Contender? G2? Encore? Decisions...

[awp101]

The Kind of odd feeling thread hit home with me because I've been been trying to whittle my accumulation down over the past couple of years to just the things I use and actually enjoy. One of the "favorites" categories is single shot rifles and I need to get serious about the direction I want to go with them. Over the years I've played with the Contenders and Handis but nothing serious. My primary caliber interests would be .22LR, .22 Hornet in some flavor, .357 and .45-70 with .44 Mag a possibility. Maybe a few other small to medium bore calibers as the mood strikes me.

Until recently I would have sent my Handi frame in to have those barrels fitted under the barrel accessory program but it looks like that's being phased out rapidly based on the lack of barrels on the website compared to what they used to list. And the last .357 or .44 Handis I saw listed were asking way more than I was interested in spending.

Although more expensive all the way around, the T/C line strikes me as the best bang for the buck (even though the Handis are a great value IMO), or at least the most versatile since I can go into pistol mode when the mood hits. The question is, which model? I know the Contender and G2 have some barrel compatibility while the Encore is a beast unto itself.

For the calibers I listed, are the different T/C models pretty equal or is there one model that stands out over the others?

If I had my druthers, I'd have all those calibers (and many more) in falling block actions like the Martini Cadet and Matini-Henry as I absolutely adore them but alas it probably won't happen for a variety of reasons. I figure I might as well take a look at my other, more realistic, options.

Thoughts and opinions greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

[Woodrow F Call]

I'm in the same boat and look forward to hearing other opinions.

[dougader]

I only hear reports from others about the Handi rifles and other than a few problems here or there they say the same as you regarding the good value they represent.

The Contender pistol I had was like a laser beam. In 30-30, it seemed to hit whatever I pointed it at.

[bradshaw]

awp101.... without pretense to current state of T/C offerings:
* Mike Bellm has been building pistols on Contender and Encore frames for years. Sounds like you want stock, but Bellm knows 'em inside out and might share some tips. He also has a website.

* The Contender fills many pages of the IHMSA story. Covers .22LR to .45-70, with 16-1/4" .45-70 usable as pistol or carbine. The Contender comes with a clean-breaking adjustable trigger especially conducive to serious offhand work. Recoil with .44 Mag drives sharply straight back, thanks to closed breech velocity and low bore axis. Recoil of .45-70 is more of a heavy thump. Recoil of .44 Mag and .45-70 will be less in the heavier Encore. As for the .45-70 barrel, long is sweeter than short.

* The Contender was conceived as a pistol. The Encore was designed for rifle cartridges.

Best to fire these guns. If you cannot, make your list of rounds and what you want those rounds to do.

When dueling is legalized, I expect the Contender to make a comeback in the single shot category,
David Bradshaw

[awp101]

Woodrow, by all means pull up a stump and let's both get some learnin'!

dougader, I've had a .223, .22H Lightweight, Buffalo Classic .45-70 (I miss that one) and currently have a .500 S&W Handi. Actually I might still have the .223 unless The Boy has laid permanent claim to it. All have delivered accuracy suitable for my needs and the only issue I've ever run into was too much oil on the latch mechanism. That will let the action open partially under recoil. Fortunately it was on the .223 and not near as unnerving as it would have been with the .500. The triggers are heavy but I can live with them.

Mar 26, 2015 19:06:58 GMT -5 bradshaw said:

awp101.... without pretense to current state of T/C offerings:
* Mike Bellm has been building pistols on Contender and Encore frames for years. Sounds like you want stock, but Bellm knows 'em inside out and might share some tips. He also has a website.

Thank you! I had forgotten about his website! I need to visit it again. www.bellmtcs.com/store

Mar 26, 2015 19:06:58 GMT -5 bradshaw said:

Recoil with .44 Mag drives sharply straight back, thanks to closed breech velocity and low bore axis.

Boy howdy, that's no joke! I briefly owned a .44M Contender pistol. I traded into it because I wanted the frame and .22LR Match barrel with it. That 10" .44 was extremely uncomfortable. It's probably why my interest in .44 Mag pistols is non-existent. The .44 barrel went down the road and the rest followed not long afterwards unfortunately.

Mar 26, 2015 19:06:58 GMT -5 bradshaw said:

When dueling is legalized, I expect the Contender to make a comeback in the single shot category,

Bwahahahahaha! Brilliant!

[dougader]

awp101: I have looked at the Handi rifles but have never picked one up. They sure are priced right at times. I wonder how much that 35 Whelen will kick. I've been wanting to get a rifle in 358 Win for a dedicated cast bullet deer gun and reboring one at JES is looking like the best option.

[awp101]

Here's a tidbit I just found: the Encore is centerfire only, not convertible like the Contender. Something to consider since I'd like a .22 LR.

Bellm shows he can rechamber a 7-08 to 7x57AI but it doesn't say if that's only in the Encore or for any of them. I don't know if the Contender/G2 can be had in 7-08 come to think of it. A plain 7x57 and 6.5x55 would be pretty sweet IMO. Maybe even 7.65x54!

