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

Guns Magazine, Dec, 2004 by Glenn Barnes

Not any longer. Thompson/Center first solved this aggravating design flaw when they developed the centerfire-only Encore in 1997. Basically, the two guns are the same. The Encore is just beefier and intended for larger and higher-pressure cartridges. With this nagging malady addressed, to many shooters and hunters--myself included--the G-2 Contender is without doubt the simplest to operate, most accurate and versatile single shot hunting or silhouette handgun ever conceived.

I contacted Thompson/Center and asked them to send me one of the new G-2s to see how it would perform. As I'm an inveterate revolver cartridge guy, I asked for both a .357 Magnum and a .44 Magnum barrel with standard iron sights to wring out. Obviously someone who knew me well forwarded the package, and in it was a note. It said, "Glenn, we appreciate the opportunity to provide you with our new G-2 Contender to test. Enclosed you will find two of our handgun scopes. We suggest you remove the iron sights and install the optics. We here at T/C are familiar with your legendary ability to miss your target. Hope the optics help." Gee, thanks guys, you're all heart!

Opening the box and inspecting the action and barrels, I quickly noted Thompson/Center's famous attention to detail has not been left out on the new G2. The barrels sported high polish blue so deep you could see the future in it and the muzzle is protected from scratches and dings by a well-executed and eye-pleasing crown. The hammer, trigger, and trigger guard are also blued to a mirror-like finish, and the sides of the frame sport a somewhat subdued finish, contrasting nicely with the rest of the gun.

After examining the G-2 for a few moments, I took their friendly advice and removed the iron sights and installed the scopes. Gathering a bag full of ammo and my shooting gear. I stuffed it all into my worn out range bag and headed out to see what it would do. The .44 Magnum was first to run the gauntlet. Using Black Hills 240-grain JHP factory ammo, the G-2 averaged just over two inches at 100 yards. My favorite home-brewed concoctions consisting of 23 grains of Hodgdon H-110 under Hornady's excellent 240-grain XTP bullet, and 21 grains of either Alliant 2400 or Accurate Arms No. 9 using the same Hornady bullet, were hard pressed to beat it. A few other loads using a variety of 240- and 300-grain bullets proved the .44 Magnum G-2 to be pretty much a two- to four-inch gun at 100 yards, which is plenty precise for the majority of anyone's hunting needs.

The .357 Magnum barrel mirrored the .44 Magnum's in the precision department with a fair selection of handloads and factory ammo. Average groups hovered around two to four inches with everything at 100 yards. The most accurate .357 Magnum load consisted of Hornady's 158-grain XTP over 14.7 grains of Alliant 2400, which has proved to be a superb choice in several of my revolvers as well.

Just for fun, I installed a .223 Remington barrel I'd been hoarding for a few years because of its incredible accuracy and varmint killing abilities. It proved to be just as precise on the new G-2 using Federal's fine factory number loaded with Nosler's 55-grain Ballistic Tip, delivering five shot groups of slightly over one inch at 100 yards.