Thompson Contenders Anyone Still Use Them

[loose noose]

I've had a Thompson Contender in the rifle, as well as the handgun version since the early 70's then sold it and purchased a new one in the early 90's. I just recently ordered a 12" bull barrel from Ed's Contenders and took delivery on Saturday. I forgot how much fun that little single shot handgun can be. I've also got it in a 14" .223 with a scope, along with a 14" .44Magnum. As this is the handgun section I won't go into the different rifle barrels I have for it. Quite frankly I haven't found a more accurate and versatile shooting iron to this date.

What say ya all?

 

[243winxb]

Thompson Center Contender

OK for hunting. For target shooting, i got tired of loading, unloading to shoot 50 rounds. Plus at times i forgot to cock the hammer. Had 223, 222, 30-30 , 7mm TCU, 22lr, 45/410. Accuracy was always good, no problems there. Had a few 5 shot groups under 1" @ 100 yds with the 14" 223 with 3X scope off the bench. All gone now.

 

[loose noose]

I forgot to mention I also have the 14" .22LR also. In fact this morning I took the new .357 barrel out and tried it from a portable bench rest, the accuracy was actually pretty good however, after 15 rounds (it's hell getting old) I had to sit it down, and completed my shooting with the .22LR version which is very accurate out to 25-40 yards. The .357 I was shooting out to 50 yards btw.

 

[X-Rap]

It seems the interest has waned over the years. I found the versatility was over rated.
I have 2 frames and would probably buy another. Each barrel has its own scope except the 45/410.
I've shot pronghorn and a number of muledeer with my 30-30 barrel and the 223 was fun when we had prarie dogs closer. I think I might give the 45-70 a go on a late season cow someday.

Sent from my VK410 using Tapatalk

 

[mbopp]

My old Contender sports a custom walnut stock set from Tony's. Barrels are a 357 Herrett and 218 Bee, both 14" bull. Optics are glass on the Bee and reflex on the Herrett.
I use a Lyman "M" die to flare the Herrett and use hard cast 158g SWC's for practice. Deer loads are 180gr Hornady's.
The Bee likes 40-45gr bullets. Accuracy is under 1MOA if I do my part.

 

[osprey176]

I've been shooting mine for around 35 years now(wow,I'm getting old!) I have 223's, 30 and 357 Herretts, and a 30/30 barrel. Had a 444 barrel, but traded it off. The Contender always impresses me with its accuracy. One inch, hundred yard groups are certainly doable if I take my time and use a good rest. I don't mind the slower pace of single shots,it helps me concentrate on each round and makes me a better shot.

 

[Hoppes Love Potion]

I saw a nice one for sale with a .22 Magnum barrel that I should have bought. I ended up spending almost as much for a single shot Chipmunk pistol which is fine but nowhere near as elegant as the TC.

 

[j1]

Yep. Got a bunch. 30 30 single shot rifle. 22, 223, pistol barrels. All are accurate.

 

[dickydalton]

.223 Super Sixteen with a TC 2X7 scope. prairie dog poison.
Also have 45-410 and 44 Mag. Hotshot with plenty of ammo for it!

 

[Merle1]

I've had a Thompson Contender in the rifle, as well as the handgun version since the early 70's then sold it and purchased a new one in the early 90's. I just recently ordered a 12" bull barrel from Ed's Contenders and took delivery on Saturday. I forgot how much fun that little single shot handgun can be. I've also got it in a 14" .223 with a scope, along with a 14" .44Magnum. As this is the handgun section I won't go into the different rifle barrels I have for it. Quite frankly I haven't found a more accurate and versatile shooting iron to this date.

What say ya all?

I've been shooting them since before the easy open frames came out. I had three pistols & three carbines, plus a pair of TCR-83s. I still shoot them frequently, in the cheaper, lighter recoiling calibers. My arthritic hands no longer tolerate the 45-70 very well.

 

[GarrettJ]

They make great suppressor hosts. Subsonic cartridges can be stupid quiet, with no action noise to worry about.

 

[robhof]

robhof

My 3030 14" with muzzle brake, on stainless frame, has been my best deer killer and have even used it on prairie dogs in South Dakota. Used 110 gr for dogs.

 

[loose noose]

I've only got one frame, but have the stocks, as well as the hand grips, and about 7 different barrels from the rifles to the pistols, sure would like to get another frame that would handle the older barrels that the Contender handles. Including the Sonic .45 Black Powder muzzle loader with the 18" barrel.

 

[wbbh]

I like mine, .22 hornet, .45 Winchester Magnum, .44 magnum, .22 LR, .41 Magnum and 7mm TCU.

