Thompson Center Contenders

[onlybrowning]

Not much talk about the TC cannons goes on here, and I am pretty excited about my newly acquired TC Contender in .35 Remington 14" Super Barrel. What is your favorite TC Contender (or Encore) round and what for, and why?

Oh, Pictures would be cool too!

[Taxidermist]

I'll join. I have a contender in .35 rem. with a 14" barrel also. I use it for deer and bear. Bear season starts here in N.Y. in a few weeks so I'm looking forward to that. I have hunted with it for years and taken quite a few deer with it but so far no bears, but I'll keep looking for one.
John

http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w42/Jon__NY/Contender.jpg

[jrothWA]

with my 1978 model with octogon barrels (Iron sights), this past Sunday morning.
(.22LR & .357) Got good zeros now!

[44 AMP]

My Contender calibers are:
.22LR
.22 Hornet
.222 Rem
.30-30 Win
9mm Luger
.38Spl/.357 Mag
.44Spl/.44 Mag
.45 Colt/.410 ga.
.45 Colt
.45-70 Govt

After I got my Contender, I realised I had wasted years by not getting one earlier!

[X-RAY]

Have a 14" , stainless, .223, muzzle brake, Harris bi-pod, with a 6x-9x TC scope and a trigger job by E Arthur Brown at 1 1/2 lbs. With 55gr ball surpluss ammo will hit a soda can on end all day long @ 1oo yds. Originally a woodchuck popper, but is mostly a fun gun.

[Fisher]

Onlybrowning,
I have owned and hunted with Contenders for many years. I still have my other revolvers, semi-auto pistols and rifles but when it comes to accuracy and hunting I pull out the Contender. If you have any other questions fire away.

Pistols
.44 Magnum, 12" barrel (on the frame)
.22 LR, 10" barrel
.17 HMR, 12" barrel (Bullberry)
.444 Marlin, 14" barrel (Bellm)
.357 Maximum, 14" barrel (Bellm)

Rifles
.17 HMR, 22" barrel (MGM)
.223, 21" barrel (Bullberry)

http://i.pbase.com/o6/77/323477/1/76785339.E1zNhHOQ.IMG_0105.jpg

http://i.pbase.com/g6/77/323477/2/76627543.CTvYKoMi.jpg
.223, 21" barrel (Bullberry) /w custom English and Black Walnut stocks

[Fisher]

Onlybrowning,
I forgot to mention in my post above. The .35 Remington was one of my first calibers I purchased after the .44 magnum. I have a Marlin 336 in that caliber and thought it would be fun to have a pistol to go with it. It certainly was a fun one to shoot. Unfortunately it didn't last long because I can't hunt with that caliber here in Ohio. We are only allowed straight walled cartidges here.

Jim

[Molasses]

.22 10" oct.
.22 Match 14"
.223 14"
7-30 Waters 14" MB
.30 Herrett 14"
.32-20 10" Bull
.357 Max 14"
.357 Herrett 10" Bull
.44 Mag 14"
.45LC/.410 14" VR
.45-70 16" MB

Seems like they breed in the gun safe...

[onlybrowning]

Awesome guys. I am thinking the next barrel for me may be the 6.8SPC. Looks petty cool. Maybe teh 7 TCU? SO many choices.


I am wondering if anyone has experience with mounting a Leupold QR base on a COntender as well. I was advised (and agreed) that the one piece QR base for an Encore and Omega has the same bolt size and hole spacing as the contender base, so I bought it to be put on. it appears it will have to be mounted backward to clear teh frame, but I think it will be good?..:confused:

[Old Coach]

30-30AI for deer
22 LR for squirrel
44 MAG for hogs
223 for crows

[1006smith]

I have the older contender frames.

I like the 7mm tcu as my large bore althought the 357 max. comes in a close second.

For small bore I favor the 221 fireball with my 22 hornet placing second.

I have others but these are the ones I keep grabbing.

