Author Topic: Contender Serial numbers, barrel compatability (Read 1671 times)

bob helget · « **on:** February 26, 2004, 10:14:07 AM »

I am in the market for a Contender or Encore and have read alot of the topics on this site. Today I came across a Contender at a local gun dealer, it has a serial number of 179475. The dealer really didn't know much about the gun or Thompson at all. It has a 10" .45/410 barrel VR, blued with rubber Pacmyer?(SP) grips sling and case. Can anyone tell me how old this gun is and if the age of the gun is any concern? Also, are there any good 45 Colt rounds that are acceptable for close range whitetails? If I purchase this gun I would be interested in getting a 7-30 waters barrel for this frame however the dealer told me that a 14" 7-30 waters barrel would not be compatable for this frame? He is asking $349 for the complete package which seems very reasonable, but if I am limited to what barrels I can get for this frame it may not be what I want.

Redhawk1 · « **Reply #1 on:** February 26, 2004, 10:39:58 AM »

I can tell you about the 45 Colt as a hunting round, the 45 Colt can be loaded to comparable 44MAG loads. As for the 45/410 barrel you will have to work on accuracy, do the how far the bullet has to travel to get to the rifling. If the bullet goes into the rifling cantered it will leave the barrel cantered, affecting the accuracy. All of the different Contender frames I have had did not have any problems accepting different barrels. But if I was going to look for a deer hunting rig, I would get an Encore. It will accept a lot of the rifle rounds and everything the Contender will. But you can get a variety of non stock barrels for the Contender also. I have a Contender Pistol in 444 Marlin with a 10 inch barrel and my Encore Pistol, I have 30-06, 22-250 and 7mmBR. Both guns are great to shoot. Now that I confused you even more, me personally, I would get the Encore unless you decide to go with the Contender you found. IMO it is a fair price for the Contender.

flatlander · « **Reply #2 on:** February 26, 2004, 10:40:39 AM »

The only thing you might need to put a 7x30 on the frame is a different foreend. 10 and 14 inch barrels (and 8, 16, 21, etc) are completely interchangable on Contenders but you might need another foreend. The only exception that I'm aware of is if it is an armor alloy. And of course you can't use encore stuff on contenders or vice versa. Not sure what your dealer is talking about. Maybe someone else has an idea.

teamnelson · « **Reply #3 on:** February 26, 2004, 11:51:38 AM »

The serial number puts it early '80s, pre-"easy open." That's a fair price for it. Some folks would tell you to send it in for the conversion to easy open, which I think is up to $55 now. Sometimes, newer barrels have problems because the older frames like flat lug barrels, and the newer ones are stepped. TC can also send you replacement lugs for your barrels, which will solve that if its problem. Other than that, any Contender barrel (except for Armor Alloy) will work in that frame, with the appropriate forend.

For close range deer, I think you'd have a winner!

bob helget · « **Reply #4 on:** February 26, 2004, 04:19:57 PM »

Thanks for the replies, I think I am going to pass on this used Contender and buy a new Encore with the .45/410 for starters and and the 7-08 and the .223. If it's one thing I have learned from reading all the posts on this site is that you can't have enough barrels. The Encore just seems to offer so much more versatility with little or no down side.

RonF · « **Reply #5 on:** February 27, 2004, 01:20:58 AM »

There are two negatives regarding the Encore, in my opinion, of course. They are the weight and the looks. I own both Contenders and Encores. To my eyes the Contender is beautiful; the encore is serviceable. I also prefer packing around my Contenders since they are lighter. I know the Encore can be had in a much wider range of calibers, but in a pistol length barrel you're not going to be a lot more effective on deer than my 14" Contender in .30-40 Krag is. Yes, I use both, but while I like my Encores, I love my Contenders. :-D

What ever you get, I hope you enjoy it.

RonF

Hopalong7 · « **Reply #6 on:** February 27, 2004, 02:49:34 AM »

I'm in total agreement w/ RonF, like the Encore, love the Contender. It has taken me at least 5 years to "warm up" to my Encore. I used it only as a muzzle loader rifle for quite a while. I also like the statement I think Cris made a couple of weeks ago. "Encore makes a better Rifle...Contender makes a better pistol. The calibers available to the Encore certainly have more advantage in the rifle version. Example: 14" .309JDJ in Contender vs. 15" .308Win in Encore. For all practicle purposes, performance is equal. Which one do I carry? No contest...the Contender, hands down. Now, if this was rifles or carbines? I think I would probably take the Encore and I doubt the performance would be as close. In all honesty, if I go back about 30 years, I was a great Ruger Blackhawk fan(still am), bought a Contender...it took quite a while to "warm up" to it too. So I guess it really just what we are used to. Talked too much..time to shut up. GOOD SHOOTIN', Walt :grin:

Redhawk1 · « **Reply #7 on:** February 27, 2004, 03:12:13 AM »

I am the opposite, I like the Encore pistol better than the Contender. IMO I think the Encore looks more classier. I have a total of 3 Encore frames, one is for my pistol barrels and 2 for a 45 cal and a 50 cal Muzzleloader. My Contender just does not have the appeal to me as my Encores. If someone laid a Contender and an Encore side by side and both were the same caliber and they told me to pick one, I would be leaving with the Encore. JMHO.

RonF · « **Reply #8 on:** February 27, 2004, 07:50:53 AM »

Ah, differences! It's what makes the world go 'round!

RonF

Hopalong7 · « **Reply #9 on:** February 27, 2004, 11:25:51 AM »

Amen Brothers. I guess that's why TC makes both.
GOOD SHOOTIN', Walt :grin:

Bug · « **Reply #10 on:** February 27, 2004, 01:16:57 PM »

Before choosing the Encore, think about this. The most-shot barrel I own is a .22LR barrel. Good practice, and CHEAP to shoot. For the Contender, this is an easy switch. With the Encore, you have to go with a PITA firing pin adaptor gizzie, or a (relatively) expensive aftermarket (OTT) barrel. The .22 barrel sure is an asset, and I wouldn't be without one.
Good luck in your choice though, and welcome to OUR world!

bob helget · « **Reply #11 on:** February 29, 2004, 03:04:23 PM »

Can the G2 frame with the .45/410 barrel handle the 45 Winchester Magnum load or is this load considered a high pressure load?

Hopalong7 · « **Reply #12 on:** March 01, 2004, 12:37:33 AM »

Pressure is OK, but there is nothing to controll headspacing on the 45Win Mag case in the 45/410 barrel. I have a couple of 45Win Mag barrels that handle it quite nicely on the old Contender. GOOD SHOOTIN', Walt :grin: