Thompson/Center Contender G-2: the discriminating shooter's pistol

Guns Magazine, Dec, 2004 by Glenn Barnes

Is that ugly thing really a handgun?" "You have got to be joking!" "Ain't nobody gonna be crazy enough to buy one of those!" "Come on, a single-shot pistol for hunting? Give me a break." "Why don't you just stick that sissy-looking pea-shooter back in the counter and let me see a real gun."

Actually, these were some of the more pleasant statements issued from traditional minded shooters and handgun hunters when Thompson/Center first unveiled their revolutionary new Contender handgun design in 1967. Fortunately, I was barely out of diapers in 1967 and missed out on all the name-calling, rock throwing, and general blasting of this upstart gun company.

Shooters in general, and handgunners in particular, have always held strong beliefs (read stubborn and opinionated) about what constitutes the perfect hand-held firearm, and the new Thompson/Center did not measure up to their standards in any shape, form, or fashion, especially shape. With its full-length rib, break-open design, and an action that sported a wild critter on its side, who could blame them? It kinda resembled the Star Trek pistol Mom and Dad gave me for Christmas one year. Serious shooters were predicting a bleak future for Thompson/Center and some were even gathering in the gun graveyard with shovels in their hands ready to help usher it into the great beyond.

Amidst all the bashing and hair pulling usually associated with any new design on the market, a few savvy shooters decided to give it a try before relegating it to the bone-yard, and what they discovered softened the hearts and brought tears of joy to the eyes of hardened traditional minded shooters the world over. "That ugly thing really shoots! It's accurate!" "No, I ain't joking!" "You're darn right I'm crazy enough to buy one of those!" "A single shot pistol for hunting? Why not, I'll give it a try." "Put that real gun back in the counter and let me see the sissy-looking pea-shooter again." It's kinda funny how tight little groups can change minds and break the molds of what's traditional and what isn't, ain't it?

Initially offered in .22 LR, .22 WMR, .22 Hornet, .22 Jet, and .38 Special, the Contender didn't exactly cater to the whims and needs of serious big game hunters, but these smaller calibers were sheer dynamite in the hands of small game nimrods. It wasn't long, however, before Thompson/Center realized the wild critter emblazoned on the sides of their frame was a real brute and was perfectly capable of handling more powerful cartridges up to and including the .45-70 Government. In fact, according to Thompson/Center Association historians, the Contender has been chambered in more than 75 different calibers both standard and wildcats over the years. Some peashooter, huh?

Aside from its superb precision in all chamberings, the Contender's main attraction has always been its ability to quickly shapeshift into another caliber by simply replacing the barrel and, with the turn of a small lever on the hammer, you can go from a rimfire to a centerfire. Let's see, we've got extreme accuracy, unmatched versatility, and racy if somewhat futuristic good looks, not to mention a budget satisfying price tag. What isn't there to love?

But wait, there's more! The original Contender has been redesigned into what could arguably be considered the ultimate single shot handgun of all time. Thompson/Center calls it the G-2 Contender. The G-2 is the first major design enhancement in the Contender's 35-year history, which in itself is an achievement of notable proportions. Key structural elements of the original design remain untouched, such as its simple break open action, swift barrel replacement, firing pin system, and its adaptability to the use of optics. As a bonus, all those Contender barrels you've been hoarding all these years fit perfectly on the new G-2 without any modification.

Two changes will catch your eye immediately. The first is the grip frame. On pre-G-2 frames the grip angle is relatively sharp causing you to feel every foot-pound of recoil induced pain. The G-2's grip frame has been modified somewhat and in my opinion treats hands and wrists that have been ravaged by too many years of hard recoil, with kid gloves.

The second thing you'll notice is the frame itself. Gone is the legendary critter emblazoned on the side; the new G-2 is sleeker and sports a more modern look. In fact, at a quick glance, you'll think you're looking at one of Thompson/Center's legendary Encores.

What you won't notice until you pick one up and give it a closer inspection are the design modifications I like best, mostly because I'm somewhat of a lazy shooter and prefer my shooting toys to be easy to operate. Remember how stiff, and how much effort it took to break open the action on a regular Contender? Not anymore. You can toss those old thing-a-ma-gigs we used to squeeze to strengthen our wrists and hands in the garbage can. The new G-2 requires much less effort to open the action and was designed so even youngsters, or anyone with small hands could operate it with ease. The next design modification is one shooters have been demanding for years. In the original Contender design, the only way the gun can be cocked is to move the trigger guard to the rear, or as most of us did, break the action open. With the hammer cocked, and you decided to let it down, the only way to re-cock it was to break open the action again. Simply put, it was a pain in the rear end.