Thompson center

Jeep 1

Jeep 1

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Could some of you fine gentlemen, please school me on the difference between contenders, encore actions, barrels, stocks and what will fit and what won’t. I have little or no knowledge with them and don’t want to buy stuff that will not fit one or the other

I’m a big fan of the 375 Winchester cartridge and have several big bore levers and now our state is now allowing straight wall cartridge in single shot rifles for deer and I ran across two Thompson contender barrels in 375 Winchester
And now I have ran across encore custom barrels, in 375 Winchester
I have three grandsons that I would like to set these up for and possibly myself so I don’t want to buy stuff that I don’t need
Thank you
Tom
 
Have been a TC shooter/collector for awhile. The Contender came out first and has been around for many years. Calibers run from 22 to 45-70 and many wildcats as well. When getting into the bigger calibers it helps to load on a lighter side to avoid frame stretch. TC later came out with what I call the Contenders big brother the Encore.
The Encore is beefed up and has many rifle caliber choices. They are both rifles and handguns. The Encore frames take Encore barrels only,
unless a custom made barrel for the Encore.
After the Encore, TC produced the G2 or generation 2 which is a beefed
up Contender. The G2 will take Contender barrels but grips are specifically made for the G2.
So the Encore only deals with Encore, barrels and grips. The Contender will take G2 barrels but only Contender grips. The G2 will take Contender barrels but only G2 grips.
Final note, sometimes Contender barrels may not function well with certain frames, there are split lug barrels and solid lug barrels. Have many frames so sometimes have had to switch a stubborn barrel with another frame. Would always check when buying used the hammer cocks
and when trigger pulled hammer goes all the way to frame.
hope that helps
 
there are basically three types of forends for the Contender and G2,
the ten inch has one hole for a screw to attach to barrel, 14 inch have two holes and I think( not a 100% positive) the 16 inch or longer have a different spacing than the 14, they call it a carbine forend, also some custom forends as well as a Pachmayer forend use a hanger bar that screws to the barrel and then the forend screws to the hanger
 
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I was a gonna say something like the above thorough explanation!

I started with a used Contender in 1980 of the original action. I bought an "Easy Open" action in 1985, and never owned a G2 or Encore. So there are 3 Contender actions and barrels are generally interchangeable. Also there are regular blue and AND regular steel barrels that are finished to look stainless, AND stainless barrels, But should all be interchangeable.

I had Super 14 (inch), 10 " Bull and 10" octagonal barrels. very early there were 6" & 8" Oct. Barrels.

Serial numbers start at 1001 in August 1968. I have a 357 Octagonal barrel that came with Action #1601 in September 1968.

Barrel addresses and font style were very collectable in the late 80's-early 90's, not so much any more.

Ivan
 
I shot T/C most my life. Started with a Contender then added an Encore to the stable. I've shot every caliber imaginable? Buy shoot sell, oh that's a neat caliber , buy shoot sell and on and on and on. They become an addiction and a super cool money pit. The Contender is neat because you can shoot RimFire too. But if was to go down that road again I'd just stick to the Encore. One of my favourites was .22 K-Hornet on my Contender with 20" bull barrel. Man that one shot bug holes at 150yards. I sold all of my T/C stuff addiction was to strong. Like an alcoholic with 30 different bottles of great bourbon in his safe🤗
 
Jeep 1 said:
Could some of you fine gentlemen, please school me on the difference between contenders, encore actions, barrels, stocks and what will fit and what won’t. I have little or no knowledge with them and don’t want to buy stuff that will not fit one or the other

I’m a big fan of the 375 Winchester cartridge and have several big bore levers and now our state is now allowing straight wall cartridge in single shot rifles for deer and I ran across two Thompson contender barrels in 375 Winchester
And now I have ran across encore custom barrels, in 375 Winchester
I have three grandsons that I would like to set these up for and possibly myself so I don’t want to buy stuff that I don’t need
Thank you
Tom
Click to expand...

A fellow named Mike Bellem has a very good website covering everything T/C. He's a bit of a fanatic on the subject, but lots of knowledge.

Older model T/C Contenders featured a Catamount on the side and had terrifically adjustable triggers. They are also of the "hard to open" variety and if you lower the hammer have to open the action to recock.

G2 Contender is beefed up but still restricted to lower pressure cartridges such as 30 WCF, 35 Remington, alot of 22 center fires and bigger bores such as 444 Marlin, 38-55 and nearly all handgun cartridges. Easy open, don't need to open the action to recock. Contender barrels fit all Contenders, earlier gen or G2.

Encore will handle nearly all centerfire cartridges - may not handle some like the 338 Lapua. I have a rifle barrel in 340 Weatherby, no issues.

I've been shooting the T/Cs since about 1974. I can handle recoil in a handgun better than a rifle. A 375 H&H, 405 Winchester or 45/70 in a 15" handgun barrel is no problem, a little limp wristing helps. A 350 Rem Mag barrel shooting a 110 JHP has literraly alot of bark but very little (recoil) bite going 3,100 fps.

