What would you buy, a Savage Striker or a T/C-- Encore.

07 March 2002, 09:02

I am wanting a new toy. What would you buy? I will be hunting Whitetail and loading my own ammo. I do like the two round capacity of the Savage striker. I don't know if I can interchange the barrels with the Striker though. Being able to adjust the trigger is important. Let me know if the trigger can be adjusted on the pistol you recommend.

Also could someone tell me the difference is between the Contender and the Encore. Thanks for your input.

Do I have any more options for high-power handgunning?
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[This message has been edited by tundrarules (edited 03-06-2002).]

[This message has been edited by tundrarules (edited 03-07-2002).]

07 March 2002, 03:28

Recono

quote:
Originally posted by tundrarules:
Do I have any more options for high-power handgunning?

Yes. H-S Precision single-shot, in either IHMSA weight or "Varmint" (heavy) weight. They have .257 Robts, .260 Rem, 7mm-08 and .308 Win, among others.

Some people on this site have bad-mouthed H-S service, but all I know is that I got a gun at least as accurate as they said it would be (they said 3 in .5 in @100yd, I got 5 in .5in same, with Hornady & handloads both), and no problems. Mine was a 7mm-08.

07 March 2002, 03:37

savageshooter

I have both a Savage Striker in .308 and an Encore in 30-06. Haven't had either one hunting yet, but I can tell you as much as I love my Striker, it's a little bulky for carrying through the woods, would rather carry a rifle. The Encore carries well. Both shoot great. My Striker with match ammo can print sub-MOA groups at 100 yds, although not as consistent as a custom, but I'm working on it. You can swap barrels on the Savage pretty easy, but you need a barrel vise and action wrench, and a way of checking headspace. The headspace is adjustable, so you can buy prechambered barrels for it. Hope this helps.
Happy hunting!

07 March 2002, 05:12

Bill M

I can't speak for the Savage, but I have an Encore and highly recommend it. The differences between the Encore and Contender are strength and weight. Both are limited by the "thrust" that the cartridge applies to the breach. This is a combination of cartridge pressure and the area of the head of the cartridge case. The practical "limit" of the Encore is belted magnum pressure/head size, while in the Contender, it is the 30-30 size/pressure. Encore weighs about 1/2 pound more than the Contender (added- website says one pound).

My Encore is plenty accurate as a pistol - I have shot 1" groups at 100 yards from rest with both my 15" 223 Rem and 16" 375 H&H pistol barrels. I also have a 223 Rem rifle barrel that is a genuine 1/2" (or maybe even a little better) group gun (it was devastating on pasture poodles last November), and busting clays with the 26" 20 gauge barrel is lots of fun. Harvested a button buck at 172 yards with my 209X50 Muzzle loader barrel last December.

Switching barrels takes a screwdriver/allen (to remove the front stock) and some kind of drift to push out the pivot pin.

You're practically only limited by your imagination....

You really should check out this website:
http://www.sskindustries.com/encore.html

Bill

[This message has been edited by Bill M (edited 03-06-2002).]

07 March 2002, 07:51

<Paul Dustin>

I like the Striker and Encore but I when with the Competitor. You can buy over 400 barrels for this gun from 10 3/4 to 23". I have 2 gun and 4 barrels a 375 JRS 16", 308 Win 16", 22 Hornet 14",and 5mm-223 16". The 308 Win will shot .25 group at 100yds and the 5mm-223 will shot .19 at 100yds and this is with handloads. To take a look go to

www.competitor-pistol.com

07 March 2002, 19:10

tundrarules

That Competitor looks like a great gun!! Anyone else have experiance with this gun?

08 March 2002, 00:37

<Constance>

quote:
Originally posted by tundrarules:
[B]
Also could someone tell me the difference is between the Contender and the Encore. Thanks for your input.
[B]

The Encore is a heavy duty version of the contender that can handle high pressure loads with larger diameter cases.

Same concept. Higher limits.

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http://www.constancelink.com

[This message has been edited by Constance (edited 03-07-2002).]

