TC Contender and Encore Rifles

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  • Redd508

    Well-Known Member
    Rating - 100%
    27   0   0
    May 18, 2012
    884
    18
    Lafayette
    I have a Contender G2 and have had it for several years. Mine is in 17 hmr and wears good glass. I've hunted with it a couple of times but i find it a little too hot for tree rats.

    My question is if there is a community here that shoots or hunts with these? I've seen several bought and sold here but not much discussion about them. I'm on the fence about keeping it and would like to hear from some locals about their opinions and experiences. Its a really nice rifle with beautiful wood, I'm just undecided.

    What say you?
     

    pandabear

    Well-Known Member
    Silver Member
    Rating - 100%
    75   0   0
    May 1, 2014
    181
    28
    Baton Rouge, Louisiana
    Close to 20 years ago, I've hunted exclusively with a 45-70 contender. The barrel was a 14" made by SSK industries. It was deadly out to 130 yards. Than I graduated to a 309JDJ barrel. I shot a prong horn in Wyoming with a 465 yard shot(it took 6 shots, and I had a spotter). You may want to reach out to SSK Industries. They;ll help you with whatever it is that's Contender related. I'm not sure if JD Jones is still alive. He's the owner of SSK. He's the creator of the round 300 whisper, that transform to what we have today call the 300 blackout.
     

    troy_mclure

    Well-Known Member
    Rating - 100%
    30   0   0
    Mar 13, 2010
    2,762
    38
    Central
    Used to have an encore pro hunter.
    .45/70(20"), and .204ruger(24") that I shot regularly. Owned several other barrels but never really kept any but those 2.
    There's a couple really good forums where you can get tricks and tips, barrel trades, find custom barrel manufacturers, etc...
    Unfortunately I had to let mine go a few years ago.
     

    pdugas

    downdabayou
    Rating - 100%
    10   0   0
    Aug 2, 2009
    147
    18
    Centerville, La.
    You may want to consider putting a .22 LR barrel on it since you like it and think the .17HMR is too much. Try Natchez Shooters they sell G-2 barrels. Ed's Contenders is a good source also.
     
    Rating - 100%
    1   0   0
    Feb 3, 2019
    12
    1
    Madisonville, LA
    I have an encore that is my go-to when I head out to WY. I have taken hogs in FL with my 6.5*06 with Ziess glass and regularly use 300 win mag for elk, that barrel also has Ziess. For my iron sights, i have a 45 and 50 cal black powder. There are plenty of other toys in the safe but i enjoy the built in pressure of ensuring that you make a good shot the first time. Debating on picking up a 270 barrel next...
     

    Redd508

    Well-Known Member
    Rating - 100%
    27   0   0
    May 18, 2012
    884
    18
    Lafayette
    I've spent plenty of time on GBO. They have a pretty good group. I was mostly interested in what the locals thought. I really like the idea of building a handgun with it but never did. 22 lr makes sense. I'm also interested in the straight walled calibers and maybe something like a 30-30 or 300 blackout. Maybe the 17hmr in a short bbl wont tear them up so bad.
     
    Last edited:

    gemihur

    Newbus
    Rating - 0%
    0   0   0
    Jun 27, 2018
    38
    8
    Roanoke, VA
    The contender's claim to fame was the handgun that used rifle ammunition.
    The 7-30 Waters has been the highest performance round in my experience utilized in the little break-action.
    If you reload you can improve upon the factory fodder available (Federal & Hornady).
    Don't overlook the wildcats 30 & 357 Herrett, 7TCU, the list goes on ...
    444 Marlin
    444-with-bipod.jpg
     

    BlueShamu

    Well-Known Member
    Rating - 100%
    4   0   0
    Oct 21, 2015
    319
    18
    D'town
    I have the Encore Pro Hunter.

    I know there is a place you can get “accuracy upgrades” and “action jobs” where they polish the sears and such...E. Arthur Brown.

    I have the 12 gauge slug barrel and .50 cal muzzle loader. What I have noticed about the platform...I HATE the trigger pull. The rifling on the 12 gauge slug does not like the high velocity slugs, either. Throws them everywhere!

    As for squirrels...I used to be exclusively .22 LR in a Marlin 39A. Now, I’m a .17 Mach II fan using a Savage rifle with Leupold glass. Probably as with the .17 HMR...you are wise to make head shots only with the Mach II Vmax round.


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
     

    bigsk

    Iconoclast
    Rating - 100%
    4   0   0
    Sep 20, 2009
    110
    18
    Baton Rouge, LA
    I have been handgun hunting for 40+ years and have several Contenders. SSK 7mm JDJ#2 (307 Win parent case), 45-70, 44Mag, 223, 22, 7TCU bbls left after going through a bunch of different calibers.

