Comparison between G2 and Encore in ML form

[kody]

   If I were to get into T/Cs for the main purpose of ML deer hunting ,followed by .22-250/.223 varmint hunting and possibly .243 pistol hunting deer in our S. zone, what are your learned recommendations. Let me qualify my position, I prefer a lighter gun. The M/L culd be in 209x.45 or 209x.50 . I understand that the .50 has a much wider variety of bullet selection and the barrel of the .50 is probably even lighter than the .45, both using the same blank. The varmint gun could be standard weight for carrying , I just want sufficient length for best accuracy. The .243 though is a problem in that I understand that the Contender is the frame to use for legal purposes, that G2s and Encores were designed/built/designated/marketed as rifles and the installation on them of   a pistol-length barrel would either make them illegal as a pistol or a rifle regardless of the grip/stock I hang on it. To me the G2 would be strong enough to handle those calibers and would be lighter than the Encore. Your thoughts please?     Ken

[Keith L]

If you want a .243 you will need an Encore.  I will let others comment on the rest of your post.

[DEACONLLB]

Not sure in your state so can only say for Oklahoma, but here we can buy new from Thompson dealer a G2 pistol or a G2 rifle. I bought a new G2 from a dealer in Tulsa in 44mag with a 12 inch barrel and it came in a pistol box marked pistol  I also bought a new in the box stainless G2 that had a rifle stock and forend but no barrel and it was marked on end of box rifle - pistol so it may have been up to the dealer to tell the ATF what it was being sold as. I had one Thompson dealer tell me that he registers them as rifle or pistol but you can get all kinds of comments from dealers.
I may not understand your statement but you seem to be saying that if I understand correctly that you can not have a G2 pistol only a G2 rifle. This subject has been gone over before and I for one really do not think there is any way that we can be sure short of contacting the factory to see what it left as. I have bought at least 15 contenders and encores and G2 and only 3 of them I know what they started life so to speak as.
Deaconllb

PS more on your question The encore will take about all of the cal. but is for me at least too heavy in pistol
and for pistol I prefer regular contender or the G2.I also understand that the G2 is no stronger than contender and those webs on the side of frame just makes it look stronger. Hope this is of some help.

[Ladobe]

You've been feed information by someone who knows not what they speak.    

Your opinion or not, as Keith started, the 243 AND 22-250 are both too much for the Contender/G2 frames - shoot these on Encore frames only.   There are wildcats for the Contender frames that will approximate them both though if you wildcat.

The G2/Encore are for rifle only, the Contender is for pistols?    Think about that statement... if that were true would TC offer both pistol and rifle barrels for both frames?   You might read the FAQ on the legallities of rifle verses pistol barrels on either frame found here:

http://www.gboreloaded.com/forums/index.php/topic,131141.0.html

and then make up your own mind what is legal and what isn't.   Then do like most of us do and don't worry about it again.

[Keith L]

I got to .243 and stopped reading.  Thanks Ladobe, 22-250 is also to much for a Contender. 

[Ladobe]

No problem Keith.   I almost didn't reply to it at all with statements so far fetched I thought it was a joke.   Then noticed kody is not a newbie here, so figured he just got a bum steer.     I got interupted by my day nurse showing up, so didn't finish.

Legalities are to each his own so do whatever you see as right.   I have shot Contenders for 40 years and will continue to switch between pistol and carbine barrels on any frame I choose as I always have.   If the mattress tag police want me for that, come on down.

[DEACONLLB]

Good advice Ladobe. Ken check out what TC offers for each of the frames and if it is not offered then more than likely it is not safe on the frame it is not offered on. I have switched barrels for years rifle to pistol and back again and as has been stated on this subject if you stay within the law in what ever you are doing you are ok its only when you break the law that you have problems and they will be much bigger than switching a barrel on a frame. Do a search as to what has been written up on the forum and then make up your own mind. Maybe TC could put out a list of what is and is not safe on each of the frames but that would involve much work on their part. while we are on this subject and I would guess that it would depend on your state but is it really legal to hunt with the 45/410 combo barrel seeing that it is to short for a shotgun if you were say hunting something that was only legal to hunt with shotgun?
Deaconllb

[kody]

   My thanks to all of you. I am new to T/C pros and cons and have read a lot of things about them that just penetrated enough to make me sound stupid when I tried to dig further! [1.] I wanted to go as light as possible. [Contender] [2.]  I mainly wanted a M/L. [C, G2]   [3.]  I still want to dabble in varmint calibers and have a .22-250  [Encore ]  [4.] In our state [MN],M/Ls and lg pistols were legal last year for big game statewide and could be used in the deer shotgun zones and including scopes on the MLs   [5.] I would opt for a .243.   [Encore again] This year ,in spite of the lead contamination study, our DNR bowed to political pressure and allowed ALL centerfire .22 cals.and larger to be used for big game! Big game here includes Moose,Elk,Bear and Deer. Go figure!  Thanks again,    Ken