08 March 2002, 14:10

Garfield

The competitor is a nice gun but the sevice and time involved with getting a new barrel or even a new gun is disgusting. I waited for 3 months to get my barrel then I had to wait 1 more month to get the bore polished so it would work right.stick with the Encore or striker.

08 March 2002, 16:01

<pshooter>

I love my 308 striker. Spend the money for a good custom holster, fix the trigger, and it will be great. Granted It's bulkier than a T/C, but I just like the center grip. My T/C's have their place, but it's not in front of my striker.

09 March 2002, 03:34

<Yote Hunter>

Paul Dustin

You can buy over 400 bbls. for the Encore also counting all the factory and custom shop bbls. I have the Encore and like it very well .

09 March 2002, 07:15

<GT>

I have a stainless, lam. righthand Stryker.308 forsale. It has a Burris 2-7 silver on it. It's a real nice gun, but I could use the $$. It has the adj.brake and padded soft case. I can save you some $$$$! email me at gtbuckstud@msn.com

09 March 2002, 07:37

Paul H

If you like to try different cartridges, the encore and contender platforms simply can't be beat. In addition to all the factory and custom offerings, there is a large supply of used barrels floating around that can be had at reasonable prices. So reasonable that I've gone through 1/2 dozen contender barrels, and either broke even, or made a couple $'s on every one.

In addition the strength diffence between the encore and contender, you also should consider that the encore achieves outstanding performance with factory rounds based on the 308 case, with the contender, you have to go to wildcats based on the 225, 30/30 and 444 to get max performance out of it.

Asside from that, you have to figure what is most important to you, and how you hunt. A bolt action pistol might be the best package for you, then again, maybe a svelte little 10" contender will be the ticket.

My personal preference is the 10" contender, if I'm not packing a rifle, then I want a relatively light and compact pistol. If I'm after max range and accuracy, then its a job for a rifle.

09 March 2002, 16:59

tundrarules

You guys are great!!!! a lot of good info. Keep it coming, I am enjoying reading your opinions.

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09 March 2002, 17:05

tundrarules

I noticed the Contender is not offering the new .480. Seems like the Contender could handle this round.

09 March 2002, 20:13

Sean VHA #60013

I'd go with the Contender or Encore. One simply cannot beat the switch barrel ability of these firearms!

Instead of having to send a gun out to be rebarreled by a gunsmith if you happen to get stuck with a long throated or poorly rifled barrel, you just buy another barrel and install it yourself in second

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is two wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for lunch. Liberty is a well-armed lamb contesting the vote." Benjamin Franklin, 1759

11 March 2002, 11:54

<Fisher>

I have to agree with Sean. The contender or encore is the way to go. I've hunted with a pistol now here in Ohio for almost 10 years. I first started out with revolvers but after 2 years picked up a contender and never looked back. The availablity of barrels both new and used is fantastic. Wildcat calibers are fun too. I shoot calibers ranging from a .22 to a .444 marlin in the pistol configuration. I've just started into the wildcat arena with the .308 Bellm. I soon will be sending my .35 remington barrel out to have it converted to a .358 Bellm.

Fancy seeing you here Sean. I think I'm going to let the other place cool off for a while if not longer.

22 March 2002, 02:58

<gunner7mm>

ive got a all three,ive taken a couple of deer with the contender with 35 rem and i got to deer with my striker 243 openning day this past season.i never hunted the years that i have owned the encore so it feels neglectid.i guess i did have out some oppening day after the sriker slid off the hood of my truck and the scope stuck in the mud but didnt get to fire it. i guess its all what you want for a hunting gun.thay all have there high points and low points.
jason

29 March 2002, 09:38

tundrarules

Well I took the plung today! I ordered a Encore .480 Ruger, 10" bbl,scope, mounts,and a trigger job! Went with the Encore because like some of you guys said, I have so many more options and company stability with the Encore. Can't wait too work up some loads and take it out for a trial run!!!!!!!! The loading components are high for this caliber because it's new. Oh well, if I can pay this much for a handgun I quess a few more bucks isn't going to make a difference.

Thanks for all your help. If anyone has good .480 load data please pass it on.

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[This message has been edited by tundrarules (edited 03-28-2002).]