Ok I can’t take it anymore I purchased an older Contender and it’s just been one thing after another. I don’t guess I’ll ever get to hunt with it. So as some of you might remember I started a thread about my 44mag barrel splitting cases.

Well I sent the barrel in to TC. Then I bought a .223 super 14 took it out to shoot it would not work it would close but would not fire. So I called Ed’s Contenders he explained since my frame was 1970 mod the new barrels 1981 or newer would not work without the easy open conversion. So called TC they said send it with the barrel for the conversion, so I did.


Mean while they trash my 44mag barrel and send me a new 45/410 barrel great customer service could not ask for better. Now I’ve had to 45/410 barrel for a month and have been waiting for the frame and 223 barrel to return.

Well today It finally arrived took it out to shoot the .223 barrel did great I didn’t have any 45s or 410s so I left that barrel home. Got home tonight thought I would try the 45/410 barrel on guess what it don’t fit, go figure.

Now what to do send the frame and 45/410 barrel in and have them fitted throw it in the closet and enjoy the .223. Anyway if you guys have any thoughts I’m open to suggestions. Thanks again Chris

could they have given you a encore barrel for the contender frame?

Hows it not fitting

The 45/410 is a G2/Contender barrel. When installed on my frame it will not close. If you install it in the closed position it will not open.


I have not called TC yet but heres what I think. The frame is a 1970 only pre 1981 barrels will work. I first purchased a .204 but when I got home it did not fit just like the 45/410. So I returned back to the store with the .204 barrel and my frame showed the owner he was as puzzled as I was.

The store had an older Super 14 .223 barrel new in the box but it was old left over stock. I tried it on my frame and it fit so I took it.

About a week later I tried to shoot the .223 it would not fire. Thats when I called Eds Contenders and he explained that only pre 1981 barrels would work on my frame with out the easy open conversion.

Now my 223 barrel shoots great but I'm going to guess only pre G2 barrels are going to work with this frame. But thats better than only pre 1981 barrels right. The ejector and lower part that fits in to the frame on the 45/410 is 2.620in long from front to rear and the .223 is only 2.500in thats the only different. Anyway I'm going to call TC tomorrow. Thanks Chris,

i thaugh g2 and contender after 81 were able to use the same barrels

It deals with the locking mechanism and spring. I had to send several of my barrels in and have these parts replaced. Same problems, would not open if installed closed and vica versa.
Not sure of the exact name of the parts.

Va, I feel your pain. I have many (15) contender barrels and each one is interchangable on all my frames (5) including G2 except for one stinking frame that is an older early 70's frame. I have some rally old barrels and they wont interchange on it. It only works with the 44 mag bull barrel and choke tube that came on it. This particular barrel still has the 1-piece locking lug and it is not easy opening. I would go to a shop and trade it for either a new Contender frame or get into the Encores. I called TC about my older barrels and they sent me 2-pc locking lugs for free, but the newer barrels still won't work on my old frame.