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1970 TC Contender 44mag/410 ( Help!!!!!) #45189 01/19/2009 3:23 AM
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VaPredHunter Offline OP
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I just purchased a TC in 44mag/410 with external choke. Serial number puts it being manufactured in 1970. It does not have a scrach and does not seem to have been shot more than a few times. I removed the choke to shoot a few 44 mags. After a few shot I noticed the shells are bulged at the rear and one of them was split. Is there something I'm missing this does not seem right to me? The 410 shells fit great but the 44s seem a little loose but thats what the barrel says. If you can help let me know I do not have a owners manual. Thanks Chris,










Last edited by VaPredHunter; 01/19/2009 3:28 AM.
Re: 1970 TC Contender 44mag/410 ( Help!!!!!) [Re: VaPredHunter] #45191 01/19/2009 3:33 AM
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BIGSTEVE83 Offline
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The barrel to me seems that it is marked wrong. It should say 45 colt / .410 not a 44 mag. I could be wrong, but I don't think so. Please be careful.

Last edited by BIGSTEVE83; 01/19/2009 3:37 AM.

I got just what those zombie's need right here!
Re: 1970 TC Contender 44mag/410 ( Help!!!!!) [Re: BIGSTEVE83] #45194 01/19/2009 3:48 AM
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TCTex. Offline
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I had one of those and the marking is not wrong. The one I had was a custom shop. You should be able to shoot 45LC’s in it, or at least that is what I have been told. Here is the other side of the coin. It is going to be just like shooting 44 Mag’s in a 45LC… you are going to be splitting cases.

I know that is not what you want to here, but the split cases is the exactly the same reason I traded my barrel several years ago to a dealer. It shot 410 slugs decent, just another thought.


Democracy is two wolves and a lamb deciding what to have for dinner. Liberty is a well armed lamb
Benjamin Franklin
Re: 1970 TC Contender 44mag/410 ( Help!!!!!) [Re: TCTex.] #45203 01/19/2009 6:47 AM
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pter1020k Offline
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have bore and chamber measured.contact tc about it?


Genesis chapter 1 verse 26

When shooting a single shot their are no warning shots.

Keith
Re: 1970 TC Contender 44mag/410 ( Help!!!!!) [Re: pter1020k] #45206 01/19/2009 7:26 AM
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pter1020k Offline
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after a little thaught i think you have a gun that was realy desighned to shoot 410 but to be a leagal pistol it had to be rifled and be able to fire a pistol cartridge.the 45colt 410 barrels have a bore that is slightly wide for 410 although it works well.your 44 barrel would be narrower and work better for 410 but to chamber 410 the chamber would need to be loose therefore you will have split cases.CHECK WITH TC

BE SHURE TO CHECK MY THEORY WITH OTHERS!!!


Genesis chapter 1 verse 26

When shooting a single shot their are no warning shots.

Keith
Re: 1970 TC Contender 44mag/410 ( Help!!!!!) [Re: pter1020k] #45219 01/19/2009 1:55 PM
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Pahandgunner Offline
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Have the bore measured. The 45 Cal. measures .452 and 44 Cal. is .429. that is only .023 smaller. If you can take the choke off take a 44 round and if fits into the muzzle with a little play it is more likey 45 long colt.


I would admit to being a atheist before I would admit being a Democrat or a Republican
Re: 1970 TC Contender 44mag/410 ( Help!!!!!) [Re: VaPredHunter] #45220 01/19/2009 2:03 PM
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s4s4u Offline
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Easy answer is just shoot 410's in that, get a 44 barrel for 44's.


Rod, too.

Short cuts often lead to long recoveries.
Re: 1970 TC Contender 44mag/410 ( Help!!!!!) [Re: s4s4u] #45223 01/19/2009 2:24 PM
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TCTex. Offline
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 Originally Posted By: s4s4u
Easy answer is just shoot 410's in that, get a 44 barrel for 44's.

Right as usual S4S4U! And if you do a poll, that is what most of us do. I brought up 410 slugs just incase you really need to shoot a single projectile.
 Originally Posted By: pter1020k
...to be a legal pistol it had to be rifled and be able to fire a pistol cartridge...

You are right, that is the only way they can put a shot gun in a short barrel. It is still the reason they make the 45/410 today. Generally 45's don't even shoot out of the 410 very well.


