T/C Contender Carbine

[OrangePwrx9]

For all the guns I have, I'm coming to the realization that the homely, unsophisticated little Contender Carbine is one of my favorites. It's just a great gun to bum around with. Weighs very little, balances well, excellent trigger and I can shoot it well offhand.

Normally it wears a 21" .22RF barrel and leans against the wall behind the bedroom door. It's what I grab when there's a woodchuck in the yard. If the 'chuck is slow to leave, the T/C makes his departure permanent.

For patrolling the hayfields in the evening, it's woodchuck poison with a .223 barrel. As light as it is, you can walk for miles and hardly notice it. It's a joy to carry. But, being so light, even the .223 has noticeable recoil. Think I may try some reduced handloads that bring it down to the Hornet level. Normally I don't get shots over 100 yards anyway.

So, I'm wondering what other barrels/calibers folks shoot in their Contender Carbines and how well they like them. I've considered some of the deer calibers (especially .35 Rem.) but expect the recoil could be stout. Is anyone shooting the 7-30 Waters in one? How do you like it? How about wildcat calibers?
Thanks.
Bob

 

[cat_IT_guy]

now you got me thinkin I need one! I've always heard good things about them.

 

[garyhan]

I agree with you that TC carbines are great walkin' around guns. Mine wears a .17 Fireball barrel from MGM, shoots well under MOA, and is a joy to carry. Also agree that they're funky looking. Haven't tried larger calibers yet, but I have thought about getting a 16-18 inch .45/70 for some really compacy power.

gary

 

[t george]

I currently have my contender set up with a 16in 30-30 barrel. its nothing special, not the most powerfull cartridge avalable by any means, but it works for me and what I want to do with it. I am goin hog hunting with it somtime in the next week or so for the first time with this firearm. I think that a 223 carbine barrel will be my next barrel for it... I have a 10in 223 barrel, but I think i would enjoy it in a carbine setup.

 

[NCsmitty]

I have a TC Contender pistol with 2 barrels, a 223 14" and a 10" 357 Maximum.
I would think a 357 MAX would give a good showing in a carbine. I load the 180gr Hornady single shot pistol bullet with Rel-7, but have not chronographed the load.
A 20+" barrel can get 2100+fps with the 180gr bullet, and that's near 35 Rem rifle levels.
As most know, 357 Magnum and 38 special can also be fired in the Max barrel if desired.
I have taken a deer with the 357Max, back when I hunted, and it did the job very well.

The 7-30 Waters is a nicely balanced round, and would be a good choice too.



NCsmitty