How to shoot a Contender Accurately?

[tangocharlie]

My opinion - any factory Contender or Encore barrel is a crap shoot. Some will shoot, some will not. I love my Contenders, still hashing out the Encore business. I have been fooling around with TCs the better part of 40 years. If I wanted a barrel that would shoot, no question, I bought a Bullberry. Unfortunately, other than used, that option is now gone. Their hanger system seemed to help with the unexplainable fliers that occasionally happened. Gary Reeder’s barrels are great - at least the ones I’ve tried. As far as bench technique, find what works for you. I don’t rest the butt on anything, same with my XPs. It works for me.

 

[JEFFPPC]

thanks. I’ll try that.

One hand on pistol grip, off hand on edge of front rest with 1 or 2 fingers on edge of stock beside barrel providing some down pressure. I discovered this many years ago when I saw a very elderly gentleman shot the head of dandelions from 100 to 200 yrs and never missing. He had strips of inner tube around his front rest and over the gun/barrel itself. I experimented and found by somewhat holding the barrel/front end on the gun down I could get consistant gouping. I had a 6TCU barrel with a 12 Leupold that would put most factory varmint guns out of their misery. The rear hand would grip the gun so bottem edge of hand was a cushion against whatever surface I shot off of. Best shot ever with that pistol was a single shot kill on a big gobbler in the 500 yd vacinity, legal kill Pa fall season, I still have of a picture of it. Witness to that kill used it to kill a gobbler several days latter a bit under that.

 

[riflewoman]

Is the barrel 38 Special or 357 Magnum?

Is the chamber cut concentric? A lot of the early ones weren't. Mike Bellm, referenced above, once told a story of a photo published by TC showing chambering done in a drill press.

The barrel is 38 Special. I bought this and a 45 Auto 10 inch barrel specifically to test reloads and bullets for bullseye pistol shooting. If they won’t shoot in this barrel no sense expecting them to shoot well.

the reason I suspect it was my technique was that the bullets never were predictable at all and my normal load of 2.7 Bullseye behind the same Speer HBWC will hold the X ring at 25 yards out of my 52. At 50 yards in this contender they were 6 inches or bigger.

 

[rr2030]

I shoot Creedmoor position, perfected over many years of IMHSA. Fount tis photo (not me) as an example. Still trying to figure out how to upload an AVI file here.

 

[PhilKeil]

The barrel is 38 Special. I bought this and a 45 Auto 10 inch barrel specifically to test reloads and bullets for bullseye pistol shooting. If they won’t shoot in this barrel no sense expecting them to shoot well.

the reason I suspect it was my technique was that the bullets never were predictable at all and my normal load of 2.7 Bullseye behind the same Speer HBWC will hold the X ring at 25 yards out of my 52. At 50 yards in this contender they were 6 inches or bigger.

Question what twist is your contender barrel? I ask as ideal would be around 1 in 10 for the hbwc Speer unless you are pushing them to the point just below where the skirts blow off. I kinda remember the 357 ones were 1in 14 or 1 in 16.
I would sure love to find a model 52 1 day. It has always been on my wish list. Next is a 1911 in 38 spcl. I had a old time Air force pistol smith offer to build me a 1911 in 38 special. I was just starting a Bianchi gun build at the time and did not have much money. So I said I would make it the next build. He passed away before the Bianchi gun was built. I had to get Frank Glenn in AZ to finish the build. Needles to say It never happened.

 

[riflewoman]

I think it is 1-16. My pistols are 1-14 or 1-18 so it will be comparable. There is Yaw present but the bullets are not tumbling.

 

[rr2030]

Ok,, figured the video out.

Me shooting my Contender from Creedmoor position, 10" 30/30 with 0 power red dot at 300yard steel.

 

[Baddog0302]

The barrel is 38 Special.
So it's either a very old T/C or an aftermarket, either way, have you tried a few different jacketed bullets ?

 

[Iowa Fox]

The glory days. Would be nice to see a class in F class for specialty pistols. Only three that I know of Wy-Shot, the MOA, and Rayners.

