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Post by indigowolf on Dec 27, 2013 21:17:26 GMT -5
I've been toying with the idea for a while to build a woods gun out of a TC Contender. I know I know its a crazy idea but here is what I'm thinking... Contender, 44mag, 8" barrel with fixed sights dovetailed in place f&r, Pachmeir or Hogue combat grip, in a high ride holster. Here is why... The wife and I enjoy taking a stroll on the trails up in the New Hampshire mountains. An easy trail at high altitude is still a challenge to her. My mouse gun rides along at all times anyhow but I would like to have a more potent hand gun should we encounter a bear, moose, or mountain lion,etc. that is more interested in coming after us than steering clear of our presence. Not that we have even run across one yet while on the trail, but we are aware that they are in the area and others have seen bears on several occasions. Maybe I'm over thinking it. The Contender would be slimmer and more light weight(my thoughts)than any other style hand gun with as much punch. Although it is only a single shot I would have a full speed strip in my pocket as back up as well as my .380acp. My other woods guns in the past were .357, 22LR, and 44mag revolvers ... it really varied as to where I was hiking or hunting and what I might encounter. Has anyone built one like this before? Pictures.? What are your thoughts?
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Post by taffin on Dec 27, 2013 21:37:16 GMT -5
I've been toying with the idea for a while to build a woods gun out of a TC Contender. I know I know its a crazy idea but here is what I'm thinking... Contender, 44mag, 8" barrel with fixed sights dovetailed in place f&r, Pachmeir or Hogue combat grip, in a high ride holster. Here is why... The wife and I enjoy taking a stroll on the trails up in the New Hampshire mountains. An easy trail at high altitude is still a challenge to her. My mouse gun rides along at all times anyhow but I would like to have a more potent hand gun should we encounter a bear, moose, or mountain lion,etc. that is more interested in coming after us than steering clear of our presence. Not that we have even run across one yet while on the trail, but we are aware that they are in the area and others have seen bears on several occasions. Maybe I'm over thinking it. The Contender would be slimmer and more light weight(my thoughts)than any other style hand gun with as much punch. Although it is only a single shot I would have a full speed strip in my pocket as back up as well as my .380acp. My other woods guns in the past were .357, 22LR, and 44mag revolvers ... it really varied as to where I was hiking or hunting and what I might encounter. Has anyone built one like this before? Pictures.? What are your thoughts? THE ORIGINAL CONTENDERS IN .44 MAGNUM HAD 10" BARRELS; SHOULD BE EASY TO FIND ONE. .380 ACP TO BACK UP A .44 MAGNUM? ?
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Post by Encore64 on Dec 27, 2013 22:02:19 GMT -5
Like John said, 10" contender barrels are easy. Any would shorten to 8", but not sure there is a point in it. I wouldnt use a 380 to back up a sling shot.
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seancass
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Post by seancass on Dec 27, 2013 22:20:37 GMT -5
Google was useless in finding the exact weight of a Contender, but I'd like to know if its any lighter than a Blackhawk. When i got an Encore, the biggest surprise to me was finding the gun to be absolutely Huge! Granted Encores are bigger than contenders, but even Contenders don't feel light or handy to me.
I just dont see the advantage of the tc ever outweighing the fact that you only get one shot! I feel like a super Blackhawk would be better in any possible defensive situation AND handier to carry.
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Post by indigowolf on Dec 27, 2013 22:34:57 GMT -5
Aside from the .380 issue (my every day carry bug). Yes, my old SBH with a 4 5/8" barrel stoked with 310gr Keith style bullets was way ahead of my .380acp LCP. One I don't want that kind of weight and two I'm fairly confident in my abilities to do my part. An eight inch barrel will far surpass that four plus inch SBH's punch. I realize I'm asking primarily a group of big bore revolver guys. As hunting weapons Contenders have stood the test of time. Is the Contender concept a viable woods gun on its own standing?
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Post by foxtrapper on Dec 27, 2013 23:57:37 GMT -5
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Post by curmudgeon on Dec 28, 2013 0:08:39 GMT -5
I had the same concept in mind when I built my Howdah series, back in the 80's. The last Howdah was a 5" bbl'd 500 Jurras. Strange concept maybe but it brought 2K dollars. There is always something for somebody. Might check with J.D. Jones.
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Post by curmudgeon on Dec 28, 2013 0:12:39 GMT -5
That's JDJones @ SSK Inddustries.
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Post by jayhawker on Dec 28, 2013 0:22:39 GMT -5
A single shot for a bear is a bad bad idea. Getting that speed strip out of a pocket and reloading during a bear attack is very unlikely. Just my opinion. Lee, I remember your Howda pistols, always liked the idea. Note the original Howdas were usually 2 shots fast.
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seancass
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Post by seancass on Dec 28, 2013 1:02:02 GMT -5
Aside from the .380 issue (my every day carry bug)One I don't want that kind of weight and two I'm fairly confident in my abilities to do my part. An eight inch barrel will far surpass that four plus inch SBH's punch. 1. I'm still wondering if the TC is any lighter. I'd honestly be surprised if it is. I think it'll also be even bulkier than your current gun, in width, height, and obviously length. 2. I'm no pro, so i would never question your abilities. But no matter how fast you are on the speedstrip, a revolver will be faster for all follow-up shots. You may be very fast and accurate, but the animal may have anger and desperation. Those two can trump good shooting! 3. Punch. Shooting the same bullet, you're talking about, what, 200fps difference between the two guns? At bear-defense ranges, that's hardly enough to make up for follow-up speed and ease of carry. Edit: 4. Contenders are good guns with a loyal following. They are excellent hunting arms and have proven themselves for decades. None of that means they're great for bear defense or any other defense. Sure, they should work. And they're reliable. But i think there are better choices and i think you already own a prime example.
