T/C Contender - click no pew

[DirtySteve]

After seeing the breakage, you can see the crack in the first photo.

 

[HandgunHTR]

After seeing the breakage, you can see the crack in the first photo.

Yep. Pretty common if there was a hammer extender on it for a while.

In regards to why it won’t fire, there are two most likely causes. One is that the grip screw is screwed in too deep. It can go up and interfere with the operation.
The second is that the locking lugs are not fully engaging. As others have said, mark the top of the lugs on the barrel with a sharpie and then snap it closed. If you aren’t getting at least 90% of the sharpie scraped off top when reopening it, you will need to take a bit of material off of them. I do that with jewelers files, but you can use a knife sharpening kit too. Go slow and check them often.

For your broken hammer, give S&W (TC) a call. They may have some. Replace the hammer spring while you are at it. BTW, the triggers are pretty easy to replace.

 

[memilanuk]

For your broken hammer, give S&W (TC) a call. They may have some. Replace the hammer spring while you are at it. BTW, the triggers are pretty easy to replace.

Are there aftermarket hammers available like the springs?

 

[Lone Hunter]

Are there aftermarket hammers available like the springs?

You should look at bellum’s site. He is a guru on the TC’s and there is a wealth of information on his site. I believe someone posted the link in your thread. Here comes another rabbit hole…. Look Out…

 

[memilanuk]

Yeah, not sure how I feel about that. I don't need another hobby of fixing the damn thing just to get it to fire at all. One small piece at a time. I may see if I can find a specialist to send it to and let them deal with it. Or just contact T/C for a new hammer, and sell this old G1 and get a newer one that's already been gone over.

 

[bsekf]

You will play hell finding a new hammer, but I think any Conternder hammer will fit. Till you get to G2 frames.

Welcome, you are well into the rabbit hole......watch out for the snare on the way out.

Biill

 

[Greyfox]

Not sure I should get involved with this, but it's possible a guess won't hurt. Contenders are very sensitive to headspace. Since the 300BO is a non standard round, it's possible that you have too much head space . Look on bellmtcs website and search the problem. The only time I had a FTF with a Contender was when I made 30 Herrett rounds. I pushed the shoulder back just a bit too much. Of course, it may be one of the other things that have been suggested. You might use a feeler gauge and see how much frame to barrel gap you have. If it's large that could be the problem.

Rick

 

[snert]

@memilanuk

Any update? Interested in how this worked out

 

[memilanuk]

Nothing to report. Still need to get ahold of T/C or someone to see about a new hammer.

 

[1942farmall]

T/C is gone. Smith and Wesson also discontinued the line after they bought the name/rights. As far as I know they will not service Contenders.
I'd look for parts on Ebay or start looking for a gunsmith that may have your hammer.

 

[memilanuk]

Awesome.

 

[memilanuk]

Hard to believe that with all the legacy Contenders and Encores out there, that no one is making replacement hammers.

 

[1942farmall]

Hammer Assembly, Complete, Contender (9186)

Shop Hammer Assembly, Complete, Contender (9186) - . Gun Platform - Single Shot. Material-Finish - for $70 Online!

www.sskfirearms.com

 

[dhagerty40]

I talked to a friend of mine who used to be a Factory authorized TC gunsmith and the above hammer will work in yours but may require minor fitting.

But the way yours is broken, he just recommended having someone Weld it back together. it will work fine.

 

[memilanuk]

I had actually seen those hammers... I didn't think they'd work, since the page says they're for receivers w/ S/N 195XXX and later... and mine is only five digits (939XX).

If he knows someone who does that kind of welding, I'd be open to suggestions. Around here, trying to get a local shop to do any kind of one-off specialty work like that would likely cost more than the entire gun, much less the receiver. That's their way of saying "go away, don't waste our time with this stuff" without actually saying "No".

I'm especially frustrated with this, as I have an older (G1) Encore that the hammer cracked (partially) on me. Always meant to get it fixed up, but had other things going on (work, competitive shooting, etc.) and now T/C is TU. So that puts me at 1 for 3 on the cracked hammers (had one stainless Contender that didn't have any issues), and with two worthless paperweights that are technically still "firearms".

 

[1942farmall]

Ebay has a bunch of various parts listed.
Not sure what.
That would be a start.
Also do an internet search for Contender parts/service.
Numrich or some other parts house may have bought the inventory when they went defunct. If you call S&W they may be able to direct you somewhere since others are probably calling from when they owned the brand.
I'm sure as popular as Contenders were that there's someone out there.

 

[jsn]

Contact Us - Thompson/Center

Thompson/Center Arms™ offers the best in bolt-action rifles, muzzleloaders, hunting accessories, and interchangeable platform guns. With Thompson/Center, The Hunt Never Ends.

www.tcarms.com

 

[1942farmall]

Maybe somebody bought them again to keep the name going. Last I heard was when S&W was selling the name and product line and it wasn't looking to good.
That's the first I've seen that.

 

[Old Navy]

Try this site. https://www.ihmsa.org/

 

[xr650rRider]

Maybe somebody bought them again to keep the name going. Last I heard was when S&W was selling the name and product line and it wasn't looking to good.
That's the first I've seen that.

Bottom of those pages says "S&W 2023", so looks like S&W and TCArms still alive and well. Maybe not alive and well but looks like their plans to sale off TCArms might not have went as planned.