Re: T/C Contender & Encore
I have the older Contender frame, and as far as I know the big difference between the older fame and the G2 is the grip angle was changed and the grip to trigger distance was altered. My Contender, as all others I have seen, will work with Rimfire or Centerfire. However the Contender and G2 has a lower preassure limit on the frame and cannot be chambered for cartridges like 243, 308, 30-06, etc. You may want to look at the Encore since there are currently more barrels and options available and it can be chambered in dang near anything.
Re: T/C Contender & Encore
Have a couple of the older Contender frames and pistol barrels ranging from .22 rf and .22 Hornet up to .45 Colt. I tend to like the older 10" barrels, octagon for the lighter cartridges and bull for the .45, etc. Wide range of used barrels available and you can buy/sell them easily. (see Ed's Contenders: http://www.edstc.com/ )
Only have rifle barrels (.250, 6.5x55) on my Encore frame.
I tend to think of the Encore "pistol" as a very short rifle. As noted in the prior post, it can handle the .243, etc class cartridges and the Contender is limited to the .223, .30-30, etc.
Check the weights-- probably 3 to 3.5 lb for a Contender/G2 and 4+ lb for an Encore -- wide variations due to the various barrels.
Re: T/C Contender & Encore
If you want one gun that will do it all, get an Encore PISTOL, not an Encore RIFLE or a Contender pistol or rifle.
You can legally convert the Encore PISTOL into a RIFLE with a 16" or longer barrel, or a SHOTGUN with an 18" or longer barrel as long as it meats the overall length requirements of the ATF, but you CANNOT legally convert an Encore or a Contender that was manufactured / shipped from TC as a RIFLE into a PISTOL without going through special Title 2 paperwork and paying the federal tax required to do so.
Also the Encore can do everything from 22 Long Rifle all the way up to the belted magnums. It will also handle a 12 Ga. shotgun barrel. The Contender is limited to lower pressure or smaller breach face rounds that do not exceed the standing breech design limits.
Re: T/C Contender & Encore
Between my Sons and myself we have several Encores from 204 up to a 450 Marlin. They are fun and shoot good and can be as addicting as Savages. The 450 Marlin can be used in Ill. gun season as it is a straight walled case, that might interest you Trapp.
Re: T/C Contender & Encore
Thank you all the info! It looks like the Encore may meet my needs more with the higher pressure stuff.
Bythebook, funny you should mention deer hunting. That would be one of the main uses. Our laws here require a bottleneck cartridge to be 1.4" or less and at least 30 cal. Fired from a single shot handgun or revolver with at least a 4" barrel. Ammo must be factory available with published data showing at least 500 ft/lbs. of energy at the muzzle.
That was a mouthful! Wait for it..............enter the 300 Blackout.
A web trip to Bullberry and Matchgrademachine had me drooling!
Re: T/C Contender & Encore
Quote:
Originally Posted by trappst
Thank you all the info! It looks like the Encore may meet my needs more with the higher pressure stuff.
Bythebook, funny you should mention deer hunting. That would be one of the main uses. Our laws here require a bottleneck cartridge to be 1.4" or less and at least 30 cal. Fired from a single shot handgun or revolver with at least a 4" barrel. Ammo must be factory available with published data showing at least 500 ft/lbs. of energy at the muzzle.
That was a mouthful! Wait for it..............enter the 300 Blackout.
A web trip to Bullberry and Matchgrademachine had me drooling!
But if it is a straight walled case there is no case length limit, that is why my Son got the 450 Marlin barrel. I will admit though you have to practice with it to get used to it. Letting a 300 to a 350 grain bullet go from a 5lb. pistol gets your attention, even with a muzzle brake.
Re: T/C Contender & Encore
when the .45-70 was first chambered for the contender there was no muzzle brake on it, now the only way the factory will sell them is braked. To many hit between the eyes!
Another big plus for the Encor and G2 is the action dose not have to be opened to reset the trigger to recock the hammer.
They also have a support network for the barrel addiction! They have venders that make very nice barrel storage devices!!!!
Re: T/C Contender & Encore
Check the triggers on the two also - big difference in pull quality from the factory.
Re: T/C Contender & Encore
bythebook, you are correct on the straight walled pistol cases. I have a Ruger SRH 454 that I also hunt with. It can be a handful too!
Eric in NC, on the triggers which one is normally better? Contender or Encore?
Re: T/C Contender & Encore
My experience is that Contenders have good triggers out of the box and can be easily made into something fantastic. Encores come on the low end of "ok" for me but can be fixed but it takes more work (can't remove trigger mechanism etc.).
Good walkthrough here -
http://www.bellmtcs.com/store/index.php?cid=110
Re: T/C Contender & Encore
It's my latest addiction. I have a G2 with a 357 mag, 44 mag, 375 GNR, 7-30 Waters MGM barrel.
Unfortunately the job situation is making it difficult to feed the addition right now.
I really like the feel of the G2 and earlier frames. The encore seems a little "clunky" and too big for my taste....I'm using it as a hunting pistol only. My Savages do ALL the rifle duty work I would need.
The 357 Mag will soon be a 357 Max and the 44 Mag will soon be a 445 Super Mag.
It's as addicting as the Savage!!!
Re: T/C Contender & Encore
The 357 Max is an awesome SS pistol round. Decide if you want to use pistol type bullets or 35 Remington type bullets and have it throated accordingly.
375 Win is a great round too if you need more thump!
Re: T/C Contender & Encore
I'm a avid handgunner, have a 1st Gen, T/C Contender Super 14 chambered in 45 Winchester Mag. Does a number on deer & hogs
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y19...icture5713.jpg
Don, 45 win mag in a contender?
Nice picture by the way. are you talking the centerfire 45 win mag? Can a Contender handle that? Thx, Ed
Quote:
Originally Posted by
DonArkie