Thompson center/contender ..any following??

[lar45]

Hi Deuce, Yes they are lots of fun. You have to be careful or you'll end up scrounging for barrels everywhere.
I have 223, 30-30, 309JDJ, 357 Mag, 357 Max, 357 Herrett, 45 Colt, and 45-70.
If you want a hot 30 cal, the 309 JDJ is fun to play with. Mine started as a 12" 30-30 and I sent it to SSK for a rechamber. It's a 444 Marlin case run partway into a 308 win die, then fireform to blow the body and shoulder out. It'll push 165s to 2400ish.

[JSH]

Been playing with the TC products for 30 years. I have Contender, Encore and G2.

Now, notice there was no "G1" in the mix. Because their is no such thing! I want to vomit every time I see such listings.

I would suggest avoiding octagon barrels in large calibers. The weight does make a difference. Yes they are often times cheaper, but a set of split lugs may need to be installed.

The G2 and Encore triggers can be done up to about 98% of what the Contender is capable of, so the are very usable. Just not as user friendly.

I went full circle in barrels and calibers. I had carbines for Contender. I just found it to be a bit smallish for me in that area. The G2 has two barrels that I use on it. The Encore has been a better platform for a rifle for me. I have one pistol barrel in 308 for it.

As to reloading for these. In a nut shell, anything you know, or think you know about loading, does not apply to this platform. It is totally different animal for the most part.
If one intends to say have a 30-30 rifle and thinks a 10"30-30 pistol would be neat. Well yes they are. But if one loads generic type loads to fit all guns, don't expect more than generic results. YMMV

If you are pure accuracy nut. Go straight to a custom barrel. It WILL save a lot of time energy and frustration in the long run. Factory can be made to shoot, some are just not as quick to come around as others.
I am not speaking of 25 yard groups. Rifle type calibers along with straight wall pistol, are shot at 100. Even the 10"'barrel should shoot as well as most average off the shelf rifles.
Jeff

[EMC45]

I too enjoy the platform. I had a nice older Contender and it started opening on it's own when shooting so I sent it back to TC and they sent me a brand new G2. It is nice however, the original had a better trigger and the grip geometry is different. I still like it though. I put a Pach grip on it and it does fine. I have 3 10in. barrels for mine- .38 Special, .357 Mag (both Octagon), .44 Magnum SS, and a Super 14 in .35 Remington. I like 'em.

[LUCKYDAWG13]

If you are pure accuracy nut. Go straight to a custom barrel. It WILL save a lot of time energy and frustration in the long run. Factory can be made to shoot, some are just not as quick to come around as others.
I am not speaking of 25 yard groups. Rifle type calibers along with straight wall pistol, are shot at 100. Even the 10"'barrel should shoot as well as most average off the shelf rifles.
Jeff[/QUOTE]


yep I have a few custom shop barrel but all for my Encore I do have a Contender with 22lr and 44 magnum barrels both 14" this is a older picture
of how well my Encore can shoot at 100 yards Attachment 199087

[ShooterAZ]

I have an original frame and several barrels. I've also sold/traded some off including the 45/70, that sucker was no fun to shoot. I currently have the 7x30 Waters, 44mag, 357mag, 22LR match, and 22 Hornet. All of these are factory barrels, and all of them shoot very well. I'd like to get a barrel in 30 Carbine or 32-20 if I could ever find one.

[saleen322]

Like a lot of folks, I got into them when shooting silhouette. While I am sure I will miss some, currently have: 22 LR, 22H, 222, 223, 7 TCU (GREAT round!), 30-30, 32-20, 30 Herrett, 357 Max, 357 Herrett. Likely more, these are the ones off the top of my head. Really neat pistol and they are keepers. Good luck!

[prsman23]

Y'all stop it! I don't need another addiction!


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[modified5]

Y'all stop it! I don't need another addiction!


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Yes, yes you do!!
Come join the fun!!

[nhmikel]

Pm me and I can maybe help get anyone setup

[OlDeuce]

Ii went shopping today with cash in hand ! the TCs' I found were priced To the top !! way to high and really didn't want to deal The Cabelas Shiptons Scheels
the fort Have Nothing ...........WoW.... Any Suggestions ??????????