Chuck

[Magnum Wheel Man]

& have nearly every barrel made... ( my father in law was a collector ), & I continued after he was gone...

my favorites are are at opposite ends of the bore selection... have an old 10" hex 22 Hornet that's taken P Doggies out to 150 yards...

& my 14" Hunter barrel in 45-70 ( that has been my deer hunting gun for over 10 years now ), can put 3 shots touching at 75 yards from a field rest...

the biggest challenge for me as a collector ( since my father in law already had over 20 barrels...BTW... I've purchased about 20 more, since he died ), was to scope them all...:eek:

[Cowart]

I am wondering if anyone has experience with mounting a Leupold QR base on a COntender as well. I was advised (and agreed) that the one piece QR base for an Encore and Omega has the same bolt size and hole spacing as the contender base

Why not get the QR base that is designed for the Contender? Part # 50068 according to http://www2.leupold.com/resources/MountFitChart/default.asp

[onlybrowning]

Oh man, I never found one for the COntender, so I got this one at the local shop.. I hope it works. If not I will have to drive an hour to return it.

[jwaldo4]

Ok Onlybrowning, I also have a contender and came to this forum looking for people who shoot them. as of right now all i have is a stainless frame with a 44mag 10inch iron sight, and a 30-30 win 14inch blued with a 2x7x32 scope. shoots well, love it, bought it to deer hunt here in louisiana with. just gotta have time to finish the sight in. i will eventually get a reload set up for both the 30-30 and 44mag, and most likely for my 45lc single action also. so some reloading tips will be appreciated.

[jwaldo4]

wish i knew how to post pics:confused: when my son gets home on leave i'll get him to show me:D

[slabsides]

I own two frames and half a dozen barrels. Contenders tend to breed in your gun safe! ;)

Truth to tell, my Contenders would take care of 99% of my shooting needs for the rest of my life, packed up into one two-shotgun takedown case and a largish attache'.

One can do worse than adopt this system to 'fill his battery'.

[Esoom753]

I got a Super 14" barrel in 375 Win for sale. Anyone interested?

[Hemicuda]

I have a buncha barrels... but my FAVORITE is my super 14 in 7MM TCU...

[3 weelin geezer]

Has anyone seen a short shotgun bbl for this say in 20 or 28 ga.?

[mikejonestkd]

To the best of my knowledge ( which is getting less each and every day ) TC has not made 20 or 28 GA barrels for the contender pistols.

[Doyle]

Ok, how about a dumb question for you serious Contender shooters. If you have multiple barrels with scopes on each barrel, can you change the barrels without having to worry that your scope zero is going to change?

[mikejonestkd]

The scope stays with the barrel, there is no change in zero when you swap barrels.

take a look at Taxidermist's pic above. the scope is mounted to the barrel and not the frame.

The contender is one heck of a nice handgun, and the encore is even better, IMO ( although the old contenders had better triggers than newer encore )

Everyone that is serious about handgun hunting or long range handgunning should consider a TC product...

[Magnum Wheel Man]

As Mike said, the chamber, barrel, mounts & scope all interchange, so there is nothing that changes the POI from barrel change to barrel change

that was the most expensive part of my collection ( I have some barrels that have glass on them, that cost twice what each barrel cost )

BTW... that 375 Winchester barrel is aweome on the Contender... a real hand cannon

BTW #2... I have the 410 barrels, but have also never seen a 28 or 20 ga barrel... though I'd think a 28 might be within safe limits for the action ???

[joshua]

I have only one frame that I bought back in 1990 and it has a 14" bull barrel in 223 Rem.
Additional barrels acquired since then in chronological order:
21" TC Custom shop bull barrel w/ tamer in 223 Rem, reason was I can't have enough rifles in a healthy dog town.
16.5" carbine SS in 7x30 Waters for deer - this is becoming my favorite
16.5" bull barrel w/ tamer in 45-70 Gov't. - this packs a wallop on both ends.

