Thompson Center Contender 357 Mag

[SixGun45]

I have a TC Contender pistol in 222 Remington and a second barrel in 357 Mag. The gentleman that I bought it from to day gave me a bag of 357 Mag shot shells. What's odd is that the shot shells are 2.70" long, the brass case is standard 357 length but the plastic shot case is 1.42". The barrel has a compensator with a removable choke, the barrel is rifled but the choke seems to have straight groves. Anybody ever seen shot shells like this? Obviously only shootable in a break open firearm. Check picture...

 

[PapaG]

Those are 357 hotshots, a TC invention from when the ATF made them quit marketing the 45/410 barrels. Take the choke off to shoot bullets, put it on for the shot. Work quite well but are no longer being made. Also made in 44 mag. I have one of those but need the choke for it.

 

[steveno]

I don't understand why the atf made TC from making the hotshot rounds and never heard that before? in affect it is no different from the CCI shotshells. it is just a lot easier to make 45/410 barrel and be done with having to make special ammo for their barrels.

 

[SixGun45]

Further investigation shows that these are reloaded with different size shot, #4 & #6 both with 9gr of Bullseye. I have 94 bullets, shells, shots (?) ready to go. I'm wondering what they were used for, the gun belonged to previous owner's father that worked on the Railroad, he used the 222 with a nice Leupold 2x scope for coyotes but the 357 mag shot shells? birds or snakes is all I can think of...

 

[Missionary]

Greetings
These shot shells are deadly to varmits (snakes, rats) out to 15-20 feet. #8 shot gives a very good pattern and better penetration than #9. Hard to tell the difference if all you have is 7 1/2. Bigger shot cuts down drasticly how many shot you can get in the tubes. 5-5.5 grains Unique gave the best patterns.
There may be a collecter out there willing to buy these for a nice profit... but I would keep a few for the unknown that pop up it's ugly head.
Mike in Peru

 

[steveno]

the hotshot rounds were kind of hard to load for because the capsule was quite a bit smaller than a 357 bullet so you had to do some really strange things to crimp then in place)and probably the same problem with the 44 mag). there were several sizes of shot and I believe you could also get the empty capsules and use your own shot. loaded rounds, capsules and the boxes in good condition have some collector value. the hotshot rounds were very effective but going to the 45 Colt/410 is a vast improvement.

 

[SixGun45]

steveno, did you look at the picture? The capsule is longer that the brass shell... it holds a lot of shot, these are #4 and #6... IF anyone is interested in buying some of these let me know, thanks, Peter

 

[steveno]

I had a 357 hotshot so I know exactly what it looks like. I also know that reloading them is a pain for the reason I mentioned earlier. the 45 Colt/410 has it all over the hotshot rounds

 

[SixGun45]

steveo, sorry, when you said "smaller" I thought you were referring to the length not the diameter. So now I understand that the capsules were purchased loaded, with shot, not loaded by the loader... Makes more sense. Anybody out there know when all this took place? We were guessing that it might have been in the late 60's or early 70's.

 

[steveno]

if I remember right the capsule was about .350 diameter

 

[PapaG]

TC had a good thing going with the 45/410 and some less than scrupulous people like Walter Craig in Selma, Al., got a Brazilian company to saw off some 410 single shots and scratch grooves in the barrel to compete. A couple of events like those and the ATF got TC to drop the 45/410. They later filed protests and were finally allowed to bring it back. ********** still, I believe, won't allow them to be sold. BTW, the original Contender with the 2X4 grip was a pretty good kicker with the 3" shells. Some folks had their 44 hotshots chambered to 3" 410.

 

[steveno]

never heard of this deal with the brazilian company. maybe I need to get out more. I believe the 45/410 barrels are still in the TC catalog

 

[PapaG]

They have been back for years. The ban was relatively short lived. If you'd been the gun business back in the late sixties like we were, all the legislative stuff today is déjà vu.