Democracy is two wolves and a lamb deciding what to have for dinner. Liberty is a well armed lamb
Benjamin Franklin
Re: 1970 TC Contender 44mag/410 ( Help!!!!!) [Re: TCTex.] #45233 01/19/2009 3:20 PM
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TCTex. Offline
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I have a question and I hope it is pertinent to the post…

The problem that the 410’s have with shooting 45LC’s, or in this case 44 Mag’s, is that the bullet “jumps” from the shell to the lands. With this barrel being a 44 Mag, could VaPredHunter use a 444 case and load it “down” to shoot a single projectile. I know that it cambering 444’s from 44’s is not uncommon. The 444 is smaller than the 45LC and in theory should work. But on paper thinks always work. So… with that being said, thoughts and comments?

Duane


Democracy is two wolves and a lamb deciding what to have for dinner. Liberty is a well armed lamb
Benjamin Franklin
Re: 1970 TC Contender 44mag/410 ( Help!!!!!) [Re: TCTex.] #45249 01/19/2009 6:50 PM
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Pahandgunner Offline
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If you measure the OD of the brass of a 410 with a micometer you will find it is .020 larger than 44 mag. This makes for a lot of clearance for the 44 mag. Which causes bulged and split cases. Take the advise someone gave and shoot 410 only.


I would admit to being a atheist before I would admit being a Democrat or a Republican
Re: 1970 TC Contender 44mag/410 ( Help!!!!!) [Re: VaPredHunter] #45251 01/19/2009 7:11 PM
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Bullelk Hunter Offline
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They never made a 44 - 410. They did make a 44 mag and a 44 shot shell with the choke tube. If you are bulging cases, I would guess 2 things. 1st, you are lucky, 2nd, I think it should say 45 - 410. Be very carefull!!


BullElk Hunter (Gerry)HHI #2933
And I heard the voice of the Lord saying, whom shall I send and who will go for us? And I said: Here am I, send me!(Is. 6:8)

Re: 1970 TC Contender 44mag/410 ( Help!!!!!) [Re: Bullelk Hunter] #45255 01/19/2009 8:10 PM
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Mine said 44 mag… but it also had a full vent rib and front bead. I don’t know why TC didn’t have it labeled as a 44 / 410 but it was able to chamber 3’ 410 shells and had a choke. If you called TC and asked them questions they told you it was the “44/410.” Probably a legal issue it wasn’t labeled that way.

As stated above the main difference, besides the fact that the 44’s are loose in the chamber, is that the rifleing was made for the 44 cal bullet. As for shooing 44’s in it, with as much legal problems as the firearm industry has had, I think there would have been a recall on anything that could have been even remotely dangerous to the shooter. I think TC changed the name, rifleing, and marketing of the barrels name to try to sell more of them. But that is just my understanding of the history.


Democracy is two wolves and a lamb deciding what to have for dinner. Liberty is a well armed lamb
Benjamin Franklin
Re: 1970 TC Contender 44mag/410 ( Help!!!!!) [Re: Pahandgunner] #45264 01/19/2009 9:18 PM
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N.E.S. Offline
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I have the same gun you have made in 1970, it is marked 45-410
I took the advise of these guy's and only shoot 410 in it, these guy's give good advise, have not even tried 45's
Give the 410's a try they are a lot of fun to shoot!

You can get a manual from TC'S web site or give them a call, they will send you one

Re: 1970 TC Contender 44mag/410 ( Help!!!!!) [Re: N.E.S.] #45276 01/19/2009 10:59 PM
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wapitirod Offline
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Bullelk, I've heard several people on this forum and other places say they have a barrel stamped 44/410. I think it was something they did before the 45/410.


I won't be wronged. I won't be insulted. I won't be laid a-hand on. I don't do these things to other people, and I require the same from them. John Wayne-The Shootist


Re: 1970 TC Contender 44mag/410 ( Help!!!!!) [Re: wapitirod] #45295 01/20/2009 12:24 AM
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Bullelk Hunter Offline
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Wow! I think I'd call TC on that one. I have a 44 with thechoke tube for 44 shot shells (capsule and #9 shot) but I thought only 45/410 shot the 410. I don't think I would do it myself until TC said it was okay. Bulged cases are nothing to dismiss lightly.


BullElk Hunter (Gerry)HHI #2933
And I heard the voice of the Lord saying, whom shall I send and who will go for us? And I said: Here am I, send me!(Is. 6:8)

Re: 1970 TC Contender 44mag/410 ( Help!!!!!) [Re: Bullelk Hunter] #45298 01/20/2009 12:38 AM
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wapitirod Offline
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yeah it seems wierd to me but i don't think the 410 would chamber in the 44 barrel if it weren't cut for it. I would guess it was someones bad idea and that why you don't see very many of them.


