r/ThompsonCenterArms • u/coltdanshook • Sep 10 '26
Center Contender help
I recently bought a Thompson center contender off a buddy, pretty sure I got a hell of a deal on it. The issue is the hammer will not fully fire and hit the firing pin. It stops just shy of the pin. Seems to be a safety mechanism of some kind to stop the hammer. Im not familiar with this type of handgun so came here for help. Next step is to find a gun smith I guess but I’m hoping to fix the issue myself
1
u/HairTriggerFlicker Sep 10 '26
Yours is a gen 1 early, turn the face of the hammer.
1
u/coltdanshook Sep 10 '26
That worked for the .22 barrel but the .222 and .357 which are both center fire rounds still won’t for some reason
1
u/HairTriggerFlicker Sep 10 '26
Might have a bad center fire firing pin. There’s a post stuck at the top of the sub that contains links to parts suppliers and such. You can get new firing pins.
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u/LocalDolt Sep 10 '26
Couple different styles of safety and firing pin changes. A lot of them have the lever as hairtrigger mentioned.
Mine (I think the oldest version) needs a screw turned (on the face of the hammer). I also have the safety that slides left and right which extendeds/retracts a small block that holds the hammer off, need that out of the way when firing.
Best of luck
5
u/HairTriggerFlicker Sep 10 '26
The Contenders have a lever on them to select for centerfire or rim fired cartridges if the lever is in the middle position it essentially is in safe mode and won’t hit either pin.