I thought you might like this. It's not a Contender, but it is a Thompson-Center and a squirrel.
My first squirrel with the Encore .45/.410 barrel.
(http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg115/rlageman/Hunting/022716%201_zpsmcrny4yd.jpg)
Pat
Dang you is turning into a killing machine, Pat. Cool pic. :congrats:
Saweeeeeeettt!....beautiful gun :yoyo: ...is that a new barrel for you ? Them barrels r too much fun! Encores are the updated stronger version of the old Contenders.
Quote from: nastygunz on February 28, 2016, 02:22:08 PM
Saweeeeeeettt!....beautiful gun :yoyo: ...is that a new barrel for you ? Them barrels r too much fun! Encores are the updated stronger version of the old Contenders.
It is a new barrel for me. I traded another barrel for it a few weeks ago. Yesterday was the first time I took it hunting.
It has a fairly short range because the rifling really spreads the shot quickly, but if I can get close, I can kill them. I'm thinking about sending it to a guy to remove the helical rifling, cut straight rifling into it, and add a tight choke. With the mods it can be a killer out to 30 yards or so.
What kind of range do you get with your Contenders?
Pat
Interesting idea about the rifling, I usually go around 20+ yards with 3 inch 7 1/2 shot. Your barrel should have a choke in it already to help stop the rifling spin? When I am small game hunting a lot of times I take my contender in a bandolier holster and my .22 rifle and my far shots get the rifle the close shots get the contender. Depending on where I am hunting I don't like to shoot a bullet up into the trees so I use the contender for the tree shots too.
Show off :wink: :eyebrow:
Quote from: nastygunz on February 28, 2016, 05:57:04 PM
Interesting idea about the rifling, I usually go around 20+ yards with 3 inch 7 1/2 shot. Your barrel should have a choke in it already to help stop the rifling spin?
I patterned it at 15 and 20 yards using 2 1/2 inch 6 shot. I think 15 yards is the about the ethical limit for squirrel size targets with that load. I bought a box of 3 inch 6 shot and killed the squirrel with it at about 15 yards. I have not patterned it with the 3 inch load yet, so I don't know how much it will extend the range. I think I'll buy some 3 inch 7 1/2 shot and see how it works.
There is a choke in the end of the barrel, but the pattern still opens pretty fast.
Quote from: nastygunz on February 28, 2016, 05:57:04 PM
When I am small game hunting a lot of times I take my contender in a bandolier holster and my .22 rifle and my far shots get the rifle the close shots get the contender. Depending on where I am hunting I don't like to shoot a bullet up into the trees so I use the contender for the tree shots too.
I only had the pistol with me yesterday, but I intend to do what you're doing and also take a .22 rifle for the longer shots and use the Encore for the closer shots. Unfortunately, tomorrow is the last day of small game season so it won't see much use for several months. :sad:
Pat
I think you'll like the 7 1/2 shot quite a bit. When I really want to go pistolero I use a double shoulder holster with the contender in one holster and a .22 pistol with a red dot on it in the other.
This guy is using .410 nitro gold 3 inch #8 shot:
http://youtu.be/97bl9qKBHP4
Quote from: nastygunz on February 29, 2016, 02:41:32 AM
When I really want to go pistolero I use a double shoulder holster with the contender in one holster and a .22 pistol with a red dot on it in the other.
Now you got me thinking. :eyebrow:
This may be my new squirrel hunting setup this fall:
(http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg115/rlageman/Hunting/DSC03656_zpsymv3j5ao.jpg)
Pat
That looks like a squirrel genocide waiting to happen :biggrin:
That turkey video was very cool. :yoyo: Turkey is my ultimate goal with the .410 barrel. That's why I'm considering having the rifling modified to extend the range.
Pat
I have been raising hell here for a few years to let us use 410 for turkey but they won't budge. Hevishot .410
http://www.hevishot.com/catalog/hevi-shot-duck/
https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1837347698/hevi-shot-duck-waterfowl-and-upland-ammunition-410-bore-3-1-2-oz-7-non-toxic-shot
http://www.ballisticproducts.com/ITX-Shot-Products/products/370/
I would be real interested to observe if you get straight rifling and a choke put on yours !
Here is a pic of my small game revolver.
(http://i100.photobucket.com/albums/m24/5shots_01/IMG_05582.jpg)
.500 S&W.
That one sure didn't try to make it back down the hole!
Quote from: nastygunz on March 01, 2016, 04:37:24 AM
That one sure didn't try to make it back down the hole!
YEAH!! Neither half of it!!! :yoyo: :yoyo:
Quote from: 5 SHOTS on February 29, 2016, 10:29:08 PM
Here is a pic of my small game revolver.
(http://i100.photobucket.com/albums/m24/5shots_01/IMG_05582.jpg)
I used to shoot prairie dogs when I was stationed in Colorado in the mid seventies. The only center fire rifle I owned was a 7mm Rem. Mag. It's a bit much for prairie dogs, but it was all I had, so that's what I used. A prairie dog hit with a 7mm Mag. explodes into a fine red mist. :shock2: What is left is pretty hard to field dress and doesn't leave much edible meat. :puke:
It looks like a .500 S&W might also be slightly too much gun for prairie dogs. :eyebrow:
Pat
Guns r beeyootiful :yoyo: :yoyo:
Art that thing is sick! :yoyo:
I've pulled the trigger on that damn thing before.
Both ends are dangerous.
Brad
Quote from: FinsnFur on March 02, 2016, 05:17:08 AM
Art that thing is sick! :yoyo:
Like Art ain't. :confused:
Yah really lol
Sent from my Galaxy using Tapatalk
Quote from: nastygunz on March 01, 2016, 04:37:24 AM
That one sure didn't try to make it back down the hole!
He was about halfway down the hole when I shot. I shot a bit low, and he " scampered" about 15 or 20 ft. to pose for the pic.
:alscalls: :alscalls: @ scampered!!!!!!!!!!!
Haha!....check this beauty out !
https://www.gunsamerica.com/blog/we-shoot-the-new-smith-wesson-victory-22-lr-pistol/
Quote from: nastygunz on March 04, 2016, 07:01:49 PM
Haha!....check this beauty out !
https://www.gunsamerica.com/blog/we-shoot-the-new-smith-wesson-victory-22-lr-pistol/
That thing looks super comfy to shoot. :eyebrownod:
I had never heard of it and a guy I work with got one and loves it, gets great reviews across the board.