Why the shortage of T/C pistols?

[His lordship.]

I learned to shoot with a single shot pistol, so I know how useful they can be.  I have been to gun shows and shops in Minnesota, Oregon, and some in Texas.  It seems that the single shot T/C pistols are not in demand, or at least you don't see them on display for sale.  I asked some of my gun club members who have them if there is a problem, and they like the gun. 

I do appreciate a quick second follow up shot, but I really like the barrel replacement that the design allows, from rim fire cartridges to center fire rifle and hand gun.

Is it because this is more of a rural purchase type of equipment, that the city folks prefer repeaters like semi-autos and revolvers?  Or is there some other problems with the design?

[Win 1917]

It's the same thing around here. In the last probably 6 gun shows I've been to I saw one Contender which I bought and a G2 I didn't. There's nothing wrong with them I just don't think they're a hot item for gun shows. When I talked to dealers a lot of times they have some for sale but don't bring them so if you're really interested in picking one up ask around.
 

[kynardsj]

Don't see a lot of them in the shows here in Alabama. When I do see some barrels I definately have to check them out. I have at this time two Contender frames and barrels and two Encore frames and barrels. Always looking for something that sparks my interest to add to them.

[DEACONLLB]

The answer to your question is that us contender nuts have bought them all up and left none for others when I first started seeing them at gun shows there were only one or two then a lot and now I may see one at a show and way over priced. I am off to a show tomorrow and will see how many I find.

Deaconllb

[blhof]

I found one a few years ago in an urban pawn shop, had dust on it and no price tag.  I asked to look at it and they asked me to make an offer, it had a 357max 14" barrel.  I offered $250 and walked out with a new toy.  The funny part was they tried to tell me that they don't make bullets for it.  I stopped them as I had heard that 10 years before when I bought my DW 357max from another pawn shop for a song.  They're around, you just have to look in unusual places.

[Curtis]

Deaconllb: I agree with you, there's no shortage of Contenders in my gun safe!! LOL

blhof: They don't make ammo for about half my barrels!  I picked one of my Contenders up for $250 in a gun store after making what I thought was a low ball offer (they had $375 on the price tag).  It was a 44 mag 10" bull, and I really only wanted it for the barrel at the time.

Curtis

[Keith L]

Contenders are built for a niche market.  You don't see them in the cop shows on TV, and the mass market has no idea what to do with them.

In my case it is good that there aren't more out there for sale.  I would have more, and I don't get to shoot the ones I have enough as it is.

[DEACONLLB]

I guess that it would be better to use the words contender lovers and not nuts but these things are habbit forming. I have all my barrels on frames dont like to change barrels. Wont say how many as this stuff goes out to the world.If every one that uses this forum  said how many they had I would guess it would run well over several thousand.

Deaconllb

[blhof]

Yeah, they are addictive, after my great 1st purchase, I soon added another frame in stainless, then more barrels and stock for rifle mode, then more barrels for rifle, then more grips,now gotta get another safe....

[DEACONLLB]

Went to the gun show in Tulsa today and only saw one well used contender, rubber butt grip wood fore end hot shot barrel and way over priced and also saw 2 more hotshot barrels and one well used 22 long rifle bull 10 inch and that was it. glad I started buying when I did quite a few Encores but way more than new price.

Deaconllb

[David D.]

Contenders are built for a niche market. 

I would totally agree!

Unless you hunt, target shoot, shoot competitive they would be totally useless. I really know, except from forums, very few pistol hunters. Their to big for concealed carry, not enough far power for gang bangers and outlaws. I would think its a very small percent of sportsmen with any need for TC's. Most hunters I know wouldn't even dream of hunting with any single shot including single shot rifles.   

[SlowLeadBullets]

I asked one dealer and he told me he wouldn't carry them because all the parts take up too much display space.  He said he couldn't just sell Contenders, you also have to carry the additional stuff that the shooters want.

[powdersmoke]

     Gunshops in my area don't want them because they can't get rid of them, which is good for me. They just don't sell here. I gave a local gunshop $700.00 for 2 frames, 5 barrels and a new Bushnell Phantom scope. I'm always looking for another good deal.

[P.A. Myers]

Any single-shot has limited appeal. I first encountered this when collecting rolling-blocks. Retailers wont stock them because they move slowly. Too high a price and they will never sell. The on-line sources work because of the wide exposure.
Contenders have ED, a great resource.

P.A.

[Win 1917]

Most hunters I know wouldn't even dream of hunting with any single shot including single shot rifles. 

It's a shame but it's the truth. What I can't understand is that the same hunters who don't think twice about deer hunting with a bow or muzzleloader all of a sudden think you're nuts by going afield with a 30-06 that only takes a second longer to reload than a bolt action. 

The other thing is other hunters don't understand the accuracy of specialty pistols. I shoot 15" Encore in a 260 and I've had lots of people tell me in all honesty, "that gun's only good to about 40 yards"

[spinafish]

I have had folks tell me I couldn't hit anything at 100 yds with a pistol..but none have taken me up on the offer to stand on the 100 yds line!!!  Of course, they knew I was joking..