I won't be wronged. I won't be insulted. I won't be laid a-hand on. I don't do these things to other people, and I require the same from them. John Wayne-The Shootist


Re: 1970 TC Contender 44mag/410 ( Help!!!!!) [Re: wapitirod] #45306 01/20/2009 1:27 AM
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Do you suppose someone took a 44 "hotshot" barrel and rechambered it for the .410, that would explain a lot of inconsistancies. Hmmmmm ;-)


Rod, too.

Short cuts often lead to long recoveries.
Re: 1970 TC Contender 44mag/410 ( Help!!!!!) [Re: s4s4u] #45313 01/20/2009 2:37 AM
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VaPredHunter Offline OP
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Thanks for all the replys. I took it to the gunsmith today he also thought it maybe mismarked so he tried a dummy 45LC but it did not fit. He said to send to TC I also call TC they said to send it in so they can look at it. I don't see how they could sell a gun stamped 44mag that only shoots 410s safely. Just don't make sense. I did try it with 410s today they fit great and shoot good. The lands are 3 inches up the barrel. Anyway thanks for all the help the barrel is going back tomorrow. I hope to join you in some hunting forums as soon as I get this cleared up. Thanks again Chris,

Last edited by VaPredHunter; 01/20/2009 2:42 AM.
Re: 1970 TC Contender 44mag/410 ( Help!!!!!) [Re: s4s4u] #45317 01/20/2009 3:40 AM
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 Originally Posted By: s4s4u
Do you suppose someone took a 44 "hotshot" barrel and rechambered it for the .410, that would explain a lot of inconsistancies. Hmmmmm ;-)


That would be my guess too since the barrel is only marked .44 mag, not 410.


Experience is the best teacher, hunger good sauce.
Osborne Russell Journal of a Trapper


Re: 1970 TC Contender 44mag/410 ( Help!!!!!) [Re: pab1] #45336 01/20/2009 11:27 AM
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If I remember correctly TC made your gun to shoot their version
of a shotshell called the 44 Hot Shot. It was on the market a few years and dropped out. I`ll see if I can find an old advertisment and post it for you.James


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Re: 1970 TC Contender 44mag/410 ( Help!!!!!) [Re: jamesfromjersey] #45338 01/20/2009 12:38 PM
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This is going to be very interesting. What baffles me is the one I had. It said 44 mag and was a “Custom Shop,” it had a full rib on it with a bead, didn’t have a rear sight, chambered 3’ 410’s, and even had a choke. I thought at first it was a “hot shot” but that would not account for the 3’ cambering... and it also split cases. That is the reason I called TC and asked them. But, time will tell. The real question for me is what TC is going to do about it. If it is an after market alteration they don’t have to warranty it. Hopefully it is not.

James, from my experiences the “hot shots” were almost anemic. (EG, less effective than a standard 410) If the previous owner of the barrel thought the same he may have had it rechambered.


Democracy is two wolves and a lamb deciding what to have for dinner. Liberty is a well armed lamb
Benjamin Franklin
Re: 1970 TC Contender 44mag/410 ( Help!!!!!) [Re: Pahandgunner] #45349 01/20/2009 3:42 PM
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VaPredHunter Offline OP
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I’m baffled now? This is copied and pasted it is the only reference to this barrel any where online I will also include the link

The Contender would also fire .410 bore shotgun shells, either through the .45 Colt barrel or through a special 21-inch (530 mm) smoothbore shotgun barrel. A ported, rifled, .44 Magnum barrel was also made available with a removable choke, for use with shot shell cartridges 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 was unique for experimenting with new cartridges, barrel lengths, and shot shells.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thompson_Center_Arms

So should it not shoot 44s with out spliting the cases?

Re: 1970 TC Contender 44mag/410 ( Help!!!!!) [Re: VaPredHunter] #45358 01/20/2009 5:59 PM
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s4s4u Offline
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 Quote:
So should it not shoot 44s with out spliting the cases?


Not now it seems. I am fairly sure now I have an idea of what happened here. Someone had a 44 "hotshot" barrel that didn't do what they wanted so it was rebored to accept the .410 shell. This is why it is only labeled 44 Mag, there are a lot of rechambered barrels out there that weren't marked as such. So, now the chamber is too big for the 44 Mag and the bore is too small for the 45LC. What you have there is a fine .410 shotgun, that's all. And that's not a bad thing 'cause the 45/410 barrels don't shoot slugs worth a hoot anyway.


Rod, too.

Short cuts often lead to long recoveries.
Re: 1970 TC Contender 44mag/410 ( Help!!!!!) [Re: s4s4u] #45374 01/20/2009 9:38 PM
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pter1020k Offline
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i baught my 45-410 to shoot 410 works great on squirrels.except to toy with i don't think i will get any 45 ammo for it.


Genesis chapter 1 verse 26

When shooting a single shot their are no warning shots.

Keith

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