thompson center contender g2

[irishlager]

i did some searching on the forums, but didn't see too much about the gun itself. i am planning on purchasing a Thompson Center Contender G2 (45/70 i think) in the next few months. i was hoping to get some general feedback from anyone with some experience with this firearm, and perhaps answer a question for me.

Does anyone know if all the G2's come w/ the manual firing pin select? Meaning you can switch from center fire to rim fire.

I picked up a Ruger Super Redhawk .454 Casual last year, and have fallen in love with it. After taking it on a few hunts this year, and taking it to the range i have decided to begin pursuing handgun hunting more. i figured the Contender would be a good start seeing as i can pick up different barrels when needed. i wanted to start with a large cartridge for now, and after looking at the options where i hunt, i needed a straight walled cartridge for whitetail. i thought the 45/70 would be a solid choice because its pretty easy to find ammo for, and i am told it has some great potential w/ hand loads. I also like the idea that it is 45 cal like my .454 so it might help keep some reloading cost down. i have also looked at 444 Marlin and 450 Marlin, but i think thats going a bit extreme. any help or advice would be much appreciated. thanks,
J

 

[tunnug]

all contenders have the ability to go from center to rimfire, before you buy the G2 look at the available calibers, if you're looking for higher power you might want to go one step up to the TC Encore, beefier to handle .308 and up.

 

[Shadan7]

We used a T/C Encore for our test platform, and really ran it through its paces (over 6,000 rounds fired) - it held up extremely well to the use. So I would second the recommendation.

Jim D.

 

[alaskanativeson]

I have hunted with a Contender in 30/30 and 44 Magnum, and my current protection sidearm up here in Alaska is a Super Redhawk in .454. I was amazed, the T/C with the 44 barrel kicked more than my Ruger 454 did. It was still quite manageable, I wouldn't have a problem going with the 45/70. I think that'd be a great cartridge. How about contacting the T/C custom shop and finding out about having a barrel made in .460 S&W Magnum so you could shoot 45 Colt, 454 Casull, and 460 S&W?

 

[PO2Hammer]

I don't think the G2/Contender goes up to .454 Casull, I think you need the Encore for that one.

Recoil can get nasty quick with a Contender/G2. The bore axis is low and the guns are light.

 

[feets]

I use an Encore in 460 S&W.
You can use the same bullets as the 454 if you reload.

Toss in some 300 gr XTPs and go bowling for Bambi!

 

[irishlager]

it sounds like the encore would be the better choice. does anyone know if you can switch from center fire to rim fire with the encore.

i do love my .454, and will keep using it. but i have never been a one gun kind of guy. i will prob pick up a few other big bore handguns over the next few years.

with the .460 i might pick one up later on, but the price of factory ammo is a bit out of my range, and i do not have a reloading set up at this point. (i will be getting one)

thanks for the advice,
J

 

[PO2Hammer]

You can get rimfire barrels for the Encore. They use offset chambers instead of selectable firing pins like the G2's.

I like the Pachmayr grip on the Encore for stiff recoil.

 

[feets]

I never used rimfire barrels on my Encore. I've only got 22-250, 308, and 460 S&W barrels. All are 15 inchers.

The 460 is the hardest to hang on to. It's not pleasant from a rest but controllable when fired single handed.
Adding a scope would no doubt dampen the recoil due to the extra weight but I haven't taken the Leupy off my 22-250 to find out.

 

[irishlager]

my dad called me this afternoon about an encore at a gun shop that's on the way to our cabin, it was in .454 though, so i decided to pass on it for now. i don't really need another .454 at this time, and if were going to buy one i would prob. pick up a .460

I'm not sure what my best option is at this point. like i said i need to stick to a straight walled cartridge, so from what i have looked at it would most likely be a 45-70, .444. or .450 marlin.

does anyone know what the difference in ballistics would be between those cartridges. I'm looking for something that is fairly flat shooting. id like to be able to shoot 50 yrds or out to say 200 yrds without having to hold the gun a couple feet over the target. i typically hunt a large hay field, and it is not uncommon to have 200+ yrd shots. but there are also a lot of swamps and forest on the property so some shots can be shorter range. any suggestions would be grateful.

again thanks for all the help,
J

 

[irishlager]

just a quick update. we have decided to go w/ the .460. i should have the money together to pick it up real soon.

J

 

[jbkebert]

Question why the need to stick with a straight walled cartridge? It's your gun up to you I was just curious. The contenders that I have shot kick quite a bit more than the encore. I would 2nd the use of the Pachmyer grips though. The handgrip is the same but you would need the magnum forend for the .460 and 45/70 barrels.

 

[MCgunner]

Recoil, or lack there of, is why I like my .30-30 Contender with ported "hunter" barrel. Like shooting a .38 special, but the muzzle blast will wake the dead. In the open for hunting, it's not a problem, but don't fire it off in a box blind without the muffs.

 

[irishlager]

just to clear things up, i will be buying an encore. i held a contender chambered in 45/70 and it is my personal oppinion that the grip was too small, and the gun was a bit lighter then i would like.

the reason i have to stick w/ a straight walled cartridge is because the area i hunt is shotgun zone. so i can use a shotgun, muzzleloader, or handgun (as long as it uses a straight walled cartridge). i already have a shotgun and muzzle that have well exceeded my expectations, but i often hunt the edge of a hay field, and wanted something that is capable of more ranged shots. also after buying my .454 last year, i have really begun to enjoy handgun hunting, and would like to stick with it. i've even gotten my father into it.

thanks again for all the help,
J

 

[Beagle-zebub]

The handgrip is the same but you would need the magnum forend for the .460 and 45/70 barrels.

What cartridges require the magnum fore-end? (.41 or .44 Magnum?)

 

[jbkebert]

The cartridges that require the magnum forend are the .460 and .500, 30tc, 30/06, .270, 338/06, 45/70, and several others on the heavy side of the recoil house. Pachmyer has a complete list on thier website. I would really recommend the use of their decelarator grips for use in a heavy caliber. the handgrip is the same no matter what it is just the forend that has to be changed out.

 

[jbkebert]

Here a couple updated picts of the encore pro-hunter model chambered in .308win The fed ex guy dropped off the scope this morning which was on backorder. I hope you enjoy yours like I enjoy mine.