A friend just got this from his grandfather that passed, its 10" long and only says .45 colt on it but it has what appears to be some sort of choke tube and he has no tool for it. He ownes a couple other contenders and has not seen this. We were wondering if it is also chambered for .410 shells if its a choke tube. Any info on what this is in the end of the barrel or if you could point us in a direction to get a tool to remove it. Thanks
.45 contender barrel
- Thread starter VernTMG
- Start date
Seems to me that T/C used to offer "hot shot" shot cartridges that had a plastic capsule which was shredded and stabilized by the choke tube looking thing. See if a .410 shell will fit in the chamber. If not, it's a 45 hot shot barrel.
You want to make sure your friend removes the choke tube before firing conventional ammo.
The wrench is available from amazon and on ebay. Possibly from other sources:
https://www.amazon.com/Thompson-Center-Arms-Multi-Use-Combination/dp/B000PWDFPA
E. Arthur Brown Co has them too:
https://www.eabco.net/Parts-Tools-Misc_c_2703.html
You want to make sure your friend removes the choke tube before firing conventional ammo.
The wrench is available from amazon and on ebay. Possibly from other sources:
https://www.amazon.com/Thompson-Center-Arms-Multi-Use-Combination/dp/B000PWDFPA
E. Arthur Brown Co has them too:
https://www.eabco.net/Parts-Tools-Misc_c_2703.html
OP
Man that was a fast reply I passed on the info to my friend, provided by arfmel thank you. This forum rocks
bogus bill
Hunter
I own a very early one. Maybe first or second year. Mine came in a large wood case with the TC logo on it. The butt has a silver plate the type made to engrave the barrel shoots both .410 and 45 colt. It has the tube and wrench that you put it on with for shooting 410. I also added a extra barrel in .256 Win Mag and a nice scope. The tube is to straighten the shot that is spinning from the rifled 45 colt barrel.
Been doing some researching. Looks like the "hot shot" barrels and cartridges were chambered for .357 and .44 magnum, and the .45 Colt w/choke tube were chambered to shoot 2.5" 410 shells. It seems odd that they weren't marked as such.
It seems to me that I have an octagon .45 Colt marked barrel with a choke tube on it, that definitely isn't capable of shooting .410 shells. If I wasn't traveling I would dig it out and look at it.
It seems to me that I have an octagon .45 Colt marked barrel with a choke tube on it, that definitely isn't capable of shooting .410 shells. If I wasn't traveling I would dig it out and look at it.
bogus bill
Hunter
I haven't looked at mine for a long time but without digging it out I am pretty sure the barrel is marked for .45 colt-.410. I know I have shot both in mine. I may pull it out and look at it again in the next day or so to be double sure.
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Colonel Daddy
Buckeye
It doesn't shoot 3" 410 shells but rather the 2 1/2" 410 shells. It is correct that only 357 and 44mag were made in the "hot-shot".arfmel said:
Forum member Contender needs to chime in. He probably knows as much as anyone on the Forum about Contenders.
Merle1948
Buckeye
arfmel said:
You are correct about the 45 Colt barrels not taking 410 shells.
The OP needs to be sure weather he has an old style octagon (choke unscrews from barrel leaving it shorter) or a new style heavy bull (with the choke tube recessed inside the barrel) as IIRC they use two different wrenches.
Pat-inCO
Hawkeye
If you need/want pieces parts another place is Ed's Contenders.
http://www.edstc.com/
http://www.edstc.com/
- Joined
- Apr 3, 2012
- Messages
- 10,875
T/C had to fight with the feds as I recall, because it was essentially a sawed off shotgun. They got the rule changed, and paved the way for the .410 revolvers that others produced.
contender
Ruger Guru
All good info above. Can't add much.
Ok. I have made my triumphant return from my trip, dug the barrel out, looked it over, and can confirm that it has a removable external "choke" tube on it, but that it definitely won't chamber even a 2.5" .410 shell.
This is a NOS octagon barrel I bought on line, thinking that based on the picture and presence of the removable choke, it was a 45/410.
This is a NOS octagon barrel I bought on line, thinking that based on the picture and presence of the removable choke, it was a 45/410.
