I know that I want a handgun for hunting and plinking. I've thought about a Ruger Redhawk, but have always been attracted to TC's. (I like to play with stuff too much!)

I'm kinda interested in rimfire. Mainly want to shoot a powerful pistol cartridge to 100 yards or so. I think a 454 would be ideal, but I know I'd have to go Encore for that.

Any thoughts?

Thanks,
QD

Quickdraw, if Rimfire is much of a concern, I'd stick with the Contender. I have a G2, and I'm very pleased with it. You might not be able to get barrels in large diameter pistol cartridges, but you can certainly find something capable of taking down most commonly hunted animals. Or buy an Encore and a Mark II - since you are a Ruger fan. (I am too)

Do you handload, or shoot factory ammo?

The basic difference I see between the contender/G2 and the encore is that the contender/G2 need to be chambered in wildcats, and hence handloaded for to get their peak performance whereas the Encore does fine with factory chamberings. The contender is lighter, and has a bigger selection of used barrels at reasonable prices.

As far as revolver vs single shot, that comes down to how you want to hunt. I've had both revolvers and single shot pistols, and ended up selling my contender, because I found I grabbed a scoped rifle vs a scoped pistol. I do however carry an iron sighted revolver as it offers something the scoped rifles and pistols don't. I've also picked up another contender frame, so I'm back at that again as well.

You don't have to have an encore in 454 for 100 yd shots. I've shot very tight groups with my 480 revolver when it was scoped, as in a 1 1/2" 3 shot group at 100 yds. You really don't need a encore unless you're looking for 200 yd or more shots.

quote:

You really don't need a encore unless you're looking for 200 yd or more shots.

Paul- Trust me around my house I never use the "don't need" words when referring to my obsession.
I totally agree with the Contender/Encore handloading thing. You almost have to handload to get the best a Contender has to offer. An Encore can be had in all the common high pressure chamberings except short mags. I prefer Contenders because I like the smaller size and they make a nice little tricked out rifle. But now I "need" an Encore.

That was only meant in the context of, the 454 in a scoped revolver is an effective 200 yd gun. It seemed like the original poster was debating revolver vs single shot.

I know...........it was in jest. Never want to have anyone in my house hear me say I "don't need" when it comes to gun nut stuff.

You're right, it was a bad choice of words need has never played much of a roll in my firearm purchases