New to TC Contenders

[Incitatus]

Hi all.  I have and shoot a number of firearms from BP cannon to a Baretta 92 to a PPK to an M1 Carbine.  Lots of stuff.

I had wanted a TC Contender for some time and just came across one this weekend at the right price.  Now that I have it I realize that there are a number of things that I don't know so I thought that I would start a thread on some basics.  I suspect that the information is all here but, on consideration, I felt that it would be a good idea to try to get it all in one place.

First off, I realized whien I came home that I had a TC Contender, just what I had always wanted.  What I didn't realize was that two other models of the thing came out since the last time I looked.

I have poked around a bit and it seems that, unless you wish to shoot big calibers, my model (how does one refer to it? TCC Classic? TCCC maybe?) my verson is pretty darn good.  Is it so that mine has a trigger adjustment that is not present on the others?

What are the practice limitations on my model vs the later ones?  What are the essential differences?

I read the thread on converting a TC pistol to a rifle and vice versa.  I sure have no intention of getting into that debate except to say that if the Feds grab you, you lose regardless of how a court case goes.  It does seem to me that the distinctions are sort of theoretical.  Let us assume, for the sake of this thread, that I decide forever and always to convert my pistol to a rifle.  Is all that is required a buttstock and forend (and a barrel)?  simple as that? 

Tell me about scope bases.   Are there many to choose from?  Are they all pretty much the same?  What about rear and front sights? 

I am just trying to get the ball rolling.

[blhof]

Welcome to the TC forums.  The Contender was the 1st in the line and was noted for it's accuracy and fine trigger.  The G2 was the 1st attempt to improve on the original, but the out of box trigger isn't as good, the Encore was the latest improvement; much heavier, but capable of using any current rifle cartridge short of 50BMG.  I have 2 of the originals and keep one in rifle and one in pistol configuration for convience.  The Contender is a med pressure gun, there are barrrels for it up to 45-70, which is a heavy round, but not as high pressure as the 30-06 or 7mm, which barrels can be found for the Encore.  I've fired 100's of 30-30, 223. and 357max out of mine with no problems and excellent accuracy. Be wary of the hammer extensions, they tend to cause misfires due to the added wt. on the back of the hammer.  The trigger is balanced for the wt. of the hammer alone.  You only stock, forend and proper length barrel for rifle, but be sure you are getting for Contender and not G2 or Encore, which are grouped with the Contender, but only the barrels are interchangeable on the Contender and G2.

[Curtis]

Tell me about scope bases.   Are there many to choose from?

Yes, many.  My favorite is the Leupold double dovetail with Burris Signature rings.  I also have several barrels with Weaver bases (92A I believe but double check me) and Burris Signature Zee rings.  The thing I like about the Burris Signature rings is they have the posi-lign plastic inserts and don't have to be lapped to the scope.  They also don't make ring marks thereby preserving the value of your scope.  For my octagon barrels I like the T/C Duo-ring base but many do not like these because of lack of fore and aft room for scope positioning.  Most of my scopes have a generous eye relief range so that is a non-issue for me.

Curtis

[Incitatus]

Thanks guys, good info.

Tell me about forends.  Are there different ones for tapered vs. bull vs. octagonal barrels?  What constitutes a "full set"?

Are there 2 versions of the Classic pistol?

How does one adjust trigger pull?

Is the manual on line somewhere?  I didn't see it at the Thompson site.

[sthone]

There's two simple adjustment you can make....One is the trigger engagement screw and the other is the trigger stop screw, Here's a link to the manual online that will explain how and what they do.

http://stevespages.com/pdf/thompsoncenter_contender.pdf

If you want to lighten the trigger I'd suggest just doing a search on here for "trigger job" its a little bit more involved than turning a few screws... but not to hard to figure out.

-Steve

[securitysix]

Welcome to the TC forums.  The Contender was the 1st in the line and was noted for it's accuracy and fine trigger.  The G2 was the 1st attempt to improve on the original, but the out of box trigger isn't as good, the Encore was the latest improvement; much heavier, but capable of using any current rifle cartridge short of 50BMG.  I have 2 of the originals and keep one in rifle and one in pistol configuration for convience.  The Contender is a med pressure gun, there are barrrels for it up to 45-70, which is a heavy round, but not as high pressure as the 30-06 or 7mm, which barrels can be found for the Encore.  I've fired 100's of 30-30, 223. and 357max out of mine with no problems and excellent accuracy. Be wary of the hammer extensions, they tend to cause misfires due to the added wt. on the back of the hammer.  The trigger is balanced for the wt. of the hammer alone.  You only stock, forend and proper length barrel for rifle, but be sure you are getting for Contender and not G2 or Encore, which are grouped with the Contender, but only the barrels are interchangeable on the Contender and G2.

Methinks you have that backwards.  The Encore came out before the G2.  The Contender was discontinued at some point, and T/C scaled down the Encore to make the G2.

[Curtis]

Tell me about forends.

I think the tapered vs. bull only comes into play with the 16" and up barrels but I only have experience with pistol barrels so I could be wrong.  The pistol barrels I have in ten inch are either bull or octagon and yes you need a different single screw forend to match each.  The 14 inch barrels take a two screw forend with the exception of some custom barrels.  So basically I have three styles of pistol barrels and a forend to accomodate each.

