Thompson Center Contender

[saemetric]

Not sure where they fit in the Forum, but they are owned by S&W.

Anyone here a fan of T/C Contenders? I’ve owned my Super 14. since 1979 in
35 Remington . I have 2 Recoil Proof scopes and some other accessories for it. I need to get it out more. It’s a blast to shoot.

 

[Onomea]

I've never seen one close up. I think they are intriguing. Would be a good choice for a backpacker hunter on a long trek.

 

[Rustyt1953]

I've never owned one but I view them and the Ruger No.1 as two of the sexiest firearms out there.

 

[Salty RI]

A friend of mine bought one when they first came out, he has several barrels for it.

Sent from my LGL455DL using Tapatalk

 

[375hh1973]

Not a Contender but I have an Encore in .243 with a 15" barrel. Wears a 2-6 scope. Very accurate and not a lot of recoil. Killed several deer with it.

 

[Iframe32s]

I love the original Contenders.

 

[hivel37]

Currently don’t have one. I have had several in the past,
chamberings in .22 LR, .22 Hornet and a carbine version in
7mm TCU. They were the big choice in the silhouette game.
Reasonably priced and very accurate.

 

[msjdgman]

A friend of mine has had a Contender since the early 80’s. He has several barrels for his too including the 35 Remington. Shooting that gun with that barrel is a real hoot. He has taken several deer with it at 100 yards or more.

 

[Westie1]

Have owed and shot Contenders since the mid 80's. Have a Super 16 ,carbine in 7-30 Waters, and Super 14's in 22lr, 223, 30 herrett, and 357max. Plus have an unfired 7-30 ArmorAlloy super14. Love to shoot the 223 when guys are shooting AR's. Blows their minds when they see my sub moa groups.

 

[Ruger 13]

I've had one since 1983.......44 magnum, 22 hornet and 45/70.

 

[Oldiron]

Have three that stay assembled all the time. A .22, a .223 16" that is my coyote gun for the tractor and a 14" in 45-70. The .223 stays in a scabbard on the tractor when working a hay field. If I see one playing in the wind rows looking for mice, I just stop, kill the pto and prop on the fender, normally on my knee with my foot braced on the fender. Last one I killed that way he was looking at me and I set the crosshairs on his nose. Missed his nose a 1/2 inch at 130-140 yds and took off the side of his snout. The 45-70 is just fun. it goes to the range and if there are any yahoos close, I will shoot several rounds and since most of them use cig filters for ear plugs, if they use any at all, they normally move way away. Have had several folks come over and ask me what the hey I was shooting, after I tell them what it is I always offer to let them shoot it but so far have had no takers.
Larry

 

[dave b]

I have 3 of them. All early models. One was the 3rd gun I ever bought. Got it in 1968 at Monkey Wards in Ft Worth. 45-410 is a real blaster in such a light pistol.

 

[Jebus35745]

Owned one since the 70’s and now have two 6 1/2” bbls in .22 & .32 mag and a 10” .38 spec octagon bbl. Own 2 frames, one is a pistol and the other a rifle in .357 max. Shoot the pistol calibers off hand, I think a single shot handgun is kinda cool in center fire calibers. Nothing like a cup of coffee and a relaxing day shooting, Larry

 

[Engineer1911]

Reloading 223 for Contender

EDIT: I have found that Accurate Arms 2015 or Shooters World AR Plus do not have the Ball of Flame when fired in Contenders in either 223 Rem or 30 Herrett. I fired test loads [ 22.0, 22.5, 23.0 grains of AR Plus] with 55 gr (223) or 130 gr (30 H) with good accuracy and reasonable velocity. I would suggest 23.0 as a safe starting load in either caliber for AR Plus powder. EDIT END

I have 2 frames, three 30 Herrett barrels, octagon 357 mag, and 223 Rem. In my stupid younger years I fired 2 rounds out of a Super 14 44 mag barrel. The second shot hurt much worse than the first shot. Cleaned the barrel, returned it to the owner, and decline a great buy price. My original TC was 222 Remington but after several thousand rounds the rifling was shot out. It got traded for the complete 223 Rem barrel and frame.

 

[RayRay7]

I’ve got one - so far, .223/.357/.41 barrels.

I do want more barrels and an extra frame or three...

Also have an encore carbine with the .460 Kathadin barrel. One day I’d like to set it up with a .257 Roberts or 6.5 Swede barrel and a mannichler style stock..

 

[Ivan the Butcher]

In my stupid younger years I fired 2 rounds out of a Super 14 44 mag barrel. The second shot hurt much worse than the first shot. Cleaned the barrel, returned it to the owner, and decline a great buy price.

I have a Super 14 in 44mag, that I had Mag-na-ported in 1984. 240 grain factory is not bad at all. But I couldn't leave well enough alone! I have a 300 grain JSP loading that rivals 45-70 factory ammo! I am familiar with the lower back pain on the right side (right hand shooter) in the Kidney area!

When I first bought our farm, I was using 240 JSP factory ammo at 20 yards on concrete blocks. An end shot would shatter a free standing block into fist size pieces, and throw them mostly 40 yards in all directions. After a while I stuck one of my 300's in the tube sighted and pulled the trigger. The end of the block was still standing with a Quarter size hole in it. I figured it must have just gone straight through. I walked up to look at it. The end wall was all that was left. That shot did not blow the block into chunks, it did not blow it into gravel, it vaporized it. The smell of fresh quarried lime stone filled that area.

When I loaded that load in 1984, I made 25, I still have 16 Unfired. There is a cost in pain for firing them, but when you must have results, IT IS WORTH IT!

Ivan

 

[Krogen]

Contenders.... Mine have gathered dust for a while. I used them for the silhouette game years ago. They are indeed unique. Accurate, great triggers, myriad chamberings, quirky styling. What's not to like?

I'll tell ya what's not to like: The 357 Herrett. I still have the barrel. Why? I dunno. It hurts like a sonofagun. It stings all the way up my forearm and into my shoulder. No idea why; something about the recoil impulse, the Contender design and my body structure I guess. It hurt when I was a young punk. Now I'm an older punk and it will probably be worse. My favorite barrels are the 221 Fireball and 6mm TCU. Both are astoundingly accurate. I really need to blow the dust off them and head for the range.

 

[ISCS Yoda]

Hanfles. We used to call them that. I mentioned it recently in another thread. I shot a couple years ago. .35 Remington. .30 Carbine. They were fun but one never came home with me, I'm just not that big a fan.

 

[Fishinfool]

My combo is an early frame with "Super 14" barrels in 30-30 and .223, as well as a 45c / 410 barrel. Had a 45/70 barrel, but traded it - too much of a good thing.

All fits in one bag, with a box of shells for each caliber. Very convenient package that covers a lot of situations. Have taken 2 pheasants with the .410 barrel this year.

Larry

 

[Lonegle57]

First handgun I bought was a Contender in 44 mag in the early 80's, kicked like a mule. Still have the frame but traded off the octagon 44. I now have 20 frames (I think) as well as a few bigger brothers in the Encores. I lost interest in rifles for deer hunting and grab a handgun of one form or another to head out in the woods. The Contender usually goes with me. My 35 Remington set up has accounted for one thus far this year.