TC Contender?

The Contender, in general, has a better trigger and is lighter and handier. Whenever I carry my Encore - 15" barrel in .308 Win....I think that I am very close to carrying a rifle.
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Ditto.

I had a contender for years, and upgraded to an encore around 2000. They are simply outstanding hunting handguns, but not too practical for much else.

My .308 encore is a hoot to shoot once or twice...and not much fun beyond that...
 
I've got a contender. Inherited it from my father, actually. It's got .22 and 357 barrels. Its definitely a niche handgun, but still fun to shoot. The time it takes to reload and cock the pistol really makes you focus on the fundamentals of good marksmanship, and its pretty relaxing too, especially with lighter loads.

The TC Contender isn't for everyone, but they're great guns. I know a few folks who hunt deer with them, with 12-14" barrels chambered in 30-30 winchester.
 
Wish I had never gotten rid of my Contender, but there it is...

Had a 10" Hunter barrel in .45-70, and a 12" T/C custom shop barrel in .357 Herrett...

Either one got your attention with 'hunting' loads...
 
Buy one and you will enjoy it. Great for target and hunting. I have several frames and barrels for the G1 contender. Most recently, I have been shooting a contender carbine in 357 max.

Also, single shots are a great way to teach kids. I have a .22 barrel that i primarily use to teach my kids safe shooting habits.
 
I'd like to add, the TC is not a gun for novices or kids. Just because it is a single shot does not mean it is not dangerous, and it comes with a hair trigger. Try this in a safe place with a backstop, load a cartridge, cock the hammer and while pressing the trigger hold the hammer and let it go forward. Now pull it back and let go...
 
One of the "issues" that were "corrected" in the G2 Contender is the ability to recock the hammer without opening the action.

Yes, if you manipulate the original Contender action the way you describe, it becomes a "slip gun". Open the action after lowering the hammer, and it resets.

What you describe is kind of like putting a standard transmission in neutral while going down a hill. Its NOT the way the mechanism was meant to be operated, and can be dangerous. If you play stupid games, you get painful results.
 
I'd steer clear of the TC single shots unless you want to mess around with oddball calibers that aren't readily available in factory rifles without paying big bucks for custom rifles.

Or you want a gun like you see in a movie as a novelty.
 
Take care not to like them

Are they worth it?
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I guess it comes down to a matter of personal preference. They Contenders are great shooter and have never regretted buying mine. With my .223, I have taken Coyotes and an Alabama Bobcat. With my 30/30, I have taken a bunch of deer. Personally don't care for the G-2's. ...... :confused:

They are accurate and fun to shoot. Might not be you cup of tee so try one before you buy. ...... ;)

Be Safe !!!
 
Oddball calibers? You mean like .22lr, .357 Mag, .44 Mag, .45 Colt, .30/30, .45-70, .223, etc? And those are just in Contenders. Encore has even more.

Yeah, you can get some wild calibers if you want, but you can get plenty of plain Jane, readily available calibers.
 
johnwilliamson062 said:
I'd steer clear of the TC single shots unless you want to mess around with oddball calibers that aren't readily available in factory rifles without paying big bucks for custom rifles.

Or you want a gun like you see in a movie as a novelty.
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I couldn't disagree more.

The TC Contenders and Encores are a high quality, accurate pistol that are great choices for pistol hunting season or for going from a larger caliber for deer down to smaller calibers for varmint and pest control to .22 for small game.

It's pricey, but I don't think somebody can go wrong buying a TC Encore or Contender.
 
My brother has a TC with a barrel full of barrels, up to .45-70. He loves the thing and has destroyed several pistol scopes due to recoil. I found it neat and interesting, but, not enough to acquire one.
 
I'd steer clear of the TC single shots unless you want to mess around with oddball calibers that aren't readily available in factory rifles without paying big bucks for custom rifles.
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You do understand this is the handgun forum, and we are talking about Thompson Center Contender handguns, not custom, single shot rifles. In the 27 posts prescreening yours, and the posts after yours, nobody mentioned rifles. Just the rifle chamberings that Contenders, and Encores can be chambered in with handgun barrels from 8" to 15"
 
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The contender was also used by the smoking man during an x files episode, he was thinking about assassinating the lone gunmen.
 
It's pricey, but I don't think somebody can go wrong buying a TC Encore or Contender.
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Except that they are pricey. For a lot of people that is going wrong.


