<!DOCTYPE html>
<html class="client-nojs vector-feature-night-mode-disabled vector-feature-language-in-header-enabled vector-feature-language-in-main-page-header-disabled vector-feature-page-tools-pinned-disabled vector-feature-toc-pinned-clientpref-1 vector-feature-main-menu-pinned-disabled vector-feature-limited-width-clientpref-1 vector-feature-limited-width-content-enabled vector-feature-custom-font-size-clientpref-1 vector-feature-appearance-pinned-clientpref-1 vector-sticky-header-enabled" lang="en" dir="ltr"><head>
<meta charset="UTF-8">
<title>Thompson/Center Contender</title>
<meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1.0">
<link rel="canonical" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thompson%2FCenter_Contender"> <link href="../mw/ext.cite.styles.css" rel="stylesheet" type="text/css">
<link href="../mw/skins.vector.icons.css" rel="stylesheet" type="text/css">
<link href="../mw/skins.vector.search.codex.styles.css" rel="stylesheet" type="text/css">
<link href="../mw/skins.vector.styles.css" rel="stylesheet" type="text/css">
<link href="../mw/user.styles.css" rel="stylesheet" type="text/css">
<meta name="ResourceLoaderDynamicStyles" content="">
<link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="../mw/site.styles.css">
<link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="../mw/noscript.css">
<link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="../footer.css">
<link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="../vector-2022.css">
</head>
<body class="skin--responsive skin-vector skin-vector-search-vue mediawiki ltr sitedir-ltr mw-hide-empty-elt ns-0 ns-subject page-Thompson_Center_Contender rootpage-Thompson_Center_Contender skin-vector-2022 action-view">
<div class="mw-page-container">
<div class="mw-page-container-inner">
<div class="mw-content-container">
<main id="content" class="mw-body">
<header class="mw-body-header vector-page-titlebar">
<h1 id="firstHeading" class="firstHeading mw-first-heading">
<span id="openzim-page-title" class="mw-page-title-main"><span class="mw-page-title-main">Thompson/Center Contender</span></span>
</h1>
</header>
<a id="top"></a>
<div id="bodyContent" class="vector-body ve-init-mw-desktopArticleTarget-targetContainer" aria-labelledby="firstHeading" data-mw-ve-target-container="">
<div id="mw-content-text" class="mw-body-content mw-content-ltr" lang="en" dir="ltr"><div class="mw-content-ltr mw-parser-output" lang="en" dir="ltr"><style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1295905060">
/* start https://en.wikipedia.org/ */
.mw-parser-output .infobox-subbox{padding:0;border:none;margin:-3px;width:auto;min-width:100%;font-size:100%;clear:none;float:none;background-color:transparent}.mw-parser-output .infobox-3cols-child{margin:auto}.mw-parser-output .infobox .navbar{font-size:100%}@media screen{html.skin-theme-clientpref-night .mw-parser-output .infobox-full-data:not(.notheme)>div:not(.notheme)[style]{background:#1f1f23!important;color:#f8f9fa}}@media screen and (prefers-color-scheme:dark){html.skin-theme-clientpref-os .mw-parser-output .infobox-full-data:not(.notheme)>div:not(.notheme)[style]{background:#1f1f23!important;color:#f8f9fa}}@media(min-width:640px){body.skin--responsive .mw-parser-output .infobox-table{display:table!important}body.skin--responsive .mw-parser-output .infobox-table>caption{display:table-caption!important}body.skin--responsive .mw-parser-output .infobox-table>tbody{display:table-row-group}body.skin--responsive .mw-parser-output .infobox-table th,body.skin--responsive .mw-parser-output .infobox-table td{padding-left:inherit;padding-right:inherit}}
/* end https://en.wikipedia.org/ */
</style><table class="infobox vcard" style="width:25.5em;border-spacing:2px;"><tbody><tr><th colspan="2" class="infobox-above hproduct" style="background-color:#C3D6EF;color:inherit;text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;font-size:110%;"><span class="fn org"> Thompson/Center Contender </span></th></tr><tr><td colspan="2" class="infobox-image" style="text-align:center;border-bottom:1px solid #aaa;line-height:1.5em;"><span typeof="mw:File"></span><div class="infobox-caption">Thompson/Center Contender pistol</div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label" style="padding-right:1em">Type</th><td class="infobox-data"><a href="../Break-action" class="mw-redirect" title="Break-action">Break-action</a></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label" style="padding-right:1em">Place of origin</th><td class="infobox-data"><a href="../United_States" title="United States">United States</a></td></tr><tr><th colspan="2" class="infobox-header" style="background-color:#C3D6EF;color:inherit;text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;font-size:110%;">Production history</th></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label" style="padding-right:1em">Designed</th><td class="infobox-data">1967</td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label" style="padding-right:1em">Manufacturer</th><td