[awp101]

Mar 26, 2015 19:57:00 GMT -5 dougader said:

awp101: I have looked at the Handi rifles but have never picked one up. They sure are priced right at times. I wonder how much that 35 Whelen will kick.

I don't know about the Whelen, but I'm willing to bet it will deliver the hurt on both ends! When shooting the .500 from the bench, it is well advised to make sure you hold the forearm, not just lightly "cup" it. It WILL jump! Now if I could only find some Minie style cast bullets...

[bushog]

I haven't looked in a while but finding a G2 hasn't been easy.

[Aggie01]

I'm a huge Encore Fan - all Rifle Barrels. I tried it out as a pistol, but it never suited me. If you want anything including and over the .308/.30-06/.444 case head, you need to go with the Encore. Bellm's site will take you a while to get through, but he recommends staying under that case head size on the contender to keep from stretching frames.
There are two different ways to do Rimfire in the encore - I know one outfit is offering offset breach plug/firing pins, and another offers off center barrels. I don't recall who is who at the moment.
The encore can handle the belted magnums, but I don't care for the way they interact with the extractor.
In my personal collection:
.204, .22-250, .243, .260, .270, 7.62x54, 45-70
I am planning a series of wildcats on the 45-100 case in .308, .338, .375 & .416.

My 16" 45-70 with 405's at 2K currently holds the top honors in the "most brutal rifle I have ever shot" category. Even though the encore is bigger and heavier than the contender - it still makes a very light gun.
For everything you listed but the 45-70, the contender will handle it just fine.

Whichever you go, make a Bellm hinge pin and hammer extension standard equipment.

[rawly]

Simplified things a few years ago and now my Contender offerings are down to one barrel in 358 jdj. What am awesome round. Reloads we'll with my 35 rem rifle. Same bullets makes life easy. I like the contender over the other two hands down. The trigger can't be beat. My 2 cents.

[jsh]

I have all three frames. The G2 may be a bit more solid frame in the long run due to design. Though I have run thousands of rounds of various center fire through my Contender with no ill effects. FYI glade to see you refer to the Contender in proper name and not the "G1". Never was such an animal.
The encore IMHO is more of a rifle platform for most. It is over sized and heavy for a SSP. I have one barrel in 15" for mine in 308. I had others of various calibers and found nothing Contender/G2 cartridges that would not equal them, excluding the 454 and larger revolver cases. That is a subject to touch on. The 454,460 and 500 become a very useable carbine cartridge on the encore frame.
Triggers.
I won't get into them. Go to Bellms site and get the spring sets and go on for the G2/encore. My first encore was off the scale for trigger pull, like 9-12 lbs. I had all but given up till I got the bellm springs and cd. I can go from 12 ounces to what ever I want to hunt with in about 5 minutes. The contender takes but about half that in time.
Grips
They are as plentiful as snow flakes and rain drops. What ever one desires can be found.
I myself went to the original rubber grip and forearm for the encore. Factory wood for the G2 and the wood with rubber backing on the contender.
As to a single shot rifle on a pretty slick little frame, the BF falling block is a gem IMHO. These may start to pop up a bit more as IHMSA slides down a slippery slope. I just passed a couple a while back for $500 each ready to go shoot, turn key if you will. They could have been switched to a rifle fairly easy.
Jeff

[contender]

I have been using T/C Contenders for decades. (It's also where my internet name came from.)
For all the calibers you mentioned above, the regular Contender over the Encore will handle them all.
But, you did say you are partial to rifles. The Encore was developed to handle the higher pressure rounds found in many rifles. And, as noted it doesn't allow the use of 22 LR w/o modifications.
I've used my Contenders as handguns mostly. I do have a few rifle barrels, and I do have an Encore with a few rifle barrels as well. Yet, I still migrate back to the handguns as my "go to" ones.
Another concern was the costs associated with your choices. You will find it a bit less expensive to buy Contenders over Encores when it comes to barrels, & accessories.
Both the Contender & the Encore have their good & bad features. It will come down to what YOUR desires are & how you wish to use them.

[magnumwheelman]

I pretty much agree with CONTENDER above... none of your original list of calibers requires anything more than the Contender... & if the Encore does not allow use of rimfire cartridges, that sounds like a deal breaker ( hmmm... thinking out load, that new 17 Super mag rimfire might be interesting in a Contender )... I have a plethora of barrels ranging from some custom shorties to a few rifle barrels ( the bulk are 10" & 14" ) however one of my favorite set ups is my 16" vent rib 45-Colt / .410 barrel, with a Camo laminate thumbhole rifle stock & fore end... it can be shot either off the shoulder, or as a pistol, with the thumbhole stock... it's one of my favorite bunny guns... in rifle, I also have a custom 223 barrel ( 1 in 9" twist ) a 222 barrel, & a 6.8 SPC barrel... I'm in the process of putting together a 16" 25 ACP barrel to compliment my custom revolver

[dougader]

It seems as though Axe, or someone else, at one time posted something about early Contender frames being more prone to stretching and/or peening than the later frames.

Does anyone here recall this; if it's true or not? If so, is there a serial number range associated with this malady?