why was TC hot shot discontinued?

[WestKentucky]

Looking at kid sized rifles I remembered seeing the TC Hot Shot a while back and was ready to make the purchase only to find out that it has been discontinued. Does anyone know why? Seemed to have a good following and good reputation so why ditch it?

 

[PapaG]

Wasn't needed any more as the 410/45 as again allowed. Hot shots were a way around a batfe prohibition of the combo barrel guns.

 

[CB900F]

PapaG;

Would you expand that explanation please? I was in the same place as the O.P.; went to buy one for the grandkids & was told that they're no longer available. And nobody could give me a good explanation as to why they were discontinued.

As I understand it, the Hotshot was strictly a kid's gun & not on the same frame as the Contender/Encore. Therefore, I never expected accessory barrels to be available for it. Were some made? Was it envisioned as a child-sized Contender?

I eventually got a CZ Scout for the kids, but I know they'll have to grow into it whereas the Hotshot was a perfect starter gun to my mind.

900F

 

[rcmodel]

There was a T/C Hotshot barrel for the Contender pistol years ago that used proprietary T/C shot shell capsules in .357 & .44 mag.

It had a rifled barrel to shoot bulleted ammo.
And a removable 'choke' extension with straight rifling grooves to shoot the specialty Hot Shot ammo & stop the spinning shot column before it exited the muzzle for good patterns.

https://www.joesalter.com/category/products/TC-Contender-44-cal-Hot-Shot-Ammo

https://www.google.com/?gws_rd=ssl#...tc-contender-hot-shot-cartridges.html;640;480

I seem to recall there was some problem with BATF law concerning shotgun handguns?
But, I can't pull up all the details off the top of my head tonight?


THEN, there was the more recent T/C Hotshot kids .22 rifle which has been discontinued, I think?

Which one are we talking about?

rc

 

[CB900F]

rcmodel;

I'm talking about the more recent Hotshot that was meant to be a kid's gun. I think the O.P. was also. It was a typical T/C break-action, but a stocked rifle, not a handgun. AFAIK, it was only chambered in .22 rimfire , a single-shot of course, & I don't think it had interchangeable barrels. The whole affair was quite small, much tinier than the CZ Scout, and perfect as a first gun.

900F

 

[PapaG]

I was referring to the 357 and 44 barrels and proprietary plastic saboted shot capsules loaded in standard cases. Sorry, but I didn't recall the 22 firearm of that name.

 

[68wj]

It is a nice little rifle. The sights are good to teach with and the break design helps to identify the empty chamber when working with a new shooter. Since I got mine the Savage Rascal came out and looks like a good option too but I haven't put my hands on one. Never liked the Crickets very much.

 

[Ky Larry]

My cousin/bff/shooting and fishing buddy bought one of these for his grandson last year. Grandson finished second in the state squirell shoot. Nice little gun. Since T/C was swallowed by S&W, who knows why it was discontinued?

 

[JR47]

I also bought a TC HotShot about four years ago. It was to enable my grandchildren a choice of guns to learn on. Sizes of the kids run all over the map. I have a Marlin 15 YL, a Savage Rascal, a TC Hot Shot, and a Cricket for them today.

I will say that the Hot Shot is a slight favorite. It's light, easy to operate, and, unlike the Cricket, is easy to load, even for a less than gun savvy child.