Thompson/Center Arms Contender

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Weaver Bases

The History of Thompson/Center Arms

Not to be confused with the makers of the famous Thompson gun (originally made by the Colt Patent Firearms Manufacturing Company), the Thompson/Center Arms is an American producer of firearms, established by K.W. Thompson and Warren Center in 1965. Initially, they focused on manufacturing single-shot firearms with interchangeable barrels. This led to the introduction of a unique single-shot pistol in the late 1960s which later became known as the Contender. The production facilities were set up in 1965 with the first large orders leaving the factory in 1967.

The Contender allowed for switching between different calibers only by changing the barrel, which was a good selling point at the time, even compared to some of the popular bolt-action rifles. It offered great precision for a break-action pistol and was powerful enough for different hunting scenarios. Over the following decade, they also presented the second generation of Contender, named the G2, and the Encore model which used a different trigger mechanism and featured a bulkier, more rugged design.

In the early 1970s, the company first introduced their Hawken-style black powder muzzle-loading rifle which was followed by several different muzzleloader models such as Cherokee, Seneca, Cougar, Hawken, New Englander and many others. For some time, TC Arms also made 2 muzzleloading pistols, but the fire that demolished the factory in the 1990s made it impossible to continue production. The company did, however, also produce some bolt-action rifles such as the Venture and Compass, available in various configurations.

In the 1990s, Thompson/Center Arms faced a legal issue regarding a rifle conversion kit for the pistols they sold. The AFT claimed that the kit could be used to create an illegal DIY firearm, however, The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in favor of T/C Arms, stating that the company would not be held responsible for how people might misuse the kit.

In 2007, T/C Arms Co. was obtained by the Smith & Wesson company and the production was moved to Springfield. In 2021, S&W announced their plans to sell the T/C Arms brand, fully ceasing the production of firearms. However, as of 2023, a definitive buyer is yet to be determined. The company continues to list various models on their T/C Arms USA website, likely selling off the remaining inventory.

Thompson Center Contender Review

First introduced in 1967, the T/C Contender is a break-action single-shot pistol that can be converted into a rifle. It allows for chambering in a wide range of calibers, depending on the setup. The initial price point was relatively high, often even higher than some of the popular rifles from the time, however, it offered users the chance to use multiple different calibers due to the modular design, by changing the barrels and sights quickly. Initially, the Contender was built for smaller calibers, however, in later years of production the company adapted to the market’s popular demand and started offering barrels for larger magnum calibers as well.

The Contender's trigger is adjustable for pre-travel and overtravel, while its barrel can be detached by removing the connecting hinge. The sights as well as the extractor are attached to the barrel and thus are the only actual components that matter with the cartridge choice – the frame itself does not have any structural part that would determine the cartridge so users can easily switch between barrels and choose between differently sized calibers accordingly. Despite the compact design, the upper side of the barrel was often adapted to be used with the scope and was thus drilled and taped. Although the hole spacings are the same as used on some T/C muzzleloaders such as the Encore or Omega, the scope mounts are not interchangeable with them due to the difference in the barrel radius which is slightly smaller on the contender. Other structural components on the Contender include two firing pins, and a selector on the exposed hammer, so the users can choose between rimfire or centerfire cartridges using a screwdriver.

Over the years, three versions of the original Contender pistol were produced by the T/C, each of them having a slightly different hammer design. The original version is nowadays recognized mostly as the G1, which was replaced by the G2 Contender in 1998. The G1 and G2 Contenders have different trigger mechanisms and grip angles, making their buttstocks and pistol grips non-interchangeable. However, most barrels are interchangeable between the two, with only a few muzzle-barrel exceptions. The production of Contender was finally discontinued in 2000.

T/C Contender, chambered for .357 Mag.

Figure 1: T/C Contender, chambered for .357 Mag. (Source. https://rangeusa.com/product/tc-arms-05122706-contender-g2-pistol-break-open-357-magnum-12-1-round-walnut-grip-blued-metal-finish)

T/C Contender Calibers

T/C Contenders can be chambered for the following caliber groups, depending on the barrel configuration:

