OP
OP
Dr T
Member
Let us know how the stock fits. I patched mine together with the synthetic, and, while the stock fits the frame just fine, I really had to add some padding to get the comb high enough for the 30 mm VLPO in high rings.
Contender Carbine in 30-30
- Thread starter Dr T
- Start date
Let us know how the stock fits. I patched mine together with the synthetic, and, while the stock fits the frame just fine, I really had to add some padding to get the comb high enough for the 30 mm VLPO in high rings.
Doug444
Member
I'm curious about the stock fit as well, and as such I haven't chosen a scope to put on it yet. Realistically it's going to be a 250 yd medium game gun, so I don't think I will really need much more than a decent 1" 3-9x40 on it, and I hope I'll be able to get away with low/med rings.
I have exactly that which you describe. A pre-G2'Contender (never called G1 as most first models of about any gun were either). Mine, however, started as a 22 long rifle Contender carbine. I bought a 30-30 barrel from Natchez Shooting Supply and couldn't be happier with it.
6-18X scope (overkill) and fine results with both 150 and 170 grain factory.
I bought it primarily for cast bullet shooting and haven't put any lightweights through it yet. I would expect good results as the Contender line has proven to me that their barrels are normally quite accurate.
I have had eight various Contenders, down now to three, A "latest before G2, and two earlier ones. No advice on barrel interchange issues. My G2 and the 30-30 barrel fit fine, just wouldn't set primer off.
6-18X scope (overkill) and fine results with both 150 and 170 grain factory.
I bought it primarily for cast bullet shooting and haven't put any lightweights through it yet. I would expect good results as the Contender line has proven to me that their barrels are normally quite accurate.
I have had eight various Contenders, down now to three, A "latest before G2, and two earlier ones. No advice on barrel interchange issues. My G2 and the 30-30 barrel fit fine, just wouldn't set primer off.
desmobob
Member
I have an older stainless steel Contender and bought a T/C 10" 30-30 barrel for it. I had often read that the 30-30 cartridge is very accurate when chambered in single shot firearms. With the Sierra 130gr. SSP bullets, it shoots sub-MOA and kills deer very dead.
I later bought a 14" 30-30 barrel with the intention of having it rechambered to a .30 wildcat caliber (.308 Bellm). I figured I'd test the barrel in its stock form before spending money and time converting it to a new caliber. It shot even better than the 10" barrel, so I keep it as a 30-30!
I wanted to buy a carbine barrel, butt stock and fore end for my Contender so I could also make a single shot rifle out of it. I remember not doing it because of some crazy laws... something about you can convert it to a carbine, but once you do, it's not legal to turn it back into a pistol. I don't know if that is correct or not, but it kept me from buying the carbine parts...
I later bought a 14" 30-30 barrel with the intention of having it rechambered to a .30 wildcat caliber (.308 Bellm). I figured I'd test the barrel in its stock form before spending money and time converting it to a new caliber. It shot even better than the 10" barrel, so I keep it as a 30-30!
I wanted to buy a carbine barrel, butt stock and fore end for my Contender so I could also make a single shot rifle out of it. I remember not doing it because of some crazy laws... something about you can convert it to a carbine, but once you do, it's not legal to turn it back into a pistol. I don't know if that is correct or not, but it kept me from buying the carbine parts...
gotboostvr
Member
Close, if it starts as a pistol it's kosher to go back and forth.
If it started out as a rifle, it can only ever be a rifle (or SBR), there's no turning it into a pistol, legally.
OP
OP
Dr T
Member
The whole conversion Pistol=>Rifle=>Pistol legality thing is a bit bizarre.
It depends on how it was shipped from the factory since Rifle=>Pistol=>Rifle is illegal.
I have held off making this modification for well over 30 years. The initial reason was that if you modified a pistol with a rifle barrel, it was illegal to change it back. Period.
After a long time, they finally rule that Pistol=>Rifle=>Pistol was ok, but not the other way around. When that happened, I decided it was OK.
This raises the issue of exactly what can you legally do with a bare action (since I think that a company is beginning to make G1 actions). And if you buy a used Contender pistol, are you putting yourself in legal peril if it was illegally converted by the prior owner.
The really silly things are that this is a single shot break action (not exactly a WMD) AND the conversion is a matter of two #4 wood screws for the grip plate and a 3/16" Allen bolt.
It depends on how it was shipped from the factory since Rifle=>Pistol=>Rifle is illegal.
I have held off making this modification for well over 30 years. The initial reason was that if you modified a pistol with a rifle barrel, it was illegal to change it back. Period.
After a long time, they finally rule that Pistol=>Rifle=>Pistol was ok, but not the other way around. When that happened, I decided it was OK.
This raises the issue of exactly what can you legally do with a bare action (since I think that a company is beginning to make G1 actions). And if you buy a used Contender pistol, are you putting yourself in legal peril if it was illegally converted by the prior owner.
