type of firearm has changed! As well as my experience with the 222 Remington cartridge.

So I decided the 222 cartridge would be the first barrel I would try on this new frame. I couldn't have chose better for my uses today!

I started by just fireforming and sighting in with 20 Lapua MATCH 222 cases. Using the recently aquiered Remington "paper box 52 grain Benchrest bullets". Since I have over 8lbs. of XBR8208, and nothing I'm currently loading it in, that's where I started. 24, 24.3, 24.6, and 25 grains.

After sighting in an old Umerex air gun scope that came on 22 cal air gun, that I could not sell for 30 dollars, I decided to modify it to fit the only immediately available scope mount and rings available. Leopold dual dovetails in medium height. Some gunsmithing 101 was requiered,,,,, please don't try this at home.

After a little precision work with my 4" angle grinder, it fit perfect! Yes now parallax set at 100 yards. But if it ain't worth 30 bucks, he'll I ain't out nothing!


So after properly fitting and mounting the scope squarely on the barrel, found brand new in the factory cardboard box, no idea how old that is. I was ready to form some brass and see if I could zero this highly modified air gun scope?


The 25 grain load showed no sighns of to much pressure and now with 20 cases it was time to assemble some rounds and see what this Super 14 barrel taken out mothballs could do?


My fired new brass grew .012". So I setup my Redding full length die for a .004" bump. A little more than I normally use to accommodate full lockup on the break action locking lugs. Then I knew 25.0 grains of 8208 was sighted in, I'd see how that shot, with bullets seated .005" short of touch. After a couple fouling shots, since I cleaned the barrel after the first 20 rounds again. I proceeded to try a three shot group. Chronographed @ 3026 fps with an extreme spread of 13 fps.


Now I should quit here! But couldn't help but think of that load shot as good as it did in the Panda, how would the Panda's better loads do? So I grabbed some LT-32 and dumped five case with 22.8 grains and off to see the results?

Well after the 3 shots I had loaded it was time to try this again. I had these two loads backwards and am correcting that now with an edit! But with the LT-32 load only being 62 fps slower, @2964 fps av. And a ES of 6fps, why try anything else.

I'll accept the second group, and not waste anymore time or effort on this little truck gun. I was already surprised to see this much speed out of the 14" barrel, and with this kind of accuracy, plenty good for a yote or woodchuck out to 200 if I steady it.

I'm pretty happy with this new addition to the collection. I might add a 14" 22 LR Match barrel later, but that would be it.

 

[JSH]

I started to get on board with the new improved Contender when it was first announced. I looked around and was like, hmmm, have three Contenders, a couple of G2’s, XP’s, BF’s and MOA’s sitting neglected.
I just hope parts come back if it is a clone of the Contender. Hammer springs and hammers, along with pivot pins is all I have broke or wore out.
I have seen some, shall we say interesting chamberings over the years. I myself have never stretched a frame. The most heavy recoiling rigs were a 35 Remington rimmed and a 375 WW. The 375 digested a lot of heavy rifle loads on the same frame with no issues. The 35 Remington R gave up brass before I saw any issues. Both of those frame combined probably have close to 100 k on them. I sent them back to TC to have them looked over before SW got involved. No real issues just replaced some parts.
My pet peeve, there never was a G1, much like there never was a Mouser rifle.

 

[wildcatter]

I started to get on board with the new improved Contender when it was first announced. I looked around and was like, hmmm, have three Contenders, a couple of G2’s, XP’s, BF’s and MOA’s sitting neglected.
I just hope parts come back if it is a clone of the Contender. Hammer springs and hammers, along with pivot pins is all I have broke or wore out.
I have seen some, shall we say interesting chamberings over the years. I myself have never stretched a frame. The most heavy recoiling rigs were a 35 Remington rimmed and a 375 WW. The 375 digested a lot of heavy rifle loads on the same frame with no issues. The 35 Remington R gave up brass before I saw any issues. Both of those frame combined probably have close to 100 k on them. I sent them back to TC to have them looked over before SW got involved. No real issues just replaced some parts.
My pet peeve, there never was a G1, much like there never was a Mouser rifle.

