Recoil ? Contender vs. Encore

[Plainsman]

I've parted with my Contender over a year ago, but am now considering an Encore to get back into the single action game.

So my primary question is:  How does the recoil compare from the Contender to the Encore?

I found the Contender with a 10" bull barrel in .44 magnum was more than I cared for.  How will an Encore with a 12" or even 15" barrel in the same caliber fare?  Does the grip angle seem to make a difference?

I don't plan on scoping it either for some more reference.

Thanks for any input!

[longwinters]

If you are going with the same caliber but in the Encore with a longer barrel the only thing that will effect the recoil is the weight of the pistol.  I do not think it will be much less.  Maybe others would have a different opionion.  I had a contender with the 14" barrel, stainless, in 7-30 waters.  I did not find the recoil difficult to get used to.  I wish I still had it because it was a lot of fun to shoot and hunt with.  

long

[Blunderbus]

Plainsman,

I asked the same question some time back, noting the weight difference and another member simply replied "more weight equals less recoil."

I love the velocity boost the .44 mag gets out of a Contender, but I'm like you ... recoil seems a lot more vicious out of that particular pistol and barrel length than a lot of .44 mag revolvers I've shot. Then, in my own slow-learning fashion, it occurred to me that the velocity boost you get in a Contender probably has an awful lot to do with the increased severity of the felt recoil in those handguns.  I mean, you really can't have one without the other, can you?

I haven't obtained a .44 mag barrel for my Encore yet, but when I get one I suspect it will be a lot more comfortable to shoot than it was in the Contender. The grip feels good ... and the extra weight will be a help.


Blunderbus

[myronman3]

something you guys should keep in mind... i had a 35 rem barrel and shot it with standard sythetic factory grips.    man would that thing punish me.   i shoot a 454 r.b. and it aint half what that 35 was.   got rid of the 35.    fast forward....
  got another contender through a trade.  this had a 30-30 barrel and pachmyer grips.   i expected about the same as the 35; but man was i in for a surprise.   what a pussycat.   some have told me the 30-30 would kick hard too and maybe it does; but not with the grips.  i aint saying the mild recoil is entirely due to the grips; but there aint no doubt they help alot to make it less noticable.    so if you want to tame it, consider investing in a good grip like pachmyer.

[ben gordon]

I have a 15 inch 44 mag for my encore, also a 10 inch 44 for my contender.  there is quite a bit of difference.  the short contender will hurt you, with the same loads the longer and heavier encore won't.  If you get one I would suggest the 12 inch, 15 is to me long for a handgun caliber, not very handy.

[RipOne]

Bullet wt increase = recoil increase / less wt of firearm = increase of recoil
.... there's recoil calculators on the web that help answer. My 41 Mag came back with 16 ft pounds and that wasn't bad ........... a great cal.

Excessive recoil cartridge-firearm may hit the moon, but ....

Handloading gives you some control over things ( Up-Down ). The rubber grips would make some difference. That 41 Mag was a shooter - nice.

[Gregory]

Handloading gives you some control over things ( Up-Down ). The rubber grips would make some difference. That 41 Mag was a shooter - nice.

I had a 10" 44 Contender for many years, now I have a 14" and there is less of the wrist snapping muzzle flip with the longer barrel.  I have not been happy with my Encore in a pistol congiguration, it's too bulky for me.  I'll stick with my Contenders.
Other things you may want to consider, besides Ripone's good advice, is to shoot 44 Specials or try a 357 Max.  Loading 200 gr bullets in the 44 rather than 240's would help too.

[billjoe]

My 375JDJ kicks pretty good but with the pachmayer grips and shooting gloves, it's very managable.  Take the gloves off and it's still managable but you can really tell the difference.

bj

[Ladobe]

I'll chime in for S &G I guess.  

Dumped my Encores about 3 years ago - too heavy and bulky for me after shooting Contenders for over 30 years.   And, I also am a big fan of the Pachy Decellerator grips.   I have a bunch of Handcannons (Contender) that all wear them, and they are all a pleasure to shoot with the Pachy's.   I almost consider my two 375JDJ's pussycats anymore, and all the smaller JDJ's and my Super Bowers are even easier.

I had a 10" factory 44 barrel once, a piddly octagon, and remember it not as really bad, but also as not necessisarily a fun barrel to shoot with full house loads (but back then I only had wood grips too).   By far, the nastiest I owned though was a very early 12" 454 Casull Encore with factory grips (that didn't fit my hand) that I shot full house Freedom Arms loads in (full case of H-110 and 260 or 300 gr. pills).   Torque City!!!   BTW, I also test fired the first ever 10" 416 Rigby Encore before it went to its owner...  manageable for someone who has shot handcannons for a long time and knows how to roll with them, but not one I'd do any 100 round range sessions with like I do with the 375JDJ's (or even a 40 round IHMSA session with).   BTW, I don't wear a shooting  glove - don't like them, but friends who do use them swear by them.

Anyway, as has been said, try the Contender short 44 again if you can but with a Pachy grip - you may find it a whole bunch more pleasant.   An Encore frame for a 44 is way overkill IMHO.

Good shooting,

Ladobe  :bye:

[Old One Shot]

I guess I will have to give my two cents worth !! I have many encores, one of my favorites is 270 Win. great gun and does anything I could ever ask for and more. For a while I shot factory Hornady 130 gr. SST they worked great out of a 15 in.  Little hand-shock but is to be expected. One of the others is a 22-250 sweet gun almost like shooting a 22. Good luck with what ever you decide.    GREAT GUNS THOUGH !!!!!!!!!!!!!                   Take care and shot straight