Encore vs contender Which one?

[toddx]

Hello Encore/contender experts.
I am about ready to take the plunge with a purchase of one of these systems.  Can I get some feed back as to why you chose your Encore/Contender set over the other?  Is the accuracy the same?  I understand the mechanical differences, ie, barrel choice, weight differnce, caliber selection. Though the Pro Hunter has a very nice feel when shouldered with the 28 in. barrel, I am hoping to get the same feel with a shorter OAL of rifle.  Is getting the contender going too far with carbinization?  (new word) ha.  So far a Pro hunter frame and stock with an Encore 24 inch barrel would be the happy medium to length ( 38 in. ) , and weight. 
I want to start out with a .22lr then possibly add a .223, 30-30 , .17 HMR, 45-70, 6.5x55 , ML and Shot gun.
thanks for your opinions!

[Grumulkin]

In my opinion. for shooting rimfire cartridges, the Contender is preferable.  They do make rimfire barrels for the Encore but they have a hump in them that I find aesthetically displeasing.  If you want to shoot 6.5X55 though, your only choice is the Encore since the Contender isn't designed for the pressure of that cartridge.

As for "feel," I like the feel of all my Encores and Contender with a variety of barrel lengths.

[OLDHandgunner]

Because I don't use big caliber's much. I have a 25-06 & 270 in a bolt when I need them.
My preference is the Contender. It's light, it's compact.
I like the looks and the feel of the Pro Hunter but it is heavy. My son own's one.
I just wish that the Contender would come out with a camo stock like the one's for the Pro Hunter. I just love the looks and the feel of these stock's. They are the best. But the things are heavy.
If I were 20 yrs old again I might have a different opinion, but I not. 

[DEACONLLB]

For the weight in the rifle format I will take the encore but when it comes to the pistol then for me it is the contender or g2 as has been stated the encore is too heavy for me any way in pistol format and then ad a scope and base and you have a real heavy hand gun, that is the reason I am selling my encore pistol barrel and stock sets. I have the contender and g2 in rifle also and they are light and easy to carry. I would say with a good rest or bypod the encore would be ok. MTCW
Deaconllb

[pastorp]

If you are hunting big, heavy game or at long range. Where you need a high intensity caliber then the Encore is your only choice. For deer hunting at reasonable ranges the contender is my choice. In a 22lr I take it in a contender. I'm not into long heavy guns. Regards, Byron

[Catfish]

If I could only have 1 it would be the Encore. I also don`t think you can get shotgun or muzzle loaders for the Contender. I cannot shot rounds that has much recoil in the Contender as the over travel screw behind the trigger gaurd eats my finger up, no problem with the Encore. It really boils down to personal choice.

[Davemuzz]

I got both. Actually, I have 2 Contender frames. One exclusively for my .223 rifle 23" barrel, and the second for my 7-30 Waters and a 45-410 barrel. I love the Contender frame for handgun\handrifle shooting. Lighter and smaller than Encore's.  I also like the smaller frame and barrel for shooting summer groundhogs. Easy to carry\load\unload, and my longest groundhog kill has been 330 yards.

I have the ProHunter and just one barrel in .243. I like the weight and balance of the ProHunter stock system, and the accuracy is second to none.

Dave