Thompson Center Contenders
- Thread starter onlybrowning
- Start date
From a 10" barrel the Max will hold up well to the Herrett in performance. You really won't see any advantage of the Herrett in less than 14" tubes, to burn up that added propellant. A 12" in .44 mag will handle similar to a 10" in mostly anything else due to the the bore size, as was said previous. The additional 2" will benifit terminal ballistics though, as well as tame the "flip" a bit. If your frame is very early generation, it may be troublesome to open with newer gen barrels. Fox Ridge can convert it to "easy open" for about $35, as well as convert AA frames/barrels to standard. You will find that rimmed cartridges are more break-action friendly that rim-less, most cases they will fall out of the chamber after firing where you have to dig out the .223 and 6.8 and 35 Rem and the like. The original 'Tender is superior to the Encore (boat anchor) in every way. You can shoot higher pressure loadings in the Encore, but if you can't kill it with the 45/70 it ain't killable ;-)
DreamShifter
New member
New Contender Owner
A friend of mine just bought an old contender with three barrels. He has a .22 lr, a .222, and a 45 lc/.410. Two of the barrels are scoped, the .22lr and the .222. I've shot the 22lr and the crosshairs are dead on. The more I look at one of these the more I want one.
He went to change the barrels and can't seem to figure out how to switch them out. I've looked online for a manual but can't seem to find what I'm looking for to help him out. I know there's a takedown pin under the forearm but he doesn't want to screw it up if that's not the correct way. Is there a special way that the takedown pin has to come out? Thanks in advance for any advice.
A friend of mine just bought an old contender with three barrels. He has a .22 lr, a .222, and a 45 lc/.410. Two of the barrels are scoped, the .22lr and the .222. I've shot the 22lr and the crosshairs are dead on. The more I look at one of these the more I want one.
He went to change the barrels and can't seem to figure out how to switch them out. I've looked online for a manual but can't seem to find what I'm looking for to help him out. I know there's a takedown pin under the forearm but he doesn't want to screw it up if that's not the correct way. Is there a special way that the takedown pin has to come out? Thanks in advance for any advice.
Magnum Wheel Man
New member
remove the fore arm... press the hinge pin out... replace the barrel, slip the hinge pin in, & replace the fore arm... pretty easy...
Just like Magnum said and remember to open the action when taking the pin out. It's a lot easier that way.
Sometimes the pin will stick. Especially if it has been replaced with a third party pin. So you might have to use a punch to get them out. Tap lightly though, once it starts moving it comes right out.
If you end up buying one for yourself, you will have fun. I have owned everything from a 22 LR to a .444 Marlin in the Contender line up. When you get bored with one. Just sell it and buy something else.
Jim
Sometimes the pin will stick. Especially if it has been replaced with a third party pin. So you might have to use a punch to get them out. Tap lightly though, once it starts moving it comes right out.
If you end up buying one for yourself, you will have fun. I have owned everything from a 22 LR to a .444 Marlin in the Contender line up. When you get bored with one. Just sell it and buy something else.
Jim
DreamShifter
New member
Worked like a charm! Thanks.
Cheapshooter
New member
I have wanted a Contender for a long time. As posted a couple months ago I found one in a LGS at an unbelievable price. It's a G2 Stainless with Super 14 35 Remington barrel, 14" 22 LR Match barrel, and Burris 1.5-4 scope. I am extremely happy with it, and have plans for more barrels. Right now my to-buy list goes to each extreme of the G2 Contender, and a couple in between.
1. 204 Ruger
2. 45-70
3. 22 Hornet
4. 6.8 Remington SPC
5. 30 Carbine
The biggest problem with my $250 Contender is the thousand dollar plus in
additional barrels and scopes!!!
They should have a warning on them "Owning this firearm has been proven to cause CCBP(Compulsive Contender Barrel Purchase) disorder"
1. 204 Ruger
2. 45-70
3. 22 Hornet
4. 6.8 Remington SPC
5. 30 Carbine
The biggest problem with my $250 Contender is the thousand dollar plus in
additional barrels and scopes!!!