class="infobox-data">Thompson/Center</td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label" style="padding-right:1em">Produced</th><td class="infobox-data">1967–2000</td></tr><tr><th colspan="2" class="infobox-header" style="background-color:#C3D6EF;color:inherit;text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;font-size:110%;">Specifications</th></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label" style="padding-right:1em"><a href="../Caliber" title="Caliber">Caliber</a></th><td class="infobox-data">Various</td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label" style="padding-right:1em"><a href="../Action_(firearms)" title="Action (firearms)">Action</a></th><td class="infobox-data"><a href="../Trigger_(firearms)" title="Trigger (firearms)">Single-action</a></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label" style="padding-right:1em">Feed system</th><td class="infobox-data">Single-shot</td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label" style="padding-right:1em">Sights</th><td class="infobox-data">Various</td></tr></tbody></table>
<p>The <b>Thompson/Center Contender</b> is a <a href="../Break-action" class="mw-redirect" title="Break-action">break-action</a> <a href="../Single-shot" title="Single-shot">single-shot</a> <a href="../Pistol" title="Pistol">pistol</a> or <a href="../Rifle" title="Rifle">rifle</a> that was introduced in 1967 by <a href="../Thompson/Center_Arms" title="Thompson/Center Arms">Thompson/Center Arms</a>. It can be chambered in cartridges from <a href="../.17_Bumble_Bee" title=".17 Bumble Bee">.17 Bumble Bee</a> to <a href="../.45-70_Government" class="mw-redirect" title=".45-70 Government">.45-70 Government</a>.
</p>
<meta property="mw:PageProp/toc">
<div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="History">History</h2></div>
<p>Warren Center, working in his basement shop in the 1960s, developed a unique, break-action, single-shot pistol. In 1965, Center joined the K.W. Thompson Tool Company and they introduced this design as the Thompson-Center Contender in 1967. Although they cost more than some hunting revolvers, the flexibility of being able to shoot multiple calibers by simply changing the barrel and sights and its higher accuracy made it popular with handgun hunters.<sup id="cite_ref-Zwoll_1-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Zwoll-1"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>1<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> As K.W. Thompson Tool began marketing Center's Contender pistol, the company name was changed to Thompson/Center Arms Company.<sup id="cite_ref-Ayoob2012_2-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Ayoob2012-2"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>2<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup>
</p><p>Originally the chamberings were on the low end of the recoil spectrum such as <a href="../.22_Long_Rifle" class="mw-redirect" title=".22 Long Rifle">.22 LR</a>, <a href="../.22_Winchester_Magnum_Rimfire" title=".22 Winchester Magnum Rimfire">.22 WMR</a>, <a href="../.22_Hornet" title=".22 Hornet">.22 Hornet</a>, <a href="../.38_Special" title=".38 Special">.38 Special</a>, and <a href="../.22_Remington_Jet" title=".22 Remington Jet">.22 Remington Jet</a>, but as Magnum calibers took off in the 1970s, the Contender quickly became very popular with shooting enthusiasts.<sup id="cite_ref-Ayoob2012_2-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Ayoob2012-2"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>2<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup>
</p>
<div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Design">Design</h2></div>
<p>The most unusual feature of the Contender is how the barrel is attached to the frame. By removing the fore-end, a large hinge pin is exposed; by pushing this hinge pin out, the barrel can be removed. Since the sights and extractor remain attached to the barrel in the Contender design, the frame itself contains no cartridge-specific features. A barrel of another caliber or length can be installed and pinned in place, the fore-end replaced, and the pistol is ready to shoot with a different barrel and pre-aligned sights. This allowed easy changes of calibers, sights, and barrel lengths, with only a flat screwdriver being required for this change.<sup id="cite_ref-Ayoob2012_2-2" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Ayoob2012-2"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>2<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup>
</p><p>The Contender frame has two firing pins, and a selector on the exposed hammer, to allow the shooter to choose between <a href="../Rimfire_ammunition" title="Rimfire ammunition">rimfire</a> or <a href="../Centerfire" class="mw-redirect" title="Centerfire">centerfire</a> firing pins, or to select a safety position from which neither firing pin can strike a primer. The initial baseline design of the Contender had no central safe position on the hammer, having only centerfire and rimfire firing pin positions, each being selectable through using a screwdriver.
