I have recently decided that I would like to get more into handgun hunting. I currently carry a Ruger Redhawk into the woods with me, but just can't get the accuracy out of it that I would like past 50 yards.

I have looked at the bolt handguns and the TC guns. I like the TC guns because I can choose to change cartridges and still use the same gun. I have looked at the TC website and can't really determine much of a difference between the Encore or the Contender, other than the stocks. Is there any real difference between the two in functionability and price?

Does one frame offer more factory chambered barrels than the other? I would like to match up chamberings with some of my rifles, so I can still carry both into the field. What about chamberings for other than factory produced barrels? Who makes custom chamberings for these handguns at a reasonable price?

Thanks for the info.

The Contender is the oldest style of the Thompson Center line. The Encore is of recent offering.

The Contender frame is generally used for chamberings that don't exceed 40,000 PSI.

The Encore frame is stronger and is good for chamberings in the 55,000 PSI range.

Most modern bottleneck cartridges are in the 50 - 55,000 range. You will likely find more T/C offerings in the rifle cartridges you use in the Encore line.

Most anything can be had if you choose to get a custom barrel. As mentioned, the Contender, or the new G2, is chambered in the lighter stuff, whereas the Encore has no limits.

The Encore does not offer rimfire barrels but an aftermarket conversion is available. If I were buying a carbine it would certainly be an Encore. I have a G2 pistol thus far but hope to own an Encore someday.

steve

I use the Contender in .223 and find it to be exceptionally accurate. Plus I've been able to have the trigger tuned, which did help noticably with the bench rest accuracy. I'm told the Encore's trigger is much more of a challenge to tune as finely as the Contender, but I"ve never confirmed that via acturally experience.

Find a thread that the moderator "Contender" has posted and use that to send him a PM (private message). He's an excellent source of Contender/Encore information via first hand knowledge.

Dan

The only advantage the Contender or the G2 has over the Encore is they are a bit lighter. IMO, go with the Encore. If you MUST shoot rimfire, buy the firing pin adapter. In handguns, especially with the bigger rounds, weight is a good thing.

I had an aftermarket trigger spring installed in my G2. I understand that the "guts" of the G2 and the Encore are similar... at least they take the same springs. Brought my trigger down to an even pound- very impressive!

steve

For clarity sake, the Contender's limitations on cartridge pressure are linked to what case diameter you are shooting. You can shoot 223's at 50,000 CUP+ and a case the diameter of the 45/70 at around under 28,000 CUP. It all hinges on cartridge head backthrust against the standing breach.

The Contender frame is smaller than the Encore and weighs less. The Trigger group is more easily Custom tuned by the owner for overtravel and sear engagement. Drawback is once the sear is disengaged, ie pulling the trigger with or without the hammer pulled back, you need to open the barrel to re-engage it.

The Encore is basically the same design as the Contender but is bigger in physical size and has the frame "gussetting" in the critical area on the frame sides at the standing breech.

That area has and can stretch on the Contender when hotrodding it.

Both actions being of break open design are "springy" as compared to a bolt gun.

The Encore's trigger is of a different lawyer proof design and can be made to work very well with tuning also as far as smoothness. But sear travel or engagement can not be adjusted like the Contender. However a good tuning can negate any perceptable difference.

The Encore can shoot virtually anything but I am aware of a few gunsmiths that will not chamber for some of the fatter bodied magnum rifle cartridges.

The barrel diameter at the breech end runs about 1" in the Encore opposed to .8" (3/4") on the Contender.

The new Contender "G2" or Generation Two is basically a Baby Encore with the frame gussetting and trigger group of the Encore with a smaller frame. The grip angle has also been changed from the original Contender. Grips are not interchangable with the original. All Contender barrels will fit the G2. The trigger guard has been reshaped from the original.

