Actually, i shouldve asked this 1st

[SwampBuck]

I would like to buy a contender or an encore. My 1st barrel, I would like a .45/410 barrel, then I would like to add a muzzleloading barrel down the road and finally a .270 or 30/06 all in pistol form. 1st, do the .270/30-06 come in the form of a pistol? How is the recoil? Roughly how much would I spend total on a set up like this?

[DesertRam]

First, to handle the high pressure rifle cartridges you mention, you'll need the Encore.  The Contender can't do it.  I know the '06 is chambered in both 15" and 24" barrels, as is the .270 (which is only offered in blue finished 15").  I can't comment on recoil other than to say my 15" barreled .308 is more pleasant to shoot than a Ruger Blackhawk in .44 mag.  Total cost:  Encore frame with pistol barrel (buy it as a pistol :wink: ) - ~$500; 45/.410 barrel ~$200; 209X50 ML barrel w/forend ~ $250-300.  These are new prices, about retail, from several on-line places.  Shopping around and/or buying used will save you a few bucks.  Of course, each barrel will require your choice of optics, but only you can decide how much you want to spend there :-) Take a look at the T/C site to see what the Encore is chambered in from the factory.  Of course, custom barrel makers can cut you a barrel to your specifications is just about any chambering you want, for a price...[/url]

[Major]

As DesertRam said, go with the Encore.   It will do the high-pressure rounds that the Contender won’t.   In fact it will do all caliber’s except rimfire with ease.   It will do rimfire too but that takes either changing out the firing pin assembly (there is a kit available) or buying special “off center” barrels.

By the way, while I do not have one, I have heard many say that the .45/.410 barrel is not the way to go as it doesn’t work well for either one.   You would be better off buying a barrel just for the .45 Colt or the .410 and stay away from the combo.   But that is your call, as the compromises may be acceptable to you.

[hardertr]

I bought my first contender about a month ago (10" 30-30), then bought 3 barrels (10" 44mag, 10 22lr and 14"223)  THEN I bought an encore carbine (24" 7mm-08) this past weekend.

Looking back, I wish I would have started out with the encore.  The pull as a carbine is AWSOME (and I'm a big guy)!  The caliber selection is much better with the enocore in both configurations as well.

I'm glad I got the contender because I did get a good deal on it, and I can keep it in pistol configuration.  On the other hand, 2 encores would have been twice as nice!

(I KNOW, I KNOW....like most of you, I will undoubtedly end up with MULTIPLE contender and encore frames.  I'm fighting "condenderitis" every step of the way though!)

[Major]

Hardertr,

Fighting "Condenderitis" is a losing battle and now the virus has mutated into “Encoreitis” as well.

[**oneshot**]

I shoot a .308 encore and also compare the recoil to a 44mag.  The biggest difference is the recoil is more straight back than "flip over the top" like a 44mag pistol.   Try it before you get into muzzle brakes or porting,  they tend to make it very loud.  Accuracy is outstanding.

[Singletap]

Everything "oneshot" stated is true -- I also have a 15" .308, it's a T/C custom shop, heavy barrel that has the muzzle tamer.  Wonderful shooter with a mild ride-- however I would not get the tamer again on this barrel, way too loud in a hunting situation and the caliber is very manageable without one -- the weight of the heavy barrel also helps with recoil without spending the extra cash on the tamer.  :wink: