Contender or Encore in same caliber

[charles p]

If a pistol or carbine can be had in either the Encore or Contender, which would you select and why?

[Ranger99]

i've only had one encore, and
when i compared with my older
contenders, i didn't like it. i'd
got it to use because the 'tender
won't handle the rifle rounds,
but it just never satisfied me.
i traded it off and didn't buy
another. it just didn't have the
feel of the 'tenders. (to me)


just my personal tastes.

[Flynmoose]

I had a 12" 223 barrel for one of my Encore frames. While it was very accurate it was a little too big for me to handle easily. My Encores are all used as rifle/carbines now. I have a few pistol barrels for one of my G2 frames, they handle easily and are very accurate.
FM

[VA Jim]

The only reason I would go for an Encore over a Contender would be for the more powerful rounds. That's my personal preference, others might not agree.

[ThomTender]

I have both Contender's and Encore's and have found IMHO only that the Contender's are better in the pistol configuration and Encore's as rifle's/ shotgun's/muzzleloaders merely because of the respective sizes. Encore's are bigger, heavier, so are harder to carry.  I found anything I want to hunt at pistol range, Contender's have cartridges that will do the job. Again my opinion only.  ThomTender

[blacktail 8541]

The only reason I would go for an Encore over a Contender would be for the more powerful rounds. That's my personal preference, others might not agree.

This is my feeling as well.
Contenders can be used as a rifle or a pistol and feel good in the hand wile an encore feels huge in the pistol configuration.

[jobyjob]

Encore.

[Iowa Fox]

If its center fire-Encore

[dstegjas]

The Encore has its place with the higher pressure rounds and certainly is a fine weapon. I have had everything from 444 Marlin and 35 Remington barrels to 17 hmr and 22 LR barrels in the Contender and it has served me well. I have had no reason to move to the heavier Encore. Although I wouldn't hesitate to if I needed that extra power.
 
Jim

[woodchukhntr]

I've had rifle barrels in 2 calibers on both the Contender and Encore, .204 and .45-70.  Both shot the .204 very well and I kept the Contender barrel since the Contender was lighter and easier to carry.  I don't know how well the Contender .45-70 barrel shot since the darn gun recoiled too much.  I kept the Encore barrel in that caliber.

[jbj-displays]

Odd enough the only barrels that I have the same in both happen to be carbine black powder barrels.
Handgun choice Contender. Smaller grip and overall weight.
Carbine choice is depending on the round. Small enough to use the Contender then the Contender. If large caliber then the Encore with the Energy burner flex tech stock. Then since you say if both given as option is available in both then I would use the G2 with grip chip and the Encore stock. It gives you a higher cheek height to use larger optics.