Contender barrels, SSK, Bullberry, MGM, Thompson….

[wildcatter]

John Cook was definitely an artist with wood to dress a TC.

 

[snert]

Because of you guys I just found SSK 50 and it appears they are making (going to make?) new frames!?

I don't know whether to blame you or thank you.

 

[nakneker]

Because of you guys I just found SSK 50 and it appears they are making (going to make?) new frames!?

I don't know whether to blame you or thank you.

New frames? Fun! Can’t blame us, your as bad as the rest of us, lol….

 

[nakneker]

I’ve been trolling the Bullberry website today, thinking about building a TCU of some kind for a truck gun, maybe a 7TCU contender with a 16” barrel, custom stock in blue, rifle. I want something different, accurate and low recoil, the TCU line fits the bill. Dies are easy enough to get, brass too. Sent them an email. I had a 6mm-223 rifle built in a 788 last year, Zack did the work. It’s a pleasure. Just thinking out loud.

 

[tred1956]

Here is a Picture of my Son-in-law's new flatside SSK-50. He hasn't got to shoot it yet, but hopefully soon.

Safe Shooting
Doug

 

[nakneker]

I guess a natural evolution in Contenders is stocks, nice wood. I just received my new 222 SSK barrel, swapped it out on my older contender and the stock just isn’t doing it. I’d like to find something that has more pop to it, nice wood.

A couple thoughts. Any place special for nice contender furniture. I would guess many of the places on this thread that have been mentioned for barrels are also good places to start looking for stock options but I’m hoping maybe a couple more will be mentioned.

My second thought is just making a stock, I would think it would be much easier than inletting a stock for a bolt action and it’s pretty small which also aids in stock making I would assume. I have a few old wood working tools, I've made quite a few custom handles for Japanese chef knives using Koa and ironwood. Much easier than a contender stock but any experience helps. Thoughts?

I didn’t make the handles on the top or third down on the pic with four knives.

 

[Pyscodog]

Check out High Plains Gun Stocks

 

[nakneker]

Check out High Plains Gun Stocks

That’s what I was looking for, thank you. Nice website too, that’s certainly an option!

 

[kenacp]

Over the years, i have picked up two Contender stocks and an Encore stock. All made by Bullberry and really nice! Got them off of Ebay at a price that I would have bought a dozen.

 

[dhagerty40]

you also will want to try Haus of Arms for anything contender or encore related.

Welcome to http://www.hausofarms.com - THE online source for ALL things THOMPSON CENTER. Big on imagination, bigger on customer service.

this is my encore in 6.5x47 Lapua with a haus of arms stock set:

 

[dhagerty40]

for a custom set, I would go with High Plains gun stocks or with Poppy Dave Dolin mentioned earlier. I know Dave will make a stock set out of any wood.

 

[nakneker]

for a custom set, I would go with High Plains gun stocks or with Poppy Dave Dolin mentioned earlier. I know Dave will make a stock set out of any wood.

High plains has some gorgeous wood to choose from, I’m gonna contact him and see where it goes, it’s really what I’ve been looking for. Poppy Dave Dolin does nice work too, thanks again for the info.

 

[Unkl Chuck]

As well as the custom barrel folks mentioned, check Ed's Contenders for barrels and accessories.

 

[Ropemaker]

For something different while going down the rabbit hole, I have 2 -10" bull bbls I could part with since Im not in contenders anymore. Those 2 being 25 caliber tubes, a 256 win mag & 25/35 wcf, both with dies, brass, and bullets. Both were good shooters when I used them for IHMSA shoots.

 

[jakerudy]

Very Last Picture was Made by John Cook of Otter Grips. Sadly John is no longer with us. A master with the wood for sure.

First post here but I recognize a couple of names from Specialty Pistols. I lost touch with John Cook years ago and was sad to hear of his passing. Here is another example of his work.

 

[jakerudy]

My opinion in response to the OP. OTT is hard to find but the EDM chambering process is unique and was cut to match the customers dies. I've had a few and all were excellent. Next tier I'd put SSK and Bullberry followed by MGM. Often MGM has barrels in stock and lead time was reasonable for a custom job.

 

[Lefty2506]

It's been a long time (+20 yrs) since I've done much with my contenders, so my information is VERY dated. That said, this was what my experience was like way back then.

Bullberry - Great work but slow, never even close to meeting any of their projected delivery dates.

Virgin Valley - Great work, easy to work with. They did a 10" 44 mag barrel for me. Very fast turn around, but they are no longer in business. I was told that most of their folks went to MGM. I haven't dealt with MGM, but everything I've ever heard about them has been excellent.

Bellm - I didn't buy any barrels from him, but bought a few accessories. Very easy to work with.

SSK - I had terrible service from Mr Jones. Had him install a break on my 16" Encore (factory 7-08), along with a TSOB mount and rings. I sent the optic with it and had him do the complete install. The break was fine, but the mount/rings were not. The gun hit so far to the left that I couldn't even come close to getting it adjusted. Sent it back to no avail. Ended up replacing the mount and rings with a standard mount and rings (eating the cost of the TSOB setup), after which everything was fine. IMHO, he simply wasn't willing to acknowledge that something could be wrong with one of his products. Across many years of hunting, recreational and competitive shooting, I can't recall an instance where I had a worse interaction within the firearms industry.

 

[dhagerty40]

It's been a long time (+20 yrs) since I've done much with my contenders, so my information is VERY dated. That said, this was what my experience was like way back then.

Bullberry - Great work but slow, never even close to meeting any of their projected delivery dates.

Virgin Valley - Great work, easy to work with. They did a 10" 44 mag barrel for me. Very fast turn around, but they are no longer in business. I was told that most of their folks went to MGM. I haven't dealt with MGM, but everything I've ever heard about them has been excellent.

Bellm - I didn't buy any barrels from him, but bought a few accessories. Very easy to work with.

SSK - I had terrible service from Mr Jones. Had him install a break on my 16" Encore (factory 7-08), along with a TSOB mount and rings. I sent the optic with it and had him do the complete install. The break was fine, but the mount/rings were not. The gun hit so far to the left that I couldn't even come close to getting it adjusted. Sent it back to no avail. Ended up replacing the mount and rings with a standard mount and rings (eating the cost of the TSOB setup), after which everything was fine. IMHO, he simply wasn't willing to acknowledge that something could be wrong with one of his products. Across many years of hunting, recreational and competitive shooting, I can't recall an instance where I had a worse interaction within the firearms industry.

Just going to add:

Bullberry - since the original owner retired, it was taken over by his lead machinist. Everybody gives them rave reviews.

Virgin Valley - yup, they are gone.

Bellm - I stay away from him....

SSK - It is no longer owned by JD Jones and is now called SSK firearms. I have not bought anything from them since they switched hands.

MGM - They have great customer service and will bend over backwards to fix a problem. I have a 14" contender 22LR match barrel from them and it is more accurate than my Anschutz rifles! one complaint though, Factory TC parts will not fit their barrels and you must get parts from them.

 

[JSH]

Virgin Valley didn’t really go away. It needed a business operator to keep it afloat. I have lost contact with all of them for the most part as I swayed back to rifles. Still have the majority of my TC,BF, FA and XP stuff. Can’t bring myself to part with them as I have to much time in them working up loads.

I have bought some of the Preferred Barrels a d am happy with them.

Wonder how many SP guys lurk here and don’t post. I was on SP the second day Mike had it set up. Made a lot of friends there and many have passed. Got one in Louisiana, we talk often and are pretty much brothers, 24+ years.