</p><p>Three variants of the original Contender design were later developed, distinguished easily by the hammer design. The first variant has a push button selector on the hammer for choosing rimfire vs. centerfire, the second variant has a left-center-right toggle switch for selecting center fire-safe-rimfire firing pins, and the third variant has a horizontal bolt selection for choosing center fire-safe-rimfire firing pin positions. All three of these Contender variants have a cougar etched on the sides of the receiver, thereby easily distinguishing them from the later G2 Contender which has a smooth-sided receiver without an etched cougar. Some of the very earliest Contenders, those requiring a screwdriver to switch the firing pin between rimfire and centerfire, had smooth sides, without the cougar etched on the sides.<sup id="cite_ref-Stephens1996_3-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Stephens1996-3"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>3<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup>
</p><p>The original Contender designs have an adjustable trigger, allowing the shooter to change both take-up and overtravel, permitting user selection of a range of trigger pulls ranging from a fairly heavy trigger pull suitable for carrying the pistol while hunting to a "hair trigger" suitable for long range target shooting (see <a href="../Accurize" class="mw-redirect" title="Accurize">accurize</a>).<sup id="cite_ref-Rees2003_4-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Rees2003-4"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>4<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup>
</p><p>Unlike the later G2 Contender, the original Contender may be safely dry-fired (provided the hammer is not drawn back from the second notch) to allow a shooter to become familiar with the trigger pull. The break-action only has to be cycled, while leaving the hammer in the second notch position, to practice dry-firing. G2s with switchable firing pins (centerfire or rimfire) can be safely dry-fired with the hammer only in the safety (center) position.<sup id="cite_ref-RamageSigler2008_5-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-RamageSigler2008-5"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>5<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup>
</p>
<div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Barrels">Barrels</h2></div>
<p>Barrels have been made in lengths of <style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1154941027">
/* start https://en.wikipedia.org/ */
.mw-parser-output .frac{white-space:nowrap}.mw-parser-output .frac .num,.mw-parser-output .frac .den{font-size:80%;line-height:0;vertical-align:super}.mw-parser-output .frac .den{vertical-align:sub}.mw-parser-output .sr-only{border:0;clip:rect(0,0,0,0);clip-path:polygon(0px 0px,0px 0px,0px 0px);height:1px;margin:-1px;overflow:hidden;padding:0;position:absolute;width:1px}
/* end https://en.wikipedia.org/ */
</style>6, <span class="frac">8<span class="sr-only">+</span><span class="num">3</span>⁄<span class="den">4</span></span>, 10, 12, 14, 16, 21 and 24 inches (150, 220, 250, 300, 360, 410, 530 and 610 mm).<sup id="cite_ref-6" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-6"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>6<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Heavier recoiling cartridge barrels have been made with integral <a href="../Muzzle_brake" title="Muzzle brake">muzzle brakes</a>. Barrels for the original Contender may be used on the later-released G2 Contender and G2 barrels may be used on original Contender frames with a serial number greater than <span class="nowrap">195<span style="margin-left:.25em;">000</span></span>.<sup id="cite_ref-RamageSigler2008_5-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-RamageSigler2008-5"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>5<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup>
</p><p>The earliest barrels, from early 1967 to late 1967, were all octagonal with a flat bottom lug, and were available in only 10 and <span class="frac">8<span class="sr-only">+</span><span class="num">3</span>⁄<span class="den">4</span></span> inches (250 and 220 mm) lengths. The next group of barrels, from late 1967 to 1972, were available in 6, <span class="frac">8<span class="sr-only">+</span><span class="num">3</span>⁄<span class="den">4</span></span> and 10 inches (150, 220 and 250 mm) lengths. Later, round barrels were added in a wider variety of lengths, including 10, 12 and 14 inches (250, 300 and 360 mm). Likewise, round barrels in heavier (bull) barrel configurations, known as Super 14 pistol and Super 16 pistol barrels, respectively, were added. Carbine barrels in 16 and 21 in (410 and 530 mm) were added for the Contenders.<sup id="cite_ref-Taffin2006_7-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Taffin2006-7"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>7<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup>