I'm thinking of a complete G2 in 22lr or 221 Fireball (if available), but I'm hoping a 17-221 Fireball will be available with a 21" barrel. I would also like to have a blackpowder barrel too. With the set up I got now, I think I can take any game in the world. It would be nice if I had the money to try them out on a safari, maybe a 375 JDJ will be needed? You can seriously go nuts with all the barrels available to the G2 or TC Contender. It definitely is the most versatile firearm I have. josh

[mountainclmbr]

Any opinions or comparisons between 6mm, 6.5mm and 7mm TCU? Been looking at those. I currently have 14 inch 44mag and 10 inch .22rimfire.

[Magnum Wheel Man]

I have both the 6mm & 7mm TCU barrels, loading dies etc... but have not shot either much... so I can't offer too much info there... I ill say that case life seems better on the less "stretched" 6mm that on the more "stretched" 7mm, & I've had better results with commercial rather than military 223 brass, ( though I don't know if thats typical or not )

I know the TCU's with the 223 cases are likely more accurate, but I prefer the rimmed cases of the 30-30 based cartridges... I find I can load 7-30 Waters with good spire point boat tail bullets & get reasonable accuracy out of the Contender, plus can buy factory ammo if needed, though all my current factory ammo has been flat point ( lever action ) ammo... but I've been wanting to try that Leverution Ammo, if / when it's available in 7-30 Waters

[joshua]

I find I can load 7-30 Waters with good spire point boat tail bullets & get reasonable accuracy out of the Contender

Mine has been super accurate with Federal factory loads. I can't wait to try reloads on it. josh

[Chesster]

I am new here and new to the TC Contender. I have purchased an older used 10" 22LR which has not arrived yet. I am planning to get a .357 Max. barrel as I recently cobbled together an NEF single shot rifle in that caliber with a reamed 357 mag bbl. I tried calling TC customer service today to get some info as to what I need to get for the older model (i.e., which type barrels fit, which will not) as I see all these new terms listed like, Encore, G2, Super, etc..., but, no one ever answered but that recorded lady. When you can't get customer service on the phone, that is a bad sign for a new customer!!!

[jwaldo4]

Chesster, its simple really, the contender and G2 barrels will interchange in blued and stainless. the encore will not interchange with them. buy encore barrels for the encore only. you can get more caliber selection for encore. as in 308, 30 06, 243 etc. for contender you can have such as 45 70 30 30win. 223, 35rem, etc.:D

[jwaldo4]

Chesster, "super" refers to the barrel being a bull, or target barrel as opposed to a taper.:D

[DGindlesperger]

love My TC G2 223, 357 and 45/70 barrels.

[Chesster]

JW4, you have unlocked the mysteries for me. Thanks a million.:) Like I said, the 357 max will be my first barrel added. I have always been curious about the 375 JDJ after reading articles about it years ago. I have a good supply of .444 Marlin brass I can reform. It may be my second.

[joshua]

There was a small batch of TC Contenders that were called Armaloy and they are not suppose to be compatible with the G2 and standarr Contender. I believe there is a modification to have the Armaloy frame to accept standard Contender barrels and G2, but the Armaloy barrels are a no go due to loose tolerances with the G2 and standard frames. Someone else here more knowledgeable on the Armaloy barrels please chime in. josh

[jwaldo4]

joshua, the armor alloy barrles are not ,as you said ,compatable with the standard frame, or g2, however if you take the barrel to a competent gunsmith, he can resize the frame hinge pin hole to fit the standard frame. the aa pin is slightly smaller i think. then you can use them. armor alloy was a coating used to protect the frame and barrel, being somewhat less expensive than stainless. they did not catch on, for the reason they could not interchange with standard frames. the barrels are somewhat difficult to find, if you are looking for an unmodified one.:D

[joshua]

jwaldo4, cool info, thanks. When I retire from the military the first chance I get is to hunt some feral hogs in Vandenberg AFB, CA. Guess what gun I'll be using... Hint, it's light, a single shot and I can change from 7x30 Waters to 45-70 during the trip just in case I need the extra oomph. josh

[mikejonestkd]

Chesster,


enjoy the ' new to you ' contender.

don't worry about calling customer service, email them and they will get back to you promptly. TC has a great rep for products and customer service.You will be pleased with your new contender.

