TC Contender - Opinions?

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absolute0

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Those of you who own a TC Contender, what is your overall opinion of the platform? Handling, accuracy, fun factor and overall utility.

What's your favorite caliber?

I'm thinking about picking one up and would like to hear from those of you who own and shoot one.
 
T/C Contender

I have owned a contender for about 15 years. I have .22 hornet, 45LC/.410 and 35 remington barrels for mine. I use the 35 remington with a red dot scope to hunt white tails and hogs. I enjoy shooting mine as I am sure you would be too. I'm not sure how many calibers ar currently available, but it is quite a few.
If you are looking for larger rifle calibers, consider the encore by T/C. Much stouter frame and choices like 30-06, 444 or 45-70 to name a few. Whatever you choose, you can't go wrong with a Thompson. They are top quality.
 
I have the Encore. it is comfortable, easy handling and reliable. I have it in 45-70, .223 and the muzzle loader barrels.
 
love em. 204 14in. and carbine, 222,223,45/410,45win mag. shooting a contender can be harmfull........to your wallet as you always want one more barrel.
 
TC Contender

Hi,
I've been hunting with a Contender for about 20 years. I purchased a used Contender with an 10 inch octagon 44 mag. the screw off choke for shooting hot shots.




Then I bought the 45/410 barrel. After that I've only hunted with the Contender....White tails and grouse....I haven't hunted with a rifle or a shotgun since then.
My favorite barrel for the white tails is the 35 Rem. You can use factory loads with great results. If hunting around populated areas I use the 44 mag.
My dads favorite barrel was the 7/30 Waters in a 14 inch barrel and he also shot factory loads with great success.
I'd have to say that the TC contender is my personal favorite for hunting, target shooting, and plinking. You can't go wrong, only one problem.....you'll be buying more barrels and different calibers.
 
Had one many years ago and loved it!! Trouble was my ex-wife said it "got lost" during our divorce!!

I had the 10" stainless steel T/C in .22 Hornet and .22lr match. Wish I had that damn thing now. Oh, it also had a 2-6x scope on it as well.
 
in a word YES. fun, accurate, and an effective hunting arm.

if you are into fun and accuracy, this is the gun for you. only problem is picking the next barrel you want.

expensive? not really if you compare the price of another gun to the price of another barrel. and, TC is a good company to deal with after your purchase of anything they make.

yep, love mine. you will too. possibilities seem endless
 
Good guns.

I had one in .223 for a while, but traded that barrel off for .44MAG.
By the way, TC makes one of the best "scout" scopes in the business, too. They have a 2-7X with lighted reticle, and it has wonderful optical qualities.
Steve
 
Right now I'm shooting the 223, 6tcu, 32-20 and 44 mag from my Contender. I've bought and sold another 2 dozen barrels since this addiction started. Have yet to have a bad barrel. My 223 will shoot 1/2MOA all day long and my new custom 6tcu should do even better.
 
I've had one with a 14 inch .30-30 bbl. since the late '70s. Did some deer hunting with it. Shot it at steel gongs some too. It's a lot of fun. Have toyed with the idea of other calibers over the years. I'd like a bbl. in 7.62x39, but have never seen such an animal.
 
T/C now advertises rimfire barrels for the Encore.

I have a pre-G2 Contender with 223 and 44 mag barrels (both 14"). Resting a two handed grip on a support allows me to maintain a 4 - 6" group (5 shots - about all I'm good for at a range session with the 44) at 100 yards with 240 grain MagTech factory 44 magnum ammunition. I'm still pretty new to the art of handgun shooting, so I'm sure that the pistol can shoot much better than I can.

I haven't shot the 223 barrel much yet.

I've heard that one needs to exercise some caution when reloading 35 Rem for the Contender. Something about how 35 Remington reloaded for the Contender either won't fire in non-Contender barrels or vice versa. If this caliber is something you're interested in it would behoove you to research this for yourself.

Good luck!
 
