contender vs encore
- Thread starter bigghoss
- Start date
The encore can handle higher pressure cartridges. I don't have one but I do have a Contender. I think the encore also fixed some problems with the contender like; Frame rub, hard to open if you are a stick armed panty waist
and having to open the action to cock the piece after letting down the hammer(I may be wrong on that one but I believe the G2 does fix that). Barrels are not interchangeable and the encore is heavier than the contender. The contender could not handle High pressure rounds like the 308, 3006, 300WM. It was more a pistol and low pressure gun like the 30-30, 45-70,223, 44mag..
and having to open the action to cock the piece after letting down the hammer(I may be wrong on that one but I believe the G2 does fix that). Barrels are not interchangeable and the encore is heavier than the contender. The contender could not handle High pressure rounds like the 308, 3006, 300WM. It was more a pistol and low pressure gun like the 30-30, 45-70,223, 44mag..The Contender can chamber cartridges below the .308 class.
The Encore can chamber much larger and higher pressure rounds like the 300 magnums. As a result, the frame is larger and heavier.
The Contender was designed as a handgun with interchangeable barrels that can also be a rifle.*
the Encore was designed as a rifle with interchangeable barrels that can also be used as a handgun.*
*Provided that your receiver was originally sold as a handgun. Legally, you can make a handgun into a rifle, but not vice versa. (It's the government, it doesn't have to make sense.)
The Encore can chamber much larger and higher pressure rounds like the 300 magnums. As a result, the frame is larger and heavier.
The Contender was designed as a handgun with interchangeable barrels that can also be a rifle.*
the Encore was designed as a rifle with interchangeable barrels that can also be used as a handgun.*
*Provided that your receiver was originally sold as a handgun. Legally, you can make a handgun into a rifle, but not vice versa. (It's the government, it doesn't have to make sense.)
troy_mclure
New member
the encore fixes that pesky prob of space(or lack of) between the trigger and scope as well.
the pro hunter has a "swivel" hammer as well.
the pro hunter has a "swivel" hammer as well.
The encore frames are all sold as pistols.The contender frames were designed for lower pressures, 30-30 ,35 rem ,444 ,light loads in the 45/70,are about the max.The encore came along around 96 and has been loaded to very high pressures ,every standard rifle round 460 S&Wmag 500 mag and enough wildcats to get lost with.Alex
troy_mclure
New member
the encore has tons more options, but ive seen some hella deals on contenders, and barrels.
mikejonestkd
New member
The new G2 Contender has essentially the same trigger as the encore, the old contenders did have nicer ones though. So, if you are buying a new one then get the encore.
The encore has more options for calibers, stocks, barrels and finishes than the G2 contender.
The encore has more options for calibers, stocks, barrels and finishes than the G2 contender.
What do you want to do with it? There are some killer deals on Contenders out there. If you don't plan on needing a 308 pistol the contender may be the way to go. I have one and I like it. I had an Encore Carbine in 260 and 308 and I sold it. The contender trigger is better. You can find barrels for 125 bucks that look almost brand new.
I have the following Barrels:
30-30(Very accurate)
223(Not a bad shooter)
7mm TCU(Very accurate and easy to load for used to knock Rams at 200 yds down with authority)
6mm TCU(ground Hog death ray)
22 LR 10"(Maybe the best squirrel pistol made)
I got rid of a 45-70, way too much recoil and you can match the light loads in a 45 Colt.
I wish I had a 7-30 waters barrel(PM me if you have one for sale 14")
T/C Contenders are great guns for hunting and target shooting. I love mine its an older one from the early 80's and is a Super 14.
I have the following Barrels:
30-30(Very accurate)
223(Not a bad shooter)
7mm TCU(Very accurate and easy to load for used to knock Rams at 200 yds down with authority)
6mm TCU(ground Hog death ray)
22 LR 10"(Maybe the best squirrel pistol made)
I got rid of a 45-70, way too much recoil and you can match the light loads in a 45 Colt.
I wish I had a 7-30 waters barrel(PM me if you have one for sale 14"
)T/C Contenders are great guns for hunting and target shooting. I love mine its an older one from the early 80's and is a Super 14.
AA has them every once in a while. I got the 223 barrel with a burris 1.5-4X scope(Not mounted at an estate auction; $115 for the barrel and $72 for the scope. Not many folks wanted a pistol scope. I look for used stuff at Gunshows too. I got the 7mm TCU barrel about 20 years ago for $55 off a guy at agun show trying to trade for stuff. he did not know what it was. The deals are out there and I try to find used stuff that was not used if you know what I mean. Gunbroker has a few deals but their prices are going up and the guys who deal on there are marking up accordingly. The 22LR barrel I got off GunBroker about a year ago for $105. I was the only one to bid on it. The guy selling it was a little ******. It had a 1.5X Phantom mounted on it and he started the bidding at $100. I put $105 and watched it, no one bid, it mine
if you know what I mean. Gunbroker has a few deals but their prices are going up and the guys who deal on there are marking up accordingly. The 22LR barrel I got off GunBroker about a year ago for $105. I was the only one to bid on it. The guy selling it was a little ******. It had a 1.5X Phantom mounted on it and he started the bidding at $100. I put $105 and watched it, no one bid, it mine
Check this out:
http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=120106763
Its under 200 bucks with scope................Sam
http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=120106763
Its under 200 bucks with scope................Sam
I don't think so. There has been significant debate on this subject over on the specialty pistols forum (a forum of long-range pistol shooters) as to how legal/illegal it is to change the grips on an Encore rifle frame and make it a pistol. The consensus was that only the ones sold from the factory as pistols are legal to keep as pistols.
Dallas Jack
New member
As stated by others the Contender is mostly a low pressure pistol with a carbine option. (Shoots most pistol calibers and some low pressure rifle rounds) The G2 fixed some of the original Contender quirks but is still a low pressure pistol. The Encore is a larger stronger rifle version of the G2 that will handle high pressure calibers and can be had as a pistol.
If I were going to hunt with a pistol I would find a used Contender or G2. If on the other hand I were going to use it as a rifle I would get the Encore,
I have had 4 contenders and used them to compete in NRA Hunter's Pistol. They were excellent pistols. I now have an Encore in 25/06 and am very pleased with it.
Dallas Jack
If I were going to hunt with a pistol I would find a used Contender or G2. If on the other hand I were going to use it as a rifle I would get the Encore,
I have had 4 contenders and used them to compete in NRA Hunter's Pistol. They were excellent pistols. I now have an Encore in 25/06 and am very pleased with it.
Dallas Jack
troy_mclure
New member
theres a contender for for sale in the gun show section, its got several bbls.
its under $400(i think)
its under $400(i think)
FrankZappa
New member
Back to the original question:
One thing not yet mentioned is the Contender has two firing pins and the Encore has only one.
One thing not yet mentioned is the Contender has two firing pins and the Encore has only one.
GeekWithAGun
New member
Really? Wow, I never knew that. That changes everything. I guess the Encore is out for me then. I think it's nice to be able to switch back and forth between centerfire and rimfire.