All production TC contender and contender G2 barrels will fit your frame ( with the vary rare exception mentioned above by Joshua )

[Cowart]

I tried calling TC customer service today to get some info as to what I need to get for the older model

The older Contender frames have a stiffer action when unlocking the gun to reload. They were redesigned many years ago to make them easier to use. The older actions can be modified to accept the new parts. This work can be done by http://www.foxridgeoutfitters.com/, but the website is unavailable right now.

[jem375]

I own a T/C 375JDJ in pistol and rifle and it is my favorite caliber along side of my 308's. I bought the SSK Industries 375JDJ pistol many years ago and recently bought the T/C Contender rifle to match the caliber. I also just bought a T/C 308 Encore rifle to go along with my Savage Striker Pistol in 308. These, of course are my hunting combinations and that 220 gr. Hornady FP in the 375 pistol at 2300 fps is something else on deer. Also my 44 mag T/C is extremely accurate and fun to shoot.

[Neophyte1]

Hey Folks: I've been following this thread, and others relating to the
Single Shots.
Recently [4-5 months] my shooting buddy has had the hots for a Contender G2
After doing much research I have found that maybe I need more information.
What are the differences. Between
Contender
Contender G2
Encore
We shoot different stuff already including .22/.38/.357/.40/.45/.270 and some others.
What is his beginning interest? .223 Stainless 14" barrel
He will grow toward what we already reload.
He wants to begin with something to varmint hunt with i.e. .223
So; set aside; a total beginner.
Qualities of each [we know that the Contender is old news] pawn shop if need
Which/what/why Frame will give the "best?"/better results

Thanks, Craig
"folks I sent to Thompson an e-mail approx. week ago and have not received any response"

[44 AMP]

Contender - original model, made since the 70s, with a few changes during production. According to some, some of the barrels for one "generation" will not fit on other generation frames. I do not know if this is correct, as all the barrels I have bought for my Contender frame have fit ok.

Contender G2 - new version of the Contender, easier to open than the original ones, can be cocked again after letting hammer down without opening the action (original Contender must be opened before being recocked). According to the factory ads, all original Contender barrels will fit the G2 frame.

Encore - a beefier version of the Contender, which will take higher pressure cartridges. Encore barrels only fit Encores. Contender barrels do not fit Encores.


Lots of used Contenders out there at the gun shows and shops. G2s and Encores can be had new.
Hope this helps.

Keep an eye on T/C, now that S&W has bought them, things could get better, or worse.

[joshua]

What is his beginning interest? .223 Stainless 14" barrel


I started with a complete 14" bull barrel in .223 Rem, but blued. I thought that was the best varminting pistol around. It is a good choice, but if one 14" bull barrel can be chambered in 222 Rem or 221 Fireball, those 2 rounds will be just outstanding in a short barrel. I think the 223 is better off with the longer barrels. I have a 21" Fox Ridge custom bull barrel with a tamer and the ballistics are so much better than the 14" 223. Drawback of the short barrel is the muzzle blast and recoil. josh

[Sevens]

I have a Contender (not G2) that I bought new in 1994. Super 14" in .223.
Quite accurate, a lot of fun to shoot and handload for. It wears a 2-6x Bushnell scope. Not a high-dollar piece of glass, but I've never had a stitch of trouble with it, and this combo has seen hundreds of rounds and all with the scope attached.

I really want a .44 Mag barrel for it. It seems that if I buy new, they offer a 12-inch. I'd rather have a 10-inch. I plan to use iron sights with it, and I'm hoping to use this .44 Mag as a standard offhand shooter, rather than a benchrester like the .223, so keeping weight and length in check are what I'm trying to do.

Did they make a .44 Mag barrel in 10-inch in the past? I really don't care for the one with the threaded choke thing.

Price is always a consideration--I think I can get a new 12-inch blued in .44 Mag for about $225.