They should have a warning on them "Owning this firearm has been proven to cause CCBP(Compulsive Contender Barrel Purchase) disorder"
Cheapshooter
New member
Notice it's on the bottom of the list!
Nothing really compelling, just thought it would be fun.
Sometimes I have no reason what so ever for another caliber in anything.
Plus I have dies, cast bullets, and a thousand or so rounds of brass, and don't shoot my M1 Carbine all that much.
The .30 Carbine in the Contender is a fun round to play with. Since it's a single shot, it opens up bullet choices that you might otherwise not consider for a rifle. I have a load worked up using H-110 & the Nosler 125 gr Ballistic Tip that's very accurate in both my .30 Carbine barrels. You can also step up to heavier 30 caliber bullets like the 150's-180's grain'ers for a .300 Whisper type round.
wildwood477
New member
Contender's
I haven't carried a rifle in 5 yrs, Seems nice to carry my 7x30 Waters with 14" barrel. I have killed 5 deer in as many years. I have it topped with a bushnell Trophy red dot, fast and deadly. I also have a 30 Herritt Barrel in 10" but havent used that since I got the 7x30
I haven't carried a rifle in 5 yrs, Seems nice to carry my 7x30 Waters with 14" barrel. I have killed 5 deer in as many years. I have it topped with a bushnell Trophy red dot, fast and deadly. I also have a 30 Herritt Barrel in 10" but havent used that since I got the 7x30
I have been hunting with a Contender ever since Ohio allowed us to hunt with a pistol. Most of the deer I have taken over the years were with a 12" .44 magnum with the T/C scope on it. I believe they called it the hunter package. I have also taken deer with my .357 max. and .444 Marlin barrels.
Stevie-Ray
New member
Make sure that .45-70 is a bull barrel! Can't stress that enough. Someone on this thread that "Super" denotes bull barrel-that simply is not true. My Super 16 .45-70 barrel is tapered. Don't make that same mistake. A huge hole in a tapered barrel means flyweight and that translates to horrendous recoil. If you don't want to be stuck with 405 gr factory loads only, make sure that sucker's heavy.
Cheapshooter
New member
Oh yea, for sure the 14" Hunter with the Muzzle Tamer. Probably open sights.
What kind of loads can that barrel safely handle? Both factory, and handloads.
What kind of loads can that barrel safely handle? Both factory, and handloads.
Yup, no sights and the muzzle tamer. It also came with a lighted recticle scope on it. I put a set of Pacmyer grips and forearm on it. I still have it and it's in the picture below.
The first deer I took with that Hunter Package was at a distance of 96 yards. That 240 grain hollow point hit him square in the shoulder. He took about 3 steps and dropped to the ground. I always shot the load listed below. It was an accurate load and a hard hitter.
25.0 grains Win. 296
240 grain Hornady XTP JHP
Jim
The first deer I took with that Hunter Package was at a distance of 96 yards. That 240 grain hollow point hit him square in the shoulder. He took about 3 steps and dropped to the ground. I always shot the load listed below. It was an accurate load and a hard hitter.
25.0 grains Win. 296
240 grain Hornady XTP JHP
Jim
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My contender
I have had a Contender since 1977. I currently have a number of barrels in several different calibers
.35 Rem Super 14
.223 Rem Super 14
.44 Mag 10 in BBl
.357 Mag 10 in BBl
.222 Rem 8 in octogonal BBl
I also have a second contender receiver set up as a Carbine with bbls in .223 Rem, .375 Win.
Budd
I have had a Contender since 1977. I currently have a number of barrels in several different calibers
.35 Rem Super 14
.223 Rem Super 14
.44 Mag 10 in BBl
.357 Mag 10 in BBl
.222 Rem 8 in octogonal BBl
I also have a second contender receiver set up as a Carbine with bbls in .223 Rem, .375 Win.
Budd