Fun to shoot and a breeze to clean, one pipe and gas or powder debris in no action. When shooting more powerful cartridges, keep your elbows off the bench or recoil will drive them downward into the bench.

 

[Pete D.]

contender

I have both a rifle and a pistol frame. Marvelous accuracy from both.
Barrels: .22 LR in 8", 10", 16.5", 20"
.38 Spl. 4",
.357 Mag. 10"
.44 Mag. 10"
.30-30 Win. 10" and 16.5"
.223 Rem. 20"
SSK 7.62 Micro Whisper 16.5"
45/70 Gov't - 16.5"

 

[Manny]

I always admired TC's for their legendary accuracy during the heyday of silhouette shooting and long range handgunning. I pored over the TC catalogues dreaming of owning one for years and finally got a blued frame with a 10" .44mag & 10".22LR barrels. I shot them pretty extensively for a couple years, but the sharp edge of the frame cut my finger with the .44 barrel. I traded the two barrels & frame off for a stainless one that had a factory chamfer of the sharp edge that cut me and got a 12" hunter barrel in .45/70 for it. I languished in my safe for awhile needing an optic as I got busy with life and I ended up trading it to my brother who mounted a 4x Leopold and harvested a couple nice deer with it. Then needing cash, he sole it off and we were Contender-less for several years.

A couple years ago I found a Contender Carbine on a table while wandering about a gunshow. Picked it up and discovered what a light and handy carbine they made. Then I tried the trigger and remembered what a really good trigger is. It was virtually new and such a sweet little rifle that I took it home.

The barrel it came with is a 21" chambered in .223, not one I have a whole lot of use for. I ordered in a .357 mag barrel from MGM the same length & contour and now have a sweet Ohio legal deer rifle plus I handy little all around rifle that shoots relatively cheap ammo I keep on hand for my revolvers.

It was only after I bought it and started looking for a Ohio legal rifle barrel that I found how far the sweet little TC's have fallen from favor. It's kinda sad as they were such high quality arms. Still I'm glad to have found the one I have and am looking forward to having a lot of fun with it moving forward.

 

[Salmoneye]

In a fit of stupidity, I sold my Contender and barrels about a decade ago...

 

[GBExpat]

I have just never been able to warm up to the LOOK of the things, y'know?

Certainly not a classic form factor.

I think that for some/many(?) the TCs are an acquired taste.

 

[Merle1]

I've only got one frame, but have the stocks, as well as the hand grips, and about 7 different barrels from the rifles to the pistols, sure would like to get another frame that would handle the older barrels that the Contender handles. Including the Sonic .45 Black Powder muzzle loader with the 18" barrel.

It's my understanding that the new G2 frames will handle the original barrels just fine.

 

[GarrettJ]

It's my understanding that the new G2 frames will handle the original barrels just fine.

That is correct. The G2 frame works with the older Contender barrels and forends. It reportedly will not work with the older grips and buttstocks.

I just bought a G2, but haven't compared it to the older grips to see what the difference is.

Also, there does seem to be a lot more support for the Encore series vs the smaller G2/Contender.

 

[jmorris]

I have a bunch of different pistol barrels but recently started making a few rifle length barrels.



Target in photo is a 20 shot group at 60 yards (odd distance but just how far it is from the back door to the bullet trap) and yes they are not a perfect gun for "bench" shooting.




For the Kiddo I mounted an aimpoint comp3 I had and even with the suppressor it's shorter than the 510 she has been shooting.

 

[dmoserwy]

I have a pistol chambered in .45/.410. I bought it about 30 years ago to carry in my vehicle as a snake gun. Also got a shoulder holster so I could carry it on my motorcycle out in the pasture. I love it for what I bought it for.

 

[zWarlord]

GarretJ, where did you get that thumbhole stock from? I have been looking for one with finger grooves but cannot find one.

 

[GarrettJ]

GarretJ, where did you get that thumbhole stock from? I have been looking for one with finger grooves but cannot find one.

It was an unfinished blem that I got on Gunbroker several years ago. No idea at this point who the seller was. I did the finger grooves as I was shaping & finishing it.

Check out Boyds Stocks. They have some nice T/C stocks. You could ask them if they would sell you an unfinished one that was just inletted for the action. Then just cut the finger grooves in yourself.

 

[critter]

I have a 14" .223 and a 14" 30-30. Both are super accurate. I use the .223 for targets and vermin. The 30-30 using Nosler BT reloads is super accurate and has accounted for numerous whitetails. Fun gun.