I have an older Contender with a great trigger, bought the gun used so don't know if it has been modified but it is very crisp and a lot of fun to shoot. Barrels include 17 HMR, 7-30 Waters (great deer round) with a 2x7 Burris, and .45-70 with muzzle break and 1.5x4 Burris. All are accurate. Shot a buddies in 35 Remington which is another great round for these guns. With these guns there is always a next caliber to get.
Any Thompson Contender fans??
- Thread starter bobhwry
- Start date
I've owned T/C's for quite a while. I have two frames, one dedicated to pistol barrels with 10" .22 lr, 10" 7mm TC/U with 2x T/C 'scope, and 14" .35 Rem. barrels; and a carbine frame with 16-1/4" .44 Mag (THUMPER!), and .223 Rem., and 7-30 Waters barrels 'scoped with Burris 4x compacts. All are standard Thompson Center, and all are very accurate for caliber: the .223 and 7-30 Waters sub-moa, and the short 7mm TC/U about 1.5 moa at 100 yards. I can group 3" with the .44 with iron sites at a hundred, and about the same with a red-dot, but I haven't really shot it enough, and I think it could do better. The 10" .22 lr has shot under an inch at 50 yards with iron sites and bulk ammo.
I loaded some 6mm for him
He dosent hand load but he bought some dies and I worked up some loads for him. We sandbagged the gun and he fired 2 inch groups at 100, he has a X4 scope on it and its a very nice gun but the noise is a bit much.
We loaded some 70GR Sierra and since we dont have a cronograph I have no idea what the bullet speed was but book numbers were 3100 fps with a 24 inch barrel so I would guess that it was pushing at least 2800. Since I shoot a lot of earthin piggies (ground hogs) with a 6mm remingtion and know the load very well I wish they made a barrel in 6mm rem. I think I could break 3000fps with a contender, and I can say one thing for sure, it would make a earthin piggy have a bad day.
Here in Indiana we call that, "Makin a green cloud."
He dosent hand load but he bought some dies and I worked up some loads for him. We sandbagged the gun and he fired 2 inch groups at 100, he has a X4 scope on it and its a very nice gun but the noise is a bit much.
We loaded some 70GR Sierra and since we dont have a cronograph I have no idea what the bullet speed was but book numbers were 3100 fps with a 24 inch barrel so I would guess that it was pushing at least 2800. Since I shoot a lot of earthin piggies (ground hogs) with a 6mm remingtion and know the load very well I wish they made a barrel in 6mm rem. I think I could break 3000fps with a contender, and I can say one thing for sure, it would make a earthin piggy have a bad day.
Here in Indiana we call that, "Makin a green cloud."
My Contender is a .223 14" barrel with muzzle brake, bi-bod 6-9 scope. I had E.Arthur Brown work the trigger to 1 1/2 lbs. With a 40gr spitzer boat-tail bullet It'll hit a small size coffee cup at 100 yds all day long.
I had the chance to shoot the same set up without the muzzle brake. A lot more muzzle jump. The only change I would make is the foreend and grip. I got the Black Rhineite but I like the looks of the wood hardware better.
I had the chance to shoot the same set up without the muzzle brake. A lot more muzzle jump. The only change I would make is the foreend and grip. I got the Black Rhineite but I like the looks of the wood hardware better.
I picked up my first Contender frame and iron sighted 10" 7mmTCU barrel back in 1985 to start competing in IHMSA silhouette matches.
I now have three Contender frames and six 14" barrels chambered in;
.22 LR.....6.5 Bullberry.....7mm TCU.....7mm Super Mag.....300 Whisper and 30.30 Ackley Improved.
I also have two Encore frames with seven 15" barrels chambered in;
6.5x55 Swede.....7mm-08.....284 Winchester.....300 Whisper.....300 Savage.....35 Whelen and 45-70 Govt.
All the above barrels are scoped with the now discontinued Baush & Lomb Elite 3000 2x6's and are very accurate.....all will group at or under under 1" at 100 yds. when I do my part.
I still compete in the occasional silhouette match and have deer hunted solely with handguns for several years now.
Ike
I now have three Contender frames and six 14" barrels chambered in;
.22 LR.....6.5 Bullberry.....7mm TCU.....7mm Super Mag.....300 Whisper and 30.30 Ackley Improved.
I also have two Encore frames with seven 15" barrels chambered in;
6.5x55 Swede.....7mm-08.....284 Winchester.....300 Whisper.....300 Savage.....35 Whelen and 45-70 Govt.
