I have just purchased a Contender with the 222 and 357 barrels. It is the older model but im not sure what year it's from. What I would like to know is what barrels do I set out to buy??? I have read alot about not using the G2 because they get stuck. Can anyone help me out with this.
Thank you

Gday F16.. welcome
Grab a beer and sit nearby the fire

Vince (the guy whose beer you drink) useTC guns, not sure what type or caliber..
He might be able to answer you..
otherwise, just hang tight, someone would pipe up.

Gidday Crewdog...welcome aboard mate.

As Gelan said, I was a TC shooter, with my calibre of choice being the 30.30 Win. When you say it is an older model mate, how old.

Does it have a hexagonal barrel?

Is it the BBL model with the dual firing pin arrangement changed by a screw in the back of the hammer...and a square safety lock on the right hand side of the hammer...plain wooden TC grip and fore-end?

Does it have the factory grip with the rubber "backstrap" on the grip?

I cannot comment on the G2 because I have never owned one...mine was the BBL model that I purchased back in the mid 80's. I never had a problem with that pistol, and it survived on a diet of factory 30.30 rounds and my reloads...both jacketed and cast bullets. I never had a "fail to fire", never had a problem with a stuck case, the gun didn't "shoot loose" in the near 20 yrs I had it. I cannot say enough about the TC Contender I owned...a simply magnificent firearm and a damn sight more accurate than me.

Cheers, Vince

Yes, the how old question is quite valid.

I have one from the early 1990s and have had no problems using G2 barrels on it. If you have an older one that doesn't have the "easy open" modification, T/C can do it for you.

As far as what barrels you should buy? You say you have 222 and 357 barrels but don't mention the length or what kind of sights they have. In my opinion, with the excellent accuracy the Contender is capable of, it's well worth scoping the barrels. A 357 Magnum barrel should have quite adequate accuracy out to 50 yards but may not have enough oomph for good 100 yard accuracy. I took the above Black Wildebeest with a scoped Contender with a 10 inch 357 Herrett barrel that's capable of 1.5 inch 3 shot groups off the bench at 100 yards.

If you want a varmint rig, your 222 barrel would be fine. I have a 222 heavy rifle barrel for mine and have taken every thing from rabbits to deer with it. A 30/30 barrel would be even better for deer. If you want an elephant stopper, go the the 375 JDJ (yea, I have one of those as well).

Maybe a .35 remington for your deer sized stuff and you could share bullets that you use for your .357 probably not the other way though, also Hornady makes a 180g s.s.p. (single shot pistol) that is a spitzer shape and works great in all the .35's I've tried it in up to .35 Whelen.