CONTENDER .50 BMG ?????

Phillip Oelkers

unread,

Sep 5, 1996, 3:00:00 AM9/5/96

to

Today one of the Range Rambo's was talking of a TC Contender in .50 BMG!

Of course none of his buddies was with him when he saw it.

Is such a pistol possible? It would seem to me at least half your powder
would burn in the air.

Be advised there is a SUBSTANTIAL wager on this! An entire six pack of
Sam Adams Honey Porter says I'm right, a whole six of motor oil 'er Cream
Stout if I'm wrong.

---
ž WinQwk 1.30 #0 ž Unregistered Evaluation Copy

David Stanton

unread,

Sep 6, 1996, 3:00:00 AM9/6/96

to

Phillip,

Of course you can chamber the TC Contender for .50 BMG. Just replace
the frame and the barrel with new ones from Browning.

You have been fed a line of bull. The TC Contender is a low pressure
action suited for many cartridges, but nothing even approaching the
30-06, let alone a .50 BMG. Collect on your bet.

Phillip Oelkers wrote:
#
# Today one of the Range Rambo's was talking of a TC Contender in .50 BMG!
#
# Of course none of his buddies was with him when he saw it.
#
# Is such a pistol possible? It would seem to me at least half your powder
# would burn in the air.
#
# Be advised there is a SUBSTANTIAL wager on this! An entire six pack of
# Sam Adams Honey Porter says I'm right, a whole six of motor oil 'er Cream
# Stout if I'm wrong.
#
# ---
# ~ WinQwk 1.30 #0 ~ Unregistered Evaluation Copy
#

TSBench

unread,

Sep 6, 1996, 3:00:00 AM9/6/96

to

<<<Be advised there is a SUBSTANTIAL wager on this!>>>

You win.

Regards,
TSB

Louis Boyd

unread,

Sep 6, 1996, 3:00:00 AM9/6/96

to

poe...@ripco.com (Phillip Oelkers) wrote:
#Today one of the Range Rambo's was talking of a TC Contender in .50 BMG!
#Of course none of his buddies was with him when he saw it.
#Is such a pistol possible? It would seem to me at least half your powder

#would burn in the air.

#Be advised there is a SUBSTANTIAL wager on this! An entire six pack of
#Sam Adams Honey Porter says I'm right, a whole six of motor oil 'er Cream

#Stout if I'm wrong.

I suppose anything is possible, but to call it a "T/C Contender", (not a
wildly modified mostrosity), I would think the barrel would have to fit
a T/C Contender frame. The breech diameter of all T/C Contenders (not Encore)
is approximately .805" diameter. The base diameter of a .50 BMG cartridge
is .804" diameter. This makes a rather thin chamber wall! :-) i

You could probably use a T/C frame and hammer to fire a custom machined
barrel assembly with an offset firing pin. This would bring up an interesting
question. The T/C is already considered to be a "receiver" with a separate
barrel. If a chamber and barrel were made to fit the T/C would it have to
be registered as a firearm? Other T/C barrels don't. This could get stickey.

Maddi-Griffin made "pistols" in .50 BMG (though I don't think they were
commercial) with a short heavy barrel and muzzle brake. It could be shot
with no damage to the shooter but it had incredable muzzle flash and blast
and wasn't very practical.

Are you sure the bet was .50 BMG or just .50 caliber. A T/C in .50 AE or
a .50 cal black powder muzzle loader barrel is not unreasonable. Thompson
also sells the Scout pistol. It's a muzzle loader available in .50 and .54
caliber.

J. Sean Keane

unread,

Sep 7, 1996, 3:00:00 AM9/7/96

to

Phillip Oelkers wrote:
#
# Today one of the Range Rambo's was talking of a TC Contender in .50 BMG!

As hard as it may be to believe, there IS actually a company producing a
.50 BMG pistol (can't remember who at the moment, though).

However, it sure as heck aint T/C. Hope the Sammies taste good.

Regards,

J. Sean Keane

Walt Martin

unread,

Sep 7, 1996, 3:00:00 AM9/7/96

to

Phillip Oelkers wrote:
#
# Today one of the Range Rambo's was talking of a TC Contender in .50 BMG!

Did he grab both legs or just one? That's far too much cartridge for a
contender!
I have a 45/70 and a stiff load in that is about all one can hold onto.
Also, the gun would self destruct!
Collect your beer from the Rambo. Maybe he ment .50AE <grin>. You know
they're planning on releasing the
TC Encore <sic?>, it will handle the high power rifle fodder
like.....308, 30/06, ect.....

Enjoy your beer!
Walt

Daniel Morris DeRight

unread,

Sep 7, 1996, 3:00:00 AM9/7/96

to

Excerpts from netnews.rec.guns: 6-Sep-96 Re: CONTENDER .50 BMG ????? by
David Sta...@infoave.ne
# Phillip,
#
# Of course you can chamber the TC Contender for .50 BMG. Just replace
# the frame and the barrel with new ones from Browning.
#
# You have been fed a line of bull. The TC Contender is a low pressure
# action suited for many cartridges, but nothing even approaching the
# 30-06, let alone a .50 BMG. Collect on your bet.

You can however, get a Contender that will shoot 50 BMG bullets. I
believe it is chambered for the 50-70 or the 50-90, but the freebore is
increased signifigantly, such that the long BMG bullets can be used.
You aren't going to get anywhere near the 10-12k lb/ft that a BMG
usually puts out, but you will likely have the coolest looking loaded
ammo at the range!