All the above barrels are scoped with the now discontinued Baush & Lomb Elite 3000 2x6's and are very accurate.....all will group at or under under 1" at 100 yds. when I do my part.
I still compete in the occasional silhouette match and have deer hunted solely with handguns for several years now.
Ike
Hammerhead
New member
I sold my Contender 
but I bought an Encore in .44 Rem mag
Chopped the barrel down to 9" and made up some light loads with Trail Boss and Hornady 240 SWC's. Lotsa fun! Fantastic off-hand shooter. I feel like I can't miss.
Now I have a 9" .357 barrel on order from MGM. Should be here soon!
but I bought an Encore in .44 Rem mag
Chopped the barrel down to 9" and made up some light loads with Trail Boss and Hornady 240 SWC's. Lotsa fun! Fantastic off-hand shooter. I feel like I can't miss.
Now I have a 9" .357 barrel on order from MGM. Should be here soon!
Harry Paget Flashman
New member
I used to have a Contender in .222 and .44 Magnum but sold them when I transferred to Hawaii in 1975. It was great fun to plink with and shoot jack rabbits. 30 years later I couldn't stand not having a Contender and bought another. This time I ordered it in .223 and .45 LC/.410. I also stumbled across a .221 Fireball octagon barrel that was on consignment for $100. The .221 and .223 are real screamers at the range. Barnaul also makes .410 slugs in steel cased cartridges for $2.97 for a box of 10. I like to think of it as my "poor man's .45-70". Fun to shoot.
THAT has to be impressive at an indoor range,,,,
BOOOOOOOOOM!!!!!!
I haven't shot mine indoors but it is impressive anywhere. Everyone that has shot mine just giggles and mutters. Recoil is stout but not horrible. I have not shot the .45-70 without a muzzle break but the 35 Rem w/o muzzle break has a lot more barrel jump than my .45-70. The muzzle break really seems to push the gun into you rather than roll it back in your hand. If you get the chance to shoot a Contender in .45-70 take it.
BOOOOOOOOOM!!!!!!
I haven't shot mine indoors but it is impressive anywhere. Everyone that has shot mine just giggles and mutters. Recoil is stout but not horrible. I have not shot the .45-70 without a muzzle break but the 35 Rem w/o muzzle break has a lot more barrel jump than my .45-70. The muzzle break really seems to push the gun into you rather than roll it back in your hand. If you get the chance to shoot a Contender in .45-70 take it.
rewiltshire
Inactive
Sweet Contenders
I have a contender with four barrels. A super 16 in .223 fitted with a Leupold M8 4x scope, a super 14 in 7-30 Waters with a Burris 2x7, a 14 in 45/70 using iron sights and 10 in .357 Max again with iron sights. All are wonderful shooters. I think the 'bark' is sometimes worse than the recoil. The Contender is a pleasure to shoot and hunt with. I am contemplating a .35 Remington or a .375 Winchester. I do my own hand loading and this I think adds to the pleasure of the gun. Wooden grips/forearms look pretty, but I'll stay with my Pachmayr's
I have a contender with four barrels. A super 16 in .223 fitted with a Leupold M8 4x scope, a super 14 in 7-30 Waters with a Burris 2x7, a 14 in 45/70 using iron sights and 10 in .357 Max again with iron sights. All are wonderful shooters. I think the 'bark' is sometimes worse than the recoil. The Contender is a pleasure to shoot and hunt with. I am contemplating a .35 Remington or a .375 Winchester. I do my own hand loading and this I think adds to the pleasure of the gun. Wooden grips/forearms look pretty, but I'll stay with my Pachmayr's
I've had a couple, my brother still has his and it's a shooter!
The barrels I had were 30-30, 223, 44 mag, and 45-70. I reloaded the 30-30 and 44mag. The 30-30 was the most fun for me, I loaded 150 spitzers and got great acurracy out to 100 yds.
The 45-70 was a super 16 barrel with the sporter shoulder stock and an Aimpoint red dot. That was my pig gun for a long time.
The 45-70 was a real crowd pleaser but I had to be carefull who I let shoot it. The recoil would drive the hammer up into your face if you weren't carefull. I actually had a guy split his lip pretty bad this way. I told him several times to keep his face back away from the hammer but he didn't listen.
The barrels I had were 30-30, 223, 44 mag, and 45-70. I reloaded the 30-30 and 44mag. The 30-30 was the most fun for me, I loaded 150 spitzers and got great acurracy out to 100 yds.
