These are super sweet shooters. I wish they were still in production. They're genuinely fun and super accurate. Along with the Xp-100, these are a design that never should've died. Just because it doesn't take glock mags doesn't mean it's not best in class.
@@portugal5698 I heard about that, I heard somewhere that it was Woody Harrelson's Grandfather who shot Kennedy with an XP-100 for the CIA. I think Mossad was involved honestly. It's 100% their M.O., *and* they were mad at Kennedy for telling Isreaelis he wanted them to denuclearize.
Thankyou for giving the Gen 1 TC some airtime. I purchased my TC in 1984, I got 10" & 14" .22 cal & a 10 " 7mmTCU bull barrels with Iron Sights. Then with help of the Gunsmith loaded up 100 rds of 7mmTCU. Used 222 Rem Mag brass, trimmed it to recommended length then turned the neck to prescribed thickness. We started shooting with IHMSA Metallic Silhouette, had a blast every weekend. Southern Calif has matches everywhere. Reload during the week, later on acquired a Rem XP100 sgl shot like the TC super accurate.
I have a Gen 1 contender, much like what you showed here. Originally purchased with a 357 Remington Maximum bull 10” barrel to participate in the silhouette competition. Added a .22 LR 10” barrel, a 10” .44 magnum barrel, and a .35 Remington ported hunter barrel of 14” over the years. The .22 barrel was also used in rimfire silhouette matches. I use to shoot it a lot but its been a safe queen for the last several years. Thanks for this video, I now may take it out and give it some exercise in the near future since I still have some 357 Remington Max hand loads around.
Haven't seen 1 of these in forever. Had a chance a long time ago to pick one up but at the time didnt have the money. Always regretted never getting one ,great little firearm they were
Still one of coolest systems developed and I still want one… with a bunch of barrels in various calibers and that is the beauty of it all. Thanks for sharing.
I had a 30-30 barrel that I used in shotgun territory,,for deer season. What a sweet gun, it maybe a single shot, but what is the point, to learn one shot one kill, get your skill set. And with one of the best trigger ever made and superior accuracy of Thompson barrels You could rest assure of a clean kill.
Great information and a very good review ! Even though I’ve hunted with fellows who used the Contenders I’ve never owned one until 2008 and I built my barrels up from that time ! One of my favorite is the 6mm TCU Ctg ! What an excellent long range accurate ctg ! But I’ve only hunted using the 30 Herrett so far and have taken 5 deer so far ! One fine black bear using the .44 magnum caliber! What a great system !
What a pleasant presentation this was. I really enjoyed the video please keep them coming. Sadly contenders and encores are relegated to history now, Good to look back every now and again.
I went with the Pachmayr grips and forend for that reason. They definitely soak up a lot of the recoil shock from larger calibers better than the wooden factory grips.
I owned a Contender with a 30.30 barrel in the 90’s sadly I sold it. But I just bought an Encore pro hunter with a beautiful thumbhole laminated stock with a fluted 7mm barrel. They have a Gen 1 contender frame with the grip and stock for sale. After watching this video I have a strong urge to go get it too. Very nice collection you have and thanks for the great history.
@@Icarryonewho you really think that the first generation Thompson Contender will turn into a collector piece? My daddy bought one of the first ones that came out in 1967 with a eagle, on one side and a puma on the other. Then sold it and bought another 1977.
What a neat weapon. Back in the early 70s when I was in high school I wanted one of these. Even then I thought this would be a great survival weapon. It could shoot any ammo you could find just by getting extra barrels. I think Bond Arms kind of copied this concept.
It really pisses me off that smith and wesson destroyed Thompson. I haven't bought another smith and I won't. I have two contender pistols and one encore rifle, and a number of barrels for each. Absolutely enjoy them.
Iv got a gen 1 in stainless and 45/70 that I sbr'ed this year to use as a light deer gun since it was my dads but was a bit much for me to shoot as a pistol lol.
Sorry to say TC is no more. S&W purchased them several years ago and I have seen they have closed the plant. Sad thing because it is an outstanding platform. I have owned several and still have the carbine version.
@@Icarryone S&W let at least one of the patents expire. I have an interesting idea of looking into what's necessary to manufacture a frame that uses these barrels, much like how Cold Steel makes their Ranch Boss, which is an arguably improved Schrade Mustang....but dodges lawsuits by not using the name. All I need now, according to my cousin who is a gunsmith, is about a quarter million dollars in equipment, a warehouse, and employees. Easy fix right? lol
I know this is off topic. I see you did reviews on the smith and wesson 1911 e series performance center and the dan wesson vbob. If you could only have one which would you pick? Thanks
Развлечения
These are super sweet shooters. I wish they were still in production. They're genuinely fun and super accurate. Along with the Xp-100, these are a design that never should've died.
