T/C Contender Fans

[Timthinker]

I have a terrible confession to make: I only keep a firearm for a few years before selling it. Usually, my trade involves a new interest in the world of either self-defense or target practice. Currently, I am fascinated by single-shot pistols both cartridge and muzzleloading. In this thread, I am interested in hearing from T/C Contender fans about how their pistols perform for informal target practice at 50 yards or less.

When I use the term informal target practice, this term needs some definition to avoid confusion. Informal as I use it simply means not for formal competitions governed by rules. Yes, I want an accurate pistol, and I have heard many complementary things about T/C. This is why I am soliciting opinions about it. Thanks in advance.


Timthinker

 

[critter]

I have an old contender with 2 barrels. One is .223 and the other 30-30. Both are the heavy, stainless 14" barrels and both are scoped.

Accuracy? Most definitely so! The .223 will do 3/8" at 100 yards from the bench and with the 3-9 scope. The 30-30 will do under 3/4" at 100 yards the same way with a 4X scope.

Several varmits have fallen (and/or have been 'exploded') with the .223 and the 30-30 has taken quite a few whitetail. Closest one was 5 yards-the longest 175 yards. (Handloads in all cases for both barrels.)

You will definitely enjoy one of these guns. Get ya one and have a go.

 

[Okiecruffler]

The only contender rig I have that I shoot at under 100 yrds is my 10 inch 32-20 with williams iron sights. Offhand, with my cast reloads, hitting my 3 inch swinger at 50yrds is no problem. From a good rest it will do much better. If you like to trade the contender may be perfect for you. No need to trade the whole thing, just trade barrels.

 

[KI.W.]

I have T/C Contender and G2 with .22 Horn and 9mm Luger 10". 357 Rem max 14" and .223 Rem 21". Use pistol scopes 2x and 4x fixed. Also 1,5-4x. All are very accurate, Rugged holes at 50 yards. I use them also with carbine stock and rifle scope. Illegal, ofcourse in Finland too but .223 Rem. is certainly ok.

 

[PO2Hammer]

I'm the same way Timthinker. I've been shooting seriously for about 15 years and have very few firearms left from then.

One of my first guns was a Contender in .357 Mag and .22lr.

Now I'm on my third T/C, a G2, and I have barrels in 7" .357 mag and 10" .22 WMRF. I also have an Encore in 9" .357 mag and 9" .44 Rem Mag

I guess what I'm saying is I keep coming back to Contenders. I am normaly just a plinker and paper puncher, but a few years ago I joined IHMSA and shoot their Field Pistol division regularly. We shoot up to 100 yards, the half scale rams are about 18" X 12", and the Contenders, G2s and Encores have no trouble hitting steel at that distance.

From the bench my .22 WMRF, open sights, will shoot into 3.5" at 100 yards (my eyes aren't the best). In my .357s I shoot light target loads and have no trouble keeping them inside 2"-3" at 50 yards. Factory magnums will shoot 1-1/2".

I had a Trijicon Reflex sight on my .44 Rem Mag Encore (a barrel I cut myself to 9") and my handloads shot under 1-1/2" at 50 yards (benched).

My Encore and my G2 are my best offhand shooters with the shorter barrels. After I cut my 12" .44 down to 9" my shooting improved greatly, just from the improved balance. The G2 is perfect for me with a 7" barrel, but my 10" .22 WMRF holds my personal record for offhand shooting at 2" at 50 yards (5 shots).

I'm hoping to get an image host soon so I can post pics, the 7" G2 is the neatist little pistol you've ever seen.

Hope this is what you're looking for.

John

 

[Magnum Wheel Man]

My father in law collected for many years, I added alot to that... ( I have 5 pre G actions ) & nearly every barrel they ever made ( & a few they never did )... the hardest part for me to maintain the collection, was to scope all the barrels that really warrented having a scope on them...

a couple of my favorites, that I almost never break down are a 10" octogon 22 Hornet, a custom 18" vent rib 410 / 45 colt, & my 14" hunter barrel in 45-70... I reciently went through all the barrels, & found I had replaced an old 35 Remington barrel I'd traded to a buddy for some "smith work" several years ago, with a newer 14" hunter barrel in 35 Remington ( the hunter barrels are bull barrels with the built in compensator )... I had forgotten I'd replaced the 35 Remington... it's going to have to fund it's way on an action & I'll need to find a way to get a good piece of glass on it...

I really need to make the investment into a few stainless barrels & an action, as nearly all my hunting weapons are now stainless...

a few of my favorites... Custom 18" 40

My deer hunting rig... 45-70, capable of clover leaf groups with a normal field rest, at 75 yards...