</p><p>Sights on all the pistol barrels have varied, ranging from low iron sights, only, in the earlier years to a choice of either low or high iron sights, as well as no sights, for those pistol barrels intended for use with a scope. Various barrels have sometimes included ejectors as well as extractors, or extractors only, as well as containing either a flat bottom lug, a stepped bottom lug, or split bottom lugs. On barrels with an extractor only, about a quarter of the empty cartridge is extracted when the mechanism is opened.<sup id="cite_ref-8" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-8"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>8<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Barrels have been made available in either <a href="../Bluing_(steel)" title="Bluing (steel)">blued</a> or <a href="../Stainless_steel" title="Stainless steel">stainless</a> configurations, to match the finish available on Contender receivers.<sup id="cite_ref-Ramage2006_9-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Ramage2006-9"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>9<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup>
</p><p>Unlike most other <a href="../Firearm_action" class="mw-redirect" title="Firearm action">firearm actions</a>, the break-action design does not require the barrels to be specially fitted to an individual action. Any barrel, with the exception of a Herrett barrel, that is made for a Contender will fit onto any frame, allowing the shooter to purchase additional barrels in different calibers for a fraction of the cost of a complete firearm. Since the sights are mounted on the barrel, they remain sighted-in and zeroed between barrel changes.<sup id="cite_ref-Sweeney2011_10-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Sweeney2011-10"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>10<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup>
</p>
<div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Stocks">Stocks</h2></div>
<p>Pistol grips, butt stocks and fore-ends have been made available in stained walnut, or in recoil reducing composite materials. Different pistol fore-ends are required for the octagonal versus the round versus the bull barrels. The fore-ends have had an assortment of either one or two screw attachment points, used for attaching the fore-ends to the barrel with its matching one or two attachment points. Universally, the fore-ends, in addition to attaching to the barrel, cover the single hinge pin that connects the barrel to the receiver.
</p><p>The wood stocks and forend are made specifically for Thompson Center by a <a href="../Sawmill" title="Sawmill">sawmill</a> in Kansas.<sup id="cite_ref-Ayoob2012_2-3" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Ayoob2012-2"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>2<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup>
</p>
<div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Calibers">Calibers</h2></div>
<p>Calibers available for the Contender were initially limited, stopping just short of the <a href="../.308_Winchester" title=".308 Winchester">.308 Winchester</a>-class rifle cartridges. However, almost any cartridge from <a href="../.22_Long_Rifle" class="mw-redirect" title=".22 Long Rifle">.22 Long Rifle</a> through <a href="../.30-30_Winchester" title=".30-30 Winchester">.30-30 Winchester</a> is acceptable, as long as a peak pressure of 48,000 CUP is not exceeded. This flexibility prompted a boom in the development of <a href="../Wildcat_cartridge" title="Wildcat cartridge">wildcat cartridges</a> suitable for the Contender, such as the <a href="../7-30_Waters" title="7-30 Waters">7-30 Waters</a> and .357 Herrett and the various <a href="../Thompson/Center_Ugalde" title="Thompson/Center Ugalde">TCU cartridges</a>, most of which were commonly based on either the widely available <a href="../.30-30_Winchester" title=".30-30 Winchester">.30-30 Winchester</a> or <a href="../.223_Remington" title=".223 Remington">.223 