.17 Mach 2
.17 HMR "Match"
.17 CCM
.17 Honeybee
.17 Hornady Hornet
.17 He Bee
.17 Bee
.17 Jet
.17 Rem. Fireball
.17 Mach IV "Match"
.17 Mach IV
.17-222
.17 Javelina
.17 Rem.
.17-223
.20 Squirrel
.20 VarTarg
.20 Tactical
.204 Ruger
.22 LR
.22 LR Match
.22 WMR
5.7 x 28
.22 Hornet
.22 K Hornet "Match"
.22 K Hornet
.22 Pee Wee
.22 Rem. Jet
.218 Bee
.218 Mashburn Bee
.221 Rem."Match"
.221 Rem.
.222 Rem. "Match"
.222 Rem.
.223 Rem. "Match"
.223 Rem.
.223 Rem. Imp. "Match"
.223 Rem. Imp.
.219 Donaldson Wasp
.219 Zipper
.6mm x 256 Win. Mag.
6x45
.6mm TCU "Match"
.6mm TCU
6 x 47 (.222 Mag case)
6 x 47 Improved
.6mm Bullberry
.6mm Bullberry Imp.
.25-20 Win.
.256 Win. Mag.
.256 Win. Max.
.25-35 Win.
.25 Bullberry
.25 Bullberry Imp.
6.5mm TCU
6.5mm Bullberry
6.5mm BB Imp. "Match"
6.5mm Bullberry Imp.
.270 Rem.
6.8 Rem. SPC
7mm TCU "Match"
7mm TCU
7mm Super Mag.
7mm International Rimmed
7mm Bullberry
7-30 Waters
7-30 Waters Imp.
.30 Mauser
.327 Federal
.30 Carbine
.30 Herrett
.32-20
.30-221 Rem.
.32 H & R Mag.
7.62 x 39
.30-30 Win.
.30-30 Win. Imp.
.32 Miller Short
.321 Bullschuetzen
.32-40 Win.
.380 ACP
9mm Luger
.357 Sig
.38 Special
.357 Rem. Mag. "Match"
.357 Rem. Mag.
.357 Rem. Max.
357-44 Bain & Davis
.357 Herrett
.35 Bullberry
.35 Rem.
.375 Super Mag.
.38-55 Win.
.38-56 Win.
.375 Win.
.375-444 Marlin
.38-40 Win.
.40 S&W
10mm Auto
10mm Auto Mag.
.41 Rem. Mag.
.44 Special
.44-40 Win.
.44 Rem. Mag.
.445 Super Mag.
.444 Marlin
.45 ACP
.45 Auto Rimmed
.45 Colt
.45 Win. Mag.
.45-70 US Gov.
209 x 45
209 x 50

The extensive list of calibres provided is due to the numerous configurations the Contender is available in. The specific caliber compatibility largely depends on the choice of the barrel. We recommend consulting the manufacturer or a gunsmith expert when choosing a barrel for a particular caliber.

The receivers of T/C Contender come with four drilled and tapped holes which can be used for scope mounting purposes. There are two holes at the front and two at the rear end of the receiver.

The receiver of T/C Contender, chambered for .30-30 Win.

Figure 2: The receiver of T/C Contender, chambered for .30-30 Win. (Source: https://www.riflestock.com/store/product/t-c-contender-forend-2-hole-black/)

T/C Contender

A: 7.9 mm

B: 21.3 mm

C: 7.9 mm

BHU: 0 mm

Ø: 6-48

Scope Mounts Interchangeable With T/C Contender

Rifles That Have One-Piece Scope Mounts Interchangeable With T/C Contender

For one-piece mounts to fit on a rifle, mounting surfaces on these rifles must match in every dimension.

Rifles That Have Two-Piece Scope Mounts Interchangeable With T/C Contender

To meet interchangeability conditions, two-piece mounts must match in all dimensions except the B distance. B distance can vary because two-piece mounts can be installed and adjusted closer or further apart.

Please note that while the hole spacing on the receiver of the Contender matches those used on certain T/C muzzleloading models such as Triumph, Encore or Omega, the scope mounts are not interchangeable between them because the Contender’s barrel radius is slightly smaller.

Currently, we cannot find any rifles that would match the exact dimensions of the Contender’s mounting surface thus we are unable to provide you with a list of interchangeable scope mounts. Should you happen to own this rifle and would be willing to share with us more information regarding interchangeability, we kindly ask you to contact us at info@optics-trade.eu

Thank you for your help!

Best Scope Mounts for T/C Contender

Picatinny Rails for T/C Contender

If you're looking to broaden your scope mounting choices, think about adding a Picatinny rail to your T/C Contender's receiver. This rail, produced by the American company EGW, is milled from top-grade aluminum and offers a 2-year warranty.

Weaver Bases for T/C Contender

This Weaver base is produced by the American manufacturer Warne. It is milled from high-quality steel and designed to fit onto the receiver of your T/C Contender. The rail comes with a 10-year warranty.

Help Us Build Our Riflescope Mounts Database

If you happen to own this or any other rifle, we would appreciate it if you could help us expand our database by sending us some photos of the rifle receiver (the bare mounting surface of the rifle without the scope mounts installed). For your help, our company offers a fair return in terms of practical rewards.

Please send us an email for more information. You can contact us here: info@optics-trade.eu

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