In a nutshell, the Encore is somewhat more flexible in the area of someone who doesn't handload. You can buy Factory high intensity rounds and go shooting. (IE 308, 30'06, etc.) You can also handload and there is a host of wildcats for this gun also. The Encore doesn't shoot rimfires in factory form but there are some custom adapters out there that will allow it.

The Contender is more restrictive in what it will handle so handloading can make it shine especially in the area of custom chamberings. The 35 Rem, 30/30 or 7/30 Waters in factory loads however will make it an efficient shooter for long range big game hunting besides all the straightwalled cartridges that can be used for shorter woods ranges. 223 family cartridges are excellent too. Then there are the rimfires which can be easily shot via the Selective firing pin on the hammer. There are many custom barrels/chamberings floating around on the market now too to be had at reasonable prices.

In the area of barrels, a Contender can use a 410 shotgun barrel or 45 cal muzzle loader barrel. The Encore, a 20 guage shotgun or 50 cal muzzleloader barrel. Both can be had or made into carbine/rifle form. But buy either as a pistol FIRST to legally convert them to long guns.

You really can't go wrong with either gun. Let your personal preferences and intended use be your guide as to what gun you pick.

In my case, I like the smaller physical size and trigger of the original Contender frame. I also handload everything and like to wildcat. Just my preference.

Good Luck


Regards

Contender:
That was a nice and informative post!

Thanks for all the information; it helped me in my decisIon as to weather to add an Encore to my battery. I think I will stick with my original contender.
COYOTE222

Thanks for the info. You all have been real helpful and informative. My main goal for this gun would be for the standard handgun cartridges; 44 Mag, 454 Casual, 45 Long Colt. But I would also like the option to carry the pistol and one of my rifles with me on the hunt and carry only one ammo. I know that they may not shoot the same loadings with MOA accuracy, but still like the idea.

This is why I am looking at these guns. The bolt action pistols only allow the use of one cartridge per receiver. Any idea what these models are currently selling for?

Thanks

The 454 is an Encore only proposition due to the pressures and backthrust involved.

I'm not up on the latest prices on the Encore or G2 but you could get a used or new Original Contender frame for between 190-250 dollars.

Check locally in your area for prices.

I've bought all my Contenders as frame only.

Regards

Check out, www.eabco.com. They have a "TON" of TC Encore and Contender equipment. Lots of custom barrels!!!

I would vote for the Contender. I have one and several barrels. I bought my wife a 20ga Encore thinking it would be a good platform for her to get involved with. The problem with the Encore as a shotgun ins the stock. It doesn't point worth squat.
On to the Contender...
I feel the contender is better because it is lighter and the hammer is selective. I have a couple of rimfires and a switch is easy. I think the cartridge selection is more fun since the contender has been barreled in more calibers and used barrels are found in higher quantities and lower prices.
Granted the Encore can do anything the contender can do and shoot magnum rifle cartridges, but I don't think a .300 WM would be fun for too long.
I can go on E-bay at any given time and buy Factory barrels in .223 .22 Hornet, .256WM, 7mmTCU, .30-30, .22 Rem Jet, .22WMR .45-70 and a number of custom calibers. With the Encore You get the standard high energy calibers and few "different" choices.

I enjoy reloading for my .30-30 and .256WM.

My $0.02
Brent

Contender - that was most excelent! I just got an early model Contender with four barrels for a very good price, and the more I read, the more I like it, and it fits like a glove - so much more medium sized hand friendly than the Encore frame I "felt".

I am so looking forward to shooting and becoming proficient with this pistol.

I agree, there is some excellent information in this thread.
I have both Contender and Encore. I've had Contender for years and bought the Encore for the .454 and the muzzleloader.

I sent a note to TC about the rimfire conversion kits available for the Encore, they told me they have seen it and decided that it alters too many critical parts in the Encore and would void the factory warranty.

I don't know what the manufacturer of the rimfire conversion kit says, and since I haven't seen it I certainly don't mean to imply there is anything wrong with it. I just thought I'd pass on the warranty comments from TC.

