Author Topic: contender / encore hammer extension (Read 2086 times)

bambi shooter · « **on:** April 30, 2010, 05:41:48 AM »

Who makes the best one?

Steve P · « **Reply #1 on:** April 30, 2010, 07:58:49 AM »

Nobody. Don't waste your money. Screws up your trigger. If the gun needed one, TC would have put one on it.

Just MHO.

Steve

chopper · « **Reply #2 on:** April 30, 2010, 06:08:46 PM »

If he's talking about the extension off to the side of the hammer for when there is a scope. How does that screw up the triger? I bought mine at Cabela's and I think they were in T/C packages. I know they were sold in the T/C section, I have no trouble with them.

Curtis · « **Reply #3 on:** April 30, 2010, 06:50:39 PM »

The added weight on the hammer will increase the lock time slightly, that's all. A hammer extension combined with a weak hammer spring can also cause failure to ignite. Plenty of folks use them with no problem. To the OP question though, I don't even know who makes them because all of my hammer extension were bought used.

Curtis

Clodhopper · « **Reply #4 on:** April 30, 2010, 07:02:50 PM »

I've had one on my one and only frame since 1980. Shot silhouette for a few years firing hundreds of rounds. I have never had a misfire. I think I put a heavier hammer spring in around 1981 or 82 at the recommendation of one of the other steel shooters, can't exactly remember when. She goes boom every time I squeeze the trigger. Don't know how you could work the hammer with scopes on easily without one.

Grumulkin · « **Reply #5 on:** May 01, 2010, 01:35:10 AM »

Well, lets see, I probably have 20 or 30 (I lost count quite awhile ago), scoped Encore and Contender barrels. I'm 6' 10" tall and weigh about 300 lbs. I have never had hammer extensions on any of my frames and have done BUNCHES of shooting at targets and game and have never had the problem ya'll keep harping on about pulling the hammer back. Just how big are your thumbs?

Curtis · « **Reply #6 on:** May 01, 2010, 04:36:10 AM »

Here is my small to normal size thumb (as far as I'm aware, I haven't gone around comparing) and an old style Simmons with Weaver mount and low height Burris Signature Zee rings.

Yes I can get it on the hammer, but with very little purchase. I don't like that. To me pulling the hammer back, whether at the shooting bench or in the stand should not be a dexterity test. I like the lowest rings I can get away with and hammer extensions don't bother me, so that is my solution. If high rings don't bother you and the idea of a hammer extension does, I'd say higher rings is the solution. If wedging your thumb between the scope bell and the hammer doesn't bother you then you have the best of both worlds.

Curtis

P.S. Sorry for straying slightly off topic as the OP was asking for "who makes" not "pros and cons" but I think many (including the OP maybe) could benifit from seeing this issue from both sides as it does come up quite often.

chopper · « **Reply #7 on:** May 01, 2010, 05:13:52 AM »

There are a few differant ones on Ebay go to hunting then gun parts then other and type in hammer extensions hope this helps. but I know that I bought mine at Cabela's , which for me is only 6 miles down the road so no shipping or waiting. If you can't find any let me know I'll go to cabela's an get one for you >> Cabela's ITEM # XK223624, $11.99

casper_zip · « **Reply #8 on:** May 01, 2010, 05:35:33 AM »

Midsouth has them. I have them on all my contenders, have fired thousands and thousands of rounds, have never, ever had a problem. Gun just goes "boom" when trigger is pulled.

I know everyone has their own opinions, but I will not have a T/C contender or Encore without my hammer extender.

All the best,

casper_zip

bambi shooter · « **Reply #9 on:** May 01, 2010, 09:26:02 AM »

Thanks for the replies.Yes, I do have low rings on my barrels, and the extension is a lot cheaper than new rings, and as mentioned, I would rather be safe than try to shoot without one.

BCB · « **Reply #10 on:** May 01, 2010, 02:47:09 PM »

I've had them on every frame that I have had (Contender). Don't have any Encores...

Not one problem at all...

I got mine from _____ and they are quality and have stayed in place for hundreds and hundreds of rounds...

And it is plain and simple, trying to pull the hammer back on a Contender with a 'scope mounted, can be dangerous. With gloves on or cold fingers--forget it...