[shorty500]

Addicting!!! Have 6 frames if memory is correct, all old Contenders no G2. Have .22lr in both 10 and 16 so one frame( an old pre-easy open) is a dedicated carbine. In 10 inch I have .22Hornet(octogan), .32-20WCF, .44Mag(CUT DOWN SUPER14). In 10 inch VentRib have the .357Mag, .44Mag and .45Colt/3" .410. Got a odd custom MGM .30 Carbine bull that is 11-1/2?? STRANGE I KNOW! Got Super 14s in .30-30Win, .357 Max and a Rechamberd stainless in .444Marlin. And an old .45Colt ONLY 8&3/4Octogan. Always on the prowl for something NEW, have had quite a few different barrels over the years including .223 Rem, both Herrets, TCUs nad am tempted by the 6.8 Rem.SPC ,7-30 waters, .35 Rem and of course thee ancient .45-70!

[OlDeuce]

You guys are Sick................ I'm one that once the illness sets in I get REALLY SICK!!!!!
I gave it some thought this afternoon ...I'm going to throw caution to the wind an get the early TC that was priced to me this morning ! Called the guy already So I'm Committed ............Ill post the pictures tomorrow !!!

Ol Deuce


So is it alright if I get sick along with you all ????????

[tctender]

Let us know how it works out and what calibers you get.

[Moonie]

My first handgun was a contender in 7-30 waters. I now have an encore with a 15" 270 pistol barrel, 7.5" 300 bo barrel, 15" 500 s&w barrel, 26" 375 h&h barrel and a new 24" 6.5 creedmoor barrel. Half are custom mgm barrels.

[OlDeuce]

She's a pretty thing!!! wood is like New Barrel is a .22Match the scope is a 3 -12X40 !!!! I have a 30-30 23" and all the mounting stuff to get the Scope mounted on both barrels !!!! Ca-Ching ca-Ching..........................but so much fun


Ol Deuce

[OlDeuce]

Is there a way to tell date of MFG by the Ser.# ?????????
Ol Deuce

[modified5]

Nice!!!
Mine is dressed up in pistol wear, but I have considered gathering the furniture to build a carbine.
Yours has the same firing pin selector as mine. I was told mine was from the late 70's, but I never put the effort into confirming that.

Welcome to the addiction.

[marshall623]

Found this seems accurate compared with my first frame as it was nehttp://www.handgunhunt.com/tech/t1/index.html

[Gunslinger1911]

I think I got my frame around 1978 ? Came with a 10" 22LR bull bbl. What a ball to shoot ! Added 45Colt (not the shot shell bbl), 357, 22 Hornet, 223, 221 Fireball, and just for giggles 12" 45/70. Been thinking recently about one of the 30 cal options.
As you have seen in previous posts, it's addicting !!!

[OlDeuce]

Serial #'s T/C Contender "Blued"
Year
Jan. - June
July - Dec.
1967 1001-2250
1968 2251 - 3060 3061 - 4330
1969 4331 - 7500 7501 - 11075
1970 11076 - 14501 14502 - 15360
1971 15361 - 16850 16851 - 17885
1972 17886 - 19800 19801 - 22400
1973 22401 - 24750 24751 - 27090
1974 27091 - 30100 30101 - 34500
1975 34501 - 38401 38402 - 47890
1976 47891 - 60670 60671 - 67875
1977 67876 - 74825 74826 - 80398
1978 80399 - 91872 91873 - 108344
1979 108345 - 133856 133857 - 153636
1980 153637 - 169090 169091 - 173516
1981 173517 - 181663 181664 - 196703
1982 196704 - 208412 208413 - 220806
1983 220807 - 227176 227177 - 234850
1984 234851 - 246791 246792 - 256525
1985 256526 - 265000 265001 - 273800
1986 273801 - 287000 287001 - 297200
1987 297201 - 310599 310600 - 317099
1988 317100 - 327999 328000 - 335200
1989 335201 - 351700 351701 - 357200
1990 357201 - 366900 366901 - 370677
1991 370678 - 382852 382853 - 386697
1992 386698 - 399679 399680 - 407884
1993 407885 - 411796 411797 - 418410
1994 418411 - 427890 427891 - 430597
1995 430598 - 435934 435935 - 438365
1996 438366 - 443306 443307 - 446201
1997 446202 - 446735 446736 - 450227
1998 450228 - 452512 452513 - 453321
1999 453322 - 455590 455591 - 456568
2000 456569 -

Kinda Cool