Hi Gents,

Back after a very long absence here. Thank you for the compliments.

That looks like SOP for TC regarding "modifications" for that matter. In the litigous world we live in, most companies are simply trying to cover themselves from lawsuits whether the modification works and has merit or not. Technically. wildcatting and custom barrels or even handloading one's own ammo can have the same effect on the warranty.

Got a few wildcat barrels back from OTT and have yet to get into them for some load testing on the Contender frame.

Been so busy with work in this "lousy economy"(grin) really have had little time for shooting.

One is a 35 cal. on a 225 Win. case, a 6.5 cal. on a 5.6X50R case, and finally a 30 cal. on a 225 Win case for a "stretched" version of a 30 Herrett.

I'll post with some test driving results soon.

Regards

in regards to what VA Bigbore and Contender said, 454 is a little too much for the Contenders, but I use a 45 win mag and find that it is a real blaster when you load it up right...I have gotten GC 260 gr LSWC rounds up to about 1400 fps and that is pretty dang close to what a Casull can do...thats out of a 10" bull, and had no problems with the action opening.

Of course, you could always go to an SSK barrel.....375 JDJ or one of his other loadings....there's the always popular 44 mag, or the slightly hotter 445 super mag....

357 max is another that you can't do too wrong by getting...

MTCW

Darrell

I have one of each and like them for what they are. I have the Contender as the "Pistol" (.357, .44, .223 and 7-30) and the Encore as the "Rifle" (.308 and 30-06). This seems to be the natural configuration to me. If you want to match pistol rounds, get the Contender. If you want to match rifle rounds, get the Encore. If you want to do both with one frame, get the Encore, but I would recommend getting one of each as I have.

Happy Shooting!

I bought my Encore about a year ago and paid $489.99 (plus 6% MI sales tax.)

I agree the the triggers are a little stiff so I had a gunsmith tweak it a bit. New springs I think. Now it's about a pound and really crisp.

I loves me Encore!

You're still a bit vague about intended application. If you want to shoot the 454 Cas. you will have to setttle for Encore. The 45 Colt comes in both as does the 44 Mag. But, while the 45Colt/410 (in the same barrel) sounds like a good deal, the long throated chamber (in order to take the 3" 410 shell) produces poor accuracy in my 45 Colt/410 Contender. If you want to shoot a 30-30, or 7/30 Waters (for example) in handgun and carbine go Contender. If I wanted the absolute most vesatility I'd go with Encore. While you would have to modify it for rimfire, you would gain the 50 cal muzzle loader, more shotgun options and be able to shoot any of the higher pressure cartridges including the big magnums.
I shoot both but I do handload. Lot's of handgun/carbine cartridges (including 5 wildcats) in the Contender and a Hornet and 284 in the Encore. The 284 only because I wanted to scratch that itch and while it was the least expensive route I don't recommentd it. Both Enore and Contender seem to work best with rimmed cartridges. The extractor isn't as strong as in a bolt gun and tend to slip over the rim of a rebated case that is a bit stuck. Likewise belted magnums can be harder to load because the belt has to slip under the extractor.
If I were starting from scratch and thinking about versatility and yet undefined future application I'd go Encore.
Check out the Thompson Center website (including Fox Ridge, their custom shot) and Bullberry Barrel Works for custom options.

I prefer the contender.

It's lighter than the Encore.

The trigger is better. Even with trigger jobs (on both), the Contender will have a better trigger.

Most of the cartridges that are Encore only are rifle cartridges. You will need at least a 14 inch barrel to get decent performance from them. I don't like a barrel beyond about 10 inches as it just doesn't feel like a handgun anymore

I bough an encore last year and have been enjoying it ever sense. Much more accurate than I ever expected. There are no shortage of used barrels floating around the Winchester area ether. I have found several and used barrels kept the cost down.