Is the manual on line somewhere?  I didn't see it at the Thompson site.

Write T/C and provide them with the serial number of your frame and they will provide you with a photocopy of your original owners manual.  They do this as a free service.

Curtis

[wmurrell]

There are actually 4 variations of pre g2 contenders. #1 original, no safety, selector for rim/center turned by small screwdriver. #2 now a square button in the hammer that makes a pin protrude for a safety(of sorts) center of hammer spur is hollow, same selector. #3  EZ open feature added to #2, pivot pin at same location as trigger pin instead of below the barrel pin. #4 Has selector on top of hammer for R/C, hammer spur solid again, EZ open.
#2,3,4 if you can get a barrel for it shoot it
#1 limit to the original chamberings and those in the same families
FWIW I have a #2, #3, & #4

[Incitatus]

This is terrific.  Thanks.

Couple more.

Just got a 357 barrel and went to take a couple of shots out back.  Thing misfired 4-5 times.  I closed it with "more authority" and it worked fine.  Is it temperamental that way?

I had to move a block of metal off of the 44 mag barrel onto the 357 barrel in order to line the screw hole up on my forend.

What is that about?  Should I have a shorter forend?  Should I have a collection of metal blocks?  Seems pretty darn odd.

[Keith L]

I think that you will have to polish the locking bolts on the 357 barrel a little bit so they engage a little more in the frame.  I use a fine stone and do it by hand, checking frequently to see if the bolts are engaging more.  If you put some marker on the mating surfaces of the bolts and try it you can see if you are making progress.  Don't take off to much, but if you do you can get new ones from TC with a phone call.

If you were moving a metal block I am thinking you have a hanger bar system on the forend you have.  A picture would help us to see what you have and what you need.

[Incitatus]

Here is a pic of the barrels.  The upper one has the mysterious metal block.

Is it of this earth?  Does it mean that my pistol is particularly special?  Let me know.

[Keith L]

Some brands of forends (aftermarket) use hanger bars to secure them to the barrel.  many think it is the best way.  I have a set of Pachmeyer grip and forend and it uses a hanger bar.  On longer barrels it secures to both attaching points on the barrel.  Shorter barrels have only one attaching point, and the hanger bars attach to one and allow the forend to work with them.  It lets you use the same forend for longer and shorter barrels. 

[doc-and]

What you have is a Pachmeyer (Spelling?) forend adapter on the top barrel which will allow the use of a Pachmeyer rubber forend. If this is the forend you have then all you would need to do is purchase a second adapter for the other barrel to eliminate having to transfer barrel to barrel, you should be able to pick one up for just a couple of bucks.
Here's a pic of one of my Contenders with Pachmeyer Grip/Forend



docand

[wmurrell]

+1 on the bar and checking the lugs.
On the Pachmayr Hanger bars, you dont need both screws even on 14" bbls. I take them and cut them in half, drill and tap a 10-32 hole for the forend screw on the piece without and BINGO 2 hangers. I have 6 barrels and all group 1/2" or better. Been doing this for 10 years.

[Incitatus]

Does Packmyer make a forend for octagon barrels?

[hunterspistol]

Pachmayer is part of Lyman now,  http://www.lymanproducts.com/

http://www.pachmayr.com/

[Dezynco]

Congrats on the Contender.  WARNING, this "Contenderitis" is highly contagious!  When you shoot that 1st really nice, tight group at 100 yards, you'll be bitten with the bug!  Once you've gotten some good trigger time in, you'll be able to impress the heck out of all your rifle-shootin' buddies!

I started with a 14" 30-30 barrel with a Nikon 2-8X scope.  No kidding, I can place 3 shots touching at 100 yards with it if I hold really steady!  I can't shoot that well with any of my rifles!  Now I've got 6 barrels for my G2!

[Dezynco]

Oh yeah, Contenders can be temperamental about the way you close them.  You have to give them a firm shut most of the time.  You shouldn't have to SLAM it, just close it firmly.  If you really have to slam it, first give it a good cleaning, make sure those locking lugs on the bottom of the barrel are moving freely.  Make sure there is no gunk in the frame where the lugs snap into place.

If that fails, then you can carefully polish the sides of the lugs with a hard stone (sharpening stone with oil on it).  Sometimes a little off the top, but mostly off the sides.  Imagine taking a coat of paint off them, that's all they need, just some polishing.  Work it a little, put the barrel back on the frame and test, repeat until it works perfect.

[securitysix]

Congrats on the Contender.  WARNING, this "Contenderitis" is highly contagious!  When you shoot that 1st really nice, tight group at 100 yards, you'll be bitten with the bug!  Once you've gotten some good trigger time in, you'll be able to impress the heck out of all your rifle-shootin' buddies!

Tell me about it.  My dad was telling me about a day at the range when a guy complemented the accuracy of his Remington 788 in .22-250 after they had gone down range to check groups.  My dad's response was "Yeah, it shoots pretty good, but those groups are out of that pistol" while pointing at his Contender with a .222 Remington barrel on it.