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.