12ga Contender pistol?

Status
Not open for further replies.
M

Matt304

Member
Joined
Sep 19, 2006
Messages
653
Location
Utica, IL
This is just a question of curiosity that I thought about when looking at a Thompson Contender.

Can a Contender be setup as a shotgun pistol legally? I don't want to do it necessarily, but the idea of a 12ga slug pistol with 10" barrel does sound intriguing. :D
 
The Contender, no, but you could do an Encore. Still have to jump thru all the BATF hoops and pay the tax. Largest ga you can put on a contender frame is a 28 and I'd just about wrestle a bear unarmed and covered in fish oil to get a 14" 28ga Contender barrel.
 
Oh, you do have to pay the tax?

I guess I don't understand completely. At what gauge does the DD law come into play? There are 410 pistols without the tax, but 20 or 12 is not allowed? What about 28ga?
 
All availability issues aside, a smooth bore pistol is considered to be an AOW, regardless of gauge. If the bore were rifled, it would be considered a DD. Either way it's a $200 tax to make one($5 to transfer an AOW, $200 for a DD), though I'm not sure if large bore DDs are legal in IL, IIRC, AOWs are OK. As for what gauge it would become a DD, the only common "gauge"(actually a caliber) that has a bore diameter <.5" is .410, and in that case you'd be better off just getting a .45lc barrel(same bore diameter, and .45lc is more potent than a .410 slug)
 
There are 410 pistols without the tax, but 20 or 12 is not allowed? What about 28ga?
Click to expand...
Technically those are rifled bore 45 Colt pistols that just happen to chamber .410.
 
Is there some possible loophole through all of this?

It was stated that a 410 pistol is just a 45LC that happens to accept 410 gauge.

OK then, what about a rifled 600 Nitro pistol barrel which happens to fire 20ga? 600 Nitro is close enough to the nominal bore size to fire 20ga perfectly. 600 Nitro is also sporting cartridge exempt from being a DD. 550 Magnum is also sporting cartridge exempt, and is the same bore as 28ga.

Just curious, because it sounds to me like it could legally be done this way.
 
Problem is, that rifling does horrible things to shot patterns, you would still need a choke/spin arrestor on the ends to get decent patterns. You could forgo the 20ga shells altogether and just load some 600 nitro shot shells.
 
I've currently got a form 1 application for a tax stamp pending for just such a toy, but with a 4" barrel.
 
PTK: You used an Encore frame and an Encore 12ga barrel? If so what stock did you use?

Is it possible to put one of their pistol stocks on to a shotgun barrel. Their shotgun fore ends look like they mount to the barrel at two points, but are way to long. I was wondering if you could just use a pistol stock along with the rear stock attachment point on a 12 ga barrel.

I'm looking to do around an 8 inch barrel myself with a pistol fore end if thats a possible configuration.

Thanks, Dan
 
I haven't yet made mine, but I'll be making my own foreend, and using a pistol grip or full stock depending on what I want to do.
 
Problem is, that rifling does horrible things to shot patterns, you would still need a choke/spin arrestor on the ends to get decent patterns. You could forgo the 20ga shells altogether and just load some 600 nitro shot shells.
Click to expand...

I wouldn't want to use shot in it, ever.

I simply noticed lately at the range that a lot of guys are into very big-bore handguns for fun. So what better than a 20ga or 12ga handgun firing slug loads? That would be incredible, and a lot cheaper than reloading say, 600 Nitro, as no dies or expensive brass are needed.

So anyways, it sounds like 12ga is out of the question, because no sporting chambers will make it AOW exempt. But 20ga is sure a possibility. Just think, Beartooth sells 1040gr .622" cast bullets. Those would be a handful of fun.

You wouldn't have to load them to mega energy levels, but you could with a thick barrel if you felt worthy enough to handle them.
 
wdlsguy

That's got to be about the BEST squirrel/small game gun in the world. Have you made a holster for it?
 
No holster yet. TC makes one that will fit it though.

Sounds like you're planning to do an Encore SBS, what gauge?
 
I've been playing with the 10" .410/.45 colt barrel lately for my old Contender frame. It's effective out to 25 yards maximum with the choke installed and is effective with the .45 colt and iron sights for hogs out to 50 yards or so. It's really a neat combination IMHO. I've taken a rabbit at 15+ yards on the run, a couple of cow birds (a black bird pest that's legal to shoot here) on the wing, one at over 20 yards, and a rattler just in the last month or so on my walks to check my hog trap. The thing is just a total hoot for such things an I could have shot a dozen dove with it on those walks, of course out of season right now. For a long time I didn't mess much with that barrel, but I think I've found its niche now, just a general bummin' around handgun for outdoor chores and hikes. It's easy to tote in a UMs shoulder holster. Mine's the old octagon barrel with real sights and turns into a 7 inch .45 colt barrel when you remove the choke.

The BATF took TC all the way to the supreme court on this particular barrel and the court found in favor of TC. So, you don't have to worry about it ever being illegal now. :D

I don't think I wanna know what a 12 gauge slug recoil would feel like out of an encore.
 
wdlsguy

I have a 12ga, 20ga, and 28ga barrel planned, but primarily it will be 12ga.
 
I only see 12 and 20 Gauge barrels for the Encore frame. Where are you getting the 28 from?

Wdlsguy: That Encore you have is beautiful! You got any more pictures of it?

Dan
 
Forgot to bring a real camera, so I had to use the camera in my cell phone, but here is a recent picture of a good friend of mine menacing a target with it. :D
 

Attachments

  • SnakeSlayer.jpg
    SnakeSlayer.jpg
    34.4 KB · Views: 38
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

W
  • Locked
Thompson / Center Contender questions
Replies
21
Views
2K
wdlsguy
W
Mr. Mosin
  • Locked
.410 as replacement for 12ga
2 3 4 5
Replies
124
Views
6K
12Bravo20
12Bravo20
G
  • Locked
Encore in .204
Replies
1
Views
270
gbran
G
W
  • Locked
Extreme shock 12ga mystery ammo
2 3 4
Replies
91
Views
15K
RyanM
R
F
  • Locked
.30-40 Krag in Contender?
Replies
17
Views
3K
farscott
F
Back
Top