T/C Encore handgun?

JKump · April 10, 2008, 06:38 AM

Has any one have any experience hunting with these handgun? I am thinking of getting one in 243. I already hunt with a 357 mag. revolver and a single shot rifle in 308. I will be hunting deer here in Georgia. Any comments are welcome.

mikejonestkd · April 10, 2008, 07:23 AM

My family and I own several encores and use them for deer hunting. They are very well made and quite accurate. The .243 is a nice mild mannered round to use in one. My father's .243 regularly shoots better than 1" at 100 for 5 shots, my .308 shoots right around 1" at that range.look at quality optics - burris, bushnell and leupold are the three to look at. stick to a low powered variable like a 2-6 or leupolds excellent 2.5-8.I like the 95 gr accutips from remington in .243, with a broadside shot in the lungs they really work well. One challenge is learning to use a pistol scope - there is a very small field of view and getting a good stable rest is very important - practice, practice, practice.

UniversalFrost · April 10, 2008, 04:19 PM

I have a contender that i regularly shoot a 10" bull barrel in 30/30 with and it is a kicker!

Be careful with the short pistol barrels and rifle cartridges. I would not go below 10" bull for the barrels. I would prefer a 14" for .243 .

JOE

taylorce1 · April 10, 2008, 05:09 PM

Not personal experience but I witnessed my friend kill a black bear in Alaska with a .358 JDJ at 200+ yards 14" barrel. He does a lot of handgun hunting and prefers the Contender frame for a pistol over the Encore, don't really know why. Most of his barrels are ported to control recoil but he is using big bore big cartridge pistols. I've only shot the Contender in .204 Ruger and that produces a lot of muzzle jump but no recoil to speak of.

aaalaska · April 11, 2008, 12:31 AM

I've been shooting tc's since 73have a few frames in contender & encore. In the encore I have the 260 rem 308 and the 460 S&W , the 260 & 308 should be somewhat like the 243 and have about the same level of recoil as a heavy 44 mag load perhaps a bit more not sure it's that close , the 460 with 45 colt is a pop gun ,very light , in 454 without mb recoil is stout but not unacceptable if you shoot big bores the 460 encore without muzzle brake 15 in barrel kicks period , bent the weaver mount once sheared the screws once, not fun. With MB the 45 colt is tame , the 454 is fun to shoot and the 460 while stout is very acceptable .Just my opinion Alex

bcarver · April 11, 2008, 01:16 AM

I have shot a contender in 45-70, 30-30,223 and .357 jdj.
the 30-30 shot .4 inch 3 round group at 100 yards with the first rounds.
the .357 jdjones shot great also but not as good. It was a handul and I was probably not as steady. The 45-70 has only been shot with iron sights at short range and leaves the hand tingling.

It seems that short stiff barrels with no bedding issues or lugs to torque equals accurate weapons. also the contender trigger can be tuned with an allen wrench to be so sweet.

I have the contender in carbine form now and will be buying a second frame for my pistol barrels.

I also own a encore but use it mostly as a muzzleloader and shotgun for turkeys.

I have the 20" Khadin(sp) barrel and it kicks harder than Morten Anderson.
It was a 3" but I just got it bored out to allow 3.5" shells.
If it doesn't explode in my face I hope I can shoot it without a flinch.

king.460 · April 11, 2008, 07:16 AM

Have you done any long-ranging with the .460?

Full-choke · April 11, 2008, 02:52 PM

I have one in 45-70 that shoots great. I use the Pachmyar Grips and Fore-end but it shoots quite comfortably. I am also going to get a new barrel here soon, probably a 25-06, 223 or 22-250 for varmints. I think you will like them.

F-C

aaalaska · April 13, 2008, 08:57 PM

No long range stuff yet, still working out small details ,it's a new to me barrel I've only got 60 or so rounds through it. Alex

hoghunting · April 13, 2008, 09:58 PM

JKump,

You would be wise to check the hunting regs in GA as there might be a minimum caliber size for handgun hunting. Some states have a minimum caliber size or ft/lbs of energy requirement for handguns.

JKump · April 14, 2008, 07:06 AM

The 243 fall in to the regs here in Georgia for deer. I have been handgun hunting with the 357 mag. in the past and have taking deer. I have taking deer with a 243 rifle also.

aaalaska · April 16, 2008, 11:46 PM

A bit cool yet but just had to get out [the bears are out] and try getting ready one group under an inch with the contender 14 in 44 mag 240 gr an one just over at 50 yds but even at 50 yds the 460 just ain't makin it best of three groups was just under 2.5 in not ready to stick one up at 200 an start pokin away , not sure whats going on this time , but it keeps getting better.