If there never was was a 1st Generation,,, how do you think they came up with a second generation???

If there were never issues with the original, 1st generation, what was the reason for a second generation?

There indeed were reliability issues with the the G1, by all that pushed them, I assure you they no way could take the same loads I pushed thru my 35 Remington XP-100's. but the XP-100 was a lot bulkier and longer than the Contender, why we wanted to achieve the same performance for 200 meter silhouette, but knockdowns had to be assured with minimal hits.

it had other issues, a better trigger pull but not as convenient or as safe as the G2. I got rid of mine before the G2. But this new designed SSK-50 is a big step up on both T/C frames. Better material, tighter tolerances, and a blend of what was best on both.

But the main thing is obvious, or I'm the luckiest guy on planet cant wait to se how this shoots at 200 once I put some real glass on it, and those squares were that big because the crosshair in this airgun scope covered up the whole thing. I'm thinking my 4.5-20x50 Meopta with it's lighted 3BDC for testing, should be a good groundhog gun out to 200 yards.

but like my Sako 6ppc, compared to my Bat SB, that Sako will shoot lights out and last a lifetime if I keep loads under 29 grains of 133 with 68 grain bullets. But if I try feeding it the loads I do my Bat, 30.2 to 30.5 grains of 133, it aint going to stay tight or last long, a lesson I learned 40 years ago with the Contender!

You can shoot a 35 Remington in it and the Encore, but your fooling yourself if you think you can load them both and get the same results,,,,,, but don't get fooled into believing they are the same just because their chambered the same,,,,,, one is made to take it, one is made to give up the ship if you try the same thing!

 

[Adam in WI]

His peeve is that it was never officially referred to as the "G1". "Officially" there was the Contender and the Contender G2. Some purists place importance on the distinction.

 

[snert]

If I were not on a financial diet I would buy another frame. I love the TC and wish I had a 22 Match barrel. Squirrel season is in and I am trying every rimfire I have just for fun

 

[wildcatter]

Over the years I've used a lot of firearms for squirrels, but only one caliber, 22, either long rifle standard loads, that I HP, or air guns with heavy for caliber pellets. The Contender with a Super 14 22LR Match barrel was one of the best. It was as accurate as my rifles, but a tad more challenging.

It don't hurt to cheat on any diet once in a while,,, go for it!

 

[JSH]

Purist, probably.
Didn’t mean to ruffle feathers.
Funny I never saw the Contender referred to ever as a G1, until the G2 arrived. And the Encore arrived before the G2 if I recall correctly.
Sure a lot of Contender frames in service for a long time, with no more failures than a broke trigger guard pivot pin or weak hammer springs.
I have seen a lot of questionable wildcats in the last 35-40 years I have fooled with Contenders.
Full footed hand set rams and no topple point took their toll on shooters and equipment years ago.
Buddy had a recbambered factory barrel, 300 Savage. He shot it till the throat was done.
That frame was sent back for an easy open modification, everything is in spec to my knowledge as I own it now.
Shooting sane loads in a TC they are what I consider reliable. Comparing to an XP or BAT is silly.
The one failing I personally know of was with a 309JDJ.
I know of a instance where a 44 mag was shot in a 309 JDJ and it took it. To my understanding JD sent it back to TC to have them check it, they were not informed of the happening, it came back with a clean bill of health.
I have seen and held in my hand a factory 6PPC barrel along with a 7BR barrel, both oddly stamped with a warning to use only factory ammo.

I don’t see the “clone” being any stronger than the prior two small frame TC’s, just not enough mass for the design.
Carry on and good luck with the new rig.

