The original T/C Contender is out of production. It's replacement in the product line is the G2 Contender. I don't have any personal experience with the G2, but have heard it will take original Contender barrels, but the reverse is not true.
Have also heard the G2 is easier to open than the original, and can be recocked without opening the action, though why this particular feature is a plus is a mystery to me...
have also heard G2's don't have quite as good triggers as original Contenders, but cannot say if its true, or not from personal experience.
I have a couple of Contender frames, and barrels in
.22LR
.22 Hornet
.222 Rem
.30-30 Win
9mm Luger
.357 Mag
.44 Mag
.45 Colt
.45Colt/.410
.45 Win Mag
.45-70
Everything was bought used, at gun shows, over quite a few years...
The Contender is a large handgun, but it is a light handgun, a 10" .44 Mag weighs less than a 6" revolver in the same caliber. Even though its only one shot, the difference in recoil is rather noticeable. (as in hell for stout, noticeable
)
optics mount on the barrel, and stay there, so when changing barrels there is no need to resight in the gun (normally). Also using the exactly the same grip and trigger means each shot is the same, until after the hammer falls, no matter what barrel you're shooting.
Even if S&W (the current owner) decides to stop all production of G2s and Encores, there are enough made anything other than a destroyed frame can be fixed. Original Contenders are still around to be had, though not all that common anymore. Few people actually shoot one enough to wear it out. You can damage /destroy them with too heavy loads, but its tough to wear one out with normal shooting.