Any Thompson Contender fans??
- Thread starter bobhwry
- Start date
I just purchased a G2 with 14 inch bbl in 223!
I love that gun!
I always wanted a Contender, but should have gotten one before they became so of proud of them! Plus I think they were just made legal in CA (pistolas at any rate) -- still can't get 410 bbl though.....)
Just using iron sights, I started at 50 yards then move up to 100. Took a few shots at 200 yars (thats as far as my little "range" goes for now) and realized I'll have to work on that. The iron sights that come with it are very good and I'm gonna use them whilst looking for some good EER glass for it!
I don't figure I'll be using it much past 100 (for sure not past 200) as I wanted it for yotes from my rig when they come down lookin' fer calves or around my water troughs. I never seem to have a good quick gun handy when that happens. This 223 will be perfect!
Think I'll get me a bbl in 17HMR as I have wanted a pistola in that round but always figured it would need a 10" or better bbl. Taurus 12" hasn't passed drop test in CA yet and haven't seen many others over 10" in 17.
I would also like to get a little bigger calibre for pigs, etc. There are a lot of 7mm TCU bbls out there fairly cheap. My bud reloads for his (necked out 223 case) and he loves it. Even for them tough big wild boars out here.
Any one hunt pigs with one? Wiley Coyote? Deer? Anything else?
I love that gun!
I always wanted a Contender, but should have gotten one before they became so of proud of them! Plus I think they were just made legal in CA (pistolas at any rate) -- still can't get 410 bbl though.....)
Just using iron sights, I started at 50 yards then move up to 100. Took a few shots at 200 yars (thats as far as my little "range" goes for now) and realized I'll have to work on that. The iron sights that come with it are very good and I'm gonna use them whilst looking for some good EER glass for it!
I don't figure I'll be using it much past 100 (for sure not past 200) as I wanted it for yotes from my rig when they come down lookin' fer calves or around my water troughs. I never seem to have a good quick gun handy when that happens. This 223 will be perfect!
Think I'll get me a bbl in 17HMR as I have wanted a pistola in that round but always figured it would need a 10" or better bbl. Taurus 12" hasn't passed drop test in CA yet and haven't seen many others over 10" in 17.
I would also like to get a little bigger calibre for pigs, etc. There are a lot of 7mm TCU bbls out there fairly cheap. My bud reloads for his (necked out 223 case) and he loves it. Even for them tough big wild boars out here.
Any one hunt pigs with one? Wiley Coyote? Deer? Anything else?
mikejonestkd
New member
I used my contender in .223 for small game and woodchucks, and the .44 rem mag barrel for deer for years.
I now use an encore for deer, either with a .243 win barrel or a .308 win barrel with a muzzle break.
I love TC Products!!!! Great quality, great service, tons of selections of calibers...
I now use an encore for deer, either with a .243 win barrel or a .308 win barrel with a muzzle break.
I love TC Products!!!! Great quality, great service, tons of selections of calibers...
Now the 243 sounds like it would be a good one!
Big enough for deer or pigs, still good for coyotes, and not the recoil of say a 308!
Also you can get the rounds at a Walmart, etc. where the TCU you have to reload.
Just haven't seen many 243 bbls around. Will keep looking. How's it shoot?
(I love my contnder already........Think its gonna be my favorite "rig gun" on the rancho..........)
Big enough for deer or pigs, still good for coyotes, and not the recoil of say a 308!
Also you can get the rounds at a Walmart, etc. where the TCU you have to reload.
Just haven't seen many 243 bbls around. Will keep looking. How's it shoot?
(I love my contnder already........Think its gonna be my favorite "rig gun" on the rancho..........)
mikejonestkd
New member
Whisk,
don't get too excited about the .243 win...TC does not chamber the G2 in it..Encore only....Sorry
You can easily do the .30-30, 7mm waters ( 7mm-.30-30 ) or a .35 remington though.
The .243 is NICE in a encore, I have both pistol and rifle barrels and they are da bomb...
G2 pistol caliber chart from TC: http://www.tcarms.com/firearms/g2ContenderPistolCharts.php
G2 rifle caliber chart from TC: http://www.tcarms.com/firearms/g2ContenderCenterfireCharts.php
don't get too excited about the .243 win...TC does not chamber the G2 in it..Encore only....Sorry
You can easily do the .30-30, 7mm waters ( 7mm-.30-30 ) or a .35 remington though.