 

[wildcatter]

Purist, probably.
Didn’t mean to ruffle feathers.
Funny I never saw the Contender referred to ever as a G1, until the G2 arrived. And the Encore arrived before the G2 if I recall correctly.
Sure a lot of Contender frames in service for a long time, with no more failures than a broke trigger guard pivot pin or weak hammer springs.
I have seen a lot of questionable wildcats in the last 35-40 years I have fooled with Contenders.
Full footed hand set rams and no topple point took their toll on shooters and equipment years ago.
Buddy had a recbambered factory barrel, 300 Savage. He shot it till the throat was done.
That frame was sent back for an easy open modification, everything is in spec to my knowledge as I own it now.
Shooting sane loads in a TC they are what I consider reliable. Comparing to an XP or BAT is silly.
The one failing I personally know of was with a 309JDJ.
I know of a instance where a 44 mag was shot in a 309 JDJ and it took it. To my understanding JD sent it back to TC to have them check it, they were not informed of the happening, it came back with a clean bill of health.
I have seen and held in my hand a factory 6PPC barrel along with a 7BR barrel, both oddly stamped with a warning to use only factory ammo.

I don’t see the “clone” being any stronger than the prior two small frame TC’s, just not enough mass for the design.
Carry on and good luck with the new rig.

I might feel the same way had I not had experiance with all 3. No feathers here let alone being ruffled.

I just want others to understand FACTS, and that is only possible when it is given with hands on experience with all three weapons being discussed! Pure facts is all I am offering.

I hope you understand the reason as you stated, that you never heard of a G1,,,, until the G2 came out. It simply was a Contender before that, as the was only 1! Hence the G2 generation, with G simply identifying a second attempt for improvement.

In reality, this would make the 1st attempt a the no G1, it's first attempt for the platform, with some accessories possible on both, with a few exceptions not capable of working with both without modification.

As fore "BETTER FRAME" just like the old broken triggers,,,, they to needed better material and manufacturing techniques. Same goes with these new frames! Improved machinery, tighter tolerances, better alloys and heat treating, that is how the firearms industry has improved for the nearly 7 decades I've been around.

I am only trying to inform others of improvements!

As fore shooting a 44 mag in a 30 caliber barrel, in 309 chambering,,,, I won't touch that one with a 10 foot pole. But,,,, if your story is correct, that's living proof, Miracles still exist!

I hope you see this doesn't mean my feathers have been ruffled, just trying to make certain everyone is aware, there is a differance in all 3 variations! Maybe why they called this version a SSK-50, smooth Side or Lynx, the same holds true, most Contender G1, or G2, accessories will interchange, but some may need some slight modification.

I apologize if you took that as upset or ruffled, not the case at all!

 

[DocCoffee]

All I can or will say my .222 Rem Super 14 was the most fun PD gun I ever had. Was hard on feral cats also. And for reference I needed cash one time before the G2 even existed.
KDK

 

[wildcatter]

Well yesterday went and played with the little hand duece again and found the Umerex not up to the challenge. About 8 or 10 shots in I'm afraid the mighty Duece was more strain than the crosshairs could bear.

But before the scope gave up the ship, I shot both loads again and the slower LT-32 load was the load that shot the best. I had that backwards in my first post. But with only 60 fps dufferance, no biggy, would just like to use the faster load because it uses 8208, I have plenty of.

Yep the verticle hair is now like a jog in a T road. So between the top vertical and the bottom verticle hair meeting the horizontal hair together, I have about a 1 moa option, and think some pay for these kind of options.

Well it is in the recyclable bin now. I put the cheap, but more reliable 3- 9x40 Bushnell that came on the 223 youth Axis I bought for a donor action to build a new Varmint for score rifle.

I keep looking and as soon as the Meopta 4.5- 20 with the BDC3 ill reticle becomes available again I will have this little hand varminter setup the way it deserves.

Till then, well hopefully, Since this is my last throw away, it will last till then? It should as long as it can bear all that mighty strain this little 222 puts on it?

I did clock it though, and 2964 fps was surprisingly great for me. Best of all it was just a 6 fps spread for 5 shots, with the 52 grain bullet, and dime size groups, a big surprise!

So much so, I rechecked the old Gamma Chrony with my buddies magnetospeed chronograph. 15' out in front of his we were reading 5 fps slower, I'd say that's proof enough it's as accurate as it tested some 10 or so years ago with an ohler 33.

After that mounting the new Bushnell got it sighted in with some factory ammo he had and finished that with the last three rounds I had loaded. So maybe today or tomorrow I'll go to the range while at the Lake and test it again for them dime sized 100 yard groups?