    I picked up several Rem XP 100s (35 Rem, 243 & 260) that I use more frequently now days. Now that Nosler is making the Model 48, I plan to pick up one soon.

    Back in the day, SSK sponsored Handgun Hunting trips to Wyoming for antelope that were fun.

    I do still use the 7mmJDJ for antelope on trips to New Mexico and white tail down here. Super accurate and does an excellent job with 120 140 gr Ballistic Tips.

    I have taken a few deer with a S&W M29 44mag. Open sighted 4" that I carry on every hunting trip. The Contender 45-70 has taken a few hogs.

    Squirrel hunting is mostly a Ruger MKII Gov't Target with a 2x scope.

    Hunting with a handgun is lots of fun and can be challenging plus it gives one another excuse to do some practicing.
     

    bigsk

    Iconoclast
    Rating - 100%
    4   0   0
    Sep 20, 2009
    110
    18
    Baton Rouge, LA
    FYI................ Handgun Hunters International (HHI) is up and running again.

    It's a organization for handgun hunters. It was originally started by J.D. Jones and his cohorts and went defunct around 2016. They do member hunts, have all the past "Sixgunner" magazine issues on line. (Lots of info on guns, load development, etc.)Handgun Hunters International

     

    gemihur

    Newbus
    Rating - 0%
    0   0   0
    Jun 27, 2018
    38
    8
    Roanoke, VA
    I appreciate the established reputation of J. D. Jones and his contribution to the shooting sports.
    I use his cartridge designs and Bellm's and Reeder's. I hunt when and where I can afford to.
    As a Virginia resident I have many opportunities locally and do not foresee an upcoming budget increase to take advantage of HHI or SCI offerings. Thanks, bigsk, for your suggestion, tho.
    One of my favorite hunts is the Chincoteague Nat'l Wildlife Refuge Hunt for sika.
     

    J. W. Harris

    Well-Known Member
    Rating - 100%
    4   0   0
    Jan 9, 2022
    69
    18
    Zachary, Louisiana
    I have a T/C Encore in 22-250. It shoots like a rifle, but is a firebreather. Whatever you shoot is cooked well done at the same time. Has 15" barrel, and (pun intended) is a blast to shoot! JW
     

    Cleburne

    Well-Known Member
    Rating - 100%
    34   0   0
    May 31, 2008
    879
    18
    Thibodaux
    You may want to consider putting a .22 LR barrel on it since you like it and think the .17HMR is too much. Try Natchez Shooters they sell G-2 barrels. Ed's Contenders is a good source also.
    I have a G2 with a .22LR barrel. It's the proverbial tack driver. Haven't had the opportunity to take it squirrel hunting but have no doubt of its capability.
     

    J. W. Harris

    Well-Known Member
    Rating - 100%
    4   0   0
    Jan 9, 2022
    69
    18
    Zachary, Louisiana
    Thanks for the input. It's in 22-250 caliber, not .17 HMR. I reload so it's not too hard to tune it down; but I still like full house factory loads. It will stay in 3" groups with Winchester 55 grain @ 100 yards. Fun.
    Thanks again, JW
     

    Bigchillin83

    Well-Known Member
    Rating - 100%
    94   0   1
    Feb 27, 2012
    6,187
    113
    Livingston
    Lol I go the opposite way from u fellas….

    45-70
    400 gr. Maker expanding subsonic bullets
    Trail boss
    1150fps
    Silencerco hybrid

    Expands over 3” and exits like a 3 blade, and hits like a hammer… bullet impact is louder than the actual shot!!!! can’t count how many hogs/deer I have killed and finally recovered one bullet…. If there’s more than 1 deer in the food plot, the others just look confused as it runs off about 25yrds then drops, super quiet, call it Thor’s hammer lol
     

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    Bigchillin83

    Well-Known Member
    Rating - 100%
    94   0   1
    Feb 27, 2012
    6,187
    113
    Livingston
    To be upfront though, the furthest I have ever harvested with that set up is 112 yards… complete pass through… I get 2” groups @100yrds outside holes, so with 2-1/2” Bullets taken off that’s around 1.5” c to c grouping… I’m sure I could shoot further, heck another 75fps in the same caliber bout wiped out the N. A. Buffalo population lol
     

    J. W. Harris

    Well-Known Member
    Rating - 100%
    4   0   0
    Jan 9, 2022
    69
    18
    Zachary, Louisiana
    BC83, My 73 year old wrist, shoulders and back hurt just thinking about it but it works! A few years ago, a friend of mine shot a buck just below the tail from a ground blind; found the bullet under the skin on it's chest. 45-70 is a hundred and fifty year old bad boy!!!!
     

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