In rifle form I've really liked the 24, 25 and 7 mm diameters in cartridges like the 25.35 WCF and 6 mm Remington. A 30 Carbine in 18" light barrel is a real joy to shoot. My 65 year old shoulder appreciates light bullets. ;)

MGM and Bullberrys, EABCO put out some excellent barrels.

FWIW, T/C also put out a very nice single shot rifle called the T/C Aristocrat. Not nearly the aftermarket barrels on it, but a really classy item.
 
I shot my G2 SOOO MUCH I WORE IT OUT!!! I really couldn't give an honest count of the 10,000 'S OF ROUND'S that were put through that Frame! It finally got tired and would pop open when fired. Happened with a new .223 AI barrel from a manufacturer I won't mention because it wasn't there fault. I just kept shooting it for 25 years! Did I beat up with stupid loads??? NEVER! It was constantly SHOT with calibers that were safely in its wheel house though. S&W bought T/C. To let this shooting platform fade into Obscurity would be a sin! A blankety, blankety SIN! T/C CAME UP WITH 5R RIFLING! THANKS T/C for teaching me about every caliber! Including the Encore. When hunting or target shooting you only need 1 round at a time. May not be efficient when the Chinese invade under our new administration. Unless Your A Sniper ! And with the right barrel and a Encore platform ,correct Opitics. You're covered. I would trust this platform with the right components inside 800+ yards all Day!
Love T/C always have! Don't even get me started on their Muzzle Loaders... Or do Please. Maybe S&W should keep this alive? LOVE THOSE BLACK POWDER SMOKE POLES!
 
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dsf said:
A fellow named Mike Bellem has a very good website covering everything T/C. He's a bit of a fanatic on the subject, but lots of knowledge.

Older model T/C Contenders featured a Catamount on the side and had terrifically adjustable triggers. They are also of the "hard to open" variety and if you lower the hammer have to open the action to recock.

G2 Contender is beefed up but still restricted to lower pressure cartridges such as 30 WCF, 35 Remington, alot of 22 center fires and bigger bores such as 444 Marlin, 38-55 and nearly all handgun cartridges. Easy open, don't need to open the action to recock. Contender barrels fit all Contenders, earlier gen or G2.

Encore will handle nearly all centerfire cartridges - may not handle some like the 338 Lapua. I have a rifle barrel in 340 Weatherby, no issues.

I've been shooting the T/Cs since about 1974. I can handle recoil in a handgun better than a rifle. A 375 H&H, 405 Winchester or 45/70 in a 15" handgun barrel is no problem, a little limp wristing helps. A 350 Rem Mag barrel shooting a 110 JHP has literraly alot of bark but very little (recoil) bite going 3,100 fps.

In rifle form I've really liked the 24, 25 and 7 mm diameters in cartridges like the 25.35 WCF and 6 mm Remington. A 30 Carbine in 18" light barrel is a real joy to shoot. My 65 year old shoulder appreciates light bullets. ;)

MGM and Bullberrys, EABCO put out some excellent barrels.

FWIW, T/C also put out a very nice single shot rifle called the T/C Aristocrat. Not nearly the aftermarket barrels on it, but a really classy item.
Click to expand...

Umm Yeah. Always wanted a T/C Aristocrat. Just way to pricey when I was a kid. Like Nora Ordonal ; one classy woman!
 
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The only thing that I can add is that the rifle barrels for the contender share the same fore-end spacing as the 14" models. I love the usefulness of the platform and especially the G2. I have some Encores and barrels but find them heavier than I want for light cartridges. 375 Winchester might fit in there. The Contender is perfect for the 223, 7/30 Waters and 357 Max.
 
Luke Duke said:
Love T/C always have! Don't even get me started on their Muzzle Loaders... Or do Please. Maybe S&W should keep this alive? LOVE THOSE BLACK POWDER SMOKE POLES![

/QUOTE]

I spent many a day using a flintlock T/C .54 Renegade to hunt deer in PA during the designated flintlock muzzleloader season. All I needed was a tri-corner hat.
Click to expand...
 
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Rifle forearm dovetail spacing is NOT the same as Super 14 spacing!
nuvo-stock-7.jpg

444-range-furniture.jpg
 
Had one from the 70’s, think they are good. Have a dedicated 357 max and the other currently an octagon 38 special for offhand shooting. Had many barrels over the years, very versatile gun.

Ordered an 8 3/4” MGM barrel in 32 long and so far having issues. Hope it’s resolved soon, been about 5 weeks so far. Wanted the MGM for about 10 year’s, a dream kinda fading away. Larry
 

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My Gun club has some TC contender fanatics and one guy has several that are custom-made and one is an over/under double barrel .22 Hornet with 7.62 x 39 bottom barrel. He let me shoot it and it was tack driver and a lot of fun with gorgeous wood. I had one of the early contenders with a 10” skinny .45LC/.410 barrel and I loved shooting clay pigeons from a tire mounted thrower. I used it for rabbit, squirrels, snakes, etc. I never did shoot 45 long colt ammo out of it.
 
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