Any Thompson Contender fans??

I bought my TC Contender back in 1990 in pistol configuration 14" super bull barrel in 223 Rem. I was so impressed with the 223 I bought a 21" Foxridge bull barrel. Then a 16.5" carbine barrel in 7x30 Waters followed, then a 16.5" bull barrel with tamer in 45/70 followed. I'm not sure what's next, but I really want a 17 Fireball in a long bull barrel configuration. My choice of a light varmint gun is the TC Contender with the 21" barrel in 223. I would like to have a 375 JDJ in the future. Maybe I'll get a G2 barrel and then a couple of more barrels like 22lr and 221 Fireball. josh
 
rootcanal & Herret

I saw a Herret TC for sale on a website several years ago and was tempted as I called and they said it was legal in CA. I figured I could then get different bbls. It was "only" around $400+ as I recall and looked in good shape. Some guy in Idyhoe I think.

Anyway, I was unsure about the ability to legally change bbls, etc. so I waited until I saw one in a gun shope a bit ago and snagged it. Still the 410 bbls aren't legal here but you could always say you were shooting 45 LC I guess.

I would like to get 45/70, 17 HMR, and maybe a 30-30 or 7mm TC. Shot a few squirrels last week at around 50 yds (iron sights still) and they exploded! Its a neat gun!
 
super 14 real stiff on breach opening..

HI Ya'll New guy here.. I Have a question.. Got a super 14 in 30-30.. And as you know you have to pull back on the trigger guard to open the breach, OK. Is it common for the T/Cs to be real stiff? I mean ya gotta pull back pretty hard for the breach to drop open.. Is it because the gun hasn't been used much.. I know T/Cs tolerances are real close and I'm thinking that maybe the gun will loosen up a bit as it is used.. Am I wrong about that? Other than that the gun functions great.. And accurate...Any answers will be appreciated

mtnsmith................
 
Any Thompson Contender fans??
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Absolutely and got into more barrels than I ever planned on getting. The longest range I shoot, is 100yds. with my 30-30 and .223. Great shooters..:eek:

Be Safe !!!
 
I have had my T/C for around 30 years I guess. Actually the one I use all the time I have had about 20 years. I sold the first one "357max" and within a week I was missing it and had to buy another one. Mine is the 14" scoped with a .35 Rem barrel. In the last 20 years I think I grabbed a rifle just once to hunt with. I love deer and bear hunting with my T/C. I've even used it a few times for predator hunting.

John
 
My current list:
6"
9mm Luger
.357 Magnum

10"
.22LR
.22 Hornet
.222 Rem
.357 Mag
.44 Mag
.45/.410
.45 Colt

14"
.30-30
.45 Win Mag
.45-70

Love the Contender!
 
Only have one barrel now, a 10" bull .223. Put a 2-6x pistol scope and it still surprises me how accurate it can be. Had it before I started handloading and it shot great with factory ammo. I enjoy the surprise on people faces when they shoot it and feel the muzzle blast. Had a Super 14 in 44 mag and was a bit much! I'm thinking a 9mm or 45 ACP may be on the "list". Love the T/C!
 
There are actually 2 types of contender frame (3 if you count that ugly step sister the G2) the easy open and the pre easy open.If your pivot pin is at the front of the frame that means it's a pre frame and it will be stiff, especially if you have a newer barrel. TC will convert it for a big $55 bucks. I have one here on the desk that I need to send in.
 
Contender Fan? How about Addict?

Have 11 frames, near complete collection of the 10" octagon barrels (missing 4 of the .17 calibers), partial set of the 8" octagons, AFIK a complete collection of the 10" bulls and Super 14's, several TCA specials, and a couple of unlisted factory wildcats (anyone got a .22 CCM or a .30 REN?). Also have some custom barrels.

When talking T/C, one needs to be careful about mixing Contender calibers with Encore calibers. 6mm PPC in a Contender - have to call BS on that. In a Encore, yea, I can see that.

Magnum Wheel Man, yes have a .300 Whisper, in both a T/C and a SSK. Both are totally different to shoot. The T/C is a 1 in 10 twist barrel and shoots the lighter .30 caliber slugs just fine, but not the heavy ones as J.D Jones intended. The SSK barrel has a 1 in 8 twist and handles the heavy .30 caliber slugs just fine at subsonic velocities. If you want a true Whisper, go with a SSK barrel.

Another custom T/C barrel maker not mentioned is Dennis Bellum. I think he and J.D. Jones do the best work in T/C customs.
 
I know a couple of guys who are running the 6 PPC on a Contender platform, but they are caereful loaders and of course can't load to it's potiential. It'll still beat the 6tcu or the 6 bullberry by a decent margin. I passed on an 8X57 rimmed barrel once that I wish I had picked up. You also see alot of 35 rem barrrels that have been rechambered to 356 or 358. Again it's doable if the loader is careful, but it those barrels get into the wrong hands you get a stretched frame if your lucky.
 
I don't personally like to chamber cartridges that factory or "normal" ammo is of too high a pressure... my factory 375 Winchester is really close to that point... I've also seen 444 Marlin barrels for the Contender... but if you can't load hotter than the 44 mag ( really ), what is the point ???
 
I was running a 300gr bullet at 1900fps from my 444 barrel and was still under pressure limits. From what I understand the 445 will do the same with less powder. I will say the 444 was very uncomfortable to shoot. My only big dog now is a 358 Super Bower wich is basically just a 356 win with the neck shortened enough so you can't chamber factory ammo. I can run a 180gr at 2400 and it's not near as brutal. Still not what you take for an afternoon of plinking.
I'm seeing alot of 7.62X39 barrels out there now that worry me. That factory loading, especially if you're sending a .311 bullet down a .308 bore has some nasty possiblities.
And then there are those barrels you run into that are just plain stupid. 300 win mag anyone?
 
Another great custom shop is http://www.matchgrademachine.com/ I have one of their 22LR barrels that is dumdum accurate at 100yrds.

Here's my current best looking rig...

100_3790.jpg
 
In my young and stupid days, I bought a TEC-9. Worst P.O.S. Jam-O-Matic I ever owned. Traded it for a T/C Contender with 14" heavy barrel. Best trade I ever made. It has a T/C 2X7 scope. Before my eye sight stated to fade, I could hang with most "deer" rifles out to 100 yrds. Get a .45-70 barrel. They're a hoot.
 
I got a Tec 9 once, mostly just to see what all the fuss was about. Tested it pretty throughly. The plastic frame cracked, but as long as it was kept fairly "wet" is didn't jam on decent ammo. did freeze up hard once on a bad reload. Trading one of them for a T/C (barrel and all?) was a great improvement in usefullness and value! Congrats.

I still often kick myself for waiting as long as I did before "discovering" the Contender. Combat/self defense shooting is a valuable skill to have, but its focus on good enough fast enough is a whole other experience than shooting Contenders. Contenders are about precision. One precise shot, at a time.

Field or target range, shooting Contenders well is a level of enjoyment I took way too long to find. There's a whole world of fun (and utility for alot of us) shooting handguns that don't fit in your pocket or hold a dozen rounds.

There's just something old fashioned about it. I find I like that.
 
They are an addiction. Once I discovered Contenders I started selling off all my rifles and shotguns to fund barrel purchases. Haven't regretted it a second.
 
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