Compaire, contender, G2, & encore.

[pastorp]

Good morning all,
 
The only TC's I've owned have been old style contenders...I have a good friend that has gotten into encore rifles. I'm just wondering how you fellas that own all three, contender,G2, & encore would compare them and how you like them. Do you use one type for say, handgun and another for rifle, like my friend does? 
 
Regards,

[DEACONLLB]

I have all three and find that the contenders work great for hand gun because of the weight, I like the G2 and use it in rifle format because of being able to cock and re cock hammer without opening the frame just a little in order to cock as in the contender. You need the Encore for the higher pressures cal. but I find that the encore is just too heavy when used as a pistol with the 12 and 15 inch barrels. I use all 24 inch barrels standard taper Rifle on my Encores because of the handling factor and swing and point. I have had 26 inch heavy barrels and also 28 inch pro hunter but felt that the balance was off and barrel heavy when hunting in the woods.With a rest and bench rest shooting that would not be a factor. This is what I like and each person will have a different opinion. Even in my Ruger number 1, I much prefer the 20 and 22 inch barrels over the 26 in the one B what I find that feels good and a good fit may not be to the next fellows liking. Find what you like by compairing all of them, might also mention that our age might also have a factor in what we like and use, as for me and my age I don't like to take a beating when I pull the trigger or as I say kills on one end cripples on the other.
 
Deaconllb

[Blackhawker]

I too have both a Contender and a G2.  I don't have an Encore, however. 
What I can say about the G2, aside from the re-cocking set up, the opening of the action is smooth and light.  If you shoot a lot with the Contender, you'll get a sore index finger from drawing that trigger guard back each and every time you open the action.  Everything but the trigger pull (ironically) is lighter and smoother on the G2 as compared to the Contender.

[Flynmoose]

A friend let me shoot his early Contender and I was hooked. I didn't like the release pressure required to open the action. I have G2s and Encores with dedicated pistol frames in both. I shoot gongs from a rest and the 12" barrels do well for me. I have 20" carbine barrels for the G2 rifle frames and 24" rifle barrels for the Encore rifle frames. I have been very happy with my choices and get very good performance from all of them.
FM

[Ladobe]

I never owed a G2 Contender (never wanted one), but I've had a bunch of all the vintages of Contenders, and I had 6 Encores when they first came out.   The extra weight of the Encore didn't bother me at all.   Sold all the Encore stuff within a couple of years though... they didn't do anything I couldn't do just fine with my Contenders, which I used in both handgun and carbine configs.   
 
The earlier vintage Contender frames could be a bear for long shooting sessions if you didn't have strong hands.   They didn't really bother me much though until the easy open vintages came along that are very "easy to open".  The earlier vintage frames can be converted to easy open, but I just sold all my old frames and bought a bunch of EO's, and kept adding more of them right up until they were discontinued.   Contrary to some folks who just can't seem to get it, the Contender's do not have to be opened to re-cock, nor are the G2's any stronger, so neither is a selling point of the G2 Contenders IMO.
 
Hands down the easy open vintages of Contenders were my favorite TC's.
 
I can see why folks just getting into TC's now days might go all Encore though.   I just had too many years using Contenders with too many frames/barrels on hand to add and build on a platform I really didn't need myself.
 
L.
 
 

[Iowa Fox]

I have them all and they are all good. My first frame was a pre EO and I never had any problems squeezing the trigger guard since we didn't know any different. But then again I was in my twenties. My next frame was purchased after the EO came out and they were a little nicer. Since that first frame I am now up to 25 frames blue and stainless in all variations.
 
My first and only non easy open after thousands of rounds still looks like new and has been retired with original grip & forend to the styrofoam box it was shipped in. I never had a single malfuntion or part failure on that original frame. Now in my middle sixties they (all) give me a lot of pleasure.

[cherokee5425]

I, being a dyed-in-the-wool Older Contender fan, I've had 10 so far, got into other things, traded, etc.Well I finally replaced the ones I had and now have 3 older ones. Well, several months ago I picked  up a NIB G2 that a local guy won at a Gunbash for $200.00. Figured I get it and trade/resale for an older Contender. BTW I also have a SS Encore also. I have to admit, I went kicking and screaming when Thompson Center quit making the Older contender. Now, don't get me wrong, I still think they were the Greatest Handgun ever made. However, I took the G2 and put on my .221 FB barrel and went to the range. I recently picked up a  Walnut stock and forearm and a 21" .223 rem barrel. Wow!! I think I have fallen in love, what a great handling gun. Sorry for the long drawn out post. Give the G2 a chance, you won't be sorry.

[wranglerdoug]

I just sold my encore but am keeping my contenders and G2s I like the lightness of the contenders more. they are just handier for carrying and can kill anything I need to kill.

[woods]

     Like the factory trigger on the old contender best, also trigger adjustment is easily done yourself. I have four original contenders. My only G-2's trigger wasn't cutting it so sent it to the smith to lighten trigger now it is comparable to the original contender, never bought another after the first one. Never owned a encore but looking at one for a 20 ga. slug gun.
 
woods