My TC Renegade (54cal)...from the 70s.... one of my treasured rifles. Along with its baby brother...a TC Cherokee 32...both still look brand new....but like many others I would like to see TC bring back the BP line of rifles...always wanted a TC Flintlock....but missed the opportunities till it was too late...
Thompson Center's future?
- Thread starter gemihur
- Start date
Would be a shame to see T/C disappear but the barrel selection is down to a minimum.
Got and still have my 1970’s frame and Hunter grip. The frame now has an octagon barrel in .38 special. Have an MGM 8 3/4” barrel coming in .32 long wadcutter sometime in January/February. This is an offhand gun indoors at 50 ft. Always wanted some kind of offhand centerfire single shot. It goes with the Hammerli free pistol in .22 lr.
The second frame is attached to a .357 Max rifle barrel with beautiful grained wood. Assembled for deer hunting or 100 yd plinking. Having another barrel made in .32 Mag or .327 has been on my mind for years.
Lots of T/C barrels sell on auction sites daily and shows the popularity of the gun today. MGM & Bullberry are busy making custom barrels in wildcat calibers and standard ones. Long live T/C single shots, Larry
Got and still have my 1970’s frame and Hunter grip. The frame now has an octagon barrel in .38 special. Have an MGM 8 3/4” barrel coming in .32 long wadcutter sometime in January/February. This is an offhand gun indoors at 50 ft. Always wanted some kind of offhand centerfire single shot. It goes with the Hammerli free pistol in .22 lr.
The second frame is attached to a .357 Max rifle barrel with beautiful grained wood. Assembled for deer hunting or 100 yd plinking. Having another barrel made in .32 Mag or .327 has been on my mind for years.
Lots of T/C barrels sell on auction sites daily and shows the popularity of the gun today. MGM & Bullberry are busy making custom barrels in wildcat calibers and standard ones. Long live T/C single shots, Larry
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GypsmJim
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I bought my Encore Handgun / .308 in 2003. It's been my Deer Gun ever since. I hunt in deep brush and only need 1 shot. The first time afield I took the biggest deer of my life.
Recently, I decided to get a second barrel for target shooting. They no longer carry that caliber / barrel length. I found one online. It was a NOS brand new barrel. The price was right and I was the only bidder.
My take on all this is that the demand has slowed. Everything is supply and demand. If T/C goes under it's because the crowd only cares for black plastic semis. Kinda like Hand Ejectors. Only us old guys appreciate them any more.
Recently, I decided to get a second barrel for target shooting. They no longer carry that caliber / barrel length. I found one online. It was a NOS brand new barrel. The price was right and I was the only bidder.
My take on all this is that the demand has slowed. Everything is supply and demand. If T/C goes under it's because the crowd only cares for black plastic semis. Kinda like Hand Ejectors. Only us old guys appreciate them any more.
I hunted a shotgun only state park for 20 yrs. Killed several with my 6” 629. But it had less range than my slug gun. So I figured I could double my range with an Encore. I got the 243 and killed a smallish buck that first yr at 145 yds. That’s not a shot I would have taken with the 870. I’ve killed groundhogs with it at 200yds. My uncle in West Virginia had a cContender in 223. As a kid I couldn’t believe how far he’d kill groundhogs with a “handgun”. I also have the .410 vent rib barrel for my encore. Great squirrel gun.
The Thompson is far from dead, check out Bullberry Barrels. I have a Bullberry .321 Bullschuetzen that was designed by the original owner of Bullberry for the Coors bottling company for a schuetzen match they sponsored. They built 12 pistols in .321 Bullschuetzen, which is a 32-40 shortened by 3/4" and sized to .321. Its a breech loading set-up and seriously competitive at 100yds, I haven't spent nearly enough time developing the right load but feel its capable of holding an inch if I do my job.
There are other dealers out there that are supporting the older Contenders, parts are available, they are very simple to service, spring changes do wonders.
Picture of this .321 Bullschuetzen full kit with T/C carrying case
There are other dealers out there that are supporting the older Contenders, parts are available, they are very simple to service, spring changes do wonders.
Picture of this .321 Bullschuetzen full kit with T/C carrying case
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It's great to see Bullberry back in operation.