The other comment I wanted to make was about the post earlier in the thread that talked about a trigger job. Umm--I don't know about the new G2, but the trigger on my '94 Contender is incredible. Factory adjustable for both weight of pull and overtravel... I have this thing set so lightly that it feels like a match trigger. Personally, I cannot see the need for a lighter trigger on anything, ever. It's by far the finest trigger I have on any firearm, and it's not even a close race. I don't have a trigger pull measuring device, but I have no doubt this trigger is under two pounds.

And no, I've never had an accidental or negligent discharge. Not with any of firearms, but specifically, not with this Contender and it's incredibly smooth, light, terrific trigger.

I love it. Help me find a 10-inch .44 Mag barrel for it!

[Magnum Wheel Man]

you can get a 44 mg barrel in under 12" from here... & they are one of the premier barrel manufacturers for accuracy...

http://bullberry.com/TCbarrels.html

[slabsides]

The adjustability of the Contender's trigger is the reason that I'll never buy a G2 or an Encore. When Warren Center retired, the 'geniuses' at T/C proceeded to screw around with his superb original conception, resulting in the guns produced today, which are notable only for the capacity to use more powerful cartridges (in the case of the Encore) and the idiot-proofness (??!??) of the G2 trigger. Both of these 'improvements' are moot to me. I'm glad I bought my T/C products before 1990!

[mikejonestkd]

I respectfully disagree, the encore trigger is not a work of art but it is more than adequate for hunting or target shooting. my personal encore has a nice 2# trigger ( done by my favorite local smith ) and a very crisp letoff.

It certainly is not a match trigger like on a bench bolt rifle but it is in the same class as an older contender trigger. Both are good, the contender may be better most of the time but the encore is nothing to complain about...

just my .02, YMMV

[Fisher]

Sevens wrote:
I love it. Help me find a 10-inch .44 Mag barrel for it!

I have a few barrels from Bullberry and a few from Match Grade Machine (MGM). Both are fantastic barrels in every way. Give them a call, I am sure either one of them can make you what you need.

http://www.matchgrademachine.com/gunshop/

Jim

[slabsides]

mikejones: (with respect) the difference between my Contenders and your G2/Encore, is that you had to have a gunsmith work the trigger. I adjusted mine myself, safely...and can re-adjust it anytime again. A factory trigger that has to have immediate attention by a highly paid professional mechanic isn't anything I want. I admire your ability to convince yourself that a sow's ear is exactly equivalent to a silk purse. Must be a useful skill, nowadays.

[44 AMP]

I can't tell you where to get one, but I will tell you about the one I have. 10 inch .44 Mag, octagon. Beautiful rich blue.

This thing climbs like a rocket! I mean that it heads for the sky when fired. I was absolutely amazed at the amount of flip with this barrel. The 14" ported 45-70 almost feels tame by comparison.

A bull barrel (especially ported) would be more comfortable to shoot, but a bit more to hold offhand.

Anyway, good luck with yours (when you get it), and let us know how it works for you.

[aaalaska]

The first frame I bought in 73 came with a 10" 44 mag barrel ,still have it and the frame, shoots very well,the only problems I have had with T C products were weak hammer springs ,then only after many thousands of rounds. When I first called T C years ago for a new hammer spring the gentleman I talked to was more than helpful ,informing me the frame I had should have an updated hammer ,but since I declined sending them the frame he included one with my order.When I called T C 2 years ago for hammer springs for the Encore I was treated a little differently,in fact if I didn't own their products already I would have to think
very hard about buying anything from a company with cust.service like that.