Just because it doesn't take glock mags doesn't mean it's not best in class.
Couldn't agree more!
They are iconic along w/ the XP-100 Remington like the one James Files used on JFK supposedly. Look into the encore. Those are also sick!
@@portugal5698 I heard about that, I heard somewhere that it was Woody Harrelson's Grandfather who shot Kennedy with an XP-100 for the CIA. I think Mossad was involved honestly. It's 100% their M.O., *and* they were mad at Kennedy for telling Isreaelis he wanted them to denuclearize.
Thankyou for giving the Gen 1 TC some airtime. I purchased my TC in 1984, I got 10" & 14" .22 cal & a 10 " 7mmTCU bull barrels with Iron Sights. Then with help of the Gunsmith loaded up 100 rds of 7mmTCU.
Used 222 Rem Mag brass, trimmed it to recommended length then turned the neck to prescribed thickness.
We started shooting with IHMSA Metallic Silhouette, had a blast every weekend. Southern Calif has matches everywhere.
Reload during the week, later on acquired a Rem XP100 sgl shot like the TC super accurate.
I have a Gen 1 contender, much like what you showed here. Originally purchased with a 357 Remington Maximum bull 10” barrel to participate in the silhouette competition. Added a .22 LR 10” barrel, a 10” .44 magnum barrel, and a .35 Remington ported hunter barrel of 14” over the years. The .22 barrel was also used in rimfire silhouette matches. I use to shoot it a lot but its been a safe queen for the last several years. Thanks for this video, I now may take it out and give it some exercise in the near future since I still have some 357 Remington Max hand loads around.
👍🤠
Haven't seen 1 of these in forever. Had a chance a long time ago to pick one up but at the time didnt have the money. Always regretted never getting one ,great little firearm they were
I hear ya!
@@Icarryone maybe some day
Still one of coolest systems developed and I still want one… with a bunch of barrels in various calibers and that is the beauty of it all. Thanks for sharing.
👍🤠
I think they are among the most beautifully designed weapons ever.
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I had a 30-30 barrel that I used in shotgun territory,,for deer season. What a sweet gun, it maybe a single shot, but what is the point, to learn one shot one kill, get your skill set. And with one of the best trigger ever made and superior accuracy of Thompson barrels
You could rest assure of a clean kill.
👍🤠
Well in reality, you’re only going to get one shot anyway
Loving those older gen. leupold and redfield scopes...
Me too!
@@Icarryoneare those old Leupold and redfield scopes going to be collectible as well from the 1970s?
Great information and a very good review !
Even though I’ve hunted with fellows who used the Contenders I’ve never owned one until 2008 and I built my barrels up from that time ! One of my favorite is the 6mm TCU Ctg ! What an excellent long range accurate ctg !
But I’ve only hunted using the 30 Herrett so far and have taken 5 deer so far !
One fine black bear using the .44 magnum caliber! What a great system !
Excellent! Glad you are back producing regular content...missed your mellow tones and sweet irons.
Thank you kindly!
@@Icarryone Keep 'em coming!~
This is a dream pistol for a reloader. I’m stalking Gunbroker for a good deal on one. Once I have it, I plan on collecting all the barrels for it.
So mad they dropped these and the encore lines. Best rifle and pistol I own.
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What a pleasant presentation this was. I really enjoyed the video please keep them coming. Sadly contenders and encores are relegated to history now, Good to look back every now and again.
Appreciated!
Please, more videos. As I have said before you are the best on youtube by far!!! It is always a great day when you post a video!
My vacation is winding down and I'll be home soon. More videos planned. 😁
Love that TC Gen1, don't see many around these days!
Agreed!
Great video sir, I have three ,223,44,45-70 and two frames
Excellent overview for beginners! Thank you for posting it....
You're very welcome!
I shot one back in the 70's in 44 mag, lots of hand shock, mite have been the type of grips, only shot it twice, but very accurate. Thx for the vid
I went with the Pachmayr grips and forend for that reason. They definitely soak up a lot of the recoil shock from larger calibers better than the wooden factory grips.
I owned a Contender with a 30.30 barrel in the 90’s sadly I sold it. But I just bought an Encore pro hunter with a beautiful thumbhole laminated stock with a fluted 7mm barrel. They have a Gen 1 contender frame with the grip and stock for sale. After watching this video I have a strong urge to go get it too. Very nice collection you have and thanks for the great history.
Perfect for appendix carry 🤣
Maybe for Andre The Giant!
That is quite a Contender setup!
Thank you!
I would love to get my hands on one of these. I never seen this before. I like odd stuff like this in my collection
Getting hard to find these days - better start looking before they turn into collectors items.
