Help deciding on first T/C: Encore or Contender

[jakes10mm]

I was ready to jump on a new hunting revolver until I stalled looking at my dealer's T/C inventory.  My eyes fell on two in particular: a nice Encore in 260Rem and a nice Contender in 35Rem.  I've been considering a T/C firearm for some time, now trying to decide between an Encore and Contender.  I reload both cartridges, so I'm set there.  Any advise on the two models?  I expect to become a stereotypical T/C owner, with multiple barrels in both pistol and rifle configurations.  Both pistols have muzzle tamers, so I gather hearing protection is required... I'm leaning towards the Encore since I just finished a Savage 110 conversion into a youth sized 260Rem for my oldest son.  I love the 35Rem too, and just stocked up on a couple boxes of Hornady 200gr JSP bullets.  Guess the best answer is: get the Encore and order a 35Rem barrel for it.  Any advise for a potential T/C owner would be appreciated.

[EdK]

I own and appreciate both. What made me decide to comment was the fact that just prior you were looking at a new hunting revolver...

The 10" Contender is about the same profile and weight as a good, large frame hunting revolver with a 7.5" barrel. It should be more accurate and slightly higher performance without the cyl. gap. It will handle very similarly to your revolver and in this configuration it is great for the same magnum revolver cartridges. Add a 14" tube and it becomes a little more unwieldy but it is still a relatively compact and reasonably light rig (as larger hunting handguns go) and this length is good for the bottleneck rounds e.g. 7-30 Waters, 30-30 Win, 35 Rem which are quite a step up in power.

The Encore, good as it is, is much bulkier and heavier. This is in part due to the fact that if you are looking for a level of power that the Contender cannot deliver, then you will most likely buy a longer tube, possibly being chambered for a more powerful cartridge thus a heavier barrel profile, more sturdy bases/rings(heavier) to support larger optics and/or to protect them from recoil, larger/heavier grips/forends, etc. If you need/want the added power then by all means get one.

It is often said that an Encore is more versatile. Maybe so in the strictest sense of sheer number of chamberings. However as a handgun hunter I can get the job done 80-90% of the time with the Contender so is that really true? Great - the Encore fills that little gap but it is a real tank for the times when all I want is a handy woods gun.

I think you'll find many T/C enthusiasts wind up with both. One is not really better than the other. Evaluate your needs, do your homework and the right choice should be relatively easy.

[Grumulkin]

If I wanted to shoot rimfire cartridges, my choice would be the Contender.  It doesn't handle the very high pressure rounds but there are cartridges suitable for it that will take even elephant.  It is a bit lighter than the Encore.  The older Contenders also had a better trigger out of the box than the Encores.  I understand the trigger mechanism on the G2 Contender is of similar configuration to the Encore but I haven't shot one so have no experience with the G2s.

If I were to have only one T/C product, it would be the Encore.  It will handle all the usual sporting cartridges up to those with the 300 H&H Mag. case head size.  They also make rimfire barrels for the Encore but they have a step on them which, in my opinion, looks a bit hokey.

[Catfish]

There is an over travel screw in the back of the Contenders trigger gaurd the eats mu fingure up with any thing larger than a .357, and for that reason I alone I would recomand an Encore. Anothe reason for the Encore is that you can fire all rounds in it, even those running up to 60,000 psi where you cannot in the Contender. Don`t get me wrong I really like the Contenders, but the Encores will do every thing they will and more. For the first one I would recomand an Encore, especially with the rounds your looking at, then get a Contender later. 

[Lone Star]

To me, a handgun first needs to be portable - if it is too large/heavy I'd as soon carry a rifle.  The Contender is just more portable than the Encore - lighter, smaller, more purpose-built.  The Encore makes a great rifle, and that is really why it was developed.  As a handgun it is much bulkier to carry, heavier, and in many cases more powerful than necessary. I have taken dozens of Kodiak blacktails with my Contender in .300 Savage. Would an Encore in .308 have done any better?  Absolutely not, and it would have been more of a burden to carry the many miles I hunted each day...

But either one you choose - you will still own a winner. 



.

