I have always thought Contenders were cool. Have not owned one yet... Seems kinda funny to think of a pistol that is capable of firing rounds like 30-30, 308 and higher firing a tiny cartridge like .17 but that is the beauty of them. So much versatility from one frame! Great video Cervus!
Yeah it kind of caught me off guard that this was a .17 HMR. All the barrels that I have for my other one are for deer capable rounds. After shooting the 17 HMR I found that I kind of like it.
The Contenders are not chambered in cases based on the .308 case as it is felt the load on the frame face is too high. J C Jones bases his handcannons on a .444 Marlin case or a .225 Winchester case.
I don’t own a 17 hmr but I have access to be able to shoot one and I am always impressed on how accurate it is I’m very curious to see how well you do with a contender model?!
I'm sure others could shoot it better than I can. The scope is a fixed 4 power so my aim is just okay. At fifty yards it i could not even see where I was hitting so i just shot the five rounds and hoped for the best, lol. You can see it wasn't great, but it wasn't awful either.
Nice video, I just bought a 14 inch .17HMR barrel for my Contender, I'll have to wait for spring to shoot it. I'm sure I'll enjoy shooting it as much as my other 8 barrels. These are awesome guns, I have 14 inch .17HMR, 30-30, and .204 Ruger, and 10 inch .22lr, .22mag, .223, .357mag, .44mag and a .45lc/410. I still want a .45-70 and a .9mm.
Tim you certainly have the barrels. I have two of these TC Contenders 1st gen pistols. One I keep my 30-30 barrel on for deer hunting. I used to use a 7-30 Waters on it but the muzzle break kills me on sound. I have a 10 inch octagon 30 Carbine barrel too. Other than that, that is about it for the barrels I have. If I run across a barrel at a gun show I'll pick it up, but I've found that the 17HMR is such a pleasure to shoot in the Contender. I bet that 45/70 will be a hoot to shoot. Oh, I do have a TC Encore in 308, but it is a carbine rifle and not a pistol.
@@cervus-venator I bought my Contender 2 years ago with the .44mag barrel, it was so accurate and fun to shoot that buying new barrels to try has become an obsession. I think the best part is I can spend most of a day at the range with just one gun and shoot so many different calibers.
I'm not sure, but I think it is a Leupold. Not 100% on that, but I'll let you know once I confirm. I bought this one with the scope and mount already on it. I was getting some stuff out of the safe today and my lower shelf slipped and is now sitting on top of both of my Thompson Contenders. That means tomorrow I have to pull everything out of that side, but it is okay as I'll move the shelf up to the top.
That guy that had a hunting show it’s been years ago Larry Weisenger I thank that was his name he hunted with one of them contenders chambered in 30-06.
I take it a pistol? This is an early model Contender (G1) as is my other one so I am kind of limited int the barrels I can get for it. Still, it is a fun gun to shoot.
For some reason the 44 hits harder than a 45Colt. The 45 is a little slower but not by much. Others that have some kick are 357/44;Bains and Davis, 357 Herrett, 45 Win. Mag.,
@@cervus-venator I saw loading data and the story of where it came from. Kinda piqued my interest, eventually found a barrel, then after several years I ran across a Ruger Blackhawk chambered in 9mm, 357 Magnum and the Bains and Davis. It was developed to upgrade the Smith and Wesson Highway Patrolman. Big N frame 357 mag. Its a necked down .44 mag case to .357. It's very comparable to the .357 Herrett. It doesn't however handle the 180 and 200 grain bullets. The Herrett is at its best at near max powder and bullet weights. Maybe this will help. I shot a 60 round silhouette round with the Herrett, made my wristbswell up but the 200 metre rams went down like they were hit with a sledge hammer. I originally ran across the data for the 357/44 in an ola Hornaday manual.
That TC click gets me,even after years of
I know what you mean!
I loved these video's. You always bring something awesome to the table! Great video!
Thanks so much! I'm glad you like it.
I have always thought Contenders were cool. Have not owned one yet... Seems kinda funny to think of a pistol that is capable of firing rounds like 30-30, 308 and higher firing a tiny cartridge like .17 but that is the beauty of them. So much versatility from one frame! Great video Cervus!
Yeah it kind of caught me off guard that this was a .17 HMR. All the barrels that I have for my other one are for deer capable rounds. After shooting the 17 HMR I found that I kind of like it.
The Contenders are not chambered in cases based on the .308 case as it is felt the load on the frame face is too high. J C Jones bases his handcannons on a .444 Marlin case or a .225 Winchester case.
Good video Cervus!
Thanks Bullets!!
