Handgun dilemmas take 2

[David LaPell]

Going to look at a trio of handguns in the morning, one is a Smith 624 4-inch .44 Special, the second is a Thompson Center 1st generation pistol in .357 Maximum with a 10 inch barrel, and the third is also a TC 1st Generation pistol, but with a 12 inch barrel in .45 Colt. The Smith is $500, the .357 Max is $400 and the .45 Colt TC is also $400. Right now collecting handguns is not my main thing, I am into guns that I will be able to hunt with or as a trail rig like the 624. Has anyone ever dealt with the .357 Maximum that much, I have heard it is a wonderful cartridge for medium sized game, but don't see it that often, and of course I could should all my .357 loads out of it. So many guns, so little money. Right now as much as I would like to put all three on layaway, my wife and I are going to be looking into buying a house, and are trying to start a family. (But I know if we have kids, my finances will dry up faster than a snowball in the Sahara) so maybe I can work one out or something. We'll see.

[David LaPell]

Going to look at a trio of handguns in the morning, one is a Smith 624 4-inch .44 Special, the second is a Thompson Center 1st generation pistol in .357 Maximum with a 10 inch barrel, and the third is also a TC 1st Generation pistol, but with a 12 inch barrel in .45 Colt. The Smith is $500, the .357 Max is $400 and the .45 Colt TC is also $400. Right now collecting handguns is not my main thing, I am into guns that I will be able to hunt with or as a trail rig like the 624. Has anyone ever dealt with the .357 Maximum that much, I have heard it is a wonderful cartridge for medium sized game, but don't see it that often, and of course I could should all my .357 loads out of it. So many guns, so little money. Right now as much as I would like to put all three on layaway, my wife and I are going to be looking into buying a house, and are trying to start a family. (But I know if we have kids, my finances will dry up faster than a snowball in the Sahara) so maybe I can work one out or something. We'll see.

[Ron H.]

Sir, tough call.

I know zip about the .357 maximum, except that it's screaming hot.

I have a 4-inch 624 and rather like it. It wouldn't be my first choice for hunting, though. For that, I'd rather have a heavier .44 mag with a longer barrel.

A .45 Colt Contender would be neat. I've long wanted one, ideally also set up to shoot .410 shotshells. Such a thing would be quite useful out in the boonies.

JMHO, FWIW.

Hope this helps, and Semper Fi.

Ron H.

[dbracin]

My choice would be the 624 4". I think hand guns with LONG barrels are not very practical, unless you plan to use them exclusively for hunting.

[Dave from Pa]

David,buy the 624,the original .44 special mountain gun.They are very useful in the field. Would be more desirable with box and tools.

[Landpimp]

you can always buy a Contender and just the way you want it.......so I'd go for the Smith

that said I just got my 1st Contender its a 22 with 14" with B/L scope.....its a blast to shoot, paid $300 used for it, I dont hunt so if it was anything other than 22 I wouldnt have got it.

[Babalooie]

I'd go with the 624.

[Messer]

Well - we all like S&W's, price seems fair depending on condition. The .44 Special is a fun gun to shoot, as long as you don't try to make a magnum out of it.

As to the TC's - if it's really the 1st gen, with the cf/rf selector in the front of the hammer - there is some collector value, but they are a pain to use (if you switch barrels a lot). They are also known as the hard to open action, since the models that followed had a change to make them easy to open.

The .357 Max. is a fine deer round, but you'll need to reload to get it's full potential. Also, make sure it's not a rebored 357. mag barrel. A lot of folks did that, and it depends on the smith doing the rebore if it good or not.

On the 45LC barrel, if it's just a 45LC chamber, it's a great barrel - if it's the 45/410 barrel, you will never get any good accuracy out of the 45LC ammo.

As to price on the TC's, again, it seems fair depending on condition.

Hope this helps,
Bob S.

[Landpimp]

not to hijack, but my Contender has the selector on the front of the hammer, didnt know they were anything special, where did the selector move to latter on?

and yes, its hard-ish to open, but un-usable by anymeans

its a blast on sit in the backyard table with a Harris bipod and plink away with Super Colibri's

Originally posted by Messer:


As to the TC's - if it's really the 1st gen, with the cf/rf selector in the front of the hammer - there is some collector value, but they are a pain to use (if you switch barrels a lot). They are also known as the hard to open action, since the models that followed had a change to make them easy to open.


Bob S.

[ACP230]

I have a Contender in .357 Max with the 10 inch barrel. I used to hunt deer with it years ago, but never got a shot while carrying it.
The round is scarce these days, but brass still seems to be available. I think I saw some in an ad in Shotgun News fairly recently.

When the .357 Max came out it was advertised as giving .44 Magnum performance on deer with less recoil. It was used quite a bit in silhouette competition.

The last thing I shot through my .357 Max Contender was locally made .357 ammo with a 215 grain LSWC bullet. Haven't shot a Max round in several years. I still have no plans to get rid of the Contender, however.

[Nygma]

Originally posted by David LaPell:
I am into guns that I will be able to hunt with or as a trail rig like the 624.

Do you reload? Factory ammo for the maximum is getting pretty hard to find. If you do, the Maximum is a real winner for hunting medium game. My state allows handguns in the shotgun only zone if the cartridge is straight-walled and over .357 diameter. My 10" Maximum will easily hit 1700 ft/s with 180 grain XTPs, and stay within 2-1/2" at 100 yards from a sand bagged rest. This cartrige is 'da bomb for hangun hunting here; flat shooting, hard hitting, very accurate in the Contender, and legal. Brass is available through Cabela's.
brass

I like both the 1st two. Once you have a T/C frame, 45 Colt barrels are easy to find later.
624

357 Max

[H Richard]

Both Contenders as Model 1's are going to be hard to open in practical use. That's why TC changed the pivot point. There may be some small collector value in the Mod. 1's, but they did make thousands. The 357 Max is a fine cartridge, but only if you handload.

I'd go for the 624 as best value for the money and seems to fit your needs.

[David LaPell]

Well, the decision was kind of made up for me, some one else snagged the .44, but I got a super deal on the .45 Colt Contender (only 8 inch barrel so very manageable) for only $350 and it is near mint, so I decided on that since I already have 2 guns in that caliber.

[feralmerril]

My 1970 contender with 45/410. The other barrel is in .256 win mag. The gun hardly ever gets shot, but that is due to just my lazyness. It came with a factory wood presentation case, and a silver grip cap.

[wheelgun1958]

Get the 624. They ain't made anymore. You can get T/Cs every day. Kinda read this thread late. Enjoy your contender. I have one with several 10 inch barrels. Lotsa fun.

[David LaPell]

Unfortunately it appears as though the 624 was sold before I could get to it, that's why I snagged the .45 Colt. More gun to hunt with.