Back in the early 80's my brother had a Contender and I always thought it was cool. Have looked at them off and on for 30 years since. Saw a nice one in the classifieds and finally said to heck with it and bought it. I had forgotten just how much fun these things were. Accurate, great triggers, super performance from pistol calibers and just plain cool looking. This thing showed up Friday and I have since wiped out my 357Mag and 38 Spc supplies and can't wait to get some more loaded up for it and do some more blasting. I realize I'm 30 years late to the party, but better late than never! If you have one of these collecting dust in the safe I highly recommend you dust it off and put some rounds through it. Then try to wipe the silly grin off your face.

Centershot: I thought "I" was late getting in on the Thompson Contender pistol fun - I bought my first Contender 21 years ago.
It is a 14" heavy barrel model in caliber 223 Remington.
I agree the triggers are wonderful and the accuracy on mine is VERY pleasing.
I have killed all manner of Colony Varmints along with Badgers, Coyotes, Fox, Skunk, Porcupine and Raccoon with my pistol.
You being in Idaho I highly recommend you seek out a 14" heavy barrel in caliber 223 Remington for your frame.
Enjoy!
And to others on the fence - try a Contender they are handy, accurate, fun and hold their value pretty well.
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy

i got my first one 3 weeks a go 357 mag 12inc br made in 1978 i do not think it was shot much at all i love it

Contenders are a great deal of fun. In a fit of trading I got rid of mine, but need to correct that in the future or finally take the XP-100 plunge.

Always fun to plunk down a "pistol" on the rifle range and out shoot most of the guys with rifles.

I bought my first one shortly after they originally came on the market - a .44 mag with the vent rib barrel and "shot shell choke" - for shooting the .44 shot shell cartridges as well as .44 mag when the choke was out. Still have that barrel around somewhere. Later I went through a .45 Colt/.410 barrel, a .223, a .30/30, and I think I recall a .22 Hornet. Also a few more in .44 mag. The one I still use the most is a 14" .44 mag barrel fitted with a suppressor and mounted on a "carbine" shoulder stock (with an SBR permit). I mostly shoot suppressed loads in it, and it makes a VERY efficient feral hog gun. I have a .30/30 AI barrel, and probably a few more I don't remember right now. Do have an "AA" (Armor Alloy) frame with nice wooden stock and fore end I really like, also. Have had and sold a few others over the years.

VERY enjoyable firearms to shoot, and also can be practical and useful.

Mike Holmes

My most accurate barrel is an octagon .357. Crazy accurate.

7TCU is a lot of fun.

I had one of the "Hunter" series. 14" barrel with a brake and Pachmyer grip and forend in 7/30 Waters. It was fun to shoot but at the time I didn't handload. Ended up trading it off for a stainless mdl7 in 260. Have thought about buying another but just never have.

I used to shoot Contenders a lot - really got into it for a few years but no longer own one. First barrel was a 7x30 Waters and then added a 222 Rem and 375 JDJ. It is amazing how accurate they can be. I've thought about another one or possibly an XP 100 (the mid grip appeals to me though I've never shot one).

I had a Contender with 14" barrels in 22LR, 223 and 17HMR. 2x Leupold scopes on those then I picked up an Encore with a 15" 308 barrel, 2-7 TC scope and had a blast, literally.

Killed a bunch of critters with them but had to shoot them off a rest like a bipod or a pack. Realized I had rifles that weighed just a tad bit more and were easier to shoot. Got rid of them all and now shoot pistols like pistols are meant to be shot.

But dang if I don't keep finding myself wanting another super 14 in 223...

This 357 surprises me every time I shoot it. I'm a poor pistol shot but this thing is pretty amazing. I'd like to find a few other Armor Alloy barrels a 10" 30 Herrett, and 22 Hornet would keep with classic calibers and cover my bases pretty well.

Not a classic, but the 300 bo makes so much more sense than the 30 herret. 22 hornet is good, but 221 fireball has better brass and accuracy. And if you're truly a crank, have the barrels turned to accept rims and make your brass from 360 DW.

I've had half a dozen of them (3 at one time- I don't change barrels LOL).
Last one was my 2nd Super 14 in .35 rem.
I'd shoot a box of ammo and my arm would buzz for a couple hrs.
Guess arthritis is getting bad enough I need less recoil.

Maybe a 12" in .357 mag.

Or maybe just build one into a .35 rem rifle.........18.5" (had a Super 16 in rifle form).
Pops has a one (non easy open) w Fajen wood and TC Custom shop bbl..........256 win.
Told him I'd buy the wood/bbl.......and slap it on an easy open.

Super 14 in .223 rem is a hoot.
Mine shot 55gr factory stuff very well.

