[Rusty-Gunn]

What might be the differences between the G2 and the Encore?
I do know the Encore can handle higher pressures, but what might be the significant differences?
I expect to purchase one or the other come middle of December when I get a chunkof money, but I'd like to know the differences, so I can make a proper decision, and not feel "Maybe I should have got the other."
Tyou.

 

[BugShooter]

the range of calibers you can shoot are different. Think of it as more pistol cartridges for the Contender and more rifle cartridges for the Encore.

Take a look at the T/C web site for a list of those cartridges. The Encore is a heavier pistol/carbine than the Contender...more beef in the manufacturing to handle the cartridges with greater pressure.

To decide which to get you need to decide if a .500 S&W, .22-250, .308, or .270 are in your future.

Those are Encore cartridges.

If you are going to limit yourself to things like .357mag, 44mag, .45-70 and 30-30 (rilfle calibers, but low pressure), then perhaps a Contender will do the job.

 

[hailstone]

The Encore frame is wider and longer too handle larger diameter barrels.. Contender frame is about 1/8" narrower so that limits the barrel diameter to 45 caliber in black powder and 20 gauge if memory serves. The Encore will handle 50 caliber and up black powder barrels along with 12 gauge shotgun. Best going to there site. Fox Ridge Outfitters used too be there speciality shop. Haven't received any catalogues from them in years so don't know if there still operating or closed.

 

[Rusty-Gunn]

Thank you for the info. May I assume the trigger system is the same on both? Could one be better then the other?
I plan on buying a 30-30 barrel first, and haven't decided on the next one, or two. I do agree the Encore may be a better choice due to it's assortment of barrels, so i am leaning towards this one.

 

[broom_jm]

Unless you are specifically looking for lower pressure rifle and pistol barrels, to challenge yourself by hunting with more modest cartridges, you want the Encore. The trigger on the original Contender was exceptional. The G2 and Encore have good triggers, but the consensus is they aren't quite as fine as the original. I do not know if the G2 and Encore have the same trigger, but they are likely to be similar and neither are an impediment to accurate shooting.

Both frames have a staggering variety of barrels available, so it boils down to whether or not you want older, rimmed cartridges in the 50,000psi and under range, or if you want more modern, rimless cartridges that generate up to 60,000psi. (Personally, I don't like more than 55Kpsi in an Encore, but that's just me...why stretch the frame? I can always get a bolt gun.)

 

[Rusty-Gunn]

Thank you. I just saw the TC website, and the Encore is not available normally in 30-30, so a .308 would be a nice choice. I once had a Lone Eagle in .308, so I do have a bit of experience with this.
I still have a month and a half to decide, so no hurry here. I prefer to obtain info early to make good decisions.

 

[broom_jm]

Thank you. I just saw the TC website, and the Encore is not available normally in 30-30, so a .308 would be a nice choice. I once had a Lone Eagle in .308, so I do have a bit of experience with this.
I still have a month and a half to decide, so no hurry here. I prefer to obtain info early to make good decisions.

Are you looking at shooting the Encore or Contender in a pistol configuration? If so, be aware that high-intensity rounds like the 308, from a 15" barrel, are not for the uninitiated! In other words, unless you've shot a fair amount of 44 Mag from a revolver, you might not be prepared for the level of recoil these hand cannons bring to the table, er...bench! Some of the bigger options practically require a muzzle brake, and then the blast is something you almost have to experience to believe. It all depends on what you're planning to do with the gun and what level of recoil you are comfortable with.

 

[GMFWoodchuck]

I know the paper T/C catalog does pretty job of describing the differences. I don't recall exactly what they were, but (if I'm remembering correctly) they were more or lass the same design idea except one is built heavier than the other.

 

[Rusty-Gunn]

I currently own a Ruger Redhawk .44 mag, and have owned about three to four others (I just traded a Taurus Tracker .44 to a brother), so I've got plenty of ,44 mag experience.
I've also owned and shot a Lone Eagle in .308 many years ago, in the eighties. The recoil was abrupt, but controlable enough to hit the paper targets (I hadn't hunted with it before).
I do agree the larger cartridges may benifit from a muzzle brake, but I've no real intention yet to own such (I'm interested in the .375 JDJ though). I'm more interested in a cartridge that I could hunt caribou with. What comes after this in the future I'll wait til that day to determine. I'll only have enough money for one TC.
Thank you all for the responces, it helps me a lot.

