Thread: G2 Contender Carbine project

After a long wait I received a Contender G2 stainless steel 23" 6.8 SPC barrel recently
It was a parked project for when I had some time to sort it out
Well ill health meant I suddenly had a bit of free time

I don't know why but most factory Contender barrels are full bull barrels. 20.7mm
So this was always going to be a cut and suppress job



I had chronographed some factory ammunition before cutting off 120mm
Which is 260 grams weight saved already



Relatively small hole in a fat barrel = weight

Set it up in the lathe in the fixed steady and faced off and crowned the muzzle
Tapped up the DPT muzzle forward suppressor I had brought from 1/2-20 to 5/8-24
1/2" is pretty small for a high powered rifle suppressor thread
Threaded the barrel and fitted the suppressor



This is the complete 6.8 SPC set up using the quick tool less break down stock screw I make
Sure it could be smaller if taken down at the hinge pin and only needs an allen key.
But this is quick and easy and nothing to loose



This 7075 alloy knurled screw is actually lighter than the factory steel cap screw it replaces !



And this is the entire G2 family ( so far )

6.8 SPC 18 1/2" barrel. Leupold VX3i 2.5-8 CDS

375 Winchester 23" contoured barrel. Leupold MK4 1.5-5 SPR
.22LR full length insert barrel. Only fits in the 375 barrel. But is very accurate

223 16" barrel. Leupold VX3 2.5-8 ( mounts burgled for 6.8 but have others to fit )



This is a closer image of the 22LR / 375 insert
Quite a tricky bit of lathe work



There are a few loose ends to tidy up
The 6.8 barrel needs a barrel band
The 6.8 and 223 barrels will be fluted in sections forward and aft of the barrel bands
I think the 6.8 barrel might still loose another 30mm depending on the velocity losses

And I'm still looking for a dedicated .22LR Contender barrel or any other Contender barrel I can stubb and thread a 22 barrel in to

It's not quite under 6 pounds yet which is the objective
Fluting and another tiny chop should bring it in on weigth
And the 6.8 pre cut liked the factory American Gunner ammunition a lot
3/4 moa with the 8x max scope is perfect for my needs

Cheers

And the blued barrel on the right belongs to someone else
So don't ask

Nice collection, that 22LR insert is impressive, didn't know you could do that! Some day I'll come knocking for one of your knurled alloy screws. Those G2 barrels are heavy, the reason I sold mine and kept the original Contender.
Joel

@joelhenton that full length insert was quite challenging
Getting the main part of it to 9mm diameter when it has a 5.6mm hole through it doesn't leave a lot to work with
The flex wasn't too bad working with a travelling steady
But the whole blank was twisting slightly and I had the speed up fairly high

It shoots 25mm at 50m and 2moa left of center with sub sonics
It references by being fitted around the extractor and has a number of single wraps of insulation tape to avoid scratching the 375s bore

What's the overall weight of the G2 compared to your K95?

Originally Posted by Seventenths

What's the overall weight of the G2 compared to your K95?

@Seventenths Here are the real world numbers

G2 Contender 6.8 with DPT 3073 grams 6 lb 12 oz
without DPT 2873 grams 6 lb 5 oz

Blaser K95 with DPT 3414 grams 7 lb 8 oz
without DPT 3204 grams 7 lb 1 oz

The K95 has a Swarovski Z5 3.5-18x44 scope which is perfect for the rifles intended use but almost twice the weight of the G2s

The most import thing to bear in mind is that the G2 is a small shank receiver and can only safely shoot 30-30 family sized cartridges ( yes I know you can get them in 45-70 but pressure has to be kept low and recoil will become a significant issue ).
Which means that something like the 6.8 is at best a 300m deer cartridge and even that might be pushing it
Whereas the 6.5x65R is easily good for twice that range and then some

In my world the K95 is the perfect alpine hunting rifle and about a perfect weight.
Any lighter and recoil will become a bit of an issue.
Recoil velocity is up there
Breaks down small and have custom dry bags for it all
Easy to use in the field

The G2 fills an entirely different role
Light and short
Ideal for packrafting and fishing and trips when you know you will be wet a lot
Running a trap line
Bush hunting or in light cover
Breaks down very easy without tools and without taking off scope
But seriously limited in range and horsepower
So not the one gun to do it all

If I was a one gun guy ( is that even a thing ? ) it would without doubt be the K95

Ya'll watch out now, I can tell you from experience that these single shots are the cause of a a very nasty affliction, I've had it several times over the years and it keeps coming back.

