Why G2 over encore?

[upnorthbacon]

I'm looking at getting back into a TC and previously owned an encore in 7mm-08 (which was fantastic by the way)  But I'm wondering with all the barrel options for the encore why would someone choose the G2 instead?  I understand the ability to shoot rimfire, but does it offer any other advantages?  I'm planning on using it for whitetail within 100 yards, shots more likely to be 75yds with a rest from a blind.  Before I fork over the coin I want to make sure I make the right choice.  I'd likely be going 30-30 in a G2 or 7mm-08 in encore possibly a .270 because of ammo interchangability with my rifles.  Also are the 410 vent rib barrels worth buying or are they only good for about 10 yards or so?  I might carry it around with the 410 barrel as a woods gun during small game season while scouting deer and such too.

[tlyne]

My opinion is that the G2 is one pound lighter than the Encore which makes it more easy er to carry in a pistol format. If I would be carrying a pistol hunting for whitetail Deer it be a G2.

[yooper77]

For me the G2 has absolutely zero advantage over in Encore, its a personal choice.

The Encore is available in factory rimfire barrels with no frame modifications.  I like the Encore over the G2, because there is never a chance you have the firing pin selector in the wrong position.

The G2 is lighter, but the weight difference isn't worth judging one over the other, its a personal choice.

If someone has a lot of older Contender barrels then I can see the advantage because the older Contender barrels fit the new G2.

Its hard to beat the 7-30 Waters in the Contender, but the 7mm-08 in the Encore is a big step above.

yooper77

[skb2706]

I'm looking at getting back into a TC and previously owned an encore in 7mm-08 (which was fantastic by the way)  But I'm wondering with all the barrel options for the encore why would someone choose the G2 instead?  I understand the ability to shoot rimfire, but does it offer any other advantages?  I'm planning on using it for whitetail within 100 yards, shots more likely to be 75yds with a rest from a blind.  Before I fork over the coin I want to make sure I make the right choice.  I'd likely be going 30-30 in a G2 or 7mm-08 in encore possibly a .270 because of ammo interchangability with my rifles.  Also are the 410 vent rib barrels worth buying or are they only good for about 10 yards or so?  I might carry it around with the 410 barrel as a woods gun during small game season while scouting deer and such too.

In no particular order

I've had Contenders/G2s since the mid seventies.
I  have an extensive collection of barrels in both carbine length and handgun length for them.
I have yet to find anything that I hunt that cannot be taken with one here in CO.
I consider it a hobby and a challenge to work within the pressures limits of them.
I have bolt rifles that fulfill the need I may have for something bigger.
I don't shoot rimfires much and a .410 shotgun barrel doesn't interest me at all.
All three are what I consider a "tinkerers" gun and require some tinkering to get the most from them.

[Lone Star]

The G2 has absolutely zero advantage over in Encore.

Wow, now there's a proclamation from on-high.  Apparently the thousands of Contender/G2 owners' opinions are frivolous.....thanks for the big discount buddy.   



.

[yooper77]

Nope, just a personal choice.

No differant than choosing Ford's, F250, F150, or Ranger.

Buy/use what you like.

yooper77

[skb2706]

The G2 has absolutely zero advantage over in Encore.

I will assume that you say this because you have Encores for sale. I already bought what I liked and I already said why.
I can add that I can also buy Contender barrels at a much better price, in chamberings cut by custom houses in abundance.....in some truly unique variations.
In the gun world, if you are looking for "advantage" .....that quest can take you thru several lifetimes with no end in sight.

[Graybeard]

The G2 has absolutely zero advantage over in Encore.

Had you amended onto that "for me" so we understood it applied only to you and your uses it could have been accepted as a true statement. But left to stand alone it's just flat not factual. For some folks at least and in some situations the lighter weight is a clear and definite advantage plus it uses all those hundreds of thousands of Contender barrels floating around out there on the used market that the Encore can't.

[Rog]

The Contender G2 will fit your hand a bit better than the Encore if you have small hands as I do.

I have both and the G2 is a much better fit for my hand.  Particularly if you compare factory grips.

Now, the addition of a Pachmayr grip on the Encore helps to level the playing field, as I have done to mine, as it reduces the reach to the trigger as compared to the T/C factory rubber grip.

What it boils down to is if you handload, the G2 can be pretty potent package in the right caliber/round.  If you must have a high pressure round on a 0.473" case head or larger, then the Encore is the way to go.

Do as I did and get both.  Just pick the one you want most and get it first.  After all, there will be more later down the road....

[yooper77]

Graybeard,
I never implied that others needed to follow my reasoning.  Common sense has always told me that anything said in forums is that person's opinion.  I am in no way telling others to do as I say or follow my lead.  I also stated it's a personal choice.

I amended it for you.
yooper77

Anyways, I currently use 223 Rem, 243 Win, 7mm-08 Rem, 454 Casull, and 209x50 Mag Encore barrels, only 2 of these are safe in the G2 and only 1 for the Contender.

I understand the older Contender is a very capable piece of equipment, it's just not for me.

The G2 is a better upgrade to the older Contender and is excellent that it can use all the older Contender barrels as I stated in the first post.

[Ladobe]

The G2 has absolutely zero advantage over in Encore.

As Greybeard suggested, your statement is too flat for being just your opinion.  