Had Bullberry make me a 10" 218 mashburn bee. Was surprisingly finicky on what bullets it liked even with a 1-12 twist but when I found that 40 gr sierra sp's were the ticket it wouldn't miss headshots on the 150yd turkey silhouette. I think a 10" 221 fireball would be the same only better. Slightly larger case is easier to handle in the press and not quite as finicky with powder charges.

A 32 H&R mag or 327 Federal would probably be the ideal cast bullet plinking and close range small game round. A couple grains of powder and 100 gr of lead for fun, ratchet it on up to make fur fly.

The only issue with .32 handgun cartridges is most of the barrel makers are using .308 barrel blanks. This is true of the older TC factory & custom shop barrels, Bullberry, and probably others.

Bought my first Contender when the 30 Herrett came out, a 10". Killed a couple deer with it, then added a 223 for PD's.

Got the XP-100 fever, and sold all the Contender stuff to a buddy.

The TC Contenders are a fantastic value for the money. Over the years I've had 41 different barrels for both the Contender & the Encore. Most of mine were Wildcats & most of them were made by Fred at Bullberry. When Fred & I hunted Africa he used a 17 caliber, a 6.5 caliber & a 7mm caliber. I used a 6.5/284 & a 338/284 both on the Encore frame. Between us we took a lot of plains game with no second shots being needed.
As mentioned the little 221 Fireball is one of the most efficient cartridges out there on the Contender frame, a little powder goes a long way!

Dick

Contenders should carry one of those government mandated safety warnings: "Caution - May Be Habit Forming".

About 25 years ago at my old gun club the Contenders became quite popular. The group started a "pistol benchrest" competition. Lots of different cartridges but the winners all seemed to be in either 30/30 or 223. I saw some amazing groups, all at 100 yards, some that rivaled the few benchrest rifles we had there.

Had a Contender since '72. Traded only one barrel off but bought more. First two were octagon .22LR and 45 Colt. I think I can still get the oct 45 back. Would be nice to have all the family together again. Thanks for the trip down memory lane!

Had the Contender out yesterday - was working on some new loads and just had fired about 10 rounds getting things zeroed in and gaining some confidence in my load when I look to the left and see this chuck just sunning on a rock about 70 yards out. (Quite possibly the stupidest chuck ever)...........I grabbed my whole shooting table, rotated it about 60degrees, sat back down, settled in on my rest, put the X behind his shoulder and bang. Kind of thought I'd missed at first - with the recoil I lost sight of him. So I wandered over, about 20 yards out it was obvious I had not missed. Lets just say a 158gr XTP HP at 1400 fps is plenty for a rock chuck. 4th of July fun!

I bought one in 22 LR with the ten inch octagon barrel because a friend offered at a price that made the frame I was really after very reasonably priced.
Luckily I shot it with the right ammo when I got home, the barrel that was to be sold turned out to be the most accurate 22 LR I own with that ammo.
The downside it was some old . . . OLD Olin white box ammo that had been given to me many years ago.
With any other ammo in my stash it can be as accurate, or more so than any rifle I own at 50 yds.
Don't know about 100 since I am not set up for great shooting at 100 here at the house.

The accuracy of this thing amazes me. Groups of 1" or less at 50 yards is normal, even with me shooting. I have a 6" steel spinner that at 100 yards is easy pickin's with a decent rest. I knew many of the T/C calibers were capable of that and more, but I really never gave the 357Mag much respect - not anymore. Lots of fun.

Centershot: Those lava rocks, the Leupold scope and that mentally unaware Rock Chuck bring back many memories of Hunts for Chucks I have enjoyed over the last 60 years!
Good for you and thanks for posting the picture.
Keep after'em.
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy

Ive had several and still have 3 or 4, lost count. My favorite so far is my 12" 45/70. It is a hoot to shoot. I wouldn't mind a 10" 357. Just sold a 30-30 since I have an encore in 30-06. The encores are nice but not near as sleek as the original contenders. I regret selling my 44 mag barrel. That thing was a laser

T.C. contenders are a lot of fun but I got a bunch of contender stuff and I just might sell it all in one big package I don`t use it anymore ?? Pete53

I'm catching the fever but don't know if I could deal with a big package of stuff. Would be interested in what you have though.

I’ve been a Contender fan since the late 70’s and have several - the things still amaze me as far as how accurate the are and I still shake my head when I think about sighting a .256 Winchester Magnum barrel in one day with FACTORY ammo.....wanted to see how is was going to group before I actually sighted it in and the first five shots (on the target) went into 1/4” CTC at 50 yds 😄. I haven’t duplicated that group again with this or any of the other 10 barrels that I have - but have come close a couple of times!