I have a contender in .375 JDJ and an encore in .280 ackley. The .375 is hard to put down after you start shooting it. I think the .35 remington would be a great caliber also. My regular shooting buddy has an encore .44 mag and a 7.62x39 pistol barrel also.
 
Excellent platform for target shooting or hunting, so many different barrels to choose from. Currently own a TC Contender (3rd series, 1st gen with selector on hammer) with a Super 14" .30-30 barrel. Planning on taking it out for whitetails this season expecially with that new Hornady ammo.... the only problem is trying to decide what barrels to get! .45-70 is next or maybe the .45LC/.410, or a nice .357 mag, or er uh... :D
 
I bought an Encore 12" .44 mag last year. Cut the barrel back to 9". Much nicer now. Added a 9" .357 mag barrel. Full power .357 loads are really fun out of the Encore!
Just got a G-2 with a 10" .22 mag barrel for IHMSA Field Pistol.
My favorite pistols to shoot.
 
Seems like almost universal praise for the Contender from those who've posted replies. What's the recoil & muzzle blast like when shooting rifle caliber rounds?
 
I bought my first Contender in 1983. (Selector was on the face of the hammer.)
10" .357 magnum, bull barrel. Fantastic accuracy!
10" .22 lr followed.
I then bought the 10" 7mm TC/u barrel.

I won a Contender w/ my choice of barrels. I took the 14" 7mm TC/u.
Incredible round. Incredible accuracy! This one will NEVER be sold.


I was going through a divorce and wound up selling the first Contender w/ the .22 lr barrel.
I had a 7mm Int'l Rimmed (.30-30 necked down to 7mm) What a thumper!!!!


I now have added to my 'collection':
.22 lr 14" "Match" barrel
.30 Herrett

I had bought and sold a 10" .44 magnum barrel. It wasn't accurate unless shooting factory loads.


The 7mm TC/u is absolutely incredible! 140 gr. Sierra out to 200 yds., then I use the 160 gr Sierra BTHP.



There was a guy that shot at my club, that had a 14" .30-40 Krag. That Contender was like a CANNON!!!!!!! He got disqualified in IHMSA because the barrel came waaaaaaaay past 'the vertical'.
He said that all he did was 'hang on'!
 
Once I took a pic of my dad shooting a 14" 45/70 contender at night when I find the pic I will post it. The fire ball made it look almost like it was daylight. The barrels I have now are 10" 44 mag, 10" 30 Herrett, 10" 22 lr, 10" 357 max,14" 45/70, 16" 223, 21" 7mm tcu, and 21" 17 Remington. The 22 is the best shooting rimfire I have ever tried. If I do my part I can put 10 rounds in a dime sized hole at 50 yards. With the Maxi I can hit a tennis ball every time at 100 yards off hand. My Contenders will always have a spot in my safe. I wont let go of any of them.
 
Seems like almost universal praise for the Contender from those who've posted replies. What's the recoil & muzzle blast like when shooting rifle caliber rounds?
Click to expand...

I feel like Captain Obvious saying this, but the 223 is much easier to shoot than then 44 mag. I've shot a friend's 45/70 pistol barrel pistol ... once ... for exactly 4 rounds ... of mild - medium reloads. The forestock kept getting blown off with the recoil so my friend had duct taped it onto the barrel. These are the only Contender caliber's I've fired.

A guy at the gun store claimed that his Encore in 7mm-08 is gentler than a 44 mag. This doesn't seem unreasonable to me, but is not within my personal experience.
 
Original Contender pistol in .22 & .45/410; Encore in .223; TC carbine in .204 Ruger/.17HMR. Love 'em all & far more accurate than I am. Sold a heavy barrel Savage with accutrigger after I got the .204 barrel & discovered it shot every bit as well. Currently contemplating an Encore rifle in either 6.5 Grendel or 6.5 BRM. You could say that I approve heartily!
 
I have shot several Contenders over the years.
I am hoping that T/C will again make a .22 Hornet rifle length barrel for the G-2 frame.
A .22 K Hornet G-2 Carbine would be even better, I would have to buy one then, but I could always finish ream a standard Hornet too,,,,,,,.
 
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