For some of us, the Contender is preferred over the Encore.   As you later said, just MY personal choice.   In my case, I never found anything the Encore could do that the Contender couldn't do at least as well if not better FOR MY NEEDS.   Wildcats designed for the Contender make up for enough of the Encore's high pressure cartridge capabilities to suit ME fine, so I can hunt anything with the Contender I could with an Encore.   I prefer the pound less weight, even with the handcannon barrels, I prefer my reworked classic Contender triggers and I prefer how they feel in my hands.

Back to the other questions...
As you can see asking for opinions will net you pro's and con's for either platform based on personal choice.   As it should be and both are great choices.   My preference is the classic Contenders, so my opinions are biased to them.  

It doesn't take an Encore to kill a Whitetail at 75-100 yards, or most other bigger game species for that matter.   Plenty of factory barrel choices, and a bunch more wildcat choices for the Contender that will do the job in spades.   But if you simply want to shoot a cartridge that is not safe on the Contender, then get an Encore.   Or if having ammo that matches your 270 Win rifles weighs heavy with you, get an Encore.   If you just want the ballistics of those cartridges and you reload, there'll be a wildcat for the Contender that covers them good enough if not better.

Personally I never cared much for the 10" .410 VR barrel I had.   It was OK for jump shooting rabbits and pheasant I guess, if they were close enough, but pretty much useless for wing shots on mourning doves or quail (at least in my hands).   Didn't shoot the 45 Colt worth squat either.  Didn't bother me a bit when someone wanted to buy it off me.   I easily prefer the 21" .410 VR I have over the 10" I had because it gives ME the ability to take upland birds with my Contenders as well as small game.

Just my opinions, so YMMV.

  

[SD Handgunner]

I have owned and hunted with Contender Handguns since 1982. Currently I have a Stainless-Steel Orginal Contender Frame and a Stainless-Steel G2 Contender Frame.

While I have never owned one, I have hunted with a couple different Encore Handguns a couple times. One was a 15" .243 Winchester and the other a 15" .284 Winchester. Both were wonderfully accurate, and both did their intended job at hand. I harvested Whitetail Does during a special Antlerless Season one year with the .243 Encore with excellent results and last year used the .284 Encore Handgun to take a smaller 4x4 Buck on opening morning.

To me the added pound of the Encore does indeed make a difference. However I also like the shorter over all length of a Contender (laid side by side an Encore with a 13" Barrel will have the same over all length as a Contender or G2 with a 14" Barrel). More importantly to me is the way the Contender & G2 feel in MY hands. The grips fit me better. The trigger reach is better and the general feel is better.

Another consideration is if you are going to be shooting Handloads or Factory Ammo. If Handloads are not in the equation then the Encore makes the most scense to get the most out of it.

The bottom line is T/C has answered the call and offers both, and yes they both have their place.

Larry

[Dezynco]

When I got started in the Encore/Contender hobby, I started with the Encore.  I was originally looking for a good price on a used G2 frame.  My dad is likes the classic Contender best, doesn't particularly like the Encore, so he let me have his Encore frame at a really good price.  I put a .308 barrel onto it and a nice Nikon Monarch scope.  It's a lot of fun and very accurate - a lot of fun to experiment with handloads.

So I'm still in the market for a G2 frame! Any good deals out there?

[Keith L]

The good deals are on the classified forums, not the discussion forum. 

[Redhawk1]

IN MY OPINION.  I think the Encore has a lot more to offer than the G2 or older Contender. Now this in my opinion only.

I have owned the Contender, G2 and the Encore. I only have Encores left. The barrel selection of the Encore is better. As for the fit of the Encore for smaller hands, there are a lot of people out there that make great custom grips, and they can be made to fit guy and gal with small hands.

My personal choice of the Encore is, because I shoot large caliber pistol rounds and the Contender nor G2, does not fit the need of the pressures I use in the cartridges I choose. 475 Linebaugh, 410 GNR, 510 GNR and 500 Mag. I even have a 308 Encore barrel.  None of which will work in the G2 or Contender.

If you don't plain on ever shooting rounds meant only for the Encore, get the G2 or Contender. In my opinion, the added weight of the Encore aids in taming some of the recoil of the larger rounds.

It all comes down to personal choice. 

[MePlat]

I will agree with Redhawk1 on this one too.  I have both and like the Encores best.  It is true that the rach for smaller hands is long and the gun heavier but there is a price one pays for everything.
The Encore will handle more powerful cartridges etc.  There is a wide enough selection of barrels to cover anything one wants to do.
Unless one already has a bunch of Contender barrels why would one want one except to just have one.

[Ladobe]

There is a wide enough selection of barrels to cover anything one wants to do.{/quote]

That describes the Contender every bit as much as the Encore.

Unless one already has a bunch of Contender barrels why would one want one except to just have one.

Same thing could be said for the Encore.


We could try to rationalize this until the cows come home.... but the bottom line is it is personal choice.   Doesn't make mine right for you, doesn't make yours right for me.   Good thing TC has offered all three choices.

[Jim Stacy]

I like the frame size of the G-2 and Contender frame better because the Encore grip set up puts the barrel too high above your hand and does not seem to handle recoil as well.I also like the trigger set up on the Contender better than the G-2 even though there are pistol smiths out there that can fix that. Now that being said I have several Encores for a single fact --you can get barrels for the Encore you can't use on the Contender for reasons of operating pressure of the round and head size.I know some people use 444 Marlin and 307 Winchester based wildcats
to get pretty impressive performance but also have seen several Contenders with stretched frames as an effort to hot rod those sized cases in an Contender frame. What you use them for makes the most logical determiner of which size frame works for you. Either frame of the three will work great for it's intended purpose that you need it for.