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T/C Contender - click no pew

memilanuk

Gold $$ Contributor
So... a couple years ago I picked up a Contender frame off Gunbroker, and never got around to doing anything with it til now. In the distant past (20+ years ago) I had a Contender with .22LR and .223 Rem barrels, and an Encore with .22-250 rifle barrel. Sold the Contender long, long ago. The Encore frame needs some TLC, so it's been sitting in the safe for about 20 yrs or so :/ Basically a long winded way of saying that I *have* used a Contender before, but so long ago as to probably not entirely matter. I consider myself pretty solid with bolt guns, passable with semi-autos... but I'm very much out of my comfort zone with this single-shot pistol business.

Back to the current Contender frame. Like I said, picked it up used off the internet. Receiver only, with handgun grips. Based on the hammer (different than I remember, doesn't have a rotating safety / selector for rimfire / centerfire) and flat sided / engraved receiver, I'm guessing this is a G1 receiver, not a G2. I picked up a set of OEM carbine furniture, and a 16.5" 300BO/WH barrel from Haus of Arms. Put one of my Gemtech Sandstorm Ti cans on it, grabbed a couple boxes of factory Sig 300BO 220gr ammo, and headed to the range this afternoon.

Ended up being a pretty short trip. Click, no 'pew'. Or 'bang', or 'pop', or anything. Not even a dimple in the primer. I tried rotating the hammer face so as to hit one firing pin or the other... nothing. Made sure the safety was off / not preventing hammer fall. As best as I can tell... the hammer isn't actually falling all the way forward - it's stopping about 1/16" shy of contacting anything. contender1.jpg

I've been perusing the web trying to figure out WTF to do next. I'm kinda sorta wondering if something with the barrel isn't meshing with the firing mechanism in the receiver; it sort of looks like there's a safety or locking bar that needs to drop out of the way to let the hammer fall all the way forward. I *think* this pic shows what I'm talking about ( the rib at the bottom of the hammer vs. the 'bar' under the flathead screw in the back face of the receiver. It's the only thing that 'looks' like it'd be in the way of the hammer doing what it's supposed to do.

contender2.jpg


So at this point... what are my options?
 
memilanuk said:
So... a couple years ago I picked up a Contender frame off Gunbroker, and never got around to doing anything with it til now. In the distant past (20+ years ago) I had a Contender with .22LR and .223 Rem barrels, and an Encore with .22-250 rifle barrel. Sold the Contender long, long ago. The Encore frame needs some TLC, so it's been sitting in the safe for about 20 yrs or so :/ Basically a long winded way of saying that I *have* used a Contender before, but so long ago as to probably not entirely matter. I consider myself pretty solid with bolt guns, passable with semi-autos... but I'm very much out of my comfort zone with this single-shot pistol business.

Back to the current Contender frame. Like I said, picked it up used off the internet. Receiver only, with handgun grips. Based on the hammer (different than I remember, doesn't have a rotating safety / selector for rimfire / centerfire) and flat sided / engraved receiver, I'm guessing this is a G1 receiver, not a G2. I picked up a set of OEM carbine furniture, and a 16.5" 300BO/WH barrel from Haus of Arms. Put one of my Gemtech Sandstorm Ti cans on it, grabbed a couple boxes of factory Sig 300BO 220gr ammo, and headed to the range this afternoon.

Ended up being a pretty short trip. Click, no 'pew'. Or 'bang', or 'pop', or anything. Not even a dimple in the primer. I tried rotating the hammer face so as to hit one firing pin or the other... nothing. Made sure the safety was off / not preventing hammer fall. As best as I can tell... the hammer isn't actually falling all the way forward - it's stopping about 1/16" shy of contacting anything. View attachment 1400430

I've been perusing the web trying to figure out WTF to do next. I'm kinda sorta wondering if something with the barrel isn't meshing with the firing mechanism in the receiver; it sort of looks like there's a safety or locking bar that needs to drop out of the way to let the hammer fall all the way forward. I *think* this pic shows what I'm talking about ( the rib at the bottom of the hammer vs. the 'bar' under the flathead screw in the back face of the receiver. It's the only thing that 'looks' like it'd be in the way of the hammer doing what it's supposed to do.