My favorite little 22 Hornet, pic with a Raging Hornet 8 Shot Taurus...

 

[MCgunner]

I have a 12" 1.5 MOA .30-30 and a similar accurate 7mmTCU 10" that has a TC factory IHMSA adjustable rear sight on it. I shot IHMSA with it for a while. I've never put a scope on it, but I'm bettin' it'll better the .30-30. I also have a .22 match barrel, 10", scoped, that will out shoot most rifles.

When it comes to accuracy, few compare to the TC Contender or some of the other single shots like the XP100 and such. The TC is neat in that I can carry it in a shoulder holster, it's large handgun sized (I think of an XP more as a hand rifle), and very versatile with the switch barrel concept. I love the thing, but don't plink much with it. It's my hunting set up, mostly. I will set up targets at 200 yards for the 7TCU barrel occasionally, though. THAT'S a lot of fun, when a water jug explodes at 200 yards using an iron sighted handgun. And, for a challenge, try trap with a 10" .45/410.

 

[BlindJustice]

FYI - Last fall visiting a cousin my same age, in Eugene OR we visited The Baron's gun store and range that is near by. Rent a Thompson and Rock & Roll but back to T/C Contenders. They had a T/C Contender with a little
wear that was in a wood case on consignment, It had the Bi-pod with folding legs, a .223 Rem Barrel with mounted Scope and a .410/.45 Colt
barrel, for $600

T/C barrels with fixed sights were $240 each from T/C last
fall FWIW

 

[Timthinker]

Thanks for the information about the T/C. I knew it was capable of great accuracy and these postings confirm this. When I purchase one, I know an ideal outdoor range where I can explore its potential. Keep the stories coming, they whet my appetite.


Timthinker

 

[Okiecruffler]

If you want to go completely crazy You can do something like this...

16.5" OTT custom 6tcu wearing a Tasco 6-24X scope, Georgia Jim amby grip and Gunstocks Inc forend. It wasn't cheap, and it takes 3 people to carry it to the bench, but it makes groups like this...

 

[Stevie-Ray]

This 14" .30-30 Contender has done single hole 50 yd groups and MOA accuracy at 100 yds. It used to be one of my most relaxing guns. I need to find another outdoor range.

 

[peabody]

MY 7mmTCU, is the most accurate contender/pistol i've ever fired.

 

[EddieNFL]

When my eyes were younger, I shot a pile of 40X40 scores with an iron sighted 7TCU. Still can shot sub-MOA, but my eyes fade a lot quicker.

 

[mongo4567]

I have one with a 10" tapered barrel in 30-30, have a red dot mounted. With cheap ammo I have shot 2" groups at 100 yards off a rest; I'm sure the gun will do better...it has a very heavy trigger. I also have a heavy barrel 22 LR that I plink with a lot, it is more accurate than me...

 

[EddieNFL]

Mongo, TC trigger jobs are fairly easy. Mine is slightly less than eight ounces.

 

[mongo4567]

Mongo, TC trigger jobs are fairly easy. Mine is slightly less than eight ounces.

Thank you, I may give it a shot polishing it up...I would guess mine at about 7 lbs.

 

[usmccpl]

Mongo, if your Contender is the old style the trigger is adjustable with a small allen wrench. Not having one I cant say about the G2 models.

I've used Contenders on every thing from snakes to whitetails. When I get the chance to go after blackbear my super 14" 45-70 will be coming with me.

 

[robhof]

My 14" 3030 Tender has been responsible for 70% of all the deer that I've taken and at distances from 50yds to 173yds as measured by my laser rangefinder. I also have a 357max and a 223 barrel that have seen action against yotes and prairie dogs.

 

[Al LaVodka]

I have a S/S Contender and the .22 WMRF I used for 100 yard silhouette playing is incredibly accurate -- maybe 1 MOA.
Al

 

[Geno]

Contender still holds the world record for pistol accuracy: 3.5" X 0.75" at 500 yards. I really enjoy my daughter's G2 in .22LR match. Shooting it at 30 yards gets boring really fast.

Geno

 

[jsg]

My deer hunting gun is a 7-30 Waters Contender. My groundhog gun is a .223 Contender. I also have .44 mag, .22, and 30-30 barrels. They are all very accurate and fun. I have no intention of ever selling them. They also are cheap to shoot since it takes a while to fling much lead one shot at a time.

 

[mbopp]

I've got a G1 Contender, 1970-ish. 357 Herrett and 218 Bee, both 14"(OK they're old like me.) Both will go just over an inch at 100 yards and I'm no benchrest shooter. I wouldn't consider them casual guns for offhand shooting though.
Flaring the cases with a Lyman "M" die I can shoot cast .358 bullets in the Herrett for cheap practice.