Thompson Contender

[Alderman]

I inherited some Contender frames and barrels several years ago. Until recently I haven't done much shooting with them but am now finding them to be quite entertaining off the bench.
I started out with 22 Hornet, 223, 357 Maximum, 30-30, 45 Colt, 45-70.
They seem to be surprisingly accurate and I recently added 22 and 44 Mag barrels to the collection.
Just curious if there are any Contender fans on here and what barrels and loads you have used successfully for hunting.

 

[JD338]

I have a T/C S.S. Contender with Georgia Jim wood. I have the T/C 14" Hunter barrel in 7x30 Waters and a Shilen 14" in 6.5 JDJ. They are both scary accurate shooting well under .5" at 100 yds.

JD338

 

[Dr. Vette]

I have one in 243 Win that I bought about 2 years ago. It, too, is quite accurate. I picked up a different scope to try on it this year, and I'm still trying to have a successful hunt with it.

The one key I learned (not firsthand) - do NOT dry fire unless you have a Snap cap in place.

 

[truck driver]

I have had several barrels for the contender over the years and have found them all to be scary accurate pistols right now I have a 14" 222 Rem, 22rim fire and a 7-30 waters I had a brake put on it and the accuracy went south on that barrel so I don't shoot it much any more. The 222 Rem barrel I have a 6X rifle scope on it and use it for Varmints set up on a Harris Bi-pod.

 

[roadtoad]

contender carbine

17 fireball
221 fireball
6 tcu
7x30 imp
410

 

[HeathSexton]

30-30 Super 14 here, it's silly accurate.

 

[Partisan]

I have two Generation 1 Frames and 8 barrels. The barrels are all 10 inchers.
22 LR
22 WMR (Octagon)
45 Colt/ 410 shotshell Octagon with external choke.
44 Rem Mag
30 Herrett
32-20
7mm TCU
357 Maximum
The Contenders are infectious and very accurate and a hoot to shoot.
For Deere size game the 357 Maximum with Hornady 180 gr SSP bullets is my favorite...

 

[Alderman]

Anybody shot the 45-70? Just my opinion but I think it is a handful.

 

[1Shot]

I have currently these barrels 10" 45 Colt/410, 357 mag and 14" 6mm-225 Winchester and 30-30 Ackley Improved both are wildcats.
I have killed a bunch of deer with the 357 Mag, 6-225 and 30-30AI. The 30-30AI is my favorite deer pistol. The barrel came from MGM and is a Shilen SS with a Weaver 2.5-8x28 LER scope and shoots 125 gr Nosler ballistic tips under MOA at 2670 fps and just SMOKES deer.

 

[1Shot]

In a Contender you need to keep loads for the 45-70 in the Trapdoor Springfield range pressure wise so you don't stretch the frame. These loads are really all I want to try to handle in one. If you want a fine deer getter especially if it is a 14" barrel use your 30-30. Get some IMR4198 powder and work up from 29 up to 30 grs with the Nosler 125 gr ballistic tip. 30 grs IMR 4198 has really shot great in every 14" 30-30 I have ever seen. This is the suggested hunting load from the Sierra manual for single shot pistols for 125 gr bullets. It will average around 2300 fps or so. You will have to play with seating depth to see what your barrel wants to shoot the best. This load works great on deer.

The load I use for my 10" 357 mag. is a max load from the Hodgdon manual of 13.5 grs H110 with a 180 gr Hornady XTP and it runs 1400 fps. It is really accurate. Does a pretty good job on deer out to 125 yards which is as far away as I have shot a deer with it.

 

[orchemo]

I have an Encore with 14 inch barrels in 223 and 7mm-08

Just got it a few months ago. The 7mm-98 seems to shot 120 gr BT well and tomorrow is first range day for the 223.

 

[martineta]

I have been in and out of Contenders since 2001. Currently have a threaded MGM barrel in 300 Blackout 16 inch I shoot suppressed for suburban deer on my farm. 220 gr Outlaw State bullets, 1050 fps, kills like a hammer at archery ranges. 125 gr Nosler bts supersonic when over 50 yds. Nice thing about the single shots is being able to change bullets depending on the shot.

I also have a threaded 22 LR from MGM to quietly shoot squirrels with a sound suppressor. Stupid quiet on a single shot with no action noise.

I just recently picked up a Thompson G2 with a blackpowder 209x45 barrel. I am selling my encore 209x50 barrel and frame as I like the G2 better.

 

[rodell]

My first barrel was a 35 Remington and It is still the best for hunting. I also have 30-30, 22 Jet, and 22 hornet. All good shooters.

My latest project is an encore pistol in 6.5x55. I'm expecting great things.

 

[RogueRiver]

21" custom shop 22 hornetbarrel, g2 stainless 30-30 23", g2 stainless 45-70 23 " All are extremely accurate. Original stainless frame w cougar.

 

[JD338]

The 300 AA Blackout would be a cool one to have. It just got added to my need list.

JD338

 

[wildman]

Love my contender as everyone else has stated there scary accurate and very handy for lots of applications my barrels are 10 inch octagon 22 magnum ,222 rem.,and a 12 inch 7-30 waters barrel also octagon .

 

[BobT]

I have 4 Contender frames and a few barrels, the .30-30AI is a particular favorite and I have both 10 and 12" barrels. I also have .30 Herrett and .30-30 Winchester barrels as well as a .45/70 and I have had several other barrels over the years. I also shoot Encore pistols in .218 Bee, 6mm-284, 6mmBR, and .307/.308 Winchester.

The .45/70 is a handful in the Contender, in my old Super 16 barrel with the TC Muzzle Tamer 5 shots of factory 300 grain ammo would bend the grip bolt if I was using my Pachmayr Decelerator grip. The accuracy though was fantastic. My current .45/70 is a Super 14 but I have yet to shoot it, I just got it last Saturday.