Problems with my Contender

[NorCalAl]

Went out shooting my TC Contender (not G2) yesterday. I was shooting some of the old 62g Wolf 223 that I had since I got rid of my Mini14. While shooting it, a couple times I had troubles breaking open the action. It would open partway, then seem to stick. Since I recently bought this gun, used, and even more recently added a bipod (which doesn't interfere with the action, but since it was resting on the bipod, I thought maybe that's why I was having trouble opening it), I initially thought it was that I was unfamiliar with the gun. I switched to a 55g Wolf round and then it wouldn't open at all.

You can't fire a Contender all that fast, so I don't think it was too hot or had anything to do with it heating up (that was a suggestion from another guy at the range). Eventually, I got it open, but the extractor claw seems 'stuck' under the rim of the cartridge. I can rotate the case, but I can't pull it past the extractor.

I'm thinking I could do one of a couple of things: I could push the cartridge out with a cleaning rod and see if it breaks free of the extractor claw. I could try using a small screwdriver to get a little more leverage on the case and pop it out (or see if I can!). Or I can send the whole kit n' kaboodle to TC.

What I'm hoping is that some of you out there with a TC have experienced something like this and can tell a Contender noob that it's common and here's the fix. Yeah, right.

Anyway, any ideas? This happen to you in the past? I had perhaps 60 rounds through it prior to the failure to extract/open. Only cleaning I'd done during that time was a pull-through of my boresnake. Um, help?!

 

[rcmodel]

Probably a dirty filthy chamber.
Bore-Snakes are fine as far as it goes, but they do next to nothing at all about chamber fouling.
Notice they don't call them "Chamber-Snakes"!

#1 Knock the empty out with a cleaning rod.
#2 Throughly clean the chamber with a bronze .38 cal. bore brush & solvent, chucked up in an electric drill.

If you have been shooting older Wolf ammo in it, there may be a layer of baked on lacquer crud in the chamber that is very hard to remove.

The drill & spinning bore brush will take it out.


rcmodel

 

[BlindJustice]

I'd also give the chamber a cleaning.

What frame do you have? I have the new
G2 Contender - it still takes any barrel but the
improvements are easier opening and the
hammer can be recocked without having to break
the action open. It also has a changed grip
that is easier on the shooter in terms of felt
recoil.

My only experience with the extractor issue
is: Talking with someone who had a Bullberry barrel
the extractor didn't work wel so he made one
that did. - beyond my mehanical abilirty

I bought the WIlson Combat bore brush for a
.45 - it comes with a wood handle and seemed
like a good idea. I've only had the 1911 for a month
and I'm waiting to get it back from my gunsmith for
an MSH swap to a flat one.

 

[Oldnamvet]

http://www.bellmtcs.com/

If all else fails, contact Mike Bellm. He is an expert on the Contender and answers emails personally. Also, lots of good contender info on his site and in his newsletters. All free of course.

 

[mrhog]

It could be that wolf ammo!! I was informed that it was very dirty and coated with a lacquer

 

[NorCalAl]

The Wolf ammo isn't as bad as it used to be. And the extractor was able to get the shell out about 1/4", then the claw just stays in the groove. Tomorrow I'll push out - or try to push out - the casing and clean the chamber.
Thanks so much for the advice! Man, would I have felt stupid sending in gun because it was dirty!!

 

[Okiecruffler]

I made the mistake of shooting some wolf in my contender and experienced the same problem. Rounds were very sticky and hard to eject. And this was from a spotless chamber. Might also ad they didn't group for beans either.

 

[NorCalAl]

I had no trouble with accuracy. This was my second time with the gun and I was hitting a 1gal milk container at 300 yards. I had no complaints.

 

[Okiecruffler]

Sounds like they shoot a little better in your's than mine. Best I could do were some really random looking 3 inch groups @ 100. But my barrel is unfond of factory rounds in general. Still even if mine would shoot them into 1/10" groups I wouldn't shoot tem again. Too much hassle. And just to verify, I'm not a Wolf hater, sent cases of 9mm and 45 downrange in various guns and never had a problem one.