I have access to both barrels and a lot of brass for both. Which one would be easier for a very new reloader to do? Also I am wanting to load the 158 grain XTP in the 35 so any help or knowledge with that bullet will help. I may even do the 180 SSP also. I am only hunting whitetails and will be using a Contender with a 14 inch barrel.

Straightwalls like the 41 mag are easier to load than bottlenecks like the 35 Rem.

Ok I figured that after reading some of the forums. I would rather use the 35 though so guess like usual I am going to do things the hard way. Thanks Rod.

I like the 180 SSPB in a 35 Rem. They have always been very accurate and slam deer! JMO though. Good luck

Not all that hard. I don't do the 35, but there are others here that can help with that one. Just DO IT ;-)

The biggest thing with Contenders and Encores with the bottle neck cartridges is headspace. Don't assume just because it's a rimmed cartridge that the headspace will be right. Misfires are a constant issue with T/C barrels. There are a lot of us that can help you when you get to that point and my buddy Mike Bellm has a website that has a lot of good info on it as well as special tools for checking headspace on the T/C's.

I have looked at Mike's website alot before I even decided to do this. I used to shoot my contender alot when I was younger but just kind of put it aside. I have had it for 22 years. It has misfired acouple times on .357 mag. Once at a deer but I thought it was because I was using cheap ammo but after lots of reading I am not so sure. Will be interesting to see what happens. I am ready for this new adventure and from what I can tell from you guys it is addicting.

First thing I would do is change the hammer spring on the contender no matter what barrel you choose. I had a couple of random misfires and could not figure out what was wrong. I assumed it was my reloads because I was new to reloading. The problem was the hammer spring in my gun. I was told on this site that the hammer springs in a contender don't last as long as other guns because of the way it's made. I put a new hammer spring in and wow what a difference. I could tell immediately when I pulled the hammer back the first time that it was the problem.

Ok. Are they hard to change?

They can be frustrating.

I would not say it is easy but I would not call it hard either. Just a little patience and pay attention how the spring comes out. Another good tip from this site was a set punches of various sizes. This makes the spring change easier. Look on youtube it has everything else.