- Joined
- Apr 3, 2012
- Messages
- 10,875
I think you might have a .45 hot shot barrel. Made to shoot .45 colt shot shells. I think it was made before T/C sorted out the legalities of the .410 out of a handgun.
It is probably a relatively scarce barrel, but not sure if it has any collector value.
What does it have stamped on it??
It is probably a relatively scarce barrel, but not sure if it has any collector value.
What does it have stamped on it??
bogus bill
Hunter
Guys, I have most definitely shot BOTH 410 shotgun shells and .45 colt in mine and the barrel is marked for both. Mine is a very early Contender, first or 2nd year. Here is a old lead to another site where I made a inquiry on it. I see I wrote about another barrel I have for it in .256 Win mag but I see I mistakenly wrote 258 mag.
http://www.perfectunion.com/vb/thompson-center/91657-my-contender-rare.html#post736964
http://www.perfectunion.com/vb/thompson-center/91657-my-contender-rare.html#post736964
Mine is marked .45 Colt. The box it came in from T/C is marked .45C w/choke.
From the limited research I did it appeared that T/C only offered Hot Shot ammo in .357 and .44 magnum. So I don't know why it was supplied with a choke. Maybe they quit reaming the chambers for .410 at some point while the courts tried to figure out how a pistol with a rifled barrel could be a shotgun.
From the limited research I did it appeared that T/C only offered Hot Shot ammo in .357 and .44 magnum. So I don't know why it was supplied with a choke. Maybe they quit reaming the chambers for .410 at some point while the courts tried to figure out how a pistol with a rifled barrel could be a shotgun.
Merle1948
Buckeye
arfmel said:
IIRC, the earlier barrels were 45 Colt only, until the court stuff got settled. T/C did not offer 45 Hot Shot ammo, but Speer made shot capsules that you could fill with shot & load yourself.
bogus bill
Hunter
Boys, didn't you read my above reply`s? I just dug out my T/C Contender to double -double check. It is serial # 13143. It is clearly marked on its original barrel, .45 Colt and under that also stamped .410 in smaller print, (still like new). I HAVE SHOT both .45 colt and .410 shotgun shells in it! It is a kicker in 410. The barrel is octagon and is of small diameter, not a bull barrel, has four small port holes on EACH side of the front sight, has a round tube screwed on the end of the barrel to straighten out the shot that is spun down the rifled barrel. A flat spot on the tube to screw it on and off the barrel with a simple supplied wrench that came with the gun. I believe the gun to be a very early gun, never seen another one with the TC wood case and also has a sliver butt plate that looks to be made to be engraved for presentations. I have pictures of it on photobucket but cant post them here--yet! The gun was used but looked unfired when I bought it around 1969 from the old Pony Express shop in San Fernando Valley.
I will try to figure out how to post a picture of it.
I will try to figure out how to post a picture of it.
Merle1948
Buckeye
Mine was also an early one, with the same configuration you describe.
It says "45 Colt" - no mention of .410 at all.
So - yes, I did read your post - but my barrel is different from yours.
It says "45 Colt" - no mention of .410 at all.
So - yes, I did read your post - but my barrel is different from yours.
Busterswoodshop
Hunter
If you need the tool for the choke call Thompson Center.
They sent me one for free when I called them about one.
They sent me one for free when I called them about one.
bogus bill
Hunter
Look hard under the ".45 Colt". Mine under that in very fine print reads .410. If you don't look close it`s easy to miss. I also have a few of those speer .45 shot capsules and also in .44 mag/special and 357/38 special as I hate rattlers and have shot a few with them. Speaking of that, I once made the mistake of carrying one in a s&w model 60. I used to carry one shot round on top. That night I got in a fracas with a hit & run driver and stupidly slapped the side drivers window of a car with two guys in it that had locked themselves in and was refusing to get out, "to get their attention". Later I found that by hitting the window the capsule had bounced forward half way into the barrel locking the gun up!
My barrel says nothing about .410, and I tried to chamber a .410 ga 2.5" shell in it. It would go in maybe halfway. I'm guessing I have the same type as Merle.