Metallic handgun silhouette competition was a big driver of Contender popularity, not just for those who actually shot it, but for those interested in the sport and in handguns useful for shooting plates informally.
IHMSA is still a thing, but it’s not as prevalent or as publicized as it used to be and is only shot in a comparatively small number of states with many of those only having a handful of matches. Matches tend to center around specific clubs with a few to several members who keep it alive.
Handgun hunting also helps, but many states don’t allow handgun hunting, Most of those that do allow it lump it into the rifle season, where the hunter is at a disadvantage and has no incentive to use a handgun.
The limited barrel offerings currently available don’t offer the appeal of many of the older calibers.
I used to shoot silhouette with a .45 Win Mag and a 7mm TCU, and 7mm TCU was a superb cartridge in a 14” Contender. A hand loader only proposition but a very flexible one with easy case forming operations and accurate fire forming loads with both cast and jacketed bullets. And it did well on deer sized game as well as on silhouettes.
The .223 Rem can be extremely accurate in a 14” Contender (1/4 MOA), and is an excellent Varmint and predator round in a Contender. But it’s very loud and the .22 Hornet offered about 2/3rds the range with equal accuracy and a lot less noise.
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I still have a contender with 14” barrels in .223 and .30-30, but I’m down to one frame and two barrels, a pale shadow of what I used to own and shoot.
IHMSA is still a thing, but it’s not as prevalent or as publicized as it used to be and is only shot in a comparatively small number of states with many of those only having a handful of matches. Matches tend to center around specific clubs with a few to several members who keep it alive.
Handgun hunting also helps, but many states don’t allow handgun hunting, Most of those that do allow it lump it into the rifle season, where the hunter is at a disadvantage and has no incentive to use a handgun.
The limited barrel offerings currently available don’t offer the appeal of many of the older calibers.
I used to shoot silhouette with a .45 Win Mag and a 7mm TCU, and 7mm TCU was a superb cartridge in a 14” Contender. A hand loader only proposition but a very flexible one with easy case forming operations and accurate fire forming loads with both cast and jacketed bullets. And it did well on deer sized game as well as on silhouettes.
The .223 Rem can be extremely accurate in a 14” Contender (1/4 MOA), and is an excellent Varmint and predator round in a Contender. But it’s very loud and the .22 Hornet offered about 2/3rds the range with equal accuracy and a lot less noise.
——-
I still have a contender with 14” barrels in .223 and .30-30, but I’m down to one frame and two barrels, a pale shadow of what I used to own and shoot.
max503
Member
My 10" Hornet and 10" 22 LR Match barrels are the two most accurate firearms I have ever shot.
servmgr64
Member
For Christmas in 1977 my wife got me a Contender in .22 hornet. I have since added 22lr,30-30, 45colt, & 45/410. When I "needed" a muzzle loader I bought an Encore rifle in 50 cal. Have since added .22lr, 22 hornet, 25-06, & 30-06. Love both Thompson products. I just put the 50 cal on the Encore for my son for late black powder season here.
The only other Thompson I own, this one I have set up with a Bullberry barrel in 45/70. Has an older Leupold 2.5-8 EER pistol scope, intended for deer and bear under 100yds. Have developed a 350gr. Hornady bullet load that is very accurate and provides excellent results.
Lonegle57
Member
Have written before that a Contender was the first handgun I purchased many years ago. Shifted gears to hunt with a handgun for more of a challenge. Over the years if a price was right I brought another one home. The Encore has also caught my interest and a number now reside in my safe. My herd numbers double digits. I keep looking for a new addition but prices and most wants are filled. Will be curious to see how the future of the TC goes. On a positive note, added a 7mm br barrel to the Encore crew of late for a great price.
Shooting them yes-making cases-NO!!!
OP
gemihur
Member
Wildcats are a passion of mine, or maybe an addiction.
Most recent acquisition a 30 Raptor by Reeder (30 cal. in 204 Ruger brass)
358 Alpo (.358x444 Imp) is a Bear!
Most recent acquisition a 30 Raptor by Reeder (30 cal. in 204 Ruger brass)
358 Alpo (.358x444 Imp) is a Bear!
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