I am looking into getting a TC Encore Rifle. But I have been offered a TC contender pistol with 3 brls for $500. I do not like or want/need any of the 3 calibers he is offering but think the rest would be worth it. It will come with the regular pistol grip, one syn type pistol grip and some folding rifle stock style grip. Plus the 357, 22 mag and 22 match brls. My question is this.........what exactly is the difference between the encore and the contendor. The one for $500 is a contender. Can it be converted and used as a rifle like the newer encore rifles? Here in CA we can not buy a new contender pistol becuase they have been banned for new sale. So I was thinking that getting the contender pistol would be a good idea, even though i have no interest in it as a pistol and would be buying the syn camo stocks anyway.

So what is the difference between the contender and the encore?

Are brls for each about the same price? All the brls I will be buying will be 24 or 26 inch rifle and most likely heavy brls as well.

I want to get a heavy 26 inch 22-250 and or a 220 swift for varmints. I will deffenitely want the camod version of the syn stocks for the Encore if I go that route.

Would it just be better for me to buy a new Encore and go from there? Or is the above mentioned deal something I should consider?

Please educate me on the specifics of the TC line!

Thanks in advance for any help

First, I would never recommend depending on any forum for certain critical information. Please visit Thompson Center Arms for the straight skinny.

However, if you'll believe me, I'd say that you shouldn't get the Contender. The Contender is the older, lighter, rimfire and centerfire capable ancestor of the Encore (hence the name, Encore) which will NOT handle the cartridges you are interested in. While some prefer the Contender, and I am one, it is NOT suited for such cartridges.

You never mentioned the length of the barrels but I'd bet that you could get about $400 for them on eBay which brings the cost of the frame down to $100 or about one-half the going cost of a frame.

Still you'll be limited to cartridges with pressure limits such as the .30-30, .223 (on that case head size), etc.

The Contender replacement, the G-2, doesn't handle any cartridges with more HP than the Contender despite it's Encore-like appearance.

[ 07-29-2003, 22:26: Message edited by: Hobie ]

Embalmer,
Because you mentioned getting a 22-250 I would recommend passing on the contender as well and picking up an Encore. The contender or the G2 will not handle that round anyway. So you would be imediately either limiting yourself caliber wise or have to buy both the G2 and Encore. If you check on T/C's website it should tell you what calibers the G2 and the Encore will handle. You also mentioned that you weren't interested in the barrels that came with the contender. So you would have to start selling or trading to get what you want. I think it would just be easier to find a deal on a Encore with a barrel that you would be interested in keeping. The Encore does have a wider selection of calibers to choose from then the contender or G2. However the Encore is limited in the smaller calibers such as 17 HMR and the .22 rim fires from the factory. You can always buy custom barrels to remedy that problem though.

The Contender and the G2 still have there place in the field. However you need to really look at what type of hunting you are planning to do as well as what caliber you want to use. If you are looking at the larger calibers then the Encore shines in this arena. If you are looking at the lighter calibers only then the G2 may be the way to go.

I have all contender frames and barrels. Here in Ohio the larger calibers can't be used or aren't needed. So there was no need to move to the Encores. However if I lived out west I probably would have switched over some time ago.

[ 08-01-2003, 00:13: Message edited by: Fisher ]