Does anyone here have any input on this? Do the non-factory barrels such as EABCO or MGM have an accuracy advantage over the TC factory barrels? I understand caliber choice or length desired could require a non-factory barrel but what about 223 or 44 mag? Thanks.

In any case it all depends on the year of Manufacture. Early MGMs very good, Green Mtn blank days not so good, now maybe somewhere in the middle.
Early T/Cs some I had were really good. Now maybe OK.

As for your caliber choices I think blank quality impacts the 223 much more than the 44 mag.

My $.02

Data point
Pre Green Mtn MGM This was a Schilen Blank
http://www.handgunhunt.com/photopost/showphoto.php?photo=3590&ppuser=2724

In my experience, MGM has a slight accuracy edge over factory T/C barrels. The two factory barrels I shot at 100 yards (243 Win and 300 Win Mag) were about 1.5 MOA capable with the handloads I used, although in more experienced hands, they might do a bit better. My two revolver-cartridge MGM barrels (460 S&W and 327 Federal) were about 1.25 MOA with factory ammo and closer to 1 MOA with handloads. My 221 Fireball barrel regularly shoots sub-MOA.

In my opinion a used factory TC barrel is a bit of a luck of the draw. The chambering of some older barrels left a lot to be desired. Newer barrels I am sure are better.

I have barrels by SSK, Bullberry and MGM. All are very good barrels. My last several ordered have all been MGM.

Bob R

I havent played with Contenders in about 20 yrs but I never really saw a difference back then.

My experience with custom Contender barrels is limited to Bullberry and SSK, none of which were chambered to .223 or .44 - they included - among others - .25-20, .32-20, .300 Savage and .35 Remington (my first custom barrel was purchased over 30 years ago when I hunted Kodiak Island every year.) I have owned several dozen factory barrels, and none of them gave group aggregates like my custom barrels do. Most factory barrels were okay, some were very good, but sub-0.7 moa group aggregates were only achievable with the custom barrels.

IME, older Contender barrels were considerably better in quality than barrels made the past 20 years, in both bore finish and chamber dimansions.


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