I'm looking for some information on Contender carbine barrels. I used to have a lot of fun with Contender pistols, but they've gathered dust for years. I came across a carbine stock and forearm the other day. I'm thinking I'd like to dust of the frames and play with a carbine. So I'm looking for a 16" or longer barrel. No specific chambering in mind yet, just looking to see what's available.

The dilemma is that the carbine forearm has a single attachment screw. Generally the carbine and rifle barrels I see have two attachment screws, just like my pistol barrels. I did spot one, well-used .223 on a "major auction site" that shows a single attachment point. It seems like it should match up with my carbine wood.

This is the first evidence of a single screw configuration I've seen. Can any of you enlighten me on the history? I have a hunch there was a design change along the way. I'd like to find a barrel compatible with the stock/forearm set I've located, but they don't seem very common.

If any of you have some insight or sources of single fastener barrels, I'd appreciate your thoughts.

Thanks much,

Krogen

I'll look at mine when I get a chance: I have 7-30 Waters, 35 Rem and 223.

Ed's Contenders has a few factory barrels left.
Ed's Contenders, Thompson Contenders and Encores.

I have been enjoying my 10" barrels in 221 Fireball and 22 Hornet on varmints as hand guns. The thought of single shot break action rifles would be a step back to my H&R 219 days.

Ivan

I’d get in touch with Mike Bellm.

Bob Milek told me to contact Mike for several conversions I wanted/needed. (36 years ago.) Damn I’m getting old.

I did get the 6mm-223 barrel that I asked Bob about, from Mike. Once Mike and I sorted out our differences, (to say the least,) I got many more wildcat/different barrels from him. I’m glad I didn’t fly down from Alaska to Oregon to accept his offer to a fight, and then a beer AFTER he picked ME up. The offer was interesting though.

Jim

Thanks for the ideas, guys. When I posted I wondered if anybody would know what a Contender is these days. Admittedly, mine have been sleeping for years. But it underlines why I don't sell anything. It's not the first time I've dusted something off that I'd lost interest in, and been glad I didn't send it down the road.

I have a 17 Remington that was originally 14". It had a piece of 22 bbl stubbed onto it and pinned, making it a legal 16 1/2" rifle bbl. It's forend has one screw and an attachment bar under it that connects to the two bbl screws. I also have rifle bbls in 223 and 7/30 and 30 Badger, a 38 special necked to 30 cal. Add to that three Encore rifle bbls, there is a lot you can get done with a single shot.

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Front sight and squeeze

Another option if you are not set on factory barrels is a custom barrel from Bullberry. While mine has a 2 screw hanger bracket, the foreend only attaches with one screw into the hanger bracket. They built me a beautiful SS HB in 218 Mashburn Bee.
Custom Firearms | Bullberry Barrel Works, Ltd. | United States

Funny, just read this and in today's mail I got a catalog from Natchez Shooters Supply and right there on pg 58 is a selection of Contender and Encore barrels.

If the illustrations are accurate, they have one attachment hole visible. Some of them seem a bit pricey, but they might be worth a look.

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Tony

I'll have a look, thanks! I received the same catalog, but it went into the recycling. Should still be there for me to fish out. I wonder if they're clearing out old stock.

Still a bit of a dilemma, my 14" pistol barrels have two attachment points. They're from mid 80's to 2005 or so. I don't know if a single fastener is associated with an older configuration or the 16" carbine barrel, or... ?

Your 10" barrels have one dovetail
unless they've been cut down from 12" or 14"

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Think twice, shoot once.

Indeed they do! Thanks for catching that. I corrected my post.

I'm still trying to figure out if there are 16" or longer barrels out there with a single dovetail. The carbine kit forearm has a single screw hole. It looks like it would align with a 10" barrel attachment point.

Back in the late 80's, i put together a 7-30 Waters carbine using the Super 16 barrel and the rynite fore-end and buttstock. The barrel only has the front attachment point, while the fore end has holes for using both attachments.

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Peace was my Profession

The early 16's and 21's used a single forearm screw, but those barrels were
tapered as I recall.

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Think twice, shoot once.

Use a Super 14 that you enjoy as a pistol and have David White install an extension for use as a carbine
T/C Contenders, G2, Encore - David's Forum

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Think twice, shoot once.

The adapter that is held in place with the original screw has 2 screw in holes, and is common (at least used to be years ago) when using 14" barrels. I think there may still be one in my accumulation of Contender parts, and now since I have sold off all my Contenders I wouldn't need. If you need one PM me and I'll go look and see If I can find it.

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H Richard
SWCA1967 SWHF244

Thanks, H Richard. Sorry for my silence. I missed your post until this morning. I'll have to take a closer look. I don't know if there's room for an adapter in the forearm channel. The longest barrels I have are Super 14. I'm hoping to find a single-screw barrel 16" or longer so I can put this unused carbine buttstock to use. Not that I "need" to do this; I just want to play with a Contender in carbine configuration.

If you have access to gun shows near you that may be a possibility.
I used to have a Contender. At the MVGCA gun show in Maumee, Oh. There was a vendor that had 4 tables of Contender items. New & used. Boy, they knew their stuff. Might want to try some shows. Bob