T/C pistols

[ASmith]

Any one here have any experience with the Thompson center pistols? I was thinking about getting one for deer, I like the fact I could use a rifle caliber during slug season. I also like the fact that I can get a 223 barrel and stock and use it for my girls starter rifle (after their cricket )

[Sigfan220]

I have one in 7x30, they are a blast!! The 410 pistol barrels are fun too, makes shooting trap a little harder. I like that you can get so many differany barrels, a 7x30 rifle barrel and 223 pistol are on my wish list.

[OldmanFCSA]

I have:
22LR Target
22Hornet
256WinMag
7mmTCU
44Mag
44Mag rechambered to 444Marlin

In past, I had:
222 Rem - (miss it the most)
30Herret
30-30Win
357Herret
45/410
44Mag rechambered and MagnaPorted to 444Marlin - (miss this one too)

May sell some, if any interest.

[ASmith]

What model would you recommend getting? Id like to have a 223 rifle, 243 pistol and maybe a muzzleloader and 20 ga. Also what are prices for the gun and also the barrels?

[Molasses]

What model would you recommend getting? Id like to have a 223 rifle, 243 pistol and maybe a muzzleloader and 20 ga. Also what are prices for the gun and also the barrels?

With the calibers you're contemplating, it's going to have to be an Encore. The Contender won't handle/isn't made in the more serious rifle calibers and 20ga is too big to fit in there.
Since you're talking about wanting to go with both rifle and pistol configurations, start with an Encore receiver that's either already earmarked as being a pistol or a whole pistol setup on one.

[DitchDR]

+1 on the Encore. I used to have one and would love to find another. I had the .243 Win and its was a pretty accurate pistol. 95% of the places I hunt, there would not have been a shot over 100 yards, so that the farthest I shot with it. Others Ive shot and would by barrels for if I ever get another one. .308 Win, 7.62x39, 30-30.

[sgruenhagen44]

I shot one in .223, alomst bought one. REAL accurate and tons of muzzle flash! Really fun. Wanted more than one shot so I bought a ruger super redhawk instead. But I hear good things, a buddy of mine has one in .375 and loves it. I did own a t/c rifle in .270 and really liked it.

[Angus]

I have a .250, .223, .243, .308, .270. Cant beat the .223 for general fun and of the three deer capable rounds I would go with the .308. My .270 is pretty snappy and the .243 cant do anything a .308 cant + I like the versatility of the .30 (110gr-180gr).

[ASmith]

Now just to find one at a good price, my ar build really cleand out my gun fund

[870TC]

I've bought and sold half a dozen contenders, I'm done owning one ever again. Every single one I have owned was either broken when I got it, broke while I had it, or was returned by the buyer because it didn't work.

[ASmith]

One more question. If I want to use it as a pistol do I need to get a receiver marked as a pistol or can you start as a rifle and just switch out the stock?

[LarryFlew]

Same reciever and not marked as either so start with what you can find and add from there.

[minnesotahunter]

I have one in 7mm 08 that I love!! You should really consider that caliber. It has a great balance between power and recoil. The great BC of the 7mm bullet gives great long range capabilities. It actually carries more power than a 308 out past 350 yrds or so. For deer, it's heavier bullets give a larger margin for error than the 243, and allows for more shot angles you wouldn't want to take with the 243. The only downside is slightly more recoil.

Used it on this guy in 2010.
300yrd shot, quartering away.
Encore 7mm08 15inch factory barrel Simmons 2x6 eer scope.
45grns of H-380 under a 140grn speer soft point reload.
With a 200yrd zero it only drops 9 inches at 300.


2011
Same gun and load.
110yrds directly facing me. Took him through the white patch under his chin.


MN

[Seismic Sam]

Avoid the Contender frame in magnum pistol calibers like death itself!! Had an original Contender with the octagon barrel (light) in 44 mag, and if you notice the tang on the end of the trigger guard in the picture above with the deer, that winds up about 1/4" in front of your second knuckle. With the heavy recoil of that gun, the steel tang would bone bruise your knuckle in about three shots. It took me a whole month to GET RID OF a box of Remington 240 grain factory loads, so I could reload the brass with 44 SPL power loads. Most painful gun I have ever shot, probably 10X worse than my Smith 500.

[Rem700]

Same reciever and not marked as either so start with what you can find and add from there.

What does the serial number indicate it was mfg/sold as?
Does putting a pistol barrel on a rifle frame make it a SBR or did T/C find a way around the SBR?