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Post by contender on Dec 28, 2013 6:31:37 GMT -5
If nobody beats me too it,, I'll weigh my Contender & a 10" bbl by tomorrow. That will help your decision.
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jsh
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Post by jsh on Dec 28, 2013 7:12:59 GMT -5
I have a fair jag of tc stuff. Several in calibers that would work well to excellent to "hunt" critters you mention. To protect myself from something with teeth and claws a tc is not my first choice. A .380 in places where four legged critters are more likely to be run across than two legged is just a trinket IMHO. Where I live worst thing we could have is mt lion but there are none in the state the keep telling us. Second would be the occasional feral dog. A .22 works but bigger is better a 357 is my trail gun. With what you mention I would suggest a .44 special with loads you can handle well. I see so many with CC guns and so few that are proficient with them in my home state. Jeff
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Post by curmudgeon on Dec 28, 2013 8:00:27 GMT -5
Killed my first GRIZZLY in AK with a 375 Howdah less than 50 yds. FWIW dept Also carried 44 Mag and 44 AM but never got the opportunity. a 270 gr. Hornady Spire point @ 1800 fps.
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Post by indigowolf on Dec 28, 2013 8:44:32 GMT -5
I had the same concept in mind when I built my Howdah series, back in the 80's. The last Howdah was a 5" bbl'd 500 Jurras. Strange concept maybe but it brought 2K dollars. There is always something for somebody. Might check with J.D. Jones. I remember seeing pictures of your Howdah somewhere back in the day .... Likely where the idea came from. Thanks foxtrapper for the picture, now imagine some old school BP sights dovetailed in place. Yes. The state game dept says we don't have mt lions here either despite sightings of big cats. I would be more concerned with running into a bull moose with an attitude than the black bear to tell the truth. 99.99% of the time when bears are encountered they are already hightailing it out of the area. Humans are not exactly quiet walking through the woods, I know my wife has a hard time keeping her ..um.. ideas to her self. I've had to deal with a feral? dog pack while hiking in Michigan's lower peninsula. My S&W kit gun handled the situation quite well. A 22 has been my go to gun for so many years that if Ruger had come out with 22lr in their LCP first I'd have never bought the .380 . It rides in my pocket every day where ever I go. I am pretty confident it will get the job done should it be pressed into use. It would just be nice to have something a little bigger along while out on the trail. Back to the Contender.. I don't have a gun I could even hunt with should I choose to. Hunting deer in Michigan my longest shot was 25 yards. My .357 and 45acp were up to the task and did quite well. Here In New Hampshire I think I would look for a similar area with dense woods. I don't like hunting over a field at all. My ideal Contender would also fill this role.
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Post by curmudgeon on Dec 28, 2013 14:50:18 GMT -5
I carried two rounds in my left hand, one between index and middle finger, the other between middle and ring finger. Practiced shooting and loading, broke the gun open as it was coming down out of recoil. Have had people say they thought I was shooting a repeater. All it takes is practice. Spotted that bear on a rockslide about two miles away with a spotting scope in front of our campsite. Chased after him for 4 hours before I had a good shot. Never any question in my mind that I would get him just wanted a 50 yd or less shot. Didn't relish the idea of tracking a wounded Grizz into a alder thicket. He was feeding on some berries in the open an every couple minutes he would stand up on his hind legs and sniff around. I was lying prone and each time he dropped down to feed, I scooted up a few yards. He was facing me and I amed for ceter chest. At the shot he dropped like a rock, as soon as he hit the ground he was up and spun around quartering away from me. The second shot hit at rear ribs bullet going forward, at that hit he bawled again and turned quartering toward me. Put the third round in and thought I wait till he was at arms length and give him the last one down the throat. A Grizz charging is like an African Lion. As they get to what they think is the adversary, will rise up on there hind legs and swat with a huge paw. I noticed as he was quartering towards me he was trailing something. I knew he had never seen me or new where the pain came from. He was about 20 yd away when he dropped his final step. An autopsy showed the first shot punched a hole thru his heart I could stick my thumb thru, the bullet exited his ribs leaving a 4" exit hole, what he was dragging that I saw and couldn't figure out was about 8' of intestine. The third shot was not fired. by the time I walked that 20 yds to him he expired. He was running till he bled out. But was dead at the first shot, he just didn't know it. Typical Grizz. By the time I had him green skinned and pelt strapped to my pack board it was dark. I ccould see the lights from the camp about a mile away and fortunately was all downhill. No moon and pitch black. When I finally got to camp I looked like I had been in a fight. Walking downhill with about 85-90 lbs, of greenn hide doesn't balance well in the dark and alder branches whipped my face to a farethewell.On the way back the outfitter to whom I had been acting as an assistant guide heard me crashing thru the brush and called out, asked if I needed any help, said yes, you can carry my binocs, and gun. Said I had designed the cartridge, built the gun, stalked the bear, killed and dressed it and carried it back to camp. Also told him he could cape it. As tired as I was I didn't trust myself caping around, nose eyes and lips. Which was what he did while I cleaned up the hide . That was my seventh trip to Alaska trying to get a Grizz with a Handgun. Have taken Moose, and Caribou but first an only Grizz with a handgun, But have had plenty of practice. Neither bullet recovered total penetration with plenty of internal damage. But that's why you don't quit shooting till the bear is down. The outfitter heard me shoot said he didn't think it was me cause the shots were to fast. I'm no Mikulik but I was fast with a T/C back in the day. FWIW dept.
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