The .243 is NICE in a encore, I have both pistol and rifle barrels and they are da bomb...
G2 pistol caliber chart from TC: http://www.tcarms.com/firearms/g2ContenderPistolCharts.php
G2 rifle caliber chart from TC: http://www.tcarms.com/firearms/g2ContenderCenterfireCharts.php
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<sigh>
Story of my life.
Hey! Maybe I'll find an Encore someday!
My bud loads for his 7mm TCU and since I'll have lots of 223 brass that might be a good choice. Don't know if it'd be good enough for some of the wild boars around here, but he says it is OK for deer if they aren't too far away.
Maybe I'll get a 7mm TCU
Tons of them for sale!
Story of my life.
Hey! Maybe I'll find an Encore someday!
My bud loads for his 7mm TCU and since I'll have lots of 223 brass that might be a good choice. Don't know if it'd be good enough for some of the wild boars around here, but he says it is OK for deer if they aren't too far away.
Maybe I'll get a 7mm TCU
Tons of them for sale!
Magnum Wheel Man
New member
I highly recommend the 7-30 Waters, also now that they have the "pointy" 30-30's in factory loads, they might be just the ticket... I haven't shot my 30-30 barrels much, as I haven't had much time to reload, & didn't think the flat points in 30 caliber offered me what I wanted out of the Contender... though the 7-30 Waters in Federal factory loads shoot really well in my barrel... but I'm going to have to try the new "pointy" 30 - 30's & see how they do...
I've killed several deer with the 44mag 14". I found the scope to be a hinderance. Useing open sights I've killed deer at 150yrds. That was with a 300gr GC flat nose and a healthy dose of H110.
As for the 223, the scope is a good call as long as the magnification goes low enough. My 223 barrel shot hornady 40gr V-Maxes very well.
As for the 223, the scope is a good call as long as the magnification goes low enough. My 223 barrel shot hornady 40gr V-Maxes very well.
Hammerhead
New member
I have to agree, tried a 2X pistol scope and a red dot. I keep going back to open sights.
Just bought a G-2 to go along with my Encore.
Nice and light with a trigger that needs some work. The .22WMRF barrel is a good shooter.
Still like the Encore better.
mikejonestkd
New member
My .223 encore is one in 12, I would guess yours is the same.
I can shoot up to 62 gr before they start to destabilize.
I can shoot up to 62 gr before they start to destabilize.
Magnum Wheel Man
New member
I think my old one in 223 was 1 in 12 also... I always had trouble with accuracy in anything over 50 grains...
I like to shoot varmints with the WallyWorld Win 45 grain hollow points. They even work out of my Savage Tactical with a one in nine so they should be even better in the Contender with 1 in 12!
Lately though, the cheapest 223's at Wally have been the Rem 55 grains. Cheapest of all of course were the Big 5 55 grain militaries.
I wonder how those Hornaday 30-30s with the "ballistic" tips would be for a Contender hunting round? I think they are pointed by a kind of "soft" ballistic tip that can be shot from the lever actions.
When you say "pointy" 30-30s are you talking about those?
Lately though, the cheapest 223's at Wally have been the Rem 55 grains. Cheapest of all of course were the Big 5 55 grain militaries.
I wonder how those Hornaday 30-30s with the "ballistic" tips would be for a Contender hunting round? I think they are pointed by a kind of "soft" ballistic tip that can be shot from the lever actions.
When you say "pointy" 30-30s are you talking about those?
Magnum Wheel Man
New member
yes...
The 45 LC/410 bbl is illegal in People's Republic of CA.
So I guess any good deal I get on a 30-30, 7mm TCU, or 45-70 will be OK. Wouldn't mind a 308 either but it would need a ported bbl I would think (like the 45-70's).
If I get one of them Wiley Coyotes some evening coming down to calves and/or water, with iron sites on 223, I'll report it on here. Now that I have a good gun handy for them, I'll probably never see another one. Calves will like it I guess.......
So I guess any good deal I get on a 30-30, 7mm TCU, or 45-70 will be OK. Wouldn't mind a 308 either but it would need a ported bbl I would think (like the 45-70's).
