Does anyone have a contender rifle in a Rimfire caliber? 22, 17HMR or 17m2? I have a 10” MGM 17m2 barrel and I am considering having a rifle length barrel made in 17m2 to squirrel hunt with. I’m concerned with accuracy. Anybody got one and can comment either way?

In a Contender, the accuracy is going to be contingent on the quality of barrel you put on it. The action will not be holding it back.

You put a good tube in that action , it will shoot as well as any other rimfire rifle of similar weight.

I would not go longer than a 20 or 21" barrel ,myself.

Thank you for the reply. Match Grade Machine is about the only game in town now.

EABCO still make bbls?
What about SSK ?

Rimfire.....could stub it

I've got a couple of MGM rimfire contender rifle barrels. First one I got was a 21" bull barrel 17wsm. It was so fantastically accurate and such a pleasure to shoot that I had them make me another 17wsm barrel in 18" thin profile (for a pack rifle version.) It also is extremely accurate. Later I bought two TC Custom Shop Super 16 barrels when I saw them pop up for sale (17hmr and 22lr). Those also perform very well although they can be harder to track down versus having MGM make you one.

And I agree about keeping the length to no more than 20 or 21". That seems about perfect for balance although I don't mind them a bit shorter. Longer though is not great - I've got a 23" .204 ruger barrel and that one is very front heavy and awkward feeling unless it's on bags or a bipod.