PennDog

Picked up a nice wood/blue G2 Contender with dueling Super 14's, a 223 Rem and a 17HMR several years back. Feels so good in the hand but for some odd reason, crazy as it sounds, I've yet to even shoot it. Looking to clear out some room in the safe as I recently caught the AR bug and have a rifle in 223 Wylde AND a 300 Blackout 9" pistol expected to ship my way any day now. What do you guys think is a fair price to ask for the Contender setup?

ga whitetail I may be interested in your G2. Let me know what your asking for it. I do have a nice S & W Model 19-2 that I'd consider trading if that interests you.

Hey Centershot, sent you a pm

i just traded for a 357 tc con. 12inc made in 1976 w/iron sights .i do not think it was shot much .got 275$ in it

Slayed some gallon water jugs with the old 357Mag Contender last weekend. 6 for 6 at 100 yards - 4 laying on my back rested on my leg, 2 off a bench - not a problem. Then found a 16oz water bottle somebody had left - Just had to try that. One shot and splat. Amazing considering the shooter. lol. Starting to think that 2X scope is the only thing holding back longer range shooting. The width of the cross hair was half the width of the 16oz bottle. I keep stretching it out, then remember "This is a 357, what are you doing shooting at 100+ yards?" That thing is just a hoot to shoot.

I had a 14" 7TCU back in the 80s. Shot a couple of deer with it. But, wasn't really my cuppa tea so I sold it. Well, now I'm looking for another Contender for my son. My inclination is to get another 7TCU, but I'm wondering if there are better cartridges/calibers for them now for deer out to about 200 yards or so. All of the deer hunting will be in sagebrush country so I need something that shoots reasonably flat. What say you guys?

Soda cans @ 200 yards.

Shot my first perfect IMHSA score with that barrel. 175 SMKs over a stiff load of 4227 if memory serves.

Most funnest barrel was a Shilen blank cut to basically a blown out 222 mag necked to 7mm. Crazy accurate. I think every shooter on the south central Pa. IMHSA circuit owned that that barrel and dies at one time or another. Passed around like an ol' ho'. Strange.

Wichita rear with an accurate tube front.

I had TC fever - now the most impressive memory, and I do have the group in my Nosler manual - shot with a 30/30 10" - though I rolled my own, I dropped 3 rounds of 150 Corelokts into UNDER .2" - yes UNDER 2/10ths of 1" - at 50 yds off bags, using a lowly 2x EER. That was in my college days, better eyes.

Owned a 10 in 22LR, 41, 44, 6.5TCU, and a 14" in 7TCU, 41, and lastly a Bullberry 21" in 6TCU, as well as a factory 223 in 21" - shot 1/2" all day for 3.

Oh, there was a 7/30 in 12" and a 357 Max in 12" Hunter - ported.

I loved the 7TCU, shot 1 - 1.5 MOA all day at 100. Took a crow near 200 yds, and a deer at close range.

If doing again, I would have ALL my rifle rounds at 12-12.5" - perhaps even the 41 and 357 Max. Those last 2 would be easy as a peach for woods whitetail. The 30-30 is so simple to load, also shot 1.5" with handloads at 100 yds.

Took a variety of game, turtles out to +/- 100 yds with the 30/30, many other fur/feathered creatures. The 22 took 5 Fox squirrels one afternoon - headshots, but the 5x EER was a PIA for ER. Wish I had these back......

Anytime people knock the thutty thutty, I think about that cloverleaf, ONE HOLE...yes at 50 yds, but Factory ammo at that. Got lucky...or did I?

I love me some contender, but have only run it in carbine form. Got barrels in .22 LR, .22 Hornet, .30-30, and just got a .357 Magnum. Afraid pistol barrels may be next!

Back in the 1980's they were popular here in WI. as a way to cheat the system by being able to use a handgun in the southern shotgun only deer hunting zones. Lots of those "handguns" were chambered in large, long range cartridges. When we went to rifles allowed state wide for deer season now, I don't hear about Contenders very often.

Past their prime for sure, but so am I. Still a lot of fun.

They made wildcats based on the 444 case , called it the bellm triad .....7mm , 30, 358

Have the 358 bellm it's quite a thumper

And they were next going to work up a 6.5 Bellm and that seemed to be where their collaboration fell apart.
DANG, that is what I was waiting for and something caused the derailment
Probably should have just gone with a 7mm Bellm, but I had 14" 6.5 TCU barrels and one had been rechambered to 6.5X50 and proved to be a major waste of time and money.
6.5 Bellm would have cleared up that chamber and made for a great gun.

Never liked them, never will. Tinker toy guns and I am of the belief that a handgun should be frigging handy, first and foremost.

How about a one-off custom .45 ACP Contender from the custom shop before they closed.


Not shown here, but I stuck a red dot on it and it is a fun little bunny bopper with an RDO.






Made even more fun with the addition of the threaded toy on the end.

Got a picture of the holster, or the 2 cows used to make it........

lol, I have a holster for my scoped 10" Contender that looks like the hind quarter off a small deer. It carries surprisingly well cross draw.