g2 or encore

[kawie]

im trying to decide witch is better for me.ive read alot about the accurracy promblems with the encore an head space too,does the g2 suffer from this too.i like the smaller an lighter idea of the g2 also compared to the encore.im  more than willing to spend the money on either one.i thought that the g2 was the more price freindly gun until i started pricing them but guess this isnt true.im looking at a gun for hunting out to 300yrds  an also target shooting out to 400-500 yrds.i was thinking that the 30-30AI would do this about right in the g2,but then there is the encore in 308 an 25-06 that i like too.i guess it comes down to that i dont want to spend $650+ for a gun that is not going to shoot out of the box,if this is the case i would buy a handi rifle for alot less an then tinker with it.ive gone through a bunch of threads here an on the inter net an the accuracy seems to be a big promblem.so everyone help give me the skinny on these two models.
thanks
Kawie

[singleshot1]

I have four encores and four g2's and an assortment of different barrels and have yet to have one that is not accurate, usually one inch or better at 100 yds , I am also real sure a good number of people on this site will back me on that.  If I were you I would look at the encore for the distances you want to shoot, the 30-30 AI is really not a 300 yd+ round, maybe a 7mm mag or something like that would be a better option.

[tcencore3006]

Personally I would go with the Encore in .308.  There is a reason that snipers in the military have used this round for so long.

[Grumulkin]

I would also go for the Encore.

The "problems" with headspace and accuracy are mostly cooked up by someone wanting to sell thingys.

[yooper77]

I recommend the Thompson Center Encore.

I have owned and shot over 12 T/C Encore factory barrels and neither had headspace issues, and all were very accurate. I bought my T/C Encore in 1997 and all barrels I have tried locked up solid and the trigger is very crisp from the factory.

yooper77

[Ranger413]

I already have an Encore with the 209X50 ML and 26" .223 barrels.  I've just purchased a 28" .308 barrel and am having it cut down to 23" for deer hunting.  I have a G2 that I'm keeping for my son's next birthday.  If you mention anything about target shooting with the gun you'll want to go with the Encore.  Not that it's more accurate, but its a bit heavier and will serve you better.  If you're looking for a light "deer woods" carbine the G2 is the way to go.  I'm not sure that I don't like the weight of the G2 for hunting much better.  Not sure if my son will get it or not, I really like it and may have to buy another for him - ha, ha.

[woodchukhntr]

I've got an Encore and a couple of G2's.  My experience with the Contenders has been 100% positive.  All barrels that I have owned for them have been very accurate and the light weight of the carbine is a definite plus.  I currently have 23" .17 HRM, 23" .204, 16-1/2" .35 Rem., 16-1/4" .223 and 23" .50 ML barrels.  The only barrel I've had that I didn't like was a .45-70  which recoiled too much for me.

My experience with the Encore has been another story.  I have had .223, .243, .308, .30-06 barrels that did not shoot as well as expected.  A .204 barrel however shot very well and the only reason I sold it was that I preferred the lighter weight of the Contender which shot as well, or a little better.  I have a 20 ga. rifled barrel that is good.  I had a .45 ML barrel for it, but it was heavier than I wanted.

The Contender works out best for me, but of course the Encore would be my choice in the heavier calibers that the Contender won't handle.

[kawie]

the weight of the rifle is a big selling point for me,you carry a gun alot more than you shoot it hunting.plus i dont really think i need a heavier caliber.i already have 2 marlin 336 in30-30 an 35 rem.i have a handi rifle in 30-30 an 357mag (soon to ba maxied).an a rossi m92 in 44mag (soon to add a 454 casull).ive also be reading alot on the 7-30 waters an this might be interesting too.90% of my hunting is 150yrds or less but i would like to know i could take it to 300 if i had to with handloads,an shoot paper out 400-500 yrds for the hell of it.the 30-30's an 35 rem that i own i know im good to 200 yrds with factory ammo,ive shot this distance a buntch with these rifles,but i will not push them farther.i know the 308 is a great round but i do believe alot of the snipers are using 300 win mag now,but there definitely no flys on the 308.id also like to have 260 rem also.but my main concern is that i dont want to pay this kind of money an then have worry about head space,pillar bedding,oversized hinge pin ect.. to get it to shoot.if i have to do that then i will buy a savage left hand bolt gun that are well know for shooting out of the box.
thanks
Kawie

[stubshaft]

I have 5 Contenders in different configurations.  They all became closet queens when I started shooting Encores.