The 45-70 was a super 16 barrel with the sporter shoulder stock and an Aimpoint red dot. That was my pig gun for a long time.
The 45-70 was a real crowd pleaser but I had to be carefull who I let shoot it. The recoil would drive the hammer up into your face if you weren't carefull. I actually had a guy split his lip pretty bad this way. I told him several times to keep his face back away from the hammer but he didn't listen.
Yeah, I love my Contender. I have the 22lr bull barrel 10", 221 Fireball, 218B, 222 rem, 6x47, 6 TCU, 6.5 TCU, 270 Ren, 30-30, 30 Herret, 357 Maximum, 44mag with choke, 45/410 all of those in 10" barrels, and in 14" just the 30-30 and 375 Winchester. The 30-30 in the 14" is a dead accurate barrel to 200 yds if the shooter is capable. The frame has the SSK trigger and hammer spring set. It goes off at 6 oz which means if somebody else is going to shoot it, I make them pull the trigger several times before loading. It's that light- but I like it.
Haven't shot mine in sometime but love it. Have two older frames.
barrels:
10": 221 fireball, 22 hornet, 22 lr, 223, 357 maximum, 41 mag, 7mm tcu, 30 herett, and a few others I can't remember. All scoped except the 41 mag.
14": 41 mag.
some 10"ers I've traded: 45/410, 30-30, 5mm.
Had a guy try to sell me a 444 marlin barrel one time. He said it was a 44 mag barrel bored out. AFTER I passed he said it had broken his brother's arm when fired so he was getting rid of it.
chuck
barrels:
10": 221 fireball, 22 hornet, 22 lr, 223, 357 maximum, 41 mag, 7mm tcu, 30 herett, and a few others I can't remember. All scoped except the 41 mag.
14": 41 mag.
some 10"ers I've traded: 45/410, 30-30, 5mm.
Had a guy try to sell me a 444 marlin barrel one time. He said it was a 44 mag barrel bored out. AFTER I passed he said it had broken his brother's arm when fired so he was getting rid of it.
chuck
Years ago, I bought a SSK Industries T/C Contender pistol in 375JDJ....a 444 Marlin case necked down to .375 and it is my favorite pistol and creates quite a boom at the gun range and everyone moves away from my shooting bench at the gun club....I reload a Hornady 220 gr. FP for deer at 2300 fps with 54 grs. of AA2520 rifle powder....I recently bought a T/C G2 Contender rifle in the same caliber and haven't broken the barrel in yet, waiting for warmer weather up here in the far North...lol
SD Handgunner
Inactive
I started Shooting / Hunting with T/C Contender Handguns back in 1982. In the years since then I have enjoyed shooting
.22 LR (14")
.223 (10" & 14")
6mm-223 (15")
6mm T/CU (15")
.250 Savage (14")
7mm T/CU (10")
7-30 Waters (10")
.30-30 Winchester (10" & 14")
.30-30 Ackley Improved (14")
.44 Remington Magnum (10"
All of these have been scoped.
I have had the good fortune to Hunt & Harvest various Small Game & Small Varmints, Prairie Dogs, Woodchucks, Crows, Coyotes and White Tail Deer.
I currently have 2 new Stainless-Steel G2 Contender Frames. After I had a gunsmith buddy perform Trigger Jobs on both of these Frames I actually prefer them to the original Contenders. I also absolutely love the new Rubber Grip and Forend that T/C puts on the new Stainless-Steel G2 Contender Frames.
I currently have 3 Barrels for my 2 G2 Contender Frames.
Barrel #1 is a Stainless-Steel Super 14 .22 LR Match. This one wears a Burris 3x12x LER Handgun Scope with Fine Plex Reticle and Target Turrets. This scope has been modified by Burris so it will parallax down to under 25 yards for when I use it for Indoor Bench Rest Competitions at our local Club. This Barrel is amazingly accurate and will outshoot many a .22 LR RIfle from the Bench.
Barrel #2 is a Stainless-Steel Super 14 .223 Remington. This one wears a Burris 3x12x LER Handgun Scope with Fine Plex Reticle and Target Turrets. I have tried a couple factory rounds in this barrel as well as a few different Handloads. The load I settled on consists of 40gr. Nosler Ballistic Tip Bullets loaded with Hodgdon's Benchmark Powder in Lake City Military Brass with Federal Gold Medal Match Primers. Accuracy with this load (100 yard 5 shot groups from the Bench) average 5/8".
