Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Single Shots Contender .22 barrels

Anyone have experience with factory Contender .22LR barrels vs. customs like MGM?

Would like to know if the custom is worth the extra $100. I am impressed with the workmanship on my MGM .44, but factory "Match" barrels are all over the web for $300 or so, and ready to ship.

Thanks.

I shoot IHMSA and a lot of the small-bore guys use TC factory "match" barrels. My brother has a 14" barrel that is not a match barrel and it shoots lights out. I have 10" TC .22 match barrel that shoots better than I do. You do you, but I wouldn't spend the extra money.

My factory "Match" 22LR barrel easily out-shoots 3 of my 5 tuned 10/22's.... I'm happy with it.

Thanks guys.

Pappy, I don't have any T/C LR barrels, just a .22 short match and a .30-30.

The .30-30 @100 yards:


The .22 short at 25 yards with an elbow rest:


The .22 short at about 15 yards:


Bullberry makes good stuff...

.22 LR


.30 Sneezer


I dunno anything about MGM barrels but never heard anything bad about them. So, the short answer to your question is I don't see much difference unless one is dedicated to competition shooting.

I have several other .22s, but the purpose of one for the TC would be as an understudy for my .44, a serious deer-killing machine (I hope). Wouldn't mind paying a bit more if there was a good chance of getting a real star, one that could replace one of my others.

With deer-killing in mind, I just cranked out 10 test rounds featuring 225gr XPBs over some 2400 in some jewel-like Starline brass. Wish me luck; I really like the way those spendy XPBs open up.

Okay guys, you talked me into it (I'm pretty easy). Factory SS Match barrel headed this way. Scope and mounts already in hand.

The .44 will whack most anything in NA. I use 300’ish gr cast and paper patch....boom-flop every time.

Thinking you will be pleased Pappy. My match barrel is very fine.

You will be pleased. I have 4 TC factory 22 rimfire barrels. The 14" SS Match is a shooter for sure, I need to upgrade optics to the 36x Weaver or 45x Sightron.

Where did you buy your 22 match barrel?


Where did you buy your 22 match barrel?

Haus of Arms.

Lots of places have them, but HoA's price was competitive when you factor in their free shipping, and they ship fast. I ordered mine Monday, and it shipped Tuesday. Arrives 06/01. I also bought my MGM .44 barrel from them.

Pappy, just for chitts'n giggles, when you get your .44 barrel....bullets are available from Montana Precision Swaging....







Li'l Gun will be your friend...

Already have the .44. Dialed it in with my usual XTPs over H110. Tried some XPBs yesterday over 2400, and was badly disappointed. Have enough to try H110 and Li'l Gun too before giving up on them.

First time out, I also tried some plinking loads I' made up for my Low Wall with Hornady swaged HPs over Trail Boss. Accuracy was sufficient for the purpose, but they lead just a bit, just like in the LW, even at about 900fps or so. Gonna Alox the next batch before loading to see if it helps. They hit pretty high compared to full-power loads, but not as high as they do in the Browning.

Those bullets look like the real deal. That patching looks like Tyvek. Do you cut your own?

Do cut them myself with 9# onion skin having around 25% cotton rag content.

Barrel showed up yesterday, and looks pretty nice. Had a bit of trouble at first getting the hammer to cock, but snapping it closed sharply a couple of times fixed that.

One problem remains. The screws for the EGW rail are too long (or the holes in the barrel too shallow, take your pick). The identical mount worked perfectly on the MGM barrel. I hate crap like that.

EDIT: Filed the screws and put some epoxy under the rail to boot. Oughta hold on a .22. Waiting for a still day.

When you get to shooting would you inspect the cases and look for a bulge where the extractor matches up. Mine leaves a small bulge right there and I am thinking about sending some fired cases in to TC and get their opinion. Shot it around 600 times so far no problems and steller accuracy so I hate to send the barrel back but I don't want to deal with a gas escape either.

[quote=Stump Buster]My factory "Match" 22LR barrel easily out-shoots 3 of my 5 tuned 10/22's.... I'm happy with it.[/quote


Hmmmm, doesn’t say much for tunes 10/22s.

Boy that is a fact! Mine will hammer a bunch of bullets into around 3/8ths of an inch at 50 yards. I was in the lane next to a young guy who had a bull barrel 10/22 custom and he was having trouble getting ten shot groups under an inch. When he saw my target he started saying he was ripped off and started acting pissed. I have seen some nice shooting custom 10/22's but his was not one of them.

I had a Contender .22LR and they are accurate. Ultimately traded it.

It won't out shoot this 10-22., Volquartsen barrel, Jard fire control unit, Hogue stock.

DF