A tough time to get into Contenders. Factory is closed and used prices are through the roof. The new SSK 50 Contender frames will be affordable when they finally become available. Wood stocks and grips are very expensive currently. Used barrels are selling for more than TC's retail prices. Demand has outstripped supply.
What muffin said. As stated above contender prices are bringing a premium now a days. You may be able to find a complete gun cheaper than piecing it together
MGM IMO is one of the best barrels out there for the contenders.
I hear you - I just went down the rabbit hole on a Contender pistol piecing one together. 7-30 Waters barrel from ebay ($370), frame from Gunbroker ($500) and Bushnell Elite 2-6 EER scope (LNIB) from ebay ($300). The only bargain was the nice wood grip set from the 24Hour classifieds ($50)
With dies and brass, I'm probably in just north of $1300 but am pretty happy with how it turned out and it was a fun project over several months trying to find just the right pieces:
![[Linked Image from i.imgur.com]](https://i.imgur.com/vuitjfR.jpg)