Remington</a> cases. The largest factory caliber offered for the Contender was the <a href="../.45-70" title=".45-70">.45-70</a>, which, although a much larger case than the .308, is still feasible because of the relatively low cartridge pressures of the original black-powder round relative to the limits of the bolt face of the Contender receiver. Custom gunmakers have added to the selection, such as the <a href="../J._D._Jones" title="J. D. Jones">J. D. Jones</a> line of JDJ cartridges based on the <a href="../.225_Winchester" title=".225 Winchester">.225 Winchester</a> and <a href="../.444_Marlin" title=".444 Marlin">.444 Marlin</a>. Other barrel makers pushed beyond the limits the factory set, and chambered Contender barrels in lighter .308-class cartridges like the <a href="../.243_Winchester" title=".243 Winchester">.243 Winchester</a>. The Contender can fire <a href="../.410_bore" title=".410 bore">.410 bore</a> <a href="../Shotgun_shell" class="mw-redirect" title="Shotgun shell">shotgun shells</a>, either through the <a href="../.45_Colt" title=".45 Colt">.45 Colt</a>/.410 barrel or through a special 21-inch (530 mm) <a href="../Smoothbore" title="Smoothbore">smoothbore</a> <a href="../Shotgun" title="Shotgun">shotgun</a> barrel. A ported, rifled, <a href="../.44_Magnum" title=".44 Magnum">.44 Magnum</a> barrel was made available for use with shotshell cartridges in a removable-choke .44 Magnum barrel, with the choke being used to unspin the shot from the barrel rifling, or, by removing the choke, for use with standard .44 Magnum cartridges. The degree of flexibility provided by the Contender design is unique for experimenting with new cartridges, <a href="../Handloading" title="Handloading">handloads</a>, barrel lengths, and shotshells.<sup id="cite_ref-Ayoob2012_2-4" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Ayoob2012-2"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>2<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup>
</p>
<div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="G2">G2</h2></div>
<p>The original Contender is now known as the generation one (G1) Contender and was replaced by the G2 Contender in 1998. The new design is dimensionally the same as the original Contender, but uses an Encore-style trigger group. Due to the changes in the trigger mechanism, and to differences in the angle of the grip relative to the boreline of the gun, the buttstocks and pistol grips are different between the G1 and G2 Contenders and will not interchange. The G2 uses essentially the same barrels and fore-ends as the original Contender and barrels will interchange, with the only two exceptions being the G2 muzzleloading barrels, which will only fit the G2 frame, and the Herrett barrels/fore-ends, which are specific for use only on a G1 frame.<sup id="cite_ref-Potts_11-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Potts-11"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>11<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup>
</p>
<div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Years_of_manufacture">Years of manufacture</h2></div>
<p>Starting in 1967, the Contender was discontinued in 2000. The year of manufacture is determined by the serial numbers as follows:
</p>
<table class="wikitable">
<tbody><tr>
<td colspan="5">Serial Number For Blue Contender
</td></tr>
<tr>
<td>Year
</td>
<td colspan="2">January Thru June
</td>
<td colspan="2">July Thru December
</td></tr>
<tr>
<td>1967
</td>
<td>1001
</td>
<td>2250
</td>
<td>
</td>
<td>
</td></tr>
<tr>
<td>1968
</td>
<td>2251
</td>
<td>3060
</td>
<td>3061
</td>
<td>4330
</td></tr>
<tr>
<td>1969
</td>
<td>4331
</td>
<td>7500
</td>
<td>7501
</td>
<td>11075
</td></tr>
<tr>
<td>1970
</td>
<td>11076
</td>
<td>14501
</td>
<td>14502
</td>
<td>15360
</td></tr>
<tr>
<td>1971
</td>
<td>15361
</td>
<td>16850
</td>
<td>16851
</td>
<td>17885
</td></tr>
<tr>
<td>1972
</td>
<td>17886
</td>
<td>19800
</td>
<td>19801
</td>
<td>22400
</td></tr>
<tr>
<td>1973
</td>
<td>22401
</td>
<td>24750
</td>
<td>24751
</td>
<td>27090
</td></tr>
<tr>
<td>1974
</td>
<td>27091
</td>
<td>30100
</td>
<td>30101
</td>
<td>34500
</td></tr>
<tr>
<td>1975
</td>
<td>34501
</td>
<td>38401
</td>
<td>38402
</td>
<td>47890
</td></tr>
<tr>
<td>1976
</td>
<td>47891
</td>
<td>60670
</td>
<td>60671
</td>
<td>67875
</td></tr>
<tr>
<td>1977
</td>
<td>67876
</td>
<td>74825
</td>
<td>74826
</td>
<td>80398
</td></tr>
<tr>
<td>1978
</td>
<td>80399
</td>
<td>91872
</td>
<td>91873
</td>
<td>108344
</td></tr>
<tr>
<td>1979
</td>
