frame considerations

[gulfdaddy]

I currently have an Encore frame with a rifle barrel.  I have been wanting to get into a pistol lately and some one told me the G2 frame would be a better frame because the dimensions for medium/small hands was better.  I am not in a position to try both on for size without some traveling.  Is this so?  My intension was to order a 12" MGM 30-30IA bull barrel for the Encore.  Should I recosider and invest in the G2 frame because of weight and size?  Thanks for you thoughts, Gary

(Yes, I have heard all the ATF stuff about rifle/pistol conversions and thanks for your concern)

[David D.]

Hey Gary

I have and use both Encore, G2, and Contender pistols. The G2, and Contender are some lighter, trigger pull a little shorter, and chambered for low pressure rounds only. I also hunt with a 14" MGM 30-30IMP, good choice, also like My 14" SSK 6.5JDJ. This being said I also hunt with Encore pistols also, extra weight and a little longer trigger reach is no problem for me. I guess it would be mostly personal preference. My biggest problem is making up my mind which one to take on the next hunt.

Dave

[DEACONLLB]

I have all three contender,G2 and encore but the weight of the encore was a problem for me in my case so after trying a 15 inch and a 12 in barrel for the encore I sold the barrels and grips and now use only contender and G2 in pistol.If using a rest or bypod then it might not be a problem. There is a better range of used barrels in the contender and at a better price than encore and they fit contender and G2 but as  mentioned the contender or G2 will not take some of the pressures in some cal. For me the old contender is a pleasure to shoot. As Had been said when ready to go hunting which one gets to go and which one has to stay home. 
Deaconllb

[Ladobe]

The Contender does fit small to medium size hands better than an Encore does.  There is about a pound (+) difference in weight between a Contender and Encore set up with like pistol barrels.   The 30-30AI you want to shoot is safe on the Contender frame - doesn't need to be an Encore.

So yes Gary, IMO a Classic Contender EO frame would make a very comfortable to shoot package with a 12" 30-30AI barrel, the pistol would be nicer to carry than as an Encore, would balance well for off hand shooting, have a nicer trigger and have very manageable recoil especially with Pachy Grippers on it.   Same based on a G2 frame would be second choice.

[tree rat]

If you have an average or smaller hand I think you would perfer a G2, or contender BUT the pachmyer grip for the Encore might get you to a comfortable size, they are shaped in such a way that they feel alot smaller than the factory grips, and I think they control recoil better.

[Dezynco]

I prefer the Contender (Classic or G2) as a pistol. It's just lighter and handier for most of my purposes, and it will shoot farther than I am comfortable with 30-30 barrel, usually out to 150 - 200 yards across a rest.

 The Encore make a very nice rifle, especially if you want something that uses the "higher" pressure cartridges like 30-06, 7mm-08, 7mm Mag, etc.  My brother has 2 ProHunter rifles, one in 25-06, the other in 280 Rem.  They are fine, fine, fine!

[tripper]

Can he legally change a encore rifle over to a hand gun?

[Keith L]

You will find lots of opinions in both directions on that one.  The court case that TC won on this dealt with converting a Contender pistol to a rifle.  There has been no further decisions supporting anything else.  The best thing to do is to search the web and read the opinions out there, search this site and read the opinions there, and make up your mind.