TC Contender - Opinions?

[absolute0]

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.

[p85]

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.

[tbtrout]

I have the Encore. it is comfortable, easy handling and reliable. I have it in 45-70, .223 and the muzzle loader barrels.

[crowbuster77]

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.

[blue99]

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.

[Steve in PA]

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.

[happy old sailor]

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

[steveracer]

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

[blue06van]

I have the Encore in .308 .223 .445SM. Great platform.

http://i179.photobucket.com/albums/w285/mack90_geo/IMG_0030.jpg

[Okiecruffler]

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.

[blue06van]

Below is a link to Specialty Pistols. A great source of info on T/C

http://specialtypistols.infopop.cc/eve/forums

[Joe Demko]

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.

[blue06van]

http://www.eabco.com/encor01.html
http://www.ottllc.com/
http://www.bullberry.com/

Are a couple of places you can get one made

[mek42]

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!

[slylikea_fox]

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.

[dust_101]

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

[PO2Hammer]

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.

[Okiecruffler]

Here's a Contender set up for ya.
http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h234/okiecruffler/100_1931.jpg

[absolute0]

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?

[byf43]

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'!

[Standing Wolf]

One of the dumbest things I ever did was sell my original Contender.

[usmccpl]

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.

[mek42]

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 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.

[koja48]

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!

[Onmilo]

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,,,,,,,.

[Gator]

I only have a .45-70 barrel and its just a fun gun for me, but I LIKE it!


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v135/Galt38/contender1.jpg

[koja48]

Exotic looking critter . . . gorgeous wood. Who did the furniture?

[absolute0]

That is an exotic looking gun indeed Gator, must be a custom stock?

The gun I'm looking at comes as a 2 barrel set, with both .44 Mag and a ported 7-30 Waters barrel included.

I'm not familiar at all with the 7-30 Waters, but a little internet research has uncovered that it has somwhat of a following as a deer hunting cartridge. I've taken up handgun hunting over the past couple years and this gun definately intrigues me.

Can anyone comment on the 7-30 Waters or the factory ported Contender barrels in general?

[Okiecruffler]

You won't find many people who have anything negative to say about the 7-30. Probably the best all around cartridge for the contender.

[redneck2]

Mine is a .357 Herrett with a 2x8 Weaver. Just as I finished sighting it in, a blackbird lit maybe 20-30 yards behind the target. I took very careful aim, and the bird exploded.

The .357 Herrett is considerably more powerful than a .357 mag, and good for deer to maybe 200 yards. The term "hand cannon" would be applicable. You can run anything from 110 grain to 160's. Obviously strictly hand load. The 7-30 should be great.

[Gator]

I'm afraid I don't know much about the stock, I bought the gun used. Someone told me that type of stock is used when shooting from the Creedmoor position, and it does work extremely well for that.

[44AMP]

I wasted 30 years before buying one! Currently I have:
10" octagon:
.22 LR
.222 Rem
.357Mag
.44 Mag
.45 Colt

10" round
.22 Hornet
.45Colt/.410

14" round
.30-30
.45-70

and the cutest 6.5" round 9mm barrel !

Very accurate (rifle accurate), good to great trigger, fine guns. One drawback, older Contenders can be "stiff" to open, and if you let the hammer down (without shooting), it has to be opened and closed before you can cock the hammer again. The G2 frame is easier to open, and you can recock without opening the action.

I have a Pachmyr grip on mine, I like it better than the wood. You may not. Note: with unported barrels, recoil can be interesting. Even with ported barrels, recoil can be a problem, if you don't know what you are doing.

Neighbor lad (19) wanted to shoot the .45-70. 14" ported barrel, red dot sight. Load was 385gr cast, @ about 1300fps. He watched me shoot it. He watched me shoot it one handed. He locked his wrists. Unfortunately he didn't stiffen his elbows!:D He took a chunk out of his nose with the edge of the red dot sight!:what: :eek: I got a good belly laugh!:evil: He didn't drop it, and he did hit the target! And he did shoot it again, doing better the next time. To me, the .44 Mag recoils worse, it is unported, and really heads for the sky with hot loads!

I'm not telling you this to scare you, only to illustrate that with the big rounds, it can be a handful. Recoil management isn't a problem, once you understand it. With the Contender, there are no double taps, no fast followup shots, so really all you need to do is hang on, and guide it so it doesn't hit you. And that only with the heaviest/most powerful rounds. With varmint rounds recoil is very mild. Last range session I was hitting the 250yd gong with the .22 Hornet (off the bench), and the recoil didn't even move the target out of the 2x scope field of view.

All in all, they are a wonderful pistol, and would be a fine carbine as well. If you want a real test of how good a shooter you are, try this; use the .22LR barrel, and the old one hand target stance! To be really cool, put your off (left) hand in your back pocket! Then you shoot a group, one shot at a time. Get a good group, you got braggin rights!

Contenders are (to me) about the art of shooting. Works pretty good for hunting too!:D

[hankpac]

That cool stock, is so you can use a push/pull hold. A friend had one of these, and didn't have a pistol scope, so he mounted a rifle scope, and developed a cool stance: He folded his arms, stood sideways to the target, and holding the grip like he should, hooked his left fingers throught the loop, and dropped his head down to put his eye where he needed it to look throught he scope. the gun was nestled against his chest, with the barrel sticking out to his left. Worked pretty well, but I finally talked him into buying a real pistol scope.
Oh, yeah, I have a 14 inch hunter .223, and a 7TCU, and 22 match. All scoped, all 14 inch. Getting a 30/30 barrel and loading spire tipped bullets on it, to get some real velocity. The 7 TCU I used on a bear at 85 yards, 385 lbs, dropped hard.

[6shot slim]

My first Contenter was a 'run-out' First Generation model in 30-30 which which I brought in 1982. While accurate, it was too hard to easily open for an entire 40 shot Silhouette match.

I upgraded to a 2nd generation model in 1983, again in 30-30, but with both 10" and 14" barrels. I found both lengths easy to shot, the 14" being much more pleasant than the similar length Remington XP-100 in .308Winchester!

I have sold both T/C's but they remain one of my favourite handguns. It is hard to fault them.

[pendentive]

question:


for a first-time buyer into the "contender family"...do you guys recommend the G2 or the pre-G2?