Since I am a Varmint / Predator Hunter year round (only hunt Deer once a year, but am after Varmints or Predators the rest of the year) the above 2 Barrels / Cartridges see the most use for me. I am always amazed at the accuracy of the Contender Handguns in either of these chamberings. I have used the .22 LR Match Barrel to dispatch Flickertail Gophers at ranges approaching 100 yards. I have also dispatched Prairie Dogs with the .223 Contender at ranges most people wouldn't believe.
In my opinion T/C Contender Handguns are easier to shoot FROM THE BENCH than a Rifle.
Barrel #3 is in the works. I recently purchased an old style Super 14 .30 Herrett Blued Contender Barrel that I am going to have rechambered into another .30-30 Ackley Improved Contender Barrel for Deer Hunting. In the previous Barrel I had in this chambering I was able to achieve 2600 FPS with 125gr. Nosler Ballistic Tips. Accuracy in my previous barrel in this chambering would consistantly put 5 rounds from the bench at 100 yards into 3/4" or less groups.
Yep I am truly addicted to T/C COntenders and do not see the addiction going away soon.
Larry
.22 LR (14")
.223 (10" & 14")
6mm-223 (15")
6mm T/CU (15")
.250 Savage (14")
7mm T/CU (10")
7-30 Waters (10")
.30-30 Winchester (10" & 14")
.30-30 Ackley Improved (14")
.44 Remington Magnum (10"
All of these have been scoped.
I have had the good fortune to Hunt & Harvest various Small Game & Small Varmints, Prairie Dogs, Woodchucks, Crows, Coyotes and White Tail Deer.
I currently have 2 new Stainless-Steel G2 Contender Frames. After I had a gunsmith buddy perform Trigger Jobs on both of these Frames I actually prefer them to the original Contenders. I also absolutely love the new Rubber Grip and Forend that T/C puts on the new Stainless-Steel G2 Contender Frames.
I currently have 3 Barrels for my 2 G2 Contender Frames.
Barrel #1 is a Stainless-Steel Super 14 .22 LR Match. This one wears a Burris 3x12x LER Handgun Scope with Fine Plex Reticle and Target Turrets. This scope has been modified by Burris so it will parallax down to under 25 yards for when I use it for Indoor Bench Rest Competitions at our local Club. This Barrel is amazingly accurate and will outshoot many a .22 LR RIfle from the Bench.
Barrel #2 is a Stainless-Steel Super 14 .223 Remington. This one wears a Burris 3x12x LER Handgun Scope with Fine Plex Reticle and Target Turrets. I have tried a couple factory rounds in this barrel as well as a few different Handloads. The load I settled on consists of 40gr. Nosler Ballistic Tip Bullets loaded with Hodgdon's Benchmark Powder in Lake City Military Brass with Federal Gold Medal Match Primers. Accuracy with this load (100 yard 5 shot groups from the Bench) average 5/8".
Since I am a Varmint / Predator Hunter year round (only hunt Deer once a year, but am after Varmints or Predators the rest of the year) the above 2 Barrels / Cartridges see the most use for me. I am always amazed at the accuracy of the Contender Handguns in either of these chamberings. I have used the .22 LR Match Barrel to dispatch Flickertail Gophers at ranges approaching 100 yards. I have also dispatched Prairie Dogs with the .223 Contender at ranges most people wouldn't believe.
In my opinion T/C Contender Handguns are easier to shoot FROM THE BENCH than a Rifle.
Barrel #3 is in the works. I recently purchased an old style Super 14 .30 Herrett Blued Contender Barrel that I am going to have rechambered into another .30-30 Ackley Improved Contender Barrel for Deer Hunting. In the previous Barrel I had in this chambering I was able to achieve 2600 FPS with 125gr. Nosler Ballistic Tips. Accuracy in my previous barrel in this chambering would consistantly put 5 rounds from the bench at 100 yards into 3/4" or less groups.
Yep I am truly addicted to T/C COntenders and do not see the addiction going away soon.
Larry
Magnum Wheel Man
New member
Father In Law was a collector, & we inherited the collection... I have since tried to buy any barrel he did not have... unfortunately right now, I need to re-inventory, as I don't know all of what I have anymore...
toughest thing for me was buying scopes for all the barrels, as the wifes dad only had 4-5 of them scoped...
I have 4 "old style" actions... just haven't gotten around to ( or felt the need to ) buy the new style or the Encores ... yet.
