Thompson Center and CVA single shot questions - Page 2

Road_Clam · June 6, 2023, 02:56 PM

I have a stainless Encore frame and a custom MGM 15" bull barrel chambered in .243 Win. FUN shooter banging steel gongs at 200 meters !

**44 AMP** · June 7, 2023, 12:49 PM

I looked on GunBroker the other day, and addmittedly it is an auction and prices often do go stupid high in the final bidding there were several Contenders, with starting bid prices in ther $400 range and a few with "buy it now" prices in the $5-600 range. They aren't ALL $800+ range, though many are.

Adventurer 2 · June 16, 2023, 08:44 AM

I picked up a G2 Contender pistol at a gun show years ago -- mismatched stainless frame and blue 45/410 barrel. Never did get any stainless barrels for it. Not a pretty handgun but I'll keep the G2 forever.

12-34hom · June 16, 2023, 11:41 AM

These types of firearms have long been used by me for target and hunting porposes. XP-100, Savage Stricker, Thompson contender. 221 Fireball, 22-250, 223 were my calibers of choice. Gunbroker has all manner and calibers for sale on thier site for decent prices. Nosler now makes a single shot that in my opinion is the finest ever made. The MSRP is 2400.00 . but can be had for less if you look around. Several chamberings are avalible. there worth checking out. 12-34hom.

gemihur · November 27, 2023, 05:56 PM

ya' can't take it with you
I never met a barrel that I didn't like

For when you mean business

Pumpkin · November 28, 2023, 09:01 AM

I have 4 complete guns all blue:
10" Octagon 357 Magnum open sights, 1975 gun SN No hammer safety
10" Octagon 25-35 with a 4X Weaver, 1978 frame SN
8" Octagon 44 Magnum Hot Shot open sight 1983 frame SN
10' Bull Barrel 357 Maximum with a 2X Redfield 1984 frame SN
All except one (357 Mag) were bought piece by piece with new barrels.
The 2 older ones are not the Easy Open type. The location of the trigger guard pivot pin was moved to facilitate an easier opening action sometime after 78. All have different variations of the factory grips and forends offered around the time of the SN.
I recently had a 30-30 G2 rifle and while a very nice rifle it did not have the adjustable trigger like the older ones. I definitely prefer the older guns and there is a nice selection of factory grips available for these pistols.
The 8" 44 is a nasty little bugger with full power loads, I load a 255gr hard cast with 10grs of Unique. Much less recoil and still a powerful load. They are all very nice guns that would take a lot to part with. :-(

Ricklin · November 28, 2023, 12:58 PM

Full house .44 mag from the Contender is a handful. Of recoil, they weigh little and the stocks are not shaped well to distribute said recoil. Tho discontinued I don't see parts ever being a big issue.
Mike Belm is the man for all things Contender. I wonder if he will ever intro a frame.

Pumpkin · November 28, 2023, 02:50 PM

I don’t abuse mine, if I need more gun I will grab a rifle. Thankful I bought all of them over the years before I retired. He might have a pretty decent following. All mine have his slightly oversized hinge pins.

mpmax · December 1, 2023, 12:16 AM

In the past 6 months I found 2 contenders in 44mag for under $450. I bought the later easy open one with a super 14” barrel. I sold the barrel and replaced it with a 10” 357max barrel off gunbroker and an eBay 223 super 14. If you look around for deals, they’re out there. Newer generations of firearms enthusiasts are slow to pickup Contenders.

June 6, 2023, 02:56 PM	#26
Road_Clam Senior Member Join Date: November 21, 2013 Location: New Hampshire Posts: 1,695	I have a stainless Encore frame and a custom MGM 15" bull barrel chambered in .243 Win. FUN shooter banging steel gongs at 200 meters ! __________________ "To be old an wise you must have been young and stupid"

June 7, 2023, 12:49 PM	#27
44 AMP Staff Join Date: March 11, 2006 Location: Upper US Posts: 28,860	I looked on GunBroker the other day, and addmittedly it is an auction and prices often do go stupid high in the final bidding there were several Contenders, with starting bid prices in ther $400 range and a few with "buy it now" prices in the $5-600 range. They aren't ALL $800+ range, though many are. __________________ All else being equal (and it almost never is) bigger bullets tend to work better.