[irold]

I own both , shoot both and like them both !  The above posters have pretty much summed it up....the contender in 35 Rem is an awesome whitetail round.  ( sorry no experience with the 260 )  I like my Encore for the exact reasons several of the above didn't like it.  It's heavy , and weight soaks up recoil.....I have a 12 inch 44 for the Encore and a 10" for the Contender....the Encore makes the 44 much more pleasant to shoot than the Contender.  I understand what Lonestar is saying about weight....but there's not that much difference unless you get into the 15 inch barrels.........I don't like the 15" barrels for that reason.  In comparable barrel length's the weight difference is not that bad.  My recommendation ...get the Contender , use it...use it a lot , use it some more .  If you get hooked and want to go big ( IE .308 , 460 , 500 , what ever ) there's always some decent deals in the classifieds , just wait , eventally someone will want to sell what your looking for....and most are good and honest people.    Good Luck

[Rog]

I peronally prefer the Encore platform simply because it will handle higher pressure rounds.  If I could only have one, it would be the Encore.

However, I own both and am glad I have both.

The Encore can extend the range compared to the Contender when looking at standard factory chamberings.  Wildcat rounds in the Contender will extend the range compared to std. factory rounds in the Contender.  Wildcat Encore chamberings are even more powerful yet.

The Encore as mentioned is a bit heavier, and the reach to the trigger is a little more (important if you have small hands), but can be helped a lot with custom grips or aftermarket grips like Pachmayr.

While the Contender can be chambered in such rounds as 375 JDJ (available from SSK as well as T/C's Custom Shop), and capable of taking the largest game in the world, these rounds aren't really "long range" rounds like some would consider "long range".

The truth of the matter is that for most folks, the Contender will handle 90+% of all hunting (deer, etc), and the Encore just simply adds a twist that allows some of us who seem to thrive on BIG guns have something to whet our appetites with also.

I've owned more Encore bbls than Contender bbl's simply because the Encore could handle the pressure, while the Contender couldn't.

I must say, however, that the Contender fits my hand better than the Encore, but not by much.

Regards,

Rog

[tred1956]

I love the power and wide selection of cartridges for the encore. With it strength almost anything is possible. However, I have small hands and the contender fits my hand much better. It with a little bit of planning will do most jobs. But, sometimes wildcats must be used to achieve all of its potential. If you are like the rest of us the final choice will be BOTH!!!!
Thanks
Doug

[Dezynco]

I got an Encore because I got a really good deal on the frame.  My dad had it but preffered his old Contender.   I installed a .308 barrel onto it, I've had a lot of fun with it!

Of course, now I'm looking for a Contender too!

[yooper77]

It would be a good choice to buy the Encore and buy a 35 Remington barrel for it later.

I own the Encore and it’s a handy pistol that makes an excellent rifle as well.

yooper77

[MnMike]

You said that you would be buying both pistol and rifle. I would go for a Contender pistol and an Encore rifle.

The .260 would be a great rifle cartridge for a start (later 25-06, .300 Win Mag, .243).

The .35 Rem is a proven Contender chambering (although you have to look at 7-30, 30-30, and .357 Max).

Both would be fun with .204 and .223.

Good luck and enjoy,

mike

[454-hunter]

I own the encore and the wide range of calibers is why I chose it along with the strength of the frame . I would tell you one very important thing that no other poster brought out. According to a federal court case IF YOU BUY A CONTENDER OR ENCORE WITH A RIFLE BARREL IN THE RIFLE CONFIGURATION AND IT GOES ON THE PAPERS IN THE GUN SHOP TO THE NICS CHECK AS SUCH IT WILL FOREVER BE FROM THEN ON VEIWED AS A RIFLE AND CAN NEVER HAVE A HANDGUN BARREL (WHICH IS BY DEFINITION A BARREL SHORTER THAN 16  INCHES)ATTACHED TO IT AND IF CAUGHT YOU WILL BE PROSECUTED FOR POSSESION OF A ILLEGAL HANDGUN. HOWEVER!!!!!!!!!! IF YOU BUY THE ENCORE OR CONTENDER AS A HANDGUN (LESS THAN 16INCHES) AND IT GOES THROUGH THE CHECKING SYSTEM AND ON THE PURCHASING PAPERS AS A HANDGUN BY LAW!!! YOU CAN LENGTHEN A HANDGUN BUT YOU CAN NOT SHORTEN A RIFLE SO YOU CAN BUY THE BUTTSTOCK AND EXTRA RIFLE BARREL AND MAKE IT INTO  A RIFLE WITHOUT GETTING IN TROUBLE THUS GIVING YOU THE OPTION OF SHOOTING YOUR HANDGUN AS IT WAS ORIGINALLY BOUGHT AS A HANDGUN OR AS A RIFLE WITH A BARREL 16 INCHES OR LONGER.I TELL NO LIE!!!!!!!!!!
STAN H.

[yooper77]

454-hunter,

This subjest has been covered in great lengths.

See this link below.
Legality of rifle/handgun in an Encore
http://www.gboreloaded.com/forums/index.php/topic,131141.0.html