<td>108345
</td>
<td>133856
</td>
<td>133857
</td>
<td>153636
</td></tr>
<tr>
<td>1980
</td>
<td>153637
</td>
<td>169090
</td>
<td>169091
</td>
<td>173516
</td></tr>
<tr>
<td>1981
</td>
<td>173517
</td>
<td>181663
</td>
<td>181664
</td>
<td>196703
</td></tr>
<tr>
<td>1982
</td>
<td>196704
</td>
<td>208412
</td>
<td>208413
</td>
<td>220806
</td></tr>
<tr>
<td>1983
</td>
<td>220807
</td>
<td>227176
</td>
<td>227177
</td>
<td>234850
</td></tr>
<tr>
<td>1984
</td>
<td>234851
</td>
<td>246791
</td>
<td>246792
</td>
<td>256525
</td></tr>
<tr>
<td>1985
</td>
<td>256526
</td>
<td>265000
</td>
<td>265001
</td>
<td>273800
</td></tr>
<tr>
<td>1986
</td>
<td>273801
</td>
<td>287000
</td>
<td>287001
</td>
<td>297200
</td></tr>
<tr>
<td>1987
</td>
<td>297201
</td>
<td>310599
</td>
<td>310600
</td>
<td>317099
</td></tr>
<tr>
<td>1988
</td>
<td>317100
</td>
<td>327999
</td>
<td>328000
</td>
<td>335200
</td></tr>
<tr>
<td>1989
</td>
<td>335201
</td>
<td>351700
</td>
<td>351701
</td>
<td>357200
</td></tr>
<tr>
<td>1990
</td>
<td>357201
</td>
<td>366900
</td>
<td>366901
</td>
<td>370677
</td></tr>
<tr>
<td>1991
</td>
<td>370678
</td>
<td>382852
</td>
<td>382853
</td>
<td>386697
</td></tr>
<tr>
<td>1992
</td>
<td>386698
</td>
<td>399679
</td>
<td>399680
</td>
<td>407884
</td></tr>
<tr>
<td>1993
</td>
<td>407885
</td>
<td>411796
</td>
<td>411797
</td>
<td>418410
</td></tr>
<tr>
<td>1994
</td>
<td>418411
</td>
<td>427890
</td>
<td>427891
</td>
<td>430597
</td></tr>
<tr>
<td>1995
</td>
<td>430598
</td>
<td>435934
</td>
<td>435935
</td>
<td>438365
</td></tr>
<tr>
<td>1996
</td>
<td>438366
</td>
<td>443306
</td>
<td>443307
</td>
<td>446201
</td></tr>
<tr>
<td>1997
</td>
<td>446202
</td>
<td>446735
</td>
<td>446736
</td>
<td>450227
</td></tr>
<tr>
<td>1998
</td>
<td>450228
</td>
<td>452512
</td>
<td>452513
</td>
<td>453321
</td></tr>
<tr>
<td>1999
</td>
<td>453322
</td>
<td>455590
</td>
<td>455591
</td>
<td>456568
</td></tr>
<tr>
<td>2000
</td>
<td>456569
</td>
<td>
</td>
<td>
</td>
<td>
</td></tr></tbody></table>
<table class="wikitable">
<tbody><tr>
<td colspan="5">Serial Number For Stainless Contender
</td></tr>
<tr>
<td>Year
</td>
<td colspan="2">January Thru June
</td>
<td colspan="2">July Thru December
</td></tr>
<tr>
<td>1990
</td>
<td>
</td>
<td>
</td>
<td>
</td>
<td>
</td></tr>
<tr>
<td>1991
</td>
<td>
</td>
<td>
</td>
<td>
</td>
<td>
</td></tr>
<tr>
<td>1992
</td>
<td>
</td>
<td>
</td>
<td>
</td>
<td>
</td></tr>
<tr>
<td>1993
</td>
<td>S1100
</td>
<td>S11666
</td>
<td>S11667
</td>
<td>S14723
</td></tr>
<tr>
<td>1994
</td>
<td>S14724
</td>
<td>S18041
</td>
<td>S18042
</td>
<td>S23103
</td></tr>
<tr>
<td>1995
</td>
<td>S23104
</td>
<td>S28044
</td>
<td>S28045
</td>
<td>S29610
</td></tr>
<tr>
<td>1996
</td>
<td>S29611
</td>
<td>S33187
</td>
<td>S33188
</td>
<td>S36551
</td></tr>
<tr>
<td>1997
</td>
<td>S36552
</td>
<td>S36908
</td>
<td>S36909
</td>
<td>S38434
</td></tr>
<tr>
<td>1998
</td>
<td>S38435
</td>
<td>S40173
</td>
<td>S40518
</td>
<td>S40895
</td></tr>
<tr>
<td>1999
</td>
<td>S40896
</td>
<td>S41922
</td>
<td>S41923
</td>
<td>S42280
</td></tr>
<tr>
<td>2000
</td>
<td>S42281
</td>
<td>
</td>
<td>
</td>
<td>
</td></tr></tbody></table>
<div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="See_also">See also</h2></div>
<ul><li><a href="../Remington_XP-100" title="Remington XP-100">Remington XP-100</a></li>
<li><a href="../Savage_Striker" title="Savage Striker">Savage Striker</a></li></ul>
<div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="References">References</h2></div>
<style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1239543626">
/* start https://en.wikipedia.org/ */
.mw-parser-output .reflist{margin-bottom:0.5em;list-style-type:decimal}@media screen{.mw-parser-output .reflist{font-size:90%}}.mw-parser-output .reflist .references{font-size:100%;margin-bottom:0;list-style-type:inherit}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns-2{column-width:30em}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns-3{column-width:25em}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns{margin-top:0.3em}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns ol{margin-top:0}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns li{page-break-inside:avoid;break-inside:avoid-column}.mw-parser-output .reflist-upper-alpha{list-style-type:upper-alpha}.mw-parser-output .reflist-upper-roman{list-style-type:upper-roman}.mw-parser-output .reflist-lower-alpha{list-style-type:lower-alpha}.mw-parser-output .reflist-lower-greek{list-style-type:lower-greek}.mw-parser-output .reflist-lower-roman{list-style-type:lower-roman}
/* end https://en.wikipedia.org/ */
</style><div class="reflist">
<div class="mw-references-wrap mw-references-columns"><ol class="references">
<li id="cite_note-Zwoll-1"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-Zwoll_1-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1238218222">
/* start https://en.wikipedia.org/ */
.mw-parser-output cite.citation{font-style:inherit;word-wrap:break-word}.mw-parser-output .citation q{quotes:"\"""\"""'""'"}.mw-parser-output .citation:target{background-color:rgba(0,127,255,0.133)}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-free.id-lock-free a{background:url("../mw/Lock-green.svg")right 0.1em center/9px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-limited.id-lock-limited a,.mw-parser-output .id-lock-registration.id-lock-registration a{background:url("../mw/Lock-gray-alt-2.svg")right 0.1em center/9px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-subscription.id-lock-subscription a{background:url("../mw/Lock-red-alt-2.svg")right 0.1em center/9px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .cs1-ws-icon a{background:url("../mw/Wikisource-logo.svg")right 0.1em center/12px no-repeat}body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-free a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-limited a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-registration a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-subscription a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .cs1-ws-icon a{background-size:contain;padding:0 1em 0 0}.mw-parser-output .cs1-code{color:inherit;background:inherit;border:none;padding:inherit}.mw-parser-output .cs1-hidden-error{display:none;color:var(--color-error,#d33)}.mw-parser-output .cs1-visible-error{color:var(--color-error,#d33)}.mw-parser-output .cs1-maint{display:none;color:#085;margin-left:0.3em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-left{padding-left:0.2em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-right{padding-right:0.2em}.mw-parser-output .citation .mw-selflink{font-weight:inherit}@media screen{.mw-parser-output .cs1-format{font-size:95%}html.skin-theme-clientpref-night .mw-parser-output .cs1-maint{color:#18911f}}@media screen and (prefers-color-scheme:dark){html.skin-theme-clientpref-os .mw-parser-output .cs1-maint{color:#18911f}}
/* end https://en.wikipedia.org/ */
</style><cite id="CITEREFVan_Zwoll2006" class="citation book cs1">Van Zwoll, Wayne (2006). <i>Hunter's Guide to Long-Range Shooting</i>. Stackpole Books. p. 332.</cite></span>
</li>
<li id="cite_note-Ayoob2012-2"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">^ <a href="#cite_ref-Ayoob2012_2-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-Ayoob2012_2-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-Ayoob2012_2-2"><sup><i><b>c</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-Ayoob2012_2-3"><sup><i><b>d</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-Ayoob2012_2-4"><sup><i><b>e</b></i></sup></a></span> <span class="reference-text"><cite id="CITEREFAyoob2012" class="citation book cs1"><a href="../Massad_Ayoob" title="Massad Ayoob">Ayoob, Massad</a> (29 May 2012). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://books.google.com/books?id=JYmgHFwqT2gC&pg=PA266">"Thompson Center Single Shots"</a>. <i>Massad Ayoob's Greatest Handguns of the World</i>. F+W Media. pp. <span class="nowrap">241–</span>266. <a href="../ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <bdi>978-1-4402-2877-3</bdi>.</cite></span>
</li>
<li id="cite_note-Stephens1996-3"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-Stephens1996_3-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><cite id="CITEREFStephens1996" class="citation book cs1">Stephens, Charles (1 July 1996). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://books.google.com/books?id=Q1JVPQAACAAJ"><i>The Thompson/Center Contender Pistol: How to Tune, Time, Load, and Shoot for Accuracy</i></a>. Boulder, Colorado: Paladin Press. pp. <span class="nowrap">14–</span>18. <a href="../ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <bdi>978-0-87364-885-1</bdi>.</cite></span>
</li>
<li id="cite_note-Rees2003-4"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-Rees2003_4-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><cite id="CITEREFRees2003" class="citation book cs1">Rees, Clair (2003). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://books.google.com/books?id=LTFwWDOwVQUC&pg=PA70"><i>The Ultimate Guide to Handgun Hunting: Tips and Tactics for Hunting Small and Big Game</i></a>. Globe Pequot Press. p. 70. <a href="../ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <bdi>978-1-58574-820-4</bdi>.</cite></span>