@@Icarryonewho you really think that the first generation Thompson Contender will turn into a collector piece? My daddy bought one of the first ones that came out in 1967 with a eagle, on one side and a puma on the other. Then sold it and bought another 1977.
What a neat weapon. Back in the early 70s when I was in high school I wanted one of these. Even then I thought this would be a great survival weapon. It could shoot any ammo you could find just by getting extra barrels. I think Bond Arms kind of copied this concept.
Yes, Bond Arms seems to have quite a few concept similarities.
A nice collection as always.
Thanks!
I wish they would come back as well!
They were much sleeker than what came after.
Hopefully, someone will come along and buy TC from Smith & Wesson - then start production again. (Pipe dream?!)
@@Icarryone SSK firearms is working on a new g1 style contender frame hopefully by next year they have it in production.
It really pisses me off that smith and wesson destroyed Thompson. I haven't bought another smith and I won't. I have two contender pistols and one encore rifle, and a number of barrels for each. Absolutely enjoy them.
Better hang on to them - there won't be any more made.
You have so many cool guns.
Thanks!
So many caliber and barrel lengths to choose from. I wonder how well these would sell in todays market
I'd heard that S&W had bought out TC - and have now decided to sell off the company. Things aren't looking too good for Thompson Center these days.
Great gun my father used to hunt with 30.06 contender it was a beast to shoot.
Beast indeed!
I bet it was 30-30. Contender frame can’t handle 30.06 or even 308. The Encore model can.
@@fredeschen3783 you are correct it was a encore.
@@kevinhullinger8743 must be nice. I have a Contender G2 30-30. That is enough for me but I think the Encores handle recoil better.
@@fredeschen3783 I agree I shot the 30.06 one time and that was too much. Lol
Great design
Thanks
Thank you! Cheers!
I saw other guns with wood. The one you have is a lot nicer. Thanks again
Thats nice set. They hàve to be my favorite. TC yeah
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I have something similar in .410 but its made in Brazil. It doesn't have an interchangeable barrel though. Seems pretty cool!
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yeah buddy
Agreed - X2! 👍
Tc 45-70 must be a kick in the head to fire!😊
Absolutely brutal!
I have a Thompson Center Encore 50 cal muzzle-loader.
Excellent choice for hunting big game.
I had a Gen 1 with 22 jet, and scope. Hunted ground hogs with it.
👍😊
I have the .30 Herret but can’t find ammo!👍🏽😀❤️🇺🇸
A lot of guys have resorted to making their own by shortening and reforming 30-30 Winchester brass.
Iv got a gen 1 in stainless and 45/70 that I sbr'ed this year to use as a light deer gun since it was my dads but was a bit much for me to shoot as a pistol lol.
👍🤠
Sorry to say TC is no more. S&W purchased them several years ago and I have seen they have closed the plant. Sad thing because it is an outstanding platform. I have owned several and still have the carbine version.
Hopefully, someone will come along and buy TC from Smith & Wesson - then start production again. (Pipe dream?!)
@@Icarryone S&W let at least one of the patents expire. I have an interesting idea of looking into what's necessary to manufacture a frame that uses these barrels, much like how Cold Steel makes their Ranch Boss, which is an arguably improved Schrade Mustang....but dodges lawsuits by not using the name. All I need now, according to my cousin who is a gunsmith, is about a quarter million dollars in equipment, a warehouse, and employees. Easy fix right? lol
SSK 50 is putting out these frames now.
When the stainless model came out, they put a snarling cougar head on it if it wasn’t a flat side which was plain.
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I wish they would have made a 50 bmg version. Yeah buddy that would be a hand cannon. Roll tide roll.
Paramedics on standby, of course.
KB shot the 500NE version and that thing was ruthless.
I think I'll pass on that.
@@Icarryone I don't blame you.....the recoil of the 500NE version made the gun come up above KBs head
I know this is off topic. I see you did reviews on the smith and wesson 1911 e series performance center and the dan wesson vbob. If you could only have one which would you pick? Thanks
Since I couldn't decide which one I like best, I bought both. Either would be an excellent choice - just flip a coin.
@@Icarryone thank you for the response. I think I'm going dan wesson first... Smith maybe later
I'm a proud owner of Gen1 and 2 Recievers
22, 223, 357mag, 9mm and 10mm
Excellent!
I could be wrong, but I thought S&W put them out of business.
Yes - but there is a lot of them out there. Aftermarket & used sales are still going strong.
Smith & Wesson has shut down Thompson Center and put it up for sale.
Sad, isn't it?
TC arms is no longer ☹️
S and W shut it down.
Sad! 😢
Sadly Smith & Wesson bought Thompson center and ended production afew years ago
Yeah, and that's really sad.
FSB 🦼🛵🛴
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