Hello every one I am knew to this site and just want to say hi. I also have lots of questions. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/ooo.gif So here goes. I am looking at getting either one of these. I want one in 17 HMR which means a G2, but the encores have such a good selection of barrels for them. Plus I can buy a rimfire adapter for the encore. I also am planning on a .17 fireball barrel some time after the intial purchase. If any one has experience w/ these 2 rifles fill me in on some pros and cons. Also any pics you have of your own TC's would be cool. Thanks guys.
G2 vs. Encore
- Thread starter bbell
- Start date
With the calibers that you mentioned I think the size of the encore is an overkill. Now if you plan on throwing in some larger caliber barrels that is a different story. You are considering the G2 but I would much rather have the contender frame. I love the adjustable trigger and the overall travel screw of the contender. I have never shot a gun in which I liked the trigger better than how I have mine set. The only real advantage that I have ever heard of with the G2 is that you don't have to "reset" the hammer when cocked and let down. In my opinion, that benefit did not out weigh the better trigger of the contender.
oxnam
oxnam
Totch94
New member
Welcome to the board bbell,
I too will have to vote for the older contender frame for lighter loads. I have a contender pistol in .17 HMR and it is one of the most accurate guns of any kind I have ever owned. I also have .22 LR barrel in 14 inch. It is deadly out to 100 and slightly beyond with the HMR. I also have an Encore in a 15 inch 7-08 barrel and it is quite accurate as well. I have several rifle barrels for the Encore as well up to .300 Win Mag. I suppose rule of thumb is if you want rimfire and smaller center fire rounds like .223, .204 ect. go with the Contender, if it is for larger rounds go with the Encore, best case get both frames and enjoy! Nothing beats the T/C frames unless you step into the AR's, but that's another story entirely. I guess you could say that I have been bitten with multiple diseases.
I too will have to vote for the older contender frame for lighter loads. I have a contender pistol in .17 HMR and it is one of the most accurate guns of any kind I have ever owned. I also have .22 LR barrel in 14 inch. It is deadly out to 100 and slightly beyond with the HMR. I also have an Encore in a 15 inch 7-08 barrel and it is quite accurate as well. I have several rifle barrels for the Encore as well up to .300 Win Mag. I suppose rule of thumb is if you want rimfire and smaller center fire rounds like .223, .204 ect. go with the Contender, if it is for larger rounds go with the Encore, best case get both frames and enjoy! Nothing beats the T/C frames unless you step into the AR's, but that's another story entirely. I guess you could say that I have been bitten with multiple diseases.
hoginator204
New member
bbell,
What "totch94" said.
Hog
What "totch94" said.
Hog
Not to mention that with a little extra work you can up the ante with some of JD Jones magic ......
..... ie. the JD 6.5 mm and the .375 JD will give you much ....
I don't own any of these mentioned guns but I am a trigger fanatic and for my time and money I would rather invest just a bit of time in case reforming to have a better trigger system.
Three 44s
..... ie. the JD 6.5 mm and the .375 JD will give you much ....
I don't own any of these mentioned guns but I am a trigger fanatic and for my time and money I would rather invest just a bit of time in case reforming to have a better trigger system.
Three 44s
t/c223encore
New member
Love my 223 standard barrel and 308 bull barrel.
t/c223encore.
t/c223encore.
Thanks guys. Yeah the biggest I would go is a .257 roberts barrel and that is only a maybe. I will check out the plain contender. Accuracy wise what should I expect out of these guns. I have heard good things, but I have heard alot that you have to tweak them a bit to. Either way I am gettting a gun this summer!
Some T/Cs seem to be hit or miss on accuracy. That is why I don't own one. I'm spoiled on Savage bolt guns that will shoot sub-MOA all day long. Now that Smith & Wesson has taken over T/C I'm afraid that quality may go down the toilet. I hope I'm wrong because I think I'd like to have one some day. I would say you could be safe in saying the T/C will be MOA with the right load. They're good guns, so go for it!
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Jack Roberts
Moderator - Deceased
Welcome to the board bbell. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grinning-smiley-003.gif
Jack
Jack
BobT
New member
Both guns are great platforms, either one can be tricky to make shoot well but nothing is more versatile. If you move up to the .257 Roberts then you will need to go with the Encore. I agree with the others on the early style Contender, I like it more than the G2 mostly because of the trigger. If you go to Mike Bellm's website there is a wealth of information on how to make them shoot. I hope that the quality of the barrels will improve with the S&W buyout, some times the throats are not up to par.
Bob
Bob
This original frame style Contender is set up to shoot pds off a bench with. .204 Ruger in an MGM barrel, 23" full bull w/Woodsmith buttstock and hand made lignum vitae foreend/flat bottom and Weaver KT 15 scope.
It is truly 'bolt rifle' accurate and rarely fails at 400 yd. prairie dogs.
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It is truly 'bolt rifle' accurate and rarely fails at 400 yd. prairie dogs.
My sons G2 Contender w/factory SS 7-30 Waters full bull barrel, blued frame, factory stocks and a Burris 3 x 9 40 mm FFII BP scope. It doesn't get much handier to carry than this one.
I have never owned an Encore but I have had various Contender in many configurations since the seventies. Contrary to many they make excellent carbines as long as you set them up with a full bull barrel. Makes the balance much nicer and only a minor amount of added weight.
To avoid fueling the non-believers I won't tell you how accurate my carbine setups are...even the factory .204 of my sons has a factory test target with it (I returned it for a re-fit of lugs and a chamber check)with five shots that measure .512".
I have never owned an Encore but I have had various Contender in many configurations since the seventies. Contrary to many they make excellent carbines as long as you set them up with a full bull barrel. Makes the balance much nicer and only a minor amount of added weight.
To avoid fueling the non-believers I won't tell you how accurate my carbine setups are...even the factory .204 of my sons has a factory test target with it (I returned it for a re-fit of lugs and a chamber check)with five shots that measure .512".
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bbell, I have some limited exp. I don't know if are considering the pistol barrels at all but ... I just bought a encore w/ 14" barrel .223 (pistol). I really like the option to change out barrels but I really wish I would have bought the rifle barrel up front. For what I am doing, I find mine somewhat difficult to drag around and accurate shot placement isn't easy either. The accuracy is not the gun it just takes more talent/effort than a rifle. Now, I want to trade the pistol barrel for a carbine .223 barrel. I think that will work out good for me. As far as encore vs. G2 I wanted the ability to buy a .308 barrel also.
Dixiedog1
Active member
I like the Contender myself. If you shoot an old style Contender and then shoot a new G2 Contender I think you will buy a used old style. The triggers on the old style contender were excellent and I prefer the engraving on the side look of the old contenders. The several G2's I've shot have a poor trigger that isn't as crisp and doesn't seem to adjust as light as my two old style contenders. Of course if you may want a muzzleloader barrel you need to go G2 and with my old style Contenders you need to "break" the action open to reset the hammer if you let the hammer down and want to recock it. The Encore is great if you need to fire more powerful cartridges but for light catridges the Contender can't be beat, the weight becomes a big factor after a full day of hunting.