View attachment 1400431


So at this point... what are my options?
Click to expand...
There is an interlock inside the frame. If it's not engaged the hammer will not fall on the firing pin. It may be dirty and sticking. Try snapping closed and see if the hammer will go all the way forward. No rounds in the chamber please.
 
It’s been so long ago on the Contender but there was on way you had to turn the inside of the hammer so one way it would fire the center fire barrel, twist it the other way and it would fire the rimfire barrel. I sent it back to TC to have them upgrade the hammer and a few other things but I think on the new upgrade it had C for center fire and R for rimfire on the hammer with a lever. I took it hunting once and had been shooting the rimfire barrel and forgot to turn it to center fire. Click no bang. That’s when it went back to TC. This was back in the 70’s so I don’t remember much from then. Encore is a better designed weapon but the Contender just feels better.
 
Ron Gorski said:
There is an interlock inside the frame. If it's not engaged the hammer will not fall on the firing pin. It may be dirty and sticking. Try snapping closed and see if the hammer will go all the way forward. No rounds in the chamber please.
Click to expand...

Went out to the shop and snapped it closed pretty firmly a couple of times. Nada.
 
Ron is on to something there. If it will not drop the hammer all the way on an empty chamber the interlock system is hanging up.

If, by chance, you have another barrel, try it and see if it works then.

Usually the click happens when the case is too long from shoulder to breech face, not allowing the firearm to fully close (even though it feels closed.

I'd take it apart, hose it out really well with brake clean, move all the parts, etc, use some rem oil and try again.

The hammer you have switches from CF to RF by moving that square back and forth (I think) Its been a long time since I have seen a first gen hammer like that.
 
From the second picture you posted, the "screw" on the hammer is set for rimfire. It needs to strike the lower pin in the frame--turn it with a proper screwdriver and try it.

PS--the safety pin is marring your frame face pretty badly. Does it not recess completely?
 
jsn said:
From the second picture you posted, the "screw" on the hammer is set for rimfire. It needs to strike the lower pin in the frame--turn it with a proper screwdriver and try it.
Click to expand...
As mentioned earlier, I've rotated it both ways. Didn't make a difference.

jsn said:
PS--the safety pin is marring your frame face pretty badly. Does it not recess completely?
Click to expand...
It's used. I've fired it - or attempted to - about ten times total. No idea what the previous owner(s) did. Maybe they dropped the hammer with the safety on a bunch? Right now the safety pin literally *can't* hit the frame.
 
Last edited:
The locking lugs/bolts on the barrel may not be fully engaging, thereby not allowing the trigger to function properly. Paint the locking lugs/bolts with a sharpie, and see what you get when you snap it shut.
 
The "screw" should only be turned clockwise, left turn can mess up firing pin? My buddy had a early contender that we went from rf to 223 at the range, believe he mentioned it(many years ago).
 
Probably previous owner sprayed WD40 in there and it is gummed up. Make sure the gun is empty! cock hammer and watch inside, there is a "safety" that slide out of the way to let the hammer drop all the way. You can see it move when you pull the trigger while holding the hammer. Clean with brake cleaner and then Rem Oil. If that isn't it, the barrel is not locking up all the way. Somebody pointed you towards Mike Bellm, read his stuff.
 
In your pictures, the bar under that screw in the frame has to drop down to allow the hammer to go all the way forward and contact one of the firing pins. That screw holds the “plug” in the frame with both firing pins. I have seen those screws back out and keep the hammer from doing it’s job.

Take the barrel off.
The ledge where the lugs/bolts hold the barrel shut, there is a little pivoting lever in there. Push on it and you should hear a click, then the hammer should drop.

Contact me if you need some help over the phone.
Jeff
 
Just got done taking the furniture and barrel off, and used up my last can (about half) of Brakleen hosing out the receiver. Little bit of dirty run-off, but not too bad. No chunks, but as someone mentioned if the previous owners used WD, that stuff can form a varnish film that can cause all sorts of issues. Hopefully I got most of that out. I'm letting it air dry for a bit while I go shopping for fireplaces with the wife, and resupply my stash of brake cleaner ;)
 
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