Any Thompson Contender Freaks out There?

[DrDan]

One of my favorite toys is a Thompson Contender. Actually I have a blued and a stainless frame and can put the carbine stock on them or go pistol grip in several different varieties that I've found shopping online or at gunshows.

What's really neat about this firearm is that for $100 or less you can add a new barrel to the collection and have a brand new gun to shoot. I have collected several barrels over the last few years...

Have a 22 LR, 17 Reminton, 30 Cal Herret, 22 Hornet, 223, 410 shotgun, etc.

They are a really nice single shot. When you close the action you can tell it is really well made. Authoritative clunk when ya shut it!

There's been several discussions on here about ranch rifles - I would highly recommend this one. I keep the 410 barrel on for disturbances in the night. Heck all ya have to do is point in the general direction and the pest is high tailing it out of your territory. Then when you have a varmint to dispatch during daylight you can quickly slip on a varmint barrel. Only takes about 2 minutes to totally change the gun over from rifle to pistol or change calibers or barrel lengths. It's a great tractor gun. Exposed hammer makes it pretty fool proof.

Be interested to hear from anyone who has played with them.

Dr Dan

 

[TerryinMD]

I thought that they stopped manufacturing them.

I have two T/C Black Powder Rifles. A 50 Cal Hawkin that I got as kit and finished myself and a 54 Cal Renegade. Both are flintlocks. I haven't fired them in nearly 20 years. Got to busy travelling and doing the family thing.

I looked at the Contenders way back when and thought of getting into them. Just looked like they would be a lot of fun to have and use for target practice. As you may detect, I'm not really into firearms. I've read a couple articles on them and with some of the optional barrels, you could have one heck of a weapon. Also, a lot of dents on your head if you weren't careful. /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif/w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif

Terry

 

[DrDan]

Well in some of the big calibers they are definitely a two hander when you have the pistol grip mounted.

Who knows - they may not be making them anymore but they sure are available on the net and at gunshops and gunshows.

Dr Dan

 

[MarkV]

Dr Dan,

Any chance of a photo or a site that shows one? Not being much of a gun person I have no idea what one looks like. Sounds interesting.

MarkV

 

[GrantMO]

Dr. Dan,
I had an interest in getting a Thompson about 12 years ago but for some reason didn't. The idea of being able to switch to so many different calibers and barrels appealed to me. I heard of a guy who bird hunted with the 410 but I'm not sure if that was a true story. /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

 

[CVHoss]

Mark,
Here's one picture.

You can also go here to see some more models.

Hoss

 

[DrDan]

Grant,

I almost got tossed out of the trap range for trying it with the 410 barrel. Actually once I got the hang of it I broke quite a few birds. I have no idea how TC does it but you get a farly tight pattern at 25 yards with that barrel.

Dr Dan

 

[MarkV]

Thanks Hoss.

MarkV

 

[cp1969]

While I have the greatest respect for TC's and those who use them, they're not for me. If you want to approach rifle velocities and energies and hunt at rifle range, why not use a rifle? By the time you add a scope and 14" barrel, to me this no longer resembles a "hand" gun.

What I want from a sidearm is something that you can wear on your belt all day and not have it pull your pants down, offers six shots, shoots light, medium, and heavy loads interchangeably and leaves the empties right were you can find them. A 4" M29 or M586 fills the bill for me.

 

[GlennT]

I realize that what I've got is not in the same league; however, it does pretty much the same thing. About a year ago I purchased the Savage Model 24F Combination Gun. As the name suggests, it is an over/under gun with a rifle barrel above and a shotgun barrel underneath. The rifle barrel is available in 22 LR, 22 Hornet, 223 Remington, or 30-30 Winchester; the shotgun barrel is available in 20 gauge or 12 guage. The 12 gauge barrel comes with a 410 adapter. This is not a fancy gun and it's heavy; however, it's a perfect gun to grab in the middle of the night when a varmint comes calling to pester my chickens or lambs. I have the 22 LR/ 20 gauge combination.

 

[rdln]

No, as a sidearm it doesn't make sense and I wouldn't put the pistol grip on my Encore which is the contender's big brother because then I would have to let our big brother know I own it!