After a couple of Encore's and Baikal's I'm back to Contender's too.

My "recidivism" was caused by the gift of several hundred rounds of 6.8 SPC ammo, and the only thing available chambered in it was a Contender. My barrel-sets now comprise a (chopped to) 20" 17 HMR, a 300-221 (an early version of the 300 BLK) and the 6.8.

The thing about the G2 Contenders is that they just "hang" so nicely to shoot, the balance is superb, yet even with a 23" barrel they are very very short and handy.

So, my 6.8 is staying as a 23", un-suppressed "pack rifle". Its fitted with one of David's brilliant takedown screws - with these the package is no longer than taking it down by removing the hinge pin, as the scope overhang is still the same, shows up clearly in David's picture. The 6.8 has enough snot to reach to 250M which is plenty far enough for me. It shoots nicely enough (as David has reported "American Gunner" 110's go under MOA). Next time I so walking with a pack it'll ride along.

The 17 HMR is a surprising favourite - its easily the most accurate 17HMR I've shot, and the way it carries and balances is just nice. I chopped it to 20" and it wears a DPT centre fire over barrel suppressor, which really takes the "sting" out of the 17's report, there's just a wee crack of supersonic-ness. Our new place has about 100 to 120M of "visibility" and safe back drops that the magpies come in on. Now its sighted in they are going to take a hammering.

The 300-221 barrel is dedicated to subs, I'll hardly ever use it, but just occasionally there's a need to be very stealthy - like when a few years ago we (Kiwi-hunter and I) got to take out a decent red stag hiding out in the local golf course.

I just thought I would post in this old thread images of the completed Contender three barrel set

There has been plenty of Contender traffic on the forum lately
I'm still looking for a barrel to stub and put a 22 RF on

The last job was flouting the 6.8SPC barrel 8 flutes m6 ball end
Have shot a few deer, a pig and some wallabies with the 6.8 and found it a great little killer out to 350m



@Stocky if you buy the .410 barrel and don't need it I would buy it to stub
@Scout if your 223 barrel shoots like shot I will do the same !
Remember minute of goat is smaller than minute of deer

These Contenders are nice to carry and use
As accurate as needed within the limits of the calibers
Break down nicely and very practical for extended use in damp conditions like fishing and packrafting ( and this summer in Canterbury! )

Oi. You forgot the most important bit . . . How much weight did the fluting remove!

Not that much really
But it goes faster up hills and has 50 meters more range just because it's pimped !

they look sweet nice fluting

Hi Akaroa,
who fluted your barrels? I have an Encore with two barrels and I couldn't find anyone willing to do the fluting.

Originally Posted by 243wssm

Hi Akaroa,
who fluted your barrels? I have an Encore with two barrels and I couldn't find anyone willing to do the fluting.

I suspect, and hope, that he did it himself.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Originally Posted by 243wssm

Hi Akaroa,
who fluted your barrels? I have an Encore with two barrels and I couldn't find anyone willing to do the fluting.

@243wssm all flying and barrel bands and woodwork done by me

Currently started a G1 contender project that entered the queue
G1 22 LR barrel needs shortening, threading for suppressor, barrel sling mount band, captive hinge pin, fluting, new fore end and quick take down screw
So the G1 will get the full treatment
Then I have a G1 barrel to stub, barrel and chamber 30-30
Hoping to do some serious light weighting on is and have a 5 pound G1 30-30 hunting rifle for my grandson
Currently 4 months old !

Fluting!
Like I say spell check clearly doesn't speak gun language