June 16, 2023, 11:41 AM	#29
12-34hom Senior Member Join Date: June 8, 1999 Location: Iowa - northeastern Posts: 1,810	single shot These types of firearms have long been used by me for target and hunting porposes. XP-100, Savage Stricker, Thompson contender. 221 Fireball, 22-250, 223 were my calibers of choice. Gunbroker has all manner and calibers for sale on thier site for decent prices. Nosler now makes a single shot that in my opinion is the finest ever made. The MSRP is 2400.00 . but can be had for less if you look around. Several chamberings are avalible. there worth checking out. 12-34hom. __________________ This is my rifle. There are many like it, but this one is mine. My rifle is my best friend, it is my life. I must master itas i master my life.Without me my rifle is useless, without my rifle i am useless. I must fire my rifle true. I must shoot straighter than my enemy who is trying to kill me. I must shoot him before he shoots me. I Will. Before God i swear this creed. My rifle and myself are defenders of my country. We are masters of our enemy. We are saviours of my life. So be it until there is no enemy, but peace. Amen.

November 27, 2023, 05:56 PM	#30
gemihur Member Join Date: July 5, 2011 Location: VA ridgelines Posts: 52	TCA stands for Thompson Center Anonymous ya' can't take it with you I never met a barrel that I didn't like For when you mean business __________________

November 28, 2023, 12:58 PM	#32
Ricklin Senior Member Join Date: February 22, 2008 Location: SW Washington state Posts: 2,017	Full house .44 mag from the Contender is a handful. Of recoil, they weigh little and the stocks are not shaped well to distribute said recoil. Tho discontinued I don't see parts ever being a big issue. Mike Belm is the man for all things Contender. I wonder if he will ever intro a frame. __________________ ricklin Freedom is not free

June 16, 2023, 08:44 AM	#28
Adventurer 2 Senior Member Join Date: September 5, 2006 Posts: 663	I picked up a G2 Contender pistol at a gun show years ago -- mismatched stainless frame and blue 45/410 barrel. Never did get any stainless barrels for it. Not a pretty handgun but I'll keep the G2 forever.

November 28, 2023, 09:01 AM	#31
Pumpkin Senior Member Join Date: October 18, 2020 Location: Seguin Texas Posts: 433	I have 4 complete guns all blue: 10" Octagon 357 Magnum open sights, 1975 gun SN No hammer safety 10" Octagon 25-35 with a 4X Weaver, 1978 frame SN 8" Octagon 44 Magnum Hot Shot open sight 1983 frame SN 10' Bull Barrel 357 Maximum with a 2X Redfield 1984 frame SN All except one (357 Mag) were bought piece by piece with new barrels. The 2 older ones are not the Easy Open type. The location of the trigger guard pivot pin was moved to facilitate an easier opening action sometime after 78. All have different variations of the factory grips and forends offered around the time of the SN. I recently had a 30-30 G2 rifle and while a very nice rifle it did not have the adjustable trigger like the older ones. I definitely prefer the older guns and there is a nice selection of factory grips available for these pistols. The 8" 44 is a nasty little bugger with full power loads, I load a 255gr hard cast with 10grs of Unique. Much less recoil and still a powerful load. They are all very nice guns that would take a lot to part with. :-(

November 28, 2023, 02:50 PM	#33
Pumpkin Senior Member Join Date: October 18, 2020 Location: Seguin Texas Posts: 433	I don’t abuse mine, if I need more gun I will grab a rifle. Thankful I bought all of them over the years before I retired. He might have a pretty decent following. All mine have his slightly oversized hinge pins. Last edited by Pumpkin; November 28, 2023 at 02:52 PM. Reason: Speeelin