You do understand this is the handgun forum, and we are talking about Thompson Center Contender handguns, not custom, single shot rifles. In the 27 posts prescreening yours, and the posts after yours, nobody mentioned rifles. Just the rifle chamberings that Contenders, and Encores can be chambered in with handgun barrels from 8" to 15"
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To a large extent my statement holds true with pistols. Anencore is a whole lot cheaper than a custom cylinder, but I am not at all convinced it is any better deal in the cases where a factory pistol is available. That is true for barrel length also. You can buy a drop-in custom barrel cheaper than a custom gun whether we are talking pistol or rifle. Otherwise the Encore will prove "pricey" in my experience.

Oddball calibers? You mean like .22lr, .357 Mag, .44 Mag, .45 Colt, .30/30, .45-70, .223, etc? And those are just in Contenders. Encore has even more.
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It isn't that they aren't available, it is that it doesn't make sense to me. I wouldn't buy any of those factory barrels for an Encore excepting possibly a super long pistol barrel. There are 30/30 pistols available. I've done 45/70 from a long pistol Encore and it was stupid even with the heavier Encore. Lots of other options for the other cartridges.
You guys can keep them.
If Henry releases a 357 mag single shot rifle I can have reamed to 357 max my Encore "pistol" will be going to a good home ASAP.

How many fore-end sizes and hole patterns are there again?

Have any of you called S&W CS about a TC product since they bought TC? Very frustrating for me.
 
To a large extent my statement holds true with pistols. Anencore is a whole lot cheaper than a custom cylinder, but I am not at all convinced it is any better deal in the cases where a factory pistol is available. That is true for barrel length also. You can buy a drop-in custom barrel cheaper than a custom gun whether we are talking pistol or rifle. Otherwise the Encore will prove "pricey" in my experience.
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Makes even less sense than your first comment. No "custom" barrels, just off the shelf in many chamberings to suite your interest. Many on the web at prices from $150-$200, or more if you want. Expensive? Hardley when I can have a whole new gun by changing a +-$200 barrel.
OK, my 'Tender was a bargain. SS G2 35 Remington Super 14, ported barrel, 2-7 Burris scope, and additional 14" 22LR Match barrel. All in a Hoyt soft case for $250. Add to that those barrels that I have paid around two hundred bucks each for, and a couple scopes I know have a "variety pack" of handguns in 22LR, 22 Hornet, 223, 7-30 Waters, 30. harrett, 357 Harrett, 35 Remington, and 45-70. All very accurate, and a whole bunch of fun shooting.
 
Back in the early 90's I found myself with a Contender Super 14 in 44 Mag. Because I had a Mini 14 come and go, I had a bunch of 223 ammo and reloading dies, so I got a Super 14 barrel in 223. I made a small batch of carefully crafted loads and with a 2X Burris handgun scope, it would group sub 1/2 inch groups at 100 yards.
At a gun show I found a 10 inch 357 Herrett barrel with brass and dies. If you don't know, the 357 Herrett is a 30-30 case, slightly shortened, and necked up to .358. I loaded some close to max charge, 158 gran SP's and went to the range. I always thought I was impervious to recoil, but ten rounds of that cartridge was about 5 too many. I felt like someone kicked my ass. The barrel, brass and dies became trade goods.
Later the Contender and barrels ended up getting traded for something I wanted more. But I really enjoyed that gun and would have another one but the prices of even used Contenders are pretty sky high around here. Another, "Dang, I shoulda kept that one." situation.
 
I have an older contender in .223 bull barrel (dont remember the length) and its the best shooter I've ever had in any caliber, I love it
 
It looks like eabco has barrels at $309.
Maybe you bought your $200 barrels in 1995. Maybe you bought them used. The tc barrels aren't available regularly for $200 now.
A NIB one is t going to be had for $250 either. Closer to triple that. The used frames alone generally go for more than $250.
Actually, I decided to look it up on buds. Contender with barrel $615 and a frame is $370.
From what I have seen a bit more locally.

But sure, if anyone runs into a full gun for $250 I recommend they buy it. I usually see used frames for that much or more.
The factory pistol barrels have sights(mediocre). The rifle barrels don't. Since the pistols can be converted that is relevant info.

Oversized hinge pins, hammer extension, a couple different forearms, rimfire adapter. No deals here.
 
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