Thompson contender

[L2R23]

Got a deal on a Thompson Contender, absolutely beautiful inside and out. It has an older 2x redfield and mount that cover the caliber, didn't matter bought it anyway. Not wanting to remove the very stubborn screws, 11 inch barrel. Looking like something in the 30 caliber range.Is it possible to use the serial number to get the caliber? Thanks for any info.

 

[Eagle1899]

Barrels were not matched to frames. You'll either need to pull the mount or do a chamber cast.

 

[Tommie]

By “caliber” do you mean chambering?

 

[BobT]

That doesn't sound like a factory barrel, most of them were either 10 or 14 inches long with the cartridge engraved about half way down the barrel nowhere near the scope base. There are many aftermarket barrels out there ranging from excellent to dangerous. Many times I have seen cartridge markings electro-penciled on the barrel lug, you might look there. As a previous poster mentioned, a chamber cast would tell the tale pretty quickly. I would guess the two most common factory .30 caliber chamberings are probably the .30-30 Winchester and the .30 Herrett. The TC Contenders are a wonderful platform IMHO and are probably my favorite range toy and hunting firearm.

 

[Kurz]

It sounds like the original owner used a drop of LocTite on the screws. The easiest solution is to use a small tip on a soldering iron to heat up just the screw head which loosens the LocTite for easy screw removal. You're going to want to get that mount off sooner or later, do it first to see the cartridge designation.

Otherwise get some Cerrosafe from Brownells to cast the chamber. The break action design makes the casting very simple.

https://www.brownells.com/tools-cle...ers-cutters/cerrosafe~-chamber-casting-alloy/

Enjoy!

 

[akajun]

You may have a custom or reamed out barrel, IIRC on my tc's the base does not cover the caliber.
Order Cerrosafe to be sure.
Factory made 30-30, 30 herrett, 30tcu, not to mention the thousands of custom barrel makers or people who ran a reamer into an old factory barrel to wildcat it.

 

[Bill K]

Do a chamber cast to find out what that chamber/cartridge is. If you can't do it, your local gun smith can.
As mentioned in earlier post, the caliber/cartridge is not marked under the scope base, usually just along the left side of the barrel, unless it is a custom and unmarked barrel, which this sounds like it is, at 11 inch.
I am guessing the selling did not know and/or you did not ask, what caliber/cartridge it was prior to buying it. Did the seller have dies for this contender ?

 

[wedgy]

Are you sure it's not a pistol cartridge ?

 

[SEM]

post good close up pics of the barrel sides mount lug etc, unless a real DUMB barrel maker or a reblued barrel I doubt there will be any nomenclature under the scope base, but I have been surprised before

 

[Handi204]

I have a factory 7TCU barrel that the I think Redfield mount covers most of the caliber lettering you really have to look to see them.

 

[snert]

Look at the lug (with the barrel off the gun)

I have two barrels that were wildcatted and have cartridge etchd there.

But I agree..a factory barrel should have the chambering on the side of the barrel by the TC logo etc. I have never seen one covered by a scope mount.

You have a friend in cerrosafe. Its cheap, reuasable and in a TC, stupid simple to use. Brownells has it.

 

[L2R23]

Want to thank everyone for their info. First off my bad about the barrel length, it's 10 inches. From what's visible not covered by scope mount, it's a factory Thompson barrel. Also visible the letters
HER then the scope mount covers the rest. Hope the pictures will help.

 

[hockeyref]

Cannot quite tell what the number is but looks like it might be
.30 Herrett or .35 Herrett

 

[SEM]

that scope base looks odd maybe longer and wider ? The barrel maybe from a custom set, the front sight is removable ?

 

[Bill K]

I bet it is a 30 Herrett chamber. Run a chamber cast and find out.
Fine shooting cartridge, if it is. Dies and all are available, you would like it. Even with forming cases, which is not a hard venture to do. (30-30 cases shortened and trimmed)

 

[snert]

I have a 357 Herrett and love it. I think the 30 would be even better.

 

[BobT]

From the pictures that looks to be an older .30 Herrett barrel, I have a similar barrel and it's a fantastic shooter. The frame is an older non easy open, a lot of these were sent to the TC custom shop to be converted to easy open but yours hasn't been converted, frames like yours are my favorites of all the Contender variants. Congratulations, you made a nice find!

 

[L2R23]

From the pictures that looks to be an older .30 Herrett barrel, I have a similar barrel and it's a fantastic shooter. The frame is an older non easy open, a lot of these were sent to the TC custom shop to be converted to easy open but yours hasn't been converted, frames like yours are my favorites of all the Contender variants. Congratulations, you made a nice find!

Had to drill out the screws.
Turns out to be 357 cal. Herrett

 

[BobT]

Another classic Contender cartridge! I have a .357 Herrett also but haven't had a chance to shoot it yet. Congrats on a great find!

 

[snert]

Had to drill out the screws.
Turns out to be 357 cal. Herrett

I love mine. If you need any guidance on making cases, I have a great article laying around here I could copy for you. One caveat. Use new data if you can find it. I have some old listings from manuals in the 70's and the difference in max loads from then to now vary as much as 7 grains of the same powder! I used some of those loads early on before a new manual was bought, and I am pretty certain I stretched a frame on a G1.