I don’t own a 17 hmr but I have access to be able to shoot one and I am always impressed on how accurate it is I’m very curious to see how well you do with a contender model?!
I'm sure others could shoot it better than I can. The scope is a fixed 4 power so my aim is just okay. At fifty yards it i could not even see where I was hitting so i just shot the five rounds and hoped for the best, lol. You can see it wasn't great, but it wasn't awful either.
Nice video, I just bought a 14 inch .17HMR barrel for my Contender, I'll have to wait for spring to shoot it. I'm sure I'll enjoy shooting it as much as my other 8 barrels. These are awesome guns, I have 14 inch .17HMR, 30-30, and .204 Ruger, and 10 inch .22lr, .22mag, .223, .357mag, .44mag and a .45lc/410. I still want a .45-70 and a .9mm.
Tim you certainly have the barrels. I have two of these TC Contenders 1st gen pistols. One I keep my 30-30 barrel on for deer hunting. I used to use a 7-30 Waters on it but the muzzle break kills me on sound. I have a 10 inch octagon 30 Carbine barrel too. Other than that, that is about it for the barrels I have. If I run across a barrel at a gun show I'll pick it up, but I've found that the 17HMR is such a pleasure to shoot in the Contender. I bet that 45/70 will be a hoot to shoot. Oh, I do have a TC Encore in 308, but it is a carbine rifle and not a pistol.
@@cervus-venator I bought my Contender 2 years ago with the .44mag barrel, it was so accurate and fun to shoot that buying new barrels to try has become an obsession. I think the best part is I can spend most of a day at the range with just one gun and shoot so many different calibers.
@@timopall8264 That's a fact. And having the accuracy makes it even more fun to shoot.
That’s a nice gun!..another one that I’ve always wanted. Do you ever do any hunting with pistols?
What kind of scope mount is yours? I love the vintage, side-offset mount look!
I'm not sure, but I think it is a Leupold. Not 100% on that, but I'll let you know once I confirm. I bought this one with the scope and mount already on it. I was getting some stuff out of the safe today and my lower shelf slipped and is now sitting on top of both of my Thompson Contenders. That means tomorrow I have to pull everything out of that side, but it is okay as I'll move the shelf up to the top.
👍 Great content!
Thank you! 👍
Nice gun seems to shoot well Stay Safe and God Bless 🙏🙏
Thanks, my initial intent was to make a carbine out of it but I kind of like it the way it is.
@@cervus-venator me 2👍
Not bad at all Cervus long way for a small scope see u later buddy GOD BLESS
Thanks, yeah I wish i had some zoomies for that thing.
That guy that had a hunting show it’s been years ago Larry Weisenger I thank that was his name he hunted with one of them contenders chambered in 30-06.
I take it a pistol? This is an early model Contender (G1) as is my other one so I am kind of limited int the barrels I can get for it. Still, it is a fun gun to shoot.
30-06 is in Encore only.
I’m looking in to getting a 300 Winchester magnum barrel for my Rossi single shot rifle it’s got a 243 barrel on it now
I bet that thing will have some kick to it.
I had a .44 Mag that recoiled so hard it recoiled off the baseplate on the grip.
I bet!! I never shot a 44 with the TC. Most recoiling cartridges that I have are the 30-30 and 7-30 Waters.
For some reason the 44 hits harder than a 45Colt. The 45 is a little slower but not by much. Others that have some kick are 357/44;Bains and Davis, 357 Herrett, 45 Win. Mag.,
@@kenore4003 I'll need to research that Bains and Davis round. Sounds interesting. Those all sound like hard hitters.
@@cervus-venator I saw loading data and the story of where it came from. Kinda piqued my interest, eventually found a barrel, then after several years I ran across a Ruger Blackhawk chambered in 9mm, 357 Magnum and the Bains and Davis. It was developed to upgrade the Smith and Wesson Highway Patrolman. Big N frame 357 mag. Its a necked down .44 mag case to .357. It's very comparable to the .357 Herrett. It doesn't however handle the 180 and 200 grain bullets. The Herrett is at its best at near max powder and bullet weights. Maybe this will help. I shot a 60 round silhouette round with the Herrett, made my wristbswell up but the 200 metre rams went down like they were hit with a sledge hammer. I originally ran across the data for the 357/44 in an ola Hornaday manual.
@@kenore4003 Cool, thanks for the information as it sounds really interesting.
Get a decent scope! My Encore pistol shoots flies @ 25 yards all day long. .17 HMR 17 gr. Hornady bullets
Good for you Rodger! The Encore is a better pistol in my opinion. What's a decent scope? You must dislike Leupold.
Cervus hey buddy
HI Randle