Good-luck...BCB

southernutah · « **Reply #11 on:** May 01, 2010, 03:55:18 PM »

here is what I have used
http://www.strattoncustom.com/pages-main/category-34/hammer-spur-exts.html?zenid=4d1413c1dd27de253727eae65990b44a

Flemc1 · « **Reply #12 on:** May 01, 2010, 05:09:55 PM »

I too have had no problems with a hammer extention on my frame , Grovtec ( was uncle mikes ) makes one it fits Contender and MDL 29 SW , there is a guy on fleabay , who makes them out of aircraft aluminum . they look good , Just my 2 cents worth .
Chris

http://cgi.ebay.com/Thompson-T-C-ENCORE-CONTENDER-G2-Hammer-Extension-/120564163499?cmd=ViewItem&pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item1c122f23ab

jpred1 · « **Reply #13 on:** May 01, 2010, 08:05:50 PM »

Ive had promblems with misfires on centerfire rifle cartridges on 2 different encore frames. Where do I get the stronger springs? One frame was brand new when I added the extension.

Whistling Rufus · « **Reply #14 on:** May 03, 2010, 07:40:19 AM »

Everyone has an opinion pro or con on hammer extensions. I say if you think it will be helpful, then use it. I always use one when hunting and wearing gloves Start w/ links above to Midsouth and Stratton. Be sure to get an aluminum one as they are much lighter than the steel ones.

huntwithme2 · « **Reply #15 on:** May 07, 2010, 12:46:47 PM »

i put one on my encore pistol. kept having mis fires about every four shell. brought it to a gunsmith he sent it to thompson. they sent it back in four weeks and told me not to use the extention on the hammer. that it was causing the mis fires. the hammer was hitting the primer but not enough force. took it off, no mis fires since than cost me almost sixty dollers to find this out.

SAS98M · « **Reply #16 on:** May 07, 2010, 04:14:52 PM »

If yer a tinkerer ya can dissassemble the trigger,sear,hammer etc... and add a small washer to the hammer spring.'was told that it raises the hammer spring weight up to between 30 and 40 psi ,reassemble it and viola. I had major light primer stikes trying to fireform 6.5JDJ cases,did the easy mod. and haven't looked back. Just my 2c. SAS98M

Dang · « **Reply #17 on:** May 07, 2010, 07:51:11 PM »

I also put one on my encore. It misfired every other time I tried to shoot it. Took it off and threw it as far as I could. Have not had a misfire since.

jpred1 · « **Reply #18 on:** May 09, 2010, 05:13:01 AM »

My lil aluminum hammer extension cost me a buck. I thought at first is was a bad shell. It clicked 3 times on me . Then seemed to have a delayed fire on fouth click which wounded the poor animal and despite a late night and mid morning tracking effort , I never found it. Now ,I have a no thumb end glove just for my pistol hunts.I removed the extension and it will never return. Slid the scope a lil forward which fits my eyes better anyway and good to go.

blhof · « **Reply #19 on:** May 09, 2010, 01:17:10 PM »

I also had a problem with a hammer ext. on my Contender and after calling TC and being told to remove the ext. and if problem persists to call back; haven't called them since pulling the spur off, no need to, problem solved. I only had problems with the 3030 barrel the 357Max worked fine with the extension, go figure.

tc scout · « **Reply #20 on:** May 10, 2010, 02:04:27 AM »

Never had one on any of my barrels. If you use medium height rings, there is no reason to use one.

rickyp · « **Reply #21 on:** May 16, 2010, 01:35:30 PM »

On my first contender I put a uncle mikes hammer extension on it. I have taken it off several years ago. Just recently I sent my frame in to T/C so they can go over it. I got a note back saying that I shouldn't use a hammer extension as it will void the warranty..
The hammer extension can do lots of bad stuff to a T/C like cause light primer strikes all the way up to breaking the hammer spur. This is more likely on the encore as the spur is not as thick as the contender.

Curtis · « **Reply #22 on:** May 16, 2010, 02:39:37 PM »

Didn't TC offer a swing out hammer spur on one of the Encore models? If I could get an aftermarket hammer like that for my older Contenders, I'd ditch the extensions.

Curtis

rickyp · « **Reply #23 on:** May 16, 2010, 02:47:13 PM »

I doubt it would work with the firing pin selector on the contender