A contact apparatus of a circuit breaker is disclosed. The contact apparatus has an outer carrier, an inner carrier, one or more contact fingers pivotally mounted to the inner carrier, a cam lever pivotally mounted to the outer carrier, and a cam and cam profile formed on respective ones of the cam lever and inner carrier. Circuit breakers and electrical contact assemblies having the contact apparatus, and methods of operating the contact apparatus and electrical contact assemblies are disclosed, as are other aspects.