The really silly things are that this is a single shot break action (not exactly a WMD) AND the conversion is a matter of two #4 wood screws for the grip plate and a 3/16" Allen bolt.
Great thread, with lots of chiming in, but needs more pics
Don Bowers concept shared by J.D. Jones (7mmJDJ#2 aka 7mmSuper Bower or 7x307AI)
http://www.retro.co.za/gundex/articles/Ultimate (Thompson Contender) pistol accuracy.pdf
Got lucky with the maple
Don Bowers concept shared by J.D. Jones (7mmJDJ#2 aka 7mmSuper Bower or 7x307AI)
http://www.retro.co.za/gundex/articles/Ultimate (Thompson Contender) pistol accuracy.pdf
Got lucky with the maple
OP
OP
Dr T
Member
My Goodness! How is the barrel bedded in the forend?
I liked the Rynite factory stock. Comb is low for iron sight use.
Wood stocks have thin ears and they seem prone to breakage.
Seen many a walnut factory Contender grip/buttstock w cracks.
The Boyds buttstock is thicker, and laminated.....IMHO is too thick, kills the feel of the Contender in rifle form.
Much prefer the Rynite factory stock. I made a Kydex cheek pc for mine and Velcro'd it on (adjustable w effort).
If it didn't look so goofy I'd have kept it.
The 16.25 inch bbl was short and light, made offhand touchy.
Used a G2 forend and filled hollows w #8 shot and epoxy.
Made shooting golf balls on the 50 yard bank, offhand, easy.
Wood stocks have thin ears and they seem prone to breakage.
Seen many a walnut factory Contender grip/buttstock w cracks.
The Boyds buttstock is thicker, and laminated.....IMHO is too thick, kills the feel of the Contender in rifle form.
Much prefer the Rynite factory stock. I made a Kydex cheek pc for mine and Velcro'd it on (adjustable w effort).
If it didn't look so goofy I'd have kept it.
The 16.25 inch bbl was short and light, made offhand touchy.
Used a G2 forend and filled hollows w #8 shot and epoxy.
Made shooting golf balls on the 50 yard bank, offhand, easy.
Doug444
Member
Well, I've test-fitted the barrel and stock set to my Contender frame. Barrel fit perfectly, as did the stock forend. The buttstock is a VERY tight fit, and while it's the basic walnut G2 profile (raised comb, which I like for scope use), I'm working on loosening the grip on the frame a bit. The "ears" on the buttstock are pretty thick, and I think they went just a tad overboard with the finish thickness. Light sanding on the inside surfaces (don't show) has opened up the space slightly, and it fits better. I'm not quite finished yet, as I don't want to put any undue stress on those ears and initiate an unnecessary crack. The wrist of the stock is pretty thick also, but I have big hands so I'll get the assembly fit done first and shoot it for a while before I make any other wood changes. When I get that done, and mount a scope, I'll take a pic and post it. Then I'll start the barrel break-in process per the mfg. I've never done that before, but since this is my first custom barrel for ANYTHING, I figure it can't hurt. I have plenty of Fed. factory ammo for that, then I'll start working up a load with some 130 gr. bullets I have. But I think I'm going to wait for any shooting of this barrel until the temps get consistently below 90 degrees. This past week of over 100 just isn't conducive to my idea of fun shooting weather.
And how can you determine how one began life? Is there a serial number list online somewhere?
gotboostvr
Member
From my understanding, all Encore's and Contender's start as "pistols".
For other makes and models, you can probably just call up the manufacture and ask to check your SN.
Ranger99
Member
Not sure what the ultimate goal is
There was some past thread that I
posted one of my Contenders on.
At one time some years ago, I had
the opportunity to do cull hunting
with a friend on a few ranches
The methods at the time were
riding to a rise in a jeep or scout
or high rack, and wait for whatever
target animal(s) to appear in the
road ahead. I fixed myself a
Contender "jeep" gun that I could
hang out of the window and shoot
whatever spike or doe that we
were allowed to shoot.
Just a scoped Contender with a
Choate buttstock and a permanently
welded extension to make it legal.
My understanding is that the BATF
won't kick up at a legal length
carbine as long as a short pistol
length barrel is not in the case
or vehicle with a buttstock equipped
carbine/rifle. Some of mine were
bought as receivers, so . . .
There was some past thread that I
posted one of my Contenders on.
At one time some years ago, I had
the opportunity to do cull hunting
with a friend on a few ranches
The methods at the time were
riding to a rise in a jeep or scout
or high rack, and wait for whatever
target animal(s) to appear in the
road ahead. I fixed myself a
Contender "jeep" gun that I could
hang out of the window and shoot
whatever spike or doe that we
were allowed to shoot.
Just a scoped Contender with a
Choate buttstock and a permanently
welded extension to make it legal.
My understanding is that the BATF
won't kick up at a legal length
carbine as long as a short pistol
length barrel is not in the case
or vehicle with a buttstock equipped
carbine/rifle. Some of mine were
bought as receivers, so . . .
