Another old friend at the range, TC Contender

[North Country Gal]

Did a little range work with another old friend at the range yesterday, this time my TC Contender. I used two barrels on this range trip. Top barrel is a 10" 22 LR Match with a Bushnell Trophy red dot. On the gun, is a another 10" barrel, but this one in 44 mag with an Ultradot red dot.



First up was the Contender with the 22 LR Match. Right off, let me say what a pleasure it was to shoot the Contender with this fine, very accurate barrel. Oh, I'm still a bit rusty after a long handgun shooting layoff, but I had no problem keeping all my shots in the black with this rig. By the end of the summer, though, I'll have all these groups tightened up.


And moving out to 50 yards.


Next up was the 44 mag barrel. For those that don't know the Contender, shooting a barrel like the 44 mag is as unpleasant as the the 22 LR barrel is pleasant. Recoil on a Contender with a big bore like the 44 mag is just plain nasty for a couple of reasons. First, the 10" barrel with a closed breach pushes the 44 mag velocity (and recoil) about 250-300 fps over the same load in the typical 7.5" 44 mag revolver. Second, the Contender grip angle and design is not recoil friendly. If I'll be shooting 44 mag out of this Contender, I'll have to replace that wood grip with a Pachy, for sure. Anyway, once I got the red dot adjusted I went straight out to 50 yards. Shot this one target and had enough. Much prefer shooting 44 mag out of my Ruger revolvers.


All in all, though, I really enjoyed a day with another old friend in my Contender.

[BrokenolMarine]

I always wanted a contender, in a more manageable caliber. Say, .223 or 38/357. I've always liked single shots, they encourage you to slow down and focus on individual shots. When I've had guests on the range, I've noticed many with semiautos seem to think they have to shoot fast... Even if "they" can't do so accurately.

[North Country Gal]

So true, Marine. I very much enjoy the relaxed loading, shooting, and unloading sequence with single shots of any kind. Nothing against autoloaders and I have some of those, too, but single shots suit me.

For those big nasty revolver cartridges, the much heavier and stronger Encore is a better match for sure. Of course, when we get to the Encore pistol, then we see some crazy loading like the 30-06, 444 Marlin, 308, 7mm-08 and so on. Have shot those, too. The 30-06 redefines the term, "nasty" to shoot in a handgun, believe me.

[Ozarkwoodswalker]

I would like an Encore with the rifle stock..
. But geeee are they pricey......

[North Country Gal]

True. Ever since S&W, who owns TC, put TC up for sale, Encore prices have gone up. Since the Encore is no longer available, I doubt prices will be going down anytime soon.

[Ernie]

Great shooting. That does not look like a comfortable gun for 44 mag. I understand why you prefer the Ruger.

[Sir Henry]

I’ve always wanted a Contender in rimfire. I’m done with the big boomers.

[BrokenolMarine]

I have shot some big bore rifles, and some big bore handguns. I can handle recoil, but more than the 357 in a mid frame revolver or the 45 which I shot a LOT, I just didn't want to deal with it when the guns I had would do the job. I could see the need if you were shooting Rams at long distances, LIKE some here. In the right revolver some big boomers are not bad... an example, 357 Maximum in the Blackhawk... No Problem.

357 maximum boom comp.jpg (440.36 KiB) Viewed 1297 times

I carry a beast, and shoot it with full power loads a few times a year. The Smith 340PD is a Scandium Frame Snubby 357. It's fine with 38, and gets your attention with 38+P+, but with full power 357... ... NOT something you want to do a lot. When I practice, I shoot 38s to insure I can still hit with it, and a cylinder of 357... because that's what I carry. Then I'm done.

The Arthritis in my hands will eventually put me off of the big boomers, but proper techniques can keep me shooting them for a good while. (That, and good hand filling grips.)

[North Country Gal]

Glad you're enjoying that Max. It's a great cartridge. I used to shoot in the Contender, too. Got me the 44 mag power without as much recoil. Flatter shooting than the 44, too.

Gene, Contenders are disappearing, fast. If you find one, better grab it. Be glad to do a trigger job on a Contender if you do find one or take care of any issues. I can do any gunsmithing on a Contender.

[North Country Gal]

I used to shoot the 30-30 in the Contender, too, and also the 7-30 Waters. Both are great cartridges in the Contender if you can handle the recoil.

[Bake]

I had to take my TCs to the range this week, after shooting my Ruger revolvers for the last month, I had to prove to myself that it was still a good pistol shot. I tried registering the Rugers' cylinders [ Single 6, Super Wrangler, and Wrangler ], and was very disappointed. I found that maybe three or four chambers would shoot to the same point of aim, and the other chambers would shoot somewhere else. I guess they're good enough to hunt with but I'm not a hunter so I'm going to be looking for a new home for them. . .

[North Country Gal]

Ouch! Sorry to hear about that, but not surprised. I've had same issue with some Ruger revolvers, too. TCs are a good way to restore confidence after bad luck with other handguns.

[rickhem]

A buddy of mine had a tricked-out contender all set up by SSK with the magnaports and all. It was chambered in .375JDJ, which is a big cartridge. He brought it with him once and let me shoot it a bit. Our state range required all pistols to be shot on the pistol range, which was limited to 50 yards at that time. I put up a 25 yard timed and rapid center at 50 yards, and shot while sitting with my arms out over the bench. It had a 2½ power scope with long eye relief so it had to be held with arms out. After four of five shots, all in the black, I was impressed at how manageable the recoil was. Now these were his reloads for his pistol, not sure how hot they were, but he used it for big stuff out west a few times. The ammo he gave me was all leftover stuff from different boxes, so it was probably different loads, but it all shot well enough. After a few shots he asked how I like it, and what I was shooting at. I told him it was nice, and that I was shooting at the paper target. He laughed and said I should pick out some bowling ball size rocks way out in the backstop area at the base of the cliff 100-125 yards downrange and shoot those, that is what that gun was for. Every one I held the crosshairs on just disappeared into a cloud when I shot. Man was that an easy pistol to hit with. So even though I don't own one, I'm a very big admirer of the Contender pistol. For those that have one, hang onto it!

[North Country Gal]

For sure, Contenders are getting really scarce, now. The 375 JDJ was a famous Contender wildcat, one of the best.

Although the Remington XP-100 preceded the Contender by a couple of years, it was the Contender that really made specialty pistols popular. Of course, I have and shoot XPs, too.