[shot1]

I looked at gun shows for a while in two different states before I found my second contender frame. I had to do some haggling to get the guy to sale me just the frame. I got it out the door for $315.00. It had a 45/410 barrel on it which I already have and I did not need the grips or forend. He kept saying that I will never be able to get rid of the stuff without the frame. I told him if he did not want to sale just the frame I was going to leave and started to walk off and he almost jumped over the table to get me back. He probably had that rig for a long time and saw that I was not going to take the whole thing at all.

I had a guy at the range one day ask me how a contender that I was shooting shot. It was a 10" 30-30 Win with 4X Leupold. I said that I could hit a quarter at 100 yards every time. Some other fellow close by gave one of those, sure you can snide laughs the said I bet you $10 you can't hit a quarter at 100 yards with that thing. Boy that was a high price quarter that fellow bought. I ask him any time that he wanted to give me $10 for a quarter come on back.  

[rickyp]

I have been looking for a G2 in my state since they came out no one would or could get them. about a year ago I was in a gander mountain and they had one in the case, but the price was way high, I tried to talk them into selling just the frame, they wouldnt budge on it. I then tried to get them to drop the price.  this went on  for about a yeay, I finaly sent an email to the main office. with in a day I got a call back with an offer i couldnt refuse.  they where asking almost $700 for a G2 with a 14" 7x30  in blue.   I think a part of the issue about them not moving so fast is they dealers are asking way to high a price for them.

[ralfus]

  It seems that the single shot T/C pistols are not in demand, or at least you don't see them on display for sale. 

Actually it would be the opposite. If the guns were not in demand then there would be a glut and you would see people selling them all over.

[archer9926]

Yeah, they are addictive, after my great 1st purchase, I soon added another frame in stainless, then more barrels and stock for rifle mode, then more barrels for rifle, then more grips,now gotta get another safe....

    LOL   Sounds abouth right!!. I first bought an encore (older engraved frame) with 10" .223 bull barrel and Burris 2x scope. Now it wears a new Burris 30mm 2x7 variable with pachmyer grips . Last week I bought a  an Encore  "set" in .308 with t/c scope and have already ordered new grips. I also left the gun at 'smith's for trigger job and am already thinking @ rifle set-up in 22/250 Man!  this really does get under your skin but I love 'em.

[shot1]

 "I think a part of the issue about them not moving so fast is they dealers are asking way to high a price for them."

I agree with you on that. But if you want to trade in a Contender on something that they have they don't want to give you anything for them. They say, "nobody wants them and they can't get rid of them."

One of the worst mistakes I ever made was to trade, I should say give away, a Contender with a 10" 30-30 Win with Leuplod 4X and a 14" 223 with a 8X Burris for a Rem 700 Stainless 7mm mag. That was in my younger days when I thought like a lot of young fellows that it took a Magnum to kill a deer. I came to my senses and have been wacking deer with a Contender in 357 mag and a 6mm-225 win for a few years now and this year will be turning by new 30-30AI loose on them.   

[no guns here]

I was surprised at the SAXET show in San Antonio last week, there were quite a few T/C's.  Prices were higher than I can normally find on-line but they were there.  "The Contender Guy" was there and had a decent selection but his prices were sort of high.  I wasn't buying T/c this time so I didn't try to deal with him.  I found a few here and there on other tables but nothing I just HAD to have.


NGH

[Artful]

I don't find a shortage as much as non-interest by the majority of shooters I run into - it's like the majority of shooters have not tried to shoot a pistol at longer ranges and have decided they want the latest "wonder" pistol (glock, FN 5.7 or whatever) for their "spray and pray" shooting habits
- It is a specialty pistol and can bring a lot to the table but you have to change peoples preception about it.
My purchase was for IHMSA shooting not hunting I used a revolver for that, but am Nutty about it's design.

[lastchanc54]

Since I found Greybeard, I have started buying Encores. I was a bowhunter who got enough of a shoulder injury to give me an excuse to buy a 308 Encore Pistol. Now the things seem to multiply. I rarely see them except on here. I did get a nice 15 inch 270 barrel with a T/C scope for $175 at a pawn shop. Love it! When I go to the range, I always end up explaining the gun to someone. Often people are shocked to see me and my pistols on the 200 yard range. That is a chip shot for my 22-250 , 270 or 308. The 460 mag  gets everyones attention. If it was not for this site, I would not be having so much fun. It is rare for me to find an Encore or any form of T/C in my part of the world. They just don't know what they are missing. I just built a Encore slug gun from this site and a bit of ebay. I put a Thumb hole stock on a rifled slug barrel and added a variable power scope that is calibrated for 1 ounce slugs out to 125 yards.In addition, I added a stock sleive that holds 5 rounds.  This is a sweet looking setup that points where you are looking. Can't wait to sight it in, thanks Greybeard and everyone.
Lastchanc54 

[P.A. Myers]

Beware of the fever.

[Artful]

too late if your here you've got the fever 

[lastchanc54]

Sorry, no cure available

[Flynmoose]

There is no cure...the only "treatment" is more barrels and frames    
That's my story and I'm sticking to it!                                                   

[ohiobenito]

there's an older gentleman that makes the ohio gun show circuit and he exclusively deals in tc contenders,encores and their accessories.  he always has a table in the corner or against the wall.  Nice fellow