Contender in 7.62x39

scattergun · March 26, 2007, 17:51

Any T/C Contender fans to answer some questions? I thought a Contender in 7.62x39 with approx a 14" barrel might be a fun truck gun for the hunting camp. Went to the Thompson/Center website and just confused myself with the G2 vs Encore vs Pistol vs Rifle options, and couldn't find anything in 7.62x39. Any ideas, or suggestion on where to begin. Thought a Contender would be a simple thing, do they not even make it anymore, or just now called the G2?

fordruid · March 26, 2007, 18:37

The G2 is just a improved version on the contender. The barrels will interchange. The Encore is built with a heavier action and uses different barrels.

hagar · March 26, 2007, 19:19

The only guy that made 7.62X39 Contender barrels is David Horn in AZ somewhere.

fordruid · March 26, 2007, 19:23

Bullberry does.
Contender;
http://www.bullberry.com/TCbarrels.html
Encore;
http://www.bullberry.com/encore.html

**bykerhd** · March 26, 2007, 20:07

I think you would want to run that barrel on one of the newer, stronger G2 frames. Also, 14" barrel is pistol only. It would have to have a permanently attached muzzle device to bring it to 16" to be legal to use on a rifle.

Valkyrie0002 · March 26, 2007, 20:30

Wouldn't it be cheaper to by a WASR or even better, get a Rommy kit and build your own AK-rifle or pistol?

hagar · March 26, 2007, 21:14

Only in 308 bore. Seems like the good old days of surplus 7.62X39 is gone. Might be interesting to get a 5.45X39 and work up some good handloads for it. What is a 20 tactical anyway? I have a 23 inch 205 Ruger barrel for my T/C carbine, but I don't even know how it shoots. Anybody want to invite me to a coyote hunt?

**W.E.G.** · March 26, 2007, 21:45

By the time you get done paying for the damn T/C frame (whether it be a "Contender" or a "G2" or an "Encore")

and

you pay for a barrel

and

you pay for good optics and hardware

You got a LOT of money in a gun that nobody else really wants.

I used to have a Contender in 30-30. IIRC the barrel was 14".
I hated it. Recoil was godawful.

Thirty caliber is a rifle caliber for a reason.

If you want a beater carbine that isn't a a Kalashnikov or SKS, get a used
Marlin 30-30 carbine. They are abundant, accurate, and inexpensive.
And they don't make your forearm feel like its going to explode.
I got one that had a lot of light surface rust, and a busted stock for $50.
Cabela's sells replacement stocks.

scattergun · March 27, 2007, 05:58

Thanks for all the replies and ideas. Have a bunch of 7.62x39 ammo. and thought about a truck gun that my 2 teenage boys wouldn't burn all the ammo thru. Teenage boys + AK = rapid ammo depletion.

hagar · March 27, 2007, 06:05

Be careful with a Thompson Contender and inexperienced shooters. While a single shot, it is not a beginners gun. The trigger borders on a hair trigger, and it does not have a real safety, just the one on the back of the trigger for rimfire, centerfire and "Safe". To shoot one, you have to cock the hammer, and if you decide not to shoot, you have to manually decock it. It is so different from any other firearm, it can easily confuse people.

**bykerhd** · March 27, 2007, 09:36

CZ makes a nice little bolt gun in 7.62 x 39.
Probably a better choice for the boys than the Thompson.
You would have to do some checking around on price and availability.

tulsamal · March 27, 2007, 11:33

Quote:

CZ makes a nice little bolt gun in 7.62 x 39.

They sure do. Read the review: http://gunblast.com/Paco_CZ527.htm

Looking at those photos makes ME want to buy one! That's a purty little rifle. I guess I could buy one and put it away for when the 1st and 2nd grader get old enough to go deer hunting.

Gregg

hagar · March 27, 2007, 11:48

I wish they made a nice little bolt gun in 5.45X39...

genmeagher · March 27, 2007, 13:02

http://world.guns.ru/sniper/sn40-e.htm

SSG 82 5.45x39 bolt action.

Pricey though...

DYNOMIKE · March 27, 2007, 13:44

Quote:

Originally posted by bykerhd
CZ makes a nice little bolt gun in 7.62 x 39.
Probably a better choice for the boys than the Thompson.
You would have to do some checking around on price and availability.

Quote:

Originally posted by tulsamal

They sure do. Read the review: http://gunblast.com/Paco_CZ527.htm

Looking at those photos makes ME want to buy one! That's a purty little rifle. I guess I could buy one and put it away for when the 1st and 2nd grader get old enough to go deer hunting.
Gregg

THAT is a SWEET Looking little Rifle..