But in carbine form and adequate calibers it can bring down most North American game at rifle ranges.

As people gain experience their hobbies become less challenging and some switch to more intricate tools that puts the challenge back into the hobby. For hunting the contender does just that.

BTW they still make the contender and does not eject the shell but presents it to the user to pull out by hand.


Steve
Champagne Taste, Beer Budget

 

[fishman]

Dr. Dan,

Yes the Contender is a nice package. As RDLN has pointed out, they are still making them. Thompson Center redesigned the frame and made some nice improvements for 2002. The nice thing is that all previous barrels will still work on the new frame.

My personal favorite is the carbine version in .223. No recoil, lots of range, and very compact. I have a 30-30 barrel in the carbine, and it can dish out quite a kick because the whole thing only weighs about 5 lbs, scope attached. In my opinion, it hurts more than my .300 Win mag! It was not the best choice for a first deer rifle for my daughter, so she now shoots a Ruger 77 in .243. I imagine your 30 Herret kicks pretty much the same.

New barrels can be purchased at http://www.midwayusa.com

Special calibers can be ordered from the TC custom shop at http://www.foxridgeoutfitters.com

The pistol version, scope attached, is a fairly compact firearm if worn in a bandoleer holster. It also provides near-rifle performance both in accuracy and energy delivered to the target with the appropriate caliber. A nice compromise for someone who doesn't want quite the challenge presented by a revolver, but wants something a little different than a rifle. If purchased in one of the revolver calibers (.357 or .44) and shot with open sights, it's every bit as challenging as any other form of handgun hunting.

You can use a .22 rimfire barrel and go squirrel/rabbit/tin can hunting, and then change over to another barrel and go deer hunting with the same gun. Very versitile.

The new TC Encore is also pretty neat. It's more ruggedly built, which permits it to be chambered in more powerful calibers such as the .270 and 30-06. It can also be had with a .50 cal black powder barrel which is a lot of fun.

 

[DrDan]

Yes I agree Fishman,

I have done enogh target shooting over the years so I generally can get by with one carefully placed shot. It becomes a little more of a challenge when you know you only have one chance. I also seem to always be able to find a tree or fencepost, truck fender, etc. to steady a 14" barrel. Off the benchrest I have held a 1" group at 100 yards with the 223 barrel. I like it - get a kick out of the "spray and pray" crowd with their autoloaders. One well placed shot and it's all over. Of course I am into other single shots. Have a Ruger #1 in 220 swift and it is a nice package also. I don't know if I'd have enough guts for a 375 H & H for bear, but it sure would present a challenge. I guess I would if I had a 44 Mag sidearm as backup.

I shot my best score ever on indoor target with the 22 LR barrel. 100 out of 100 Got that target plastered on my office door. All ten in the "X" ring with a 10" barrel and red dot sight. Wish I could do that a little more often.

Dr Dan

 

[fishman]

DrDan,

Yes, the Ruger #1 is a nice rifle. I presume you have the varmint version with the heavy barrel. A .223 I once shot in that configuration (with a 10X Leopould target scope) was accurate enough to hit a Coke can EVERY time at a 275 yard range near my house.

The #1 Tropical in .375 H&H is neat, but ouch! My shoulder! /w3tcompact/icons/blush.gif

 

[DrDan]

Fishman

I spoke to a gun dealer once about the 375 H&H He had shot both this and a 458 Winchester Mag. I asked him how the recoil was. He said the 458 was just a big push, but the 375 H&H was like spinal shock! After that I kind of backed off on owning either. I guess someday I may still get a 375 but after my experience with a light Browning bolt action in 30-06 I think I too much of a woose! I got this beautiful Browning bolt action with SS barrel and composite stock. Sucker only weighed about 6.5 #. I bought 3 boxes of shells to sight it in. Ya right - I sold that sucker and still have 2 1/2 boxes left. Heck I'll stick with the varmint cartridges and keep enjoying shooting (and stay away from the chiropractor). I guess a 375 wouldn't hurt at all if a 600# Grizzly was coming at you but how in gods name do ya get it sighted in?

Not for me...

Dr Dan