[Dezynco]

but my main concern is that i dont want to pay this kind of money an then have worry about head space,pillar bedding,oversized hinge pin ect.. to get it to shoot.

It's been my experience that all the Contenders and the Encores shoot reasonably well out of the box.  Well within most shooter's abilities, usually 1- 2" groups with the right ammo.  However, almost any firearm can stand improvement, so any tuning you do can possibly make an improvement in accuracy.  Fortunately the Contender and Encore can be "tuned" a bit without the expense of sending them to the gunsmith.  For example, I installed an oversize hinge pin in my G2 Contender carbine.  I wouldn't swear that it improved the accuracy, and if it did, not by much.  Mainly it made the rifle feel more "rigid" which makes me FEEL better, and only cost a few dollars.  I also shimmed the firing pin block to tighten the barrel to frame gap, installed a heavy locking bolt spring in the barrel, installed a heavy hammer spring, and tweaked the sear spring to lighten the trigger pull.  All of this I did myself, all the parts cost me about $40 - $50.

I believe that it all added up to an improvement in accuracy.  My 375 Winchester carbine went from shooting a 1.5" - 2" group at 100 yards to shooting around 1/2" to 1" at 100 yards!  A cheap improvement in my opinion, although the rifle wasn't shoot too bad to begin with!

Did the rifle really need any tuning, not really!

[kynardsj]

Another vote for the Encore. I have three now. Sold all my Contenders. I like being able to shoot whatever caliber I want without worrying about pressure ruining my frame. So far all my Encores are very accurate with the proper bullet/powder combo.

[tcencore3006]

but my main concern is that i dont want to pay this kind of money an then have worry about head space,pillar bedding,oversized hinge pin ect.. to get it to shoot.

It's been my experience that all the Contenders and the Encores shoot reasonably well out of the box.  Well within most shooter's abilities, usually 1- 2" groups with the right ammo.  However, almost any firearm can stand improvement, so any tuning you do can possibly make an improvement in accuracy.  Fortunately the Contender and Encore can be "tuned" a bit without the expense of sending them to the gunsmith.  For example, I installed an oversize hinge pin in my G2 Contender carbine.  I wouldn't swear that it improved the accuracy, and if it did, not by much.  Mainly it made the rifle feel more "rigid" which makes me FEEL better, and only cost a few dollars.  I also shimmed the firing pin block to tighten the barrel to frame gap, installed a heavy locking bolt spring in the barrel, installed a heavy hammer spring, and tweaked the sear spring to lighten the trigger pull.  All of this I did myself, all the parts cost me about $40 - $50.

I've been thinking about installing a heavier hammer spring myself.  What did you use/recommend?  What did you do to tweak the sear spring?

[Ladobe]

IMO whether you go with a Contender, G2 or Encore is really just peresonal choice.   I did anything I ever wanted to do for 43 years with Contenders, never wanted a G2, and only had my Encores for 2-3 years before reselling them all (because I simply didn't need them and preferred the Contender that would do anything I wanted to do very well).   But if you are going to be shooting target at 500 yards, serious or even just play with an ego, buy a custom barrel chambered for the cartridge you choose.   Most of the factory barrels are shooters "right out of the box", but not all of them, and they can't match what a well made custom can do, especially at longer ranges.   As you already know, there are many commercial cartidges that'll do all the things that you want to do, but even more are available if you are willing to get into the wilcats.   Lots of those will do it all in spades and then some, on any of the TC platforms, and many of them are very easy wilcats to make, reload and use with inexpensive dies.  IOW you kind of need to buy for the mid range target shooting at 500 you want to do in a cartridge that will also do eveything else you want to do well.   Brand new custom barrels can be bought for as little as $300 or so, including the wildcats.   I hunted everything with the Contenders (mostly handguns), and did very long range shooting with them as well.   Wildcats in custom Contender barrels ruled the roost for hunting and serious long range work from the early 80's at my stables.

HTH

Larry