Switching to Contenders

[Win 1917]

How many people have switched mostly or entirely from Encores to Contenders/G2's?

I still like my Encore and will keep it around as a rifle for a few high intensity rounds I want to shoot but other than that I've found myself gravitating entirely to Contenders/G2's for everything else. Both as a handgun and a carbine the smaller frame makes for such a sweet handling gun.     

[smong2000]

I did recently but just for handguns. Hated the weight and bulk of the Encore 15" package and figured that going to a shorter barrel would just defeat the purpose of the beefy frame.  For rifles I don't mind the weight and like the hotter cartridges Encores handle. 

[Dezynco]

I sold my Encore pistol and switched to G2 Contenders.  The bulk of the Encore made a dreadfully unhandy pistol, plus most of the Contender cartridges will shoot further than I'm capable of holding 'er steady.

Later I discovered that the Contender makes for a dang handy little carbine also.  However don't be fooled by the "pressure limits" of the Contender frame.  There are cartridges based on the 30-30  like the 7x30 Waters, 375 Winchester, and some of the wildcats based around the 6.5mm bullet in a 30-30 cartridge that will surprise you with how well they perform at long distances.  Even the venerable old 30-30 performs better than it should in a good single shot configuration because you can handload "pointy" bullets that bump up the performance tremendously.  The 30-30 Ackly Improved will just about sneak up and tickle the tail of a 308 Winchester with 150 grain bullets.  All of the 30-30 based wildcats are very easy to make.

[rickyp]

I did away with my contender and have jsut a  G2 contender frame, I use this frame for small game hunting and light recoiling rounds.

I have 2 encore frames that I use for large caliber in both handgun and shotguns

[c_latrans]

Sold my encore.  Have 2 contender frames.
Barrels are;
10" 44 mag bull
10"357 Herret bull
16 1/2" 22 K hornet ( rechamber by SSK )
21" 30-30
21" 17 rem

These cover every thing I need but still on the look out for more.
Dale

[RicMic]

I have one Encore frame, 24" rifle in .270 WIN and 2 Contender frames, just three barrels right now, 223REM 14", 35 REM 14", and 44 MAG 14".  I do have rifle stocks for the Contender and will get a long barrel for it one day - soon.

[jammer308]

i cant stand the encore or the contender when it comes to long guns. the grip is just not comfortable for me to carry around. i do love them as handguns, and prefer the contender. for long guns i prefer the h&r single shots. just me though

[mkozlows]

I sold off my 2 Encores, but my reasons were purely physical. I really truly wanted to love them, but alas, I just could not reach the darn trigger. Being rather old, a bit on the large side (6`3" 330lbs) I felt finger extension surgery was out of the question. So as stated I sold them off.

 My old contenders are just so much more comfortable to hold and shoot. I wish they still made the original.

[woodchukhntr]

My old contenders are just so much more comfortable to hold and shoot. I wish they still made the original.

They don't have to still make the original, they are in plentiful supply on the used market, and I haven't seen a bad looking one yet.  Personally, I hated the "engraving" on the originals.  It did nothing but raise the cost.

[b44mag]

i have 2 encore frames was just thinking in the last few months of selling one off and getting a g2 for rimfire pistol hunting im almost ready like a few of you said i just dont like the grip on the butstock but i love my 209x50 and my 44mag in the encore pistol the extra weight of the encore makes for a sweet not to bad on the recoil hand cannon i think im going to try to figure out what frame to sell with what brl as soon as the hunting season is over this year ive been looking at prices and think once i figure out the details i should be able to make a even trade for a g2 i hope i sold my h&rs to purchase a encore but i think after i do the horse trading i will buy a handie for my goto long gun they are a great handeling long gun much better than the encore  thats just my opinion and the ones i had shot just as good as the encore for much less just another of my opinions
                                                b44mag

[DEACONLLB]

When I get ready to go hunting it is really hard to take the Encore when I have this stainless G2 rifle in 7x30 waters and after all it has already killed 2 deer. I have a G2 45 cal muzzleloader that I much prefer over my Triump both of them are quick handeling but I also have the old contenders also.

Deaconllb

[icfmike]

I have 2 Encore frames and have started selling my pistol barrels and some of the rifle barrels also. I have three contender frames and love it in the carbine and pistol in the 7/30.  even thinking about using the 7/30 for elk next year

[hunt4570]

Many many years ago I had a bunch of contender stuff and loved it...then they came out with the Encore...bigger is better right? Traded all my Contender stuff on Encore stuff, whoohoo!!  took me about a year to figure out I didn't like or want the heavier Encore stuff, traded all back to Contender...happy again..
  current inventory...Easy open G1 frame and a G2 frame.
                               14" 30/30 bbl
                               16" 45/410 vent rib
                                14" 45/70
                                23" 375JDJ

  Not a big inventory like some have, but it does what I need it to do..all is well

[I make oil]

Hunt 4570, Looks like you need a .22 rimfire! 

[hunt4570]

Hunt 4570, Looks like you need a .22 rimfire! 

  Its kind of funny you say that,I actually wrote the same at the end of my post and then deleted it! I used to have a 14" LR 22 match that I traded away quite a while back, wouldnt mind replaceing it, but I'm not sure what I would use it for. If I want to go plinking or something I have a little Browning 22 auto to play with..

[I make oil]

I like my .22's for cheap shooting.  I reload but it is still cheaper to shoot a rimfire.

[hunt4570]

  Yeah, I reload also, but rimfire is definetly cheaper!!

[deersearch]

I got a new encore pistol last year and  three barrels 223, 44mag, 308.  And last spring  was at a gun show and picked up a contender in 35 rem , and 7-30 waters, Shot all of them during the  summer and  im sold on the contender in the 7-30 waters . You can make brass fromm30-30 brass very eazy.  Well  I took the contender in the 7-30 water hunting  this year opening day and got my first deer 70 yards shot.

[hunt4570]

I got a new encore pistol last year and  three barrels 223, 44mag, 308.  And last spring  was at a gun show and picked up a contender in 35 rem , and 7-30 waters, Shot all of them during the  summer and  im sold on the contender in the 7-30 waters . You can make brass fromm30-30 brass very eazy.  Well  I took the contender in the 7-30 water hunting  this year opening day and got my first deer 70 yards shot.

   Whoohoo!!! feels good don't it?