Thompson Center Contender

Mooseman · May 25, 2014

I'm not sure why, but lately I have been thinking of buying a Thompson Center Contender. Share your thoughts on these with me. What's good and what's bad about them?

rseymorejr · May 25, 2014

I've thought about getting one several times over the years, just never got around to it. I really like the idea of slapping a new barrel on and have a new caliber to shoot. I shot one that a friend had years ago; .223, 41 mag and 30-30. I really enjoyed shooting it. Very accurate

Reloader · May 25, 2014

I've owned a few over the years, I currently have 2, one in 44 mag and 300 whisper. The 300 will shoot 2" groups at a 100 yards with a 10" barrel and 4 power scope. I've been thinking of picking up a 223 barrel for it. I haven't heard and can't say anything bad about the ones I've owned.

budman93 · May 25, 2014

I think they're pretty sweet myself. Never had one though. A guy at the Frederick IWLA used to shoot one in 30-06.

Mooseman · May 25, 2014

Thanks for the help guys. I was really hoping to hear some bad things so I could quit thinking about buying one. Oh well, I guess I may have to get one.

Bertfish · May 25, 2014

My Dad has one. The receiver sat unused for most of my childhood until one day we were at the York gun show and a vendor had a whole table of barrels. Came home with a 12" target barrel and forend in 17 HMR. Needless to say it shoots like a pop gun with that massive barrel and such a small cartridge. Very accurate and fun to shoot. One day I'll look for more barrels.

I've always been told that there is a barrel for the pistol in .45-70 Govt but I have never seen one. I'd shoot it...once

SWO Daddy · May 25, 2014

I want a TC Encore (pistol)...bad. Nobody seems to have them, or be able to get one unfortunately.

1time · May 26, 2014

The gun shop had one used but unfired last week. I don't remember what caliber. I have a rifle and my father has a rifle in .222. They are nice firearms.

Sewer Rat · May 26, 2014

I love my contenders... have two frames and a varied assortment of barrels. These are the older contenders, not to be confused with the encores.

Great shooters, fun to hunt with....

Mooseman · May 26, 2014

Nothing bad yet. I'm still waiting for something to discourage me from buying one.

Sewer Rat · May 26, 2014

Mooseman said:
Nothing bad yet. I'm still waiting for something to discourage me from buying one.

They are addictive... run away... run away...

Mooseman · May 26, 2014

Sewer Rat said:
They are addictive... run away... run away...

That's what I'm afraid of.

eightshot627 · May 27, 2014

The bad:

Makes hunting more challenging. If you plan on hunting with it barrels longer 10 inches with optics are almost impossible to hold steady offhand even to make short distant shots. But with a rest they are as accurate as you can hold it. A solid rest from a tree stand or a tripod/bipod is a must.

The older style Contenders must be broken open to re-cock the hammer after letting the hammer down. The G2 Contenders and Encores don’t have this issue.

Highly addictive: 2 Contender frames, 5 pistol barrels, 1 carbine barrel, various forends to match the barrels, various grips and a butt stock. (keeping the Encore stuff out of this)

Walt

Biggfoot44 · May 27, 2014

Contenders are good, you should have one. If you want to shoot offhand on purpose , they 10in is the way to go.

You can certainly tell you fired it with the .45-70 bbl , but if you're used to a full power .44mag , it's not a big deal.

Magnumite · May 27, 2014

The T/C Contender and descendants are favorites of the Hunter Pistol crowd.if you miss with one, it is the shooter.

My first Contender was a 10" Armaloy in 30/30 Win and a 2x scope. It would shoot into 1 1/4" and less @100 yards all day long with a 110 grain handload. The three barrels I have now are typical T/C quality. The 22 Match barrel is a great squirrel gun.

Mooseman · May 27, 2014

Even the bad is not discouraging me. I'm glad this isn't AA. No one so far is talking me out of this.

jimbobborg · May 27, 2014

They're heavy, only hold one round, and recoil is severe with real rifle rounds.

Mooseman · May 27, 2014

jimbobborg said:
They're heavy, only hold one round, and recoil is severe with real rifle rounds.

Thanks for trying to talk me down. I appreciate it.

byf43 · May 27, 2014

Everybody should own at least one T/C Contender.

I still have one.

7mm TC/u 14" bull barrel.
.22lr 14" bull barrel.
.357 Magnum 10" bull barrel.
.30 Herrett 10" bull barrel.

I did have a 10" 7mm TC/u barrel, a 14" .44 magnum barrel, a 14" 7mm Int'l Rimmed (necked down .30-30 cartridge, similar to 7-30 Waters) and a 10" .22 lr barrel.

The ONLY caliber I couldn't get to 'shoot', was the 14" .44 magnum barrel.
With Federal 180 or 240 grain factory loads, it shot incredibly well.
With handloads...... no matter what combination I tried, I'd get 'patterns' instead of groups.
Practically gave it away!

The 7mm TC/u is one fantastic cartridge!!!!!! From 50 yards to 200 yards, 2 'clicks' change in the rear sight.

Biggfoot44 · May 28, 2014

Presuming you are knowingly looking at * large handguns with rifle like accuraccy , with capabilities of low powered to (very) high powered ctgs , there is no downside. Even the 1st generation having to slightly break the action is only a minor quirk , and not a "flaw" .

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