Thompson Contender Value and Availability Question

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Glock4ever

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I thought I would ask the wise CGN folks a few questions regarding the Thompson Contender as I picked up one in a trade.

1.) How much is a stainless Thompson Contender worth? I did a quick search on CGN and not a lot of information is floating around. I do know that the one I have is stainless and generation 1 (It has a picture of a cat engraved on it) with a synthetic stock. It has two barrels - 22LR and 410 Shotgun. It is missing the front site bead for the 410 and the iron sights for the 22LR barrel (scope is mounted on it). My bud who traded it to me said he would look for those parts as they are buried away somewhere (he just recently moved) It is also registered as non-restricted if that means anything as well.

2.) Where can I get parts for this rifle? I am looking for a 223 Rem or 204 Ruger Barrel? I read that the G2 barrels will fit on a G1 rifle but I want to be sure before I order anything. As well, if my bud can't find those missing parts, I wouldn't mind being able to order a frond site bead and iron sights from a dealer.

3.) What scope bases can I use? The 22LR has a Weaver base but is there any other bases available?

Here are a few pics:

PICT1241.jpg


PICT1242.jpg


Any help from the Contender crowd would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance...
 
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1) As a carbine it is unrestricted if it were restricted you could still put the longer carbine barrels on but it would remain restricted so could only take it to the range.

2) Your G1 frame/action will accept both the G1 & G2 barrels but not the older armour alloy barrels.

3) The best scope bases for the T/C Contenders are available from Match Grade Machine in the States they will ship directly to you they will no longer ship barrels though I have these bases on all of my barrels except the 22LR barrel I had Dlask make me one for it that takes the narrower 22 rings.

Hope this info helps

CC
 
Nice rifle. I've been looking for a Contender carbine myself.
Any help from the Contender crowd would be greatly appreciated.
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IMO Camp Cook IS the Contender crowd on CGN. I think lots here have Encores - few have the Contender frame rifles.

Many think the Encores are better because they chamber higher pressure rounds. That's true but they are also bigger frames and about a pound heavier I believe -so not as handy to pack and carry as a Contender. Shooting rimfire in an Encore can be done (still trying to figure that out exactly with mine) but MUCH easier with the Contender - so is more versatile in that regard.
 
I think you got screwed in the trade and in good spirit I will take it from you and ease the pain of a bad deal.........sweet rifle!!!!!!

I just bought a blued contender and will be having a set of walnut stocks made for it to fit my wife. My rifle came with a .17hmr barrel and I have a .30-30 barrel coming. Clay at Prophet river is working on the barrel. I will be getting bullberry in utah to do the stock work.

I did own a G2 but it was registered as restricted and as Camp Cook says it was strictly a range beauty. There seems to be some interest in the contender but little if anybody has barrels or accesories here in Canada.

Enjoy your new rifle and seriously if you ever sell it please keep me in mind!
 
Thanks for the information. I called Thompson Center today about getting a replacement bead for the Shotgun barrel. They told me that they would mail one out to me free of charge. I was pretty impressed with the customer support. I am still holding out hope that my bud will find the original bead and iron sites but I may have to be happy with what I have.

Somebody asked me what the Length of Pull is on this carbine and I believe that it is 14" or so but it feels a lot shorter to me. Didn't know that Contenders were that interesting - 4 guys have PM'd me about buying this rifle - don't know if I will sell it yet, if I can't get a .223 or 204 barrel she is definitely going...
 
I'm pretty sure that I've seen some Contender barrels at Epps recently. I know that I've bought one or two in the past from them.

I would check carefully to make sure that you have a stainless gun, rather than the old Armolloy version. As stated earlier, barrels don't interchange between the two. From the picture I think you have the Armolloy one.

If you keep the gun, there are two barrels that you must have: the .410 shotgun is tons of fun, as is the .45-70. The latter gives you one powerful, compact hunting gun!

John
 
jjohnwm said:
I'm pretty sure that I've seen some Contender barrels at Epps recently. I know that I've bought one or two in the past from them.

I would check carefully to make sure that you have a stainless gun, rather than the old Armolloy version. As stated earlier, barrels don't interchange between the two. From the picture I think you have the Armolloy one.

If you keep the gun, there are two barrels that you must have: the .410 shotgun is tons of fun, as is the .45-70. The latter gives you one powerful, compact hunting gun!

John
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How do you tell the differance?
 
I'm not overly familiar with the Encore/Prohunter but from my understanding they do not have two screw studs in the barrel to mount the fore end like a Contender does.
 
I've never seen one personally and they were discontinued fairly quickly so can't say but yours is exactly like the ones I have in stainless steel so if your worrying about what model I do believe and would bet on it being a stainless steel model.


:D
 
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I think that your best bet would be to call TC and ask them. They should be able to tell you the specifics of the gun if you provide them with the serial number.
 
Does this gun ever come in 7.62x39?

I think a pistol version in that caliber would be fun at the range, and cheap to shoot too.
 
I'm not overly familiar with the Encore/Prohunter but from my understanding they do not have two screw studs in the barrel to mount the fore end like a Contender does.
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IMO the Contender has the better setup with 10-32 screw studs dovetailed into the barrel. I have an Encore and the barrel metal itself has two drilled and tapped holes for 8-40 screws which are very shallow. The 10-32 used in the Contenders are about .026" LARGER diameter screws and can be sourced at many good hardware stores. The Encores smaller 8-40s are harder to source.
 
Dexter Morgan said:
Does this gun ever come in 7.62x39?

I think a pistol version in that caliber would be fun at the range, and cheap to shoot too.
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T/C Custom Shop does not list it but I found it on the Bullberry Barrels works web site the only issue is how do we get these barrels up here now.

The key to loading/picking a cartridge for a Contender is pressures the small light weight frame of a Contender cannot handle high pressure rounds like a 243/308 basically pressures have to remain below 48,000 psi and depending on the cartridge even less than that.

The G2 Contender frame has the side bars like the Encore which enables you to increase pressures but it is not recommended to increase them by much.
 
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