How to hold a T/C Contender?

[MatthewVanitas]

I just bought a .22LR 10" T/C Contender for $400 on GunBroker (with Bushnell scope and Pachy forend), and want to give the T/C thing a try... yet again.

I owned a T/C and a bunch of barrels from 1999-2005, but got almost zero use out of them since I was in the military, moving around a lot, didn't handload, etc. Sold them all off when I came to Texas for some reason. Then I got a great deal on a .223 14" scoped T/C, but I had a horrible time with it at the range. Not blaming the gun, I just knew zero about scopes or shooting scoped handguns. It took easily 6 rounds to even get on paper at 50yds (once I figured out I could just boresight from the breach), and my next 15rds were like a shotgun blast. Got frustrated, went back to shooting my other guns, and sold the T/C. Later bought yet another only to find out it was an early frame that's incompatible with later barrels.

This time I want to do it right, since I handload and could do all kinds of fun things with a T/C. Also interested in IHMSA, and T/C seems a natural for that. This time I'll just stick with the stock .22 until I can shoot it right, rather than go overboard upgrading it.

So, when I take it out to the range next week, what do I do with it? What are the common mistakes that bring horrible groups? What are the little tips of stabilising, sighting-in, etc. that a noob should know?


(Here's the actual one I bought)

 

[PO2Hammer]

Love the old scope!

I've been shooting them for over 15 years and I still have trouble shooting a scoped barrel offhand. I finaly gave up on scopes because they're just too muzzle heavy for me.

The longest heaviest barrel I own is a 10" .22wmr. 7" is a perfect balance for me. This is a 7" .357 Magnum:


IHMSA is great fun, I shoot Field Pistol mostly, but might shoot small bore some this year.

 

[PO2Hammer]

P.S. here's a forum for the single shots:
http://specialtypistols.infopop.cc/6/ubb.x

I'm not good enough with a Contender to dole out advice, but the guys on that site are.

 

[MCgunner]

My TC is usually rested over a gun rest or perhaps a pair of shooting sticks or perhaps just weaver. I have no problem shooting it with whatever barrel/scope I have on it, but that Pachmayr fore end is made to order for resting on something for a shot in the field. I've taken five deer with mine, all of 'em rested shots two hand hold. I shot IHMSA. Get used to Creedmore. You lay on your back and rest the gun over the outside of your leg. You can't, by the rules, use a rest, so you turn your body into a shooting rest.....

 

[41 Mag]

The posted link is a GREAT place. Sign up, and ask away. Those folks are a wealth of info for not only technique, but most other info on these fine arms.

As MC posted, I use or have used in the past just about anything to rest on when shooting mine. I mostly hunt with the different barrels I have. I have also taken deer with the longest shot at 283yds with my 7x30 Waters. The bulk of my barrels are 14" and topeed with scopes making them somewhat difficult to hold free hand, so I generally shoot them prone or creedmore like MC posted, or rested over a rolled coat. The shorter 10" pistol calibers are open sighted and I shoot them like I would any other handgun. The longer barrels but lighter weight give me no problems switching to the single shots after shooting big caliber revolvers.

Practice with yours from a decent bag rest, or one of the adjustable front rest like or similar to, a Caldwell Rock. Once you get the hang of getting the full picture in the scope, and get yourself trained to aquire it, you will find it comes pretty naturally in the field. The key I have found is trigger control. Seems funny but I have watched folks who shoot awesome groups with a rifle, completely miss a target with my .223 AI due to their trigger finger. That thing will shoot 3/8" groups easily at 100yds, if I am having a decent day.

With the 22 you should be getting great groups in no time and practice will be cheap and fun. Start at 25yds, and work on getting used to the scope and your trigger, I can just about guarantee this was part of your previous issue. Once you get the hang of it don't be afraid to stretch it out. The 22's will teach you a ton about doping wind and drop even over a distance of 100yds.

Good luck with your new adventure and hopefully you will be hitting high scores in comp in no time.

 

[Geno]

I fire my daughter's Contender off sandbags, but for even better accuracy (consistency) I prefer to install a bi-pod, and then sandbag under the pistol grip. In terms of firing it with a scope, the "trick" is to be certain that you keep that crosshair flawlessly centered, as well as on-target. Any error in the crosshair being "off-center" will playout big-time on your target.

 

[farscott]

You mentioned using a .22 until you get it right; that is a real good start. I had much the same issues that you did with scoped Contenders as I had too many variables resulting in horrible groups.

I finally put a Tasco red-dot sight with a really small (I think 2 MOA dot) on the 10" .22 LR barrel and started resting the forend on bags. From there, I learned how to hold the Contender so that the trigger squeeze did not move the gun. The .22 recoil, or lack thereof, showed all of the flaws in my technique. Since I have small fingers, that took some doing. Trigger reach can be an issue on the Contender.

Once I got the red dot .22 down, I moved to the .22 barrel scoped with a handgun scope. That took some more time as finding the reticle quickly is an issue for me. Only after that was done did I move the handgun scope to a .45-70 barrel. The .22 practice really paid dividends for me as it did not take many .45-70 rounds to become proficient. Just had to tweak my grip a bit to not get smacked with the back of the lever. That hurt.

Now I have .44 Magnum, .45-70, and .223 barrels as well as my trusty .22. That barrel gets the most play as the Contender is a decent small game rig with the red dot sight.

 

[MCgunner]

Neither my .30-30 12" "Hunter" barrel with built in compensator nor my iron sighted 7mm TCU barrels have much recoil. I've thought about the .45-70, but the thing hurts with hot .45 Colt handloads in the .410/.45 Colt barrel I have for it. LOL I take the choke off that old barrel and it's a 7" iron sighted .45 Colt, accurate enough for 75 yards if I so desired. The excessive freebore gives me 7" groups at 100 yards in that barrel with a scope on it, not very Contenderish, but it's not a lot worse than most revolvers. It's the only Contender barrel I have that isn't laser accurate. It's quite easy to shoot off hand with, though, light and no scope weighing it down. My 10" .22 and 12" .30-30 barrels wear 2x optics for hunting.

Another thing I do while squirrel hunting. I'll sit with my back against a tree. I can scoot out from the tree and lay back on the ground and hold the gun with my hands between my knees and steady it for a 50 yard shot at a squirrel in a tree. Works for me. I don't take the shooting sticks along when I'm handgunning for squirrel. If I'm walking, I can find a tree to barricade against for a shot. Never have to take an off hand shot in the woods.

 

[neededausername]

I would recommend going to a smallbore pistol silhouette competition. I guarantee you will find people shooting T/C's at the match, in fact it's what most people use. This discipline requires accuracy from a .22 pistol at up to 100 yards. I'm sure you will find someone there who will be willing to help you out. Plus it's a fun game to compete in.

I noticed you were in Austin and there just happens to be a local club that holds matches. I've posted a link for you. Good luck.

http://www.austinrifleclub.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=69&Itemid=91