 

[broom_jm]

I currently own a Ruger Redhawk .44 mag, and have owned about three to four others (I just traded a Taurus Tracker .44 to a brother), so I've got plenty of ,44 mag experience.
I've also owned and shot a Lone Eagle in .308 many years ago, in the eighties. The recoil was abrupt, but controlable enough to hit the paper targets (I hadn't hunted with it before).
I do agree the larger cartridges may benifit from a muzzle brake, but I've no real intention yet to own such (I'm interested in the .375 JDJ though). I'm more interested in a cartridge that I could hunt caribou with. What comes after this in the future I'll wait til that day to determine. I'll only have enough money for one TC.
Thank you all for the responces, it helps me a lot.

I'm glad the responses are helping, but I feel obliged to mention that a 375JDJ, without a brake, is not something even the most experienced handgun hunters do for very long. Email JD from the SSK website and he'll reply with a good explanation for why almost every 375 they build has a brake. It's no wonder, when you consider that it shoots a bullet that is ~50% heavier than the 308, generating substantially greater recoil. I shoot the 6.5JDJ and it's sharp, but nothing I'd ever consider putting a brake on.

 

[Rusty-Gunn]

Thanks for the info on the 375 JDJ. I'll be sure to seek more info about this one when I decide to add it to the collection.
For now i'm concentrating on a 30-30 or even a .308, or simular round suitable for caribou hunting in my area.

 

[broom_jm]

Thanks for the info on the 375 JDJ. I'll be sure to seek more info about this one when I decide to add it to the collection.
For now i'm concentrating on a 30-30 or even a .308, or simular round suitable for caribou hunting in my area.

The 308 (has to be in an Encore...too hot for Contender) is a great choice for caribou with a handgun. If you want to be a little more interesting and venture into the world of proprietary or wildcat cartridges, consider the 309JDJ or 308 Bellm from the Contender. Both are 444 Marlin cases, necked down and they are plenty of gun for caribou, out to 250 yards, or so.

 

[Rusty-Gunn]

Thanks for the suggestions in alternitive cartridges, I do appreciate it.

 

[Rusty-Gunn]

I took another look at the TC website again. They have a 30-30 AI barrel for the Encore.
Does anyone have any experience with this cartridge? (I have two boxes of factory 3-30 ammo, so I can fire form the ammo, and I also have experience loading for the 338-06AI, so wildcats don't bother me). Thank you.

 

[broom_jm]

I don't have a 30/30 AI for either T/C platform, but ironically, three of my T/C barrels are based on that case, one way or another. The 6.5JDJ is a 225 Winchester, necked up and AI'd, basically. The 225 is just a modified 30/30 case. The other two I have are the 30 Herrett and 7-30 Waters.

The 30/30 AI is a very good option for a single-shot pistol, as it is rimmed for easy extraction and the AI'd case reduces back thrust against the standing breech. However, it is not as powerful as the 30 caliber options mentioned earlier, making it more of a 200 yard gun, which is still a fair distance when shooting with a pistol. It is probably a better option in the G2 action than the Encore, since the latter is capable of withstanding much more powerful rounds. Of all the standard offerings for the Encore, the one I like most is the 7mm-08. It is a handful, but not so much that you'd be wanting a brake after 5 rounds, and the .284" bullets have the best BC going, in bullets of equal weight. I think it would do a great job on caribou out to 300 yards.

I feel like I'm monopolizing this thread, so I'll shut up now!

 

[Rusty-Gunn]

broom-jm... please continue to share information, I'll take it from anyone willing to offer it.
In my area, this time of year, late Septemer-October is a fine time to look for caribou, and any of them are easily within 200 yards, most I've seen are less then this. We even came across a herd about twenty yards out, and had I had a proper hand gun I'd have taken one. Which leads to this thread.
Due to an arthritis condition I have too much differculty to shoot a rifle, so I'm looking to handguns now.

 

[savgashooter]

Thank you for the info. May I assume the trigger system is the same on both? Could one be better then the other?
I plan on buying a 30-30 barrel first, and haven't decided on the next one, or two. I do agree the Encore may be a better choice due to it's assortment of barrels, so i am leaning towards this one.

The trigger systems are virtually the same. There is a spring on the G2 trigger that is a bit different but that is the only difference. Spring kits to adjust trigger pull are the same.

 

[Rusty-Gunn]

Thank you Savgashooter.

 

[jem375]

You will definitely need a muzzle brake on the 375JDJ, I have owned mine for many years and it is a handful to shoot even with the muzzle break. It is my favorite hunting pistol, accurate and powerful enough for anything on the planet..

 

[Rusty-Gunn]

Thank you for the advice on the muzzle brake, jem375.