... one action always wears the 45-70 hunter barrel with a 2 X 7 Posilock Burris, one action always wears a 16" vent rib 410 barrel & a Faijen laminated thumb hole stock & for arm in camo colors... one action always wears a 10" octigon 22 Hornet barrel with a 2 X 7 Burris scope...
the other action typically wears a 7-30 Waters, a Custom 10mm Magnum, or Custom 50 AE barrel, or the 14" - 375 Winchester barrel, or the 222 carbine barrel...
the 45-70 is my regular deer hunting gun, it wears Pachmyer grip & fore end & turns out 3 leaf clover patterns from a field rest at 75 yards... the 410 is my rabbit gun ( dang rabbits kill off a good share of my newly planted trees each year, so it's my heaviest used Contender )... I love the 22 Hornet round & gun... I took it Prairie Dogging with me a few years ago, when I went to SD, & found I was good to beteen 100 - 150 yards with it...
I dont have time to do much loading right now, so most of the hand load cartridge barrels just stay in the collection, ( old Joe spent much time handloading, so there are all kinds of improved cartridges, TCU's, Herrets & etc. )& the Match 22 barrels ( both rifle & handgun ) I find I'd rather shoot my Custom Ruger 10/22 or my old Ruger ( fat barrel ) government target model than single shot the 22...
toughest thing for me was buying scopes for all the barrels, as the wifes dad only had 4-5 of them scoped...
I have 4 "old style" actions... just haven't gotten around to ( or felt the need to ) buy the new style or the Encores ... yet.
... one action always wears the 45-70 hunter barrel with a 2 X 7 Posilock Burris, one action always wears a 16" vent rib 410 barrel & a Faijen laminated thumb hole stock & for arm in camo colors... one action always wears a 10" octigon 22 Hornet barrel with a 2 X 7 Burris scope...
the other action typically wears a 7-30 Waters, a Custom 10mm Magnum, or Custom 50 AE barrel, or the 14" - 375 Winchester barrel, or the 222 carbine barrel...
the 45-70 is my regular deer hunting gun, it wears Pachmyer grip & fore end & turns out 3 leaf clover patterns from a field rest at 75 yards... the 410 is my rabbit gun ( dang rabbits kill off a good share of my newly planted trees each year, so it's my heaviest used Contender )... I love the 22 Hornet round & gun... I took it Prairie Dogging with me a few years ago, when I went to SD, & found I was good to beteen 100 - 150 yards with it...
I dont have time to do much loading right now, so most of the hand load cartridge barrels just stay in the collection, ( old Joe spent much time handloading, so there are all kinds of improved cartridges, TCU's, Herrets & etc. )& the Match 22 barrels ( both rifle & handgun ) I find I'd rather shoot my Custom Ruger 10/22 or my old Ruger ( fat barrel ) government target model than single shot the 22...
Taxidermist
New member
I have one that I bought about 16 years ago in 35 rem. I hunt with it every year for whitetail. It seems to work fine between 100 to 125 yards. I never had to shoot farther than that so I can't say how far I could shoot and be accurate. Where I live and hunt in northern N.Y. a 100 yard shot is rare. The usual shot is 60 yards or less. But I love the gun. It always attracts looks and comments.
It gets a bit heavy in a shoulder holster but I still prefer it to carrying a rifle. There are times though that I have thought about taking the scope off like when the sun is at my back and it is hard to see through the scope. I am getting old so maybe I need one of those 40mm red dot scopes.
John
It gets a bit heavy in a shoulder holster but I still prefer it to carrying a rifle. There are times though that I have thought about taking the scope off like when the sun is at my back and it is hard to see through the scope. I am getting old so maybe I need one of those 40mm red dot scopes.
John
Patsy4fingers
New member
Contender....best handgun ever
between myself and some friends, we have close to every barrel ever made. my favorite so far has got to be the .357max. we load them light for indoors and can easily be a 200 yard deer gun. put a red dot on it and it is very accurate.
between myself and some friends, we have close to every barrel ever made. my favorite so far has got to be the .357max. we load them light for indoors and can easily be a 200 yard deer gun. put a red dot on it and it is very accurate.
Magnum Wheel Man
New member
I've got to redo an inventory list of barrels again one of these days...
I'd be interested in seeing a list of some of the other collectors... so far I have everything listed ( in caliber )except the JDJ barrel...
BTW... does anyone have a 300 Whisper barrel ???? I've been intrequed by it, & been wanting one...
I'd be interested in seeing a list of some of the other collectors... so far I have everything listed ( in caliber )except the JDJ barrel...
BTW... does anyone have a 300 Whisper barrel ???? I've been intrequed by it, & been wanting one...
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