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
sod...@cmu.edu

WildBTK

unread,

Sep 9, 1996, 3:00:00 AM9/9/96

to

Daniel Morris DeRight wrote:

# You can however, get a Contender that will shoot 50 BMG bullets. I
# believe it is chambered for the 50-70 or the 50-90, but the freebore is
# increased signifigantly, such that the long BMG bullets can be used.
# You aren't going to get anywhere near the 10-12k lb/ft that a BMG
# usually puts out, but you will likely have the coolest looking loaded
# ammo at the range!
#
# ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
# sod...@cmu.edu

Not to mention the severe lack of a hand after firing it once! Better get an effective compensator for that
puppy! [g]

--
================================================================
E-mail address: wil...@nm-us.campus.mci.net ... what a handful!
================================================================

Chuck Isdale

unread,

Sep 10, 1996, 3:00:00 AM9/10/96

to

Daniel Morris DeRight <soda...@CMU.EDU> wrote:

#Excerpts from netnews.rec.guns: 6-Sep-96 Re: CONTENDER .50 BMG ????? by
#David Sta...@infoave.ne
## Phillip,
##
## Of course you can chamber the TC Contender for .50 BMG. Just replace
## the frame and the barrel with new ones from Browning.
##
## You have been fed a line of bull. The TC Contender is a low pressure
## action suited for many cartridges, but nothing even approaching the
## 30-06, let alone a .50 BMG. Collect on your bet.

# You can however, get a Contender that will shoot 50 BMG bullets. I

#believe it is chambered for the 50-70 or the 50-90, but the freebore is
#increased signifigantly, such that the long BMG bullets can be used.
#You aren't going to get anywhere near the 10-12k lb/ft that a BMG
#usually puts out, but you will likely have the coolest looking loaded
#ammo at the range!

SSK (JD Jones) offers a special 50-70 barrel - has a faster twist
rate that normal (10 inches) and a modified chamber. This is pushing
the limits on pure size. The rear sight is mounted forward of the
chamber - not enough metal to put one over the chamber. And there is
not enough for a scope mount either. The article I read was in the
Handloader and written by Jay Turner. (interesting stuff.)

FWIW: There is such a thing as a 50 BMG pistol.
Check out: http://bluestem.prairienet.org/guns/big/mg.htm

-- Chuck

Edward Harmon

unread,

Sep 10, 1996, 3:00:00 AM9/10/96

to

poe...@ripco.com (Phillip Oelkers) wrote:

#Today one of the Range Rambo's was talking of a TC Contender in .50 BMG!

#Of course none of his buddies was with him when he saw it.

#Is such a pistol possible? It would seem to me at least half your powder
#would burn in the air.

#Be advised there is a SUBSTANTIAL wager on this! An entire six pack of
#Sam Adams Honey Porter says I'm right, a whole six of motor oil 'er Cream
#Stout if I'm wrong.

#---
# ž WinQwk 1.30 #0 ž Unregistered Evaluation Copy
#

Phillip,
No 50 BMG in Contender. The TC is not built to withstand pressures of
anything like a 50 BMG. Plus the chamber diameter required of the 50
BMG would not fit in a TC bbl. The powder burning? Well I doubt that
you could even call it that in a TC bbl. We have ignition, lift off,
is more like it.
What your range rambo was probably looking at was a 50 A & E. Which is
based on the 284 cartridge. Sort of like comparing two vehicles, one a
Moped and the other an Abrams Tank.
Ed Harmon
IHMSA Match Director

david mcpherson

unread,

Sep 12, 1996, 3:00:00 AM9/12/96

to

In article <5150vt$4...@xring.cs.umd.edu>, ha...@emeraldcoast.com (Edward
Harmon) wrote:

# poe...@ripco.com (Phillip Oelkers) wrote:
#
# #Today one of the Range Rambo's was talking of a TC Contender in .50 BMG!
#
# #Of course none of his buddies was with him when he saw it.
#
# #Is such a pistol possible? It would seem to me at least half your powder
# #would burn in the air.
#
# #Be advised there is a SUBSTANTIAL wager on this! An entire six pack of
# #Sam Adams Honey Porter says I'm right, a whole six of motor oil 'er Cream
# #Stout if I'm wrong.
#

# Phillip,
# No 50 BMG in Contender. The TC is not built to withstand pressures of
# anything like a 50 BMG. Plus the chamber diameter required of the 50
# BMG would not fit in a TC bbl. The powder burning? Well I doubt that
# you could even call it that in a TC bbl. We have ignition, lift off,
# is more like it.
# What your range rambo was probably looking at was a 50 A & E. Which is
# based on the 284 cartridge. Sort of like comparing two vehicles, one a
# Moped and the other an Abrams Tank.
x

Let's see. The maximum case diameter of a .50 BMG case is
.793". At the breech, the diameter of my TC barrel is .826". Would I
want .0165" (1/64") of steel to attempt to contain 55,000 CUP while I'm
holding onto it? I really don't think so.
On the other hand, in 1990 American Handgunner had a story about
a fellow named Norman Chung who built a single shot Dominator style gun
with a .50 BMG barrel on a 1911 frame. The monster weighs 15 lbs. and
looks something like a sewer pipe with a handle under it. The proof load
is an 850 gr. FMJ on top of 220 gr. of IMR 4895! The article didn't state
velocity or energy figures. The calculator probably ran out of digits.
There is a picture of him firing it and 6+ ft. flames blasting out of the
eight barrel ports. The concussion reportedly knocked the gun drawers out
of shooting boxes 5 to 6 lanes away. No wonder that American Handgunner
named him "Most Likely To Blow Himself Up!" Got to admit I'd pay $50 to
fire it just once!

-D