[Ranger61]

I don't think that you would find a 12" bull barrel in 44 mag too hard to shoot off hand. The longer bull barrels with the big holes in them like 44 and 45 are quite a bit lighter than the small bore cousins like the 223. I shoot my 45 Winchester Mag super 14 with a Tasco pro point red dot offhand all the time. I have a 10" bull in 45 Win Mag and its just too darn light. I also have a 14" 44mag and I think that may be a touch heavy but a 12" might be quite close to right. :)

[jwaldo4]

to those of you who are looking for the 44mag in ten inch, get the bull barrel!:eek: it is not to bad off hand, however the recoil is robust, not so bad as to hinder you, but robust none-the-less. and out to seventy-five yrds it holds zero well. they can be had in blue, stainless, and if you can find them, amor alloy.:D

[jwaldo4]

also this would(10" 44mag) be a great hog barrel off of horseback, or snake charmer with shot shells for 44mag:D

[Chesster]

Well folks, my TCC came in and she looks new. I have a set of pachmayr grips and forearm coming, a 22 mag bbl, 357 max bbl (already here), 375 JDJ, and a 357 Herrett BBL. All BBLs are 10" except for the JDJ. I will be putting NcStar 2.5X scopes on the rimfires and using a Leupold 4X on the centerfire barrels. I will need to get the supplies and dies to load the latter two rounds. Also will be needing some help from you guys on loading the JDJ and Herrett rounds. Also, anyone here with experience with the Max and Herrett rounds enough to give me a performance comparison??? I am about as excited as a sailor on shore leave with a roll of 20s in his pocket!!!:D:D:D

[Magnum Wheel Man]

I have shot the Max quite a bit, & the Herrett some... if I remember correctly, the Herrett has the edge on power, but you can still find the Max in factory loadings, though normally only 158 grains... which in my max's I like the heavier bullets better ( also have a Dan Wesson in 357 Max as well )

I've been wanting some of the JDJ barels as well, but have not shelled out the $$$ yet... I'd also like to try a 300 Whisper which I think is available from JDJ also...

[Esoom753]

I got a Super 14" barrel in 375 Win for sale. Anyone interested? I'm only asking $175. It's in really great shape and has luepold rings. I can send pics if interested

[jwaldo4]

Esoom753, are there factory rounds still available for the 375 Win,:confused: or is now strickly hand load? If so where do you get brass? Iknow that the JDJ 375 is available from TC, and also from SSK Industries, JD Jones' web site.:D

[Hobie]

Mine are mostly carbine barrels (http://home.comcast.net/~parslowb/2006/10/my-thompson-center-contender-collection.html). But my favorites are probably the .357 Maximum (http://home.comcast.net/~parslowb/2006/02/blog-post_01.html) and .38-55 Winchester (http://home.comcast.net/~parslowb/2006/02/blog-post.html). At least for today... :rolleyes:

[Magnum Wheel Man]

you can still get 375 Winchester ammo


Midway stocks it, as well as others... the guys that sell ammo at the local gun shows have it

http://www.midwayusa.com/ebrowse.exe/browse?TabID=3&Categoryid=7540&categorystring=653***690***

[Chesster]

I got some 375 JDJ loaded from Midway also.

[Esoom753]

375 win is available at most gun shops

[Esoom753]

Anyone interested in a trade? I have a 375 win barrel

[s4s4u]

From a 10" barrel the Max will hold up well to the Herrett in performance. You really won't see any advantage of the Herrett in less than 14" tubes, to burn up that added propellant. A 12" in .44 mag will handle similar to a 10" in mostly anything else due to the the bore size, as was said previous. The additional 2" will benifit terminal ballistics though, as well as tame the "flip" a bit. If your frame is very early generation, it may be troublesome to open with newer gen barrels. Fox Ridge can convert it to "easy open" for about $35, as well as convert AA frames/barrels to standard. You will find that rimmed cartridges are more break-action friendly that rim-less, most cases they will fall out of the chamber after firing where you have to dig out the .223 and 6.8 and 35 Rem and the like. The original 'Tender is superior to the Encore (boat anchor) in every way. You can shoot higher pressure loadings in the Encore, but if you can't kill it with the 45/70 it ain't killable ;-)

[BluesBear]

You can shoot higher pressure loadings in the Encore, but if you can't kill it with the 45/70 it ain't killable ;)I agree with that but I still wish the Contender could handle .454 Casull.
I was actually shocked when I learned it couldn't. And very little shocks me anymore.