</li>
<li id="cite_note-RamageSigler2008-5"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">^ <a href="#cite_ref-RamageSigler2008_5-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-RamageSigler2008_5-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a></span> <span class="reference-text"><cite id="CITEREFRamageSigler2008" class="citation book cs1">Ramage, Ken; Sigler, Derrek (19 November 2008). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://books.google.com/books?id=0pSA2xVGZVYC&pg=PA178"><i>Guns Illustrated 2009</i></a>. Iola, Wisconsin: F+W Media, Inc. pp. <span class="nowrap">178–</span>179. <a href="../ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <bdi>978-0-89689-673-4</bdi>.</cite></span>
</li>
<li id="cite_note-6"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-6">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">Thompson Center Arms product pages created by EABCO Web Design Team. (n.d.). Thompson Center barrels and accessories. Thompson Center Arms at EABCO - TC Encore, Contender, G2, Barrels, Stocks, and Accessories. Retrieved February 25, 2023, from <a rel="nofollow" class="external free" href="https://www.eabco.com/tcref.html">https://www.eabco.com/tcref.html</a></span>
</li>
<li id="cite_note-Taffin2006-7"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-Taffin2006_7-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><cite id="CITEREFTaffin2006" class="citation book cs1"><a href="../John_Taffin" title="John Taffin">Taffin, John</a> (13 November 2006). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://books.google.com/books?id=VDCkAoN1pBQC&pg=PA221"><i>The Gun Digest Book of the .44</i></a>. Iola, Wisconsin: Gun Digest Books. p. 221. <a href="../ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <bdi>0-89689-416-9</bdi>.</cite></span>
</li>
<li id="cite_note-8"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-8">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.gun-tests.com/handguns/pistols22/savage-striker-our-pick-over-remington-t-c-22-250s/">Savage Striker Our Pick Over Remington, T/C .22-250s - Gun Tests</a></span>
</li>
<li id="cite_note-Ramage2006-9"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-Ramage2006_9-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><cite id="CITEREFRamage2006" class="citation book cs1">Ramage, Ken (2 November 2006). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://books.google.com/books?id=u2UOdkyT8NoC&pg=PA201"><i>Handguns 2007 - 19th Edition</i></a>. Iola, Wisconsin: Gun Digest Books. p. 201. <a href="../ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <bdi>1-4402-2676-8</bdi>.</cite></span>
</li>
<li id="cite_note-Sweeney2011-10"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-Sweeney2011_10-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><cite id="CITEREFSweeney2011" class="citation book cs1"><a href="../Patrick_Sweeney_(gunsmith)" title="Patrick Sweeney (gunsmith)">Sweeney, Patrick</a> (28 February 2011). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://books.google.com/books?id=j06rmzqHLi0C&pg=PT463"><i>Gunsmithing: Shotguns: Shotguns</i></a>. Iola, Wisconsin: Gun Digest Books. p. 463. <a href="../ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <bdi>978-1-4402-2448-5</bdi>.</cite></span>
</li>
<li id="cite_note-Potts-11"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-Potts_11-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><cite id="CITEREFPotts2008" class="citation journal cs1">Potts, Bruce (1 October 2008). "Thompson Center G2 Contender Rifle Review". <i>Shooting Times</i>. <b>2008</b> (10).</cite></span>
</li>
</ol></div></div>
<p class="mw-empty-elt">
</p></div><!--htdig_noindex--><div><div class="zim-footer">
This article is issued from <a class="external text" title="Last edited on 2025-07-16" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/?title=Thompson%2FCenter_Contender&oldid=1300870398">Wikipedia</a>. The text is available under <a class="external text" href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.en">Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0</a> unless otherwise noted. Additional terms may apply for the media files.
</div>
</div><!--/htdig_noindex--></div>
</div>
</main>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</body></html>