 

[ronsatspokane]

Whatever you can do to get a steady sight picture will work.They take some trigger time to get used to.I have shot them and hunted with them for a few decades. For hunting i run a Harris bi-pod.
It could be the gun though. Many of them were chambered on a drill press and the throat is misaligned with the bore. Headspace, hinge pin clearance and bolt lock-up also cause problems. The triggers in the older Contenders are pretty good not so much in the newer ones. Bellm T-C's is a wealth of knowledge when it comes to the T-C single shots. I have many of the T-C's and they all shoot better after addressing the issues they come with from the factory.
I started out thinking buy 1 frame and a bunch of barrels but they really shoot best for me if I set up each barrel to its own frame.
I have an encore in 416 Rigby that shoots amazing- from a lead sled with 55# of lead! Here is a link to Bellm T-C's https://www.bellmtcs.com/blog/how-to-make-encores-and-g2-work/

416 Rigby in a pistol? That's gotta have a muzzle blast that would burn all the hair off ones body. I can't imagine.

 

[snert]

Sling to the base of grip, and to barrel. Using creedmore, wrap the sling around both legs, then spread em! make sure barrel is past your leg! torches the jeans but makes for a very solid rest. My 167 yard doe was taken in a field expediant creedmore using the sling.

I'm not a bullseye shooter, but Im not sure I would trust for a transfer of performance of a handload between a contender and a bullseye gun. But keep shooting that TC and put a rifle caliber on it, it will change everything you thought you knew. They are sooooo fun

 

[Spike A]

I got my contender a little over a year ago... thinking well shit piece of cake... first barrel was a 222.. with a nice leupold scope... a member gave me an amazing deal on... got it... took it out shooting.... was not very impressed with my self/gun... i have a mark 3 with a scope i have had a fair amount of practice on... but only at 50yds.... lets just say its different... after much practice im OK with it... i know when i got it i told a friend of mine with one.. it cant be hard... his response... "chuckles .. well let me know how it goes"... after much practice ive found my large V sand back is the best front rest and .. what ever i may need to support the butt.... ive had great results if i do my part... not so good if i do not take my time... but they are a blast to shoot....

 

[bsekf]

CONSISTENCY!!!!! In your grip as well as how you grip AND your rest. Reloading for a break open gun is critical. If it is a 357, use 357 brass and load down You have gotten good information and I think it is your loads.

Bellm is the man! Go to his web site and read his stuff.

Bill

 

[Link]

MGM still makes barrels .?

 

[scubohuntr]

Non-concentric chambers makes a lot of old experience make sense. I had an early 14" in .35 Remington that was an absolute tackdriver. I have owned several others that were only good for suppressing fire. Back when I was gunsmithing, I made a .444 Marlin barrel for a guy out of a 14" .44 Mag, and it was a superb shooter. The factory barrels are often throated fairly long; when combined with the extra 0.10" in a .357 chamber, there is a lot of jump. Not generally conducive to accuracy. Also check the crown. I've seen some poor ones on TC barrels.

 

[riflewoman]

The barrel is 38 Special.
So it's either a very old T/C or an aftermarket, either way, have you tried a few different jacketed bullets ?

It’s genuine T/C. As is the 45 Auto just like it, 10 inch octagonal. I’ve heard they weren’t the best for accuracy, but it’s either this or a $$$ barrel tester. This rig is for testing ammunition at 50. I have a Ransom Rest but that includes the gun as well.

 

[JSH]

The barrel is 38 Special. I bought this and a 45 Auto 10 inch barrel specifically to test reloads and bullets for bullseye pistol shooting. If they won’t shoot in this barrel no sense expecting them to shoot well.

the reason I suspect it was my technique was that the bullets never were predictable at all and my normal load of 2.7 Bullseye behind the same Speer HBWC will hold the X ring at 25 yards out of my 52. At 50 yards in this contender they were 6 inches or bigger.

Ransom rest loads taylored to the specific gun.

IMO, a TC barrel is so far from a good to excellent bullseye rig, waste of time and components.

 

[3Ackleys]

416 Rigby in a pistol? That's gotta have a muzzle blast that would burn all the hair off ones body. I can't imagine.

No it's a 28" rifle

 

[3Ackleys]

MGM still makes barrels .?

Yes. Very good barrels. One of my MGM's is a 20 Vartarg- sweet shooter!

 

[ronsatspokane]

No it's a 28" rifle

One word: "Ouch". I'm not man enough to shoot that. At one time I thought that I needed the parent cartridge of a 338 Lapua I had. That 338 seemed like it made my brain bleed. Decided that going to a 416 Rigby was inadvisable. A guy I shoot sporting clays with has one as well as a 500 Nitro express double rifle. He has never shot them. He plans to soon. I told him to call me when he does. I want to catch the tear dripping from the corner of his eye when he does.