Might make a Certain Little Buddy a GREAT X-MAS gift..
I like it quite a Bit.. NEVER knew anything like that was out there?

scattergun · March 27, 2007, 14:45

Thanks again for the replies. That CZ is a great looking bolt gun

March 26, 2007, 17:51	#1
scattergun Registered FALaholic #: 181 Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: west tennessee Posts: 318	Contender in 7.62x39 Any T/C Contender fans to answer some questions? I thought a Contender in 7.62x39 with approx a 14" barrel might be a fun truck gun for the hunting camp. Went to the Thompson/Center website and just confused myself with the G2 vs Encore vs Pistol vs Rifle options, and couldn't find anything in 7.62x39. Any ideas, or suggestion on where to begin. Thought a Contender would be a simple thing, do they not even make it anymore, or just now called the G2? __________________ Cogito Ergo Armatus Sum. I think, therefore I am armed.

March 26, 2007, 18:37	#2
fordruid Registered FALaholic #: 18176 Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 361	The G2 is just a improved version on the contender. The barrels will interchange. The Encore is built with a heavier action and uses different barrels. __________________ Basic Flying Rules: "Try to stay in the middle of the air. Do not go near the edges of it. The edges of the air can be recognized by the appearance of ground, buildings, sea, trees and interstellar space. It is much more difficult to fly there."

March 26, 2007, 19:23	#4
fordruid Registered FALaholic #: 18176 Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 361	Bullberry does. Contender; http://www.bullberry.com/TCbarrels.html Encore; http://www.bullberry.com/encore.html __________________ Basic Flying Rules: "Try to stay in the middle of the air. Do not go near the edges of it. The edges of the air can be recognized by the appearance of ground, buildings, sea, trees and interstellar space. It is much more difficult to fly there."

March 27, 2007, 05:58	#9
scattergun Registered FALaholic #: 181 Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: west tennessee Posts: 318	Thanks for all the replies and ideas. Have a bunch of 7.62x39 ammo. and thought about a truck gun that my 2 teenage boys wouldn't burn all the ammo thru. Teenage boys + AK = rapid ammo depletion. __________________ Cogito Ergo Armatus Sum. I think, therefore I am armed.

March 27, 2007, 14:45	#16
scattergun Registered FALaholic #: 181 Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: west tennessee Posts: 318	Thanks again for the replies. That CZ is a great looking bolt gun __________________ Cogito Ergo Armatus Sum. I think, therefore I am armed.

March 26, 2007, 19:19	#3
hagar Registered FALaholic #: 228 Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Columbia, SC Posts: 6,690	The only guy that made 7.62X39 Contender barrels is David Horn in AZ somewhere.

March 26, 2007, 20:07	#5
bykerhd Dinosaur Bronze Contributor FALaholic #: 2798 Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Burlington Vermont area Posts: 13,262	I think you would want to run that barrel on one of the newer, stronger G2 frames. Also, 14" barrel is pistol only. It would have to have a permanently attached muzzle device to bring it to 16" to be legal to use on a rifle.

March 26, 2007, 20:30	#6
Valkyrie0002 Registered FALaholic #: 11159 Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Fredericksburg, Va Posts: 586	Wouldn't it be cheaper to by a WASR or even better, get a Rommy kit and build your own AK-rifle or pistol?

March 26, 2007, 21:14	#7
hagar Registered FALaholic #: 228 Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Columbia, SC Posts: 6,690	Only in 308 bore. Seems like the good old days of surplus 7.62X39 is gone. Might be interesting to get a 5.45X39 and work up some good handloads for it. What is a 20 tactical anyway? I have a 23 inch 205 Ruger barrel for my T/C carbine, but I don't even know how it shoots. Anybody want to invite me to a coyote hunt?

March 27, 2007, 06:05	#10
hagar Registered FALaholic #: 228 Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Columbia, SC Posts: 6,690	Be careful with a Thompson Contender and inexperienced shooters. While a single shot, it is not a beginners gun. The trigger borders on a hair trigger, and it does not have a real safety, just the one on the back of the trigger for rimfire, centerfire and "Safe". To shoot one, you have to cock the hammer, and if you decide not to shoot, you have to manually decock it. It is so different from any other firearm, it can easily confuse people.

March 27, 2007, 09:36	#11
bykerhd Dinosaur Bronze Contributor FALaholic #: 2798 Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Burlington Vermont area Posts: 13,262	CZ makes a nice little bolt gun in 7.62 x 39. Probably a better choice for the boys than the Thompson. You would have to do some checking around on price and availability.

March 27, 2007, 11:48	#13
hagar Registered FALaholic #: 228 Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Columbia, SC Posts: 6,690	I wish they made a nice little bolt gun in 5.45X39...

March 27, 2007, 13:02	#14
genmeagher Registered Bronze Contributor FALaholic #: 19947 Join Date: May 2006 Location: NY Posts: 308	http://world.guns.ru/sniper/sn40-e.htm SSG 82 5.45x39 bolt action. Pricey though...

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