If I get one of them Wiley Coyotes some evening coming down to calves and/or water, with iron sites on 223, I'll report it on here. Now that I have a good gun handy for them, I'll probably never see another one. Calves will like it I guess.......
Magnum Wheel Man
New member
BTW... 308 is not available for the Contenders ( pressure is too high )... It is available in the Encore though
BTW#2... how about 357 Rem Max ??? or 44 mag ???
BTW #3... got a 17 Remington ( 223 case necked down to 17 caliber )... though I've never really cared for the cartridge... too wind sensitive IMO, However, I would prefer it to the non reloadable 17 Rim Fires...
you guy's are getting me questioning my self enough, that I really need to get in there & do another inventory... it's been a long time
... if I remember right there are a few cartridges based on the 30-30 case or 223 case that use 243 or 25 caliber bullets... the cartridge wildcat names escape me right now, but in non hand loads, that 7-30 Waters would IMO, be the ultimate 200 + yard "yote" gun... I've used that cartridge / 14" barrel for everything from Prairie Dogs, to White Tail Deer
BTW#2... how about 357 Rem Max ??? or 44 mag ???
BTW #3... got a 17 Remington ( 223 case necked down to 17 caliber )... though I've never really cared for the cartridge... too wind sensitive IMO, However, I would prefer it to the non reloadable 17 Rim Fires...
you guy's are getting me questioning my self enough, that I really need to get in there & do another inventory... it's been a long time
... if I remember right there are a few cartridges based on the 30-30 case or 223 case that use 243 or 25 caliber bullets... the cartridge wildcat names escape me right now, but in non hand loads, that 7-30 Waters would IMO, be the ultimate 200 + yard "yote" gun... I've used that cartridge / 14" barrel for everything from Prairie Dogs, to White Tail Deer
The 7-30 Waters is a necked down 30-30? Going from 30 to 28 calibre doesn't seem like it would make that much diff but I guess it does. I've heard it is superior to the 7 TCU and most of the other rounds for the Contender to reach out to 200+ for game of deer size and smaller.
My bud swears by the 223 necked out to 7 (7mm TCU) for his Contender but he thought he was getting 130 gr bullets to go 2,800. I said no way and he went back and check and he's getting more like low 2,000's. Still not bad for deer at 100 or closer but I don't know about some of the boars on his property. Thats why I thought about the 308. The 45-70 ported bbl would be a good one for pigs IMO but even ported I hear its quite a kicker. It must be because I have a little NEF and it kicks like a mule with just 305 gr factory loads!
Tappin swears by the standard old 30-30 for deer from a Contender. Says its the ideal Dear Handgun in fact!
My bud swears by the 223 necked out to 7 (7mm TCU) for his Contender but he thought he was getting 130 gr bullets to go 2,800. I said no way and he went back and check and he's getting more like low 2,000's. Still not bad for deer at 100 or closer but I don't know about some of the boars on his property. Thats why I thought about the 308. The 45-70 ported bbl would be a good one for pigs IMO but even ported I hear its quite a kicker. It must be because I have a little NEF and it kicks like a mule with just 305 gr factory loads!
Tappin swears by the standard old 30-30 for deer from a Contender. Says its the ideal Dear Handgun in fact!
The little 17HMR is nice around the cows as it does not ricochet at all (even the venerable little 22 can ricochet some and it might not kill 'em but my investors don't like it when their foremen tell 'em they've got "strange little bumps" or an eye out on their stock!
They (17's) just cost too damn much and are really questionble for anything bigger than a squirrel IMHO!
Really accurate though. Instant death for blackbirds and I'll tell ya those things (blackbirds) are worse than coyotes on the newborne calves! (they peck out their eyes, tongues, pads in their hooves, etc.)
I hate 'em!
(and CA protects them -- Ravens too!)
They (17's) just cost too damn much and are really questionble for anything bigger than a squirrel IMHO!
Really accurate though. Instant death for blackbirds and I'll tell ya those things (blackbirds) are worse than coyotes on the newborne calves! (they peck out their eyes, tongues, pads in their hooves, etc.)
I hate 'em!
(and CA protects them -- Ravens too!)
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