April 10, 2008, 06:38 AM	#1
JKump Senior Member Join Date: November 30, 1998 Location: Middle Georgia Posts: 428	T/C Encore handgun? Has any one have any experience hunting with these handgun? I am thinking of getting one in 243. I already hunt with a 357 mag. revolver and a single shot rifle in 308. I will be hunting deer here in Georgia. Any comments are welcome. __________________ Live everyday as if it is your last! Because someday you will be right. "Everyone has a game plan until they get punched in the mouth".

April 10, 2008, 07:23 AM	#2
mikejonestkd Senior Member Join Date: January 3, 2006 Location: Brockport, NY Posts: 3,716	My family and I own several encores and use them for deer hunting. They are very well made and quite accurate. The .243 is a nice mild mannered round to use in one. My father's .243 regularly shoots better than 1" at 100 for 5 shots, my .308 shoots right around 1" at that range.look at quality optics - burris, bushnell and leupold are the three to look at. stick to a low powered variable like a 2-6 or leupolds excellent 2.5-8.I like the 95 gr accutips from remington in .243, with a broadside shot in the lungs they really work well. One challenge is learning to use a pistol scope - there is a very small field of view and getting a good stable rest is very important - practice, practice, practice. __________________ You are the bows from which your children as living arrows are sent forth.

April 10, 2008, 04:19 PM	#3
UniversalFrost Senior Member Join Date: February 20, 2006 Location: Ohio Posts: 2,300	I have a contender that i regularly shoot a 10" bull barrel in 30/30 with and it is a kicker! Be careful with the short pistol barrels and rifle cartridges. I would not go below 10" bull for the barrels. I would prefer a 14" for .243 . JOE __________________ Lifetime member VFW and NRA "Quando Omni Flunkus Moritati" (when all else fails play dead) -Red Green

April 11, 2008, 12:31 AM	#5
aaalaska Senior Member Join Date: March 14, 2007 Location: Palmer Ak Posts: 319	TC's I've been shooting tc's since 73have a few frames in contender & encore. In the encore I have the 260 rem 308 and the 460 S&W , the 260 & 308 should be somewhat like the 243 and have about the same level of recoil as a heavy 44 mag load perhaps a bit more not sure it's that close , the 460 with 45 colt is a pop gun ,very light , in 454 without mb recoil is stout but not unacceptable if you shoot big bores the 460 encore without muzzle brake 15 in barrel kicks period , bent the weaver mount once sheared the screws once, not fun. With MB the 45 colt is tame , the 454 is fun to shoot and the 460 while stout is very acceptable .Just my opinion Alex

April 11, 2008, 01:16 AM	#6
bcarver Senior Member Join Date: February 22, 2007 Location: Jackson,Mississippi Posts: 838	contender/encore I have shot a contender in 45-70, 30-30,223 and .357 jdj. the 30-30 shot .4 inch 3 round group at 100 yards with the first rounds. the .357 jdjones shot great also but not as good. It was a handul and I was probably not as steady. The 45-70 has only been shot with iron sights at short range and leaves the hand tingling. It seems that short stiff barrels with no bedding issues or lugs to torque equals accurate weapons. also the contender trigger can be tuned with an allen wrench to be so sweet. I have the contender in carbine form now and will be buying a second frame for my pistol barrels. I also own a encore but use it mostly as a muzzleloader and shotgun for turkeys. I have the 20" Khadin(sp) barrel and it kicks harder than Morten Anderson. It was a 3" but I just got it bored out to allow 3.5" shells. If it doesn't explode in my face I hope I can shoot it without a flinch.

April 10, 2008, 05:09 PM	#4
taylorce1 Senior Member Join Date: November 18, 2005 Location: On the Santa Fe Trail Posts: 8,242	Not personal experience but I witnessed my friend kill a black bear in Alaska with a .358 JDJ at 200+ yards 14" barrel. He does a lot of handgun hunting and prefers the Contender frame for a pistol over the Encore, don't really know why. Most of his barrels are ported to control recoil but he is using big bore big cartridge pistols. I've only shot the Contender in .204 Ruger and that produces a lot of muzzle jump but no recoil to speak of.

April 11, 2008, 07:16 AM	#7
king.460 Senior Member Join Date: August 26, 2007 Location: Hale County, AL Posts: 103	aaalaska Have you done any long-ranging with the .460?

April 11, 2008, 02:52 PM	#8
Full-choke Senior Member Join Date: May 10, 2007 Location: Ohio Posts: 617	I have one in 45-70 that shoots great. I use the Pachmyar Grips and Fore-end but it shoots quite comfortably. I am also going to get a new barrel here soon, probably a 25-06, 223 or 22-250 for varmints. I think you will like them. F-C __________________ TC Encore -6mm Rem Rifle; Ruger 10/22; Ruger 10/22 Ultimate; Stoeger Condor 20; ; Remington 1100 12; Stoeger 22 Luger; Taurus PT1911; Ruger SR40c God gave us the gift of life. It is the most precious gift ever. To be unarmed is to be helpless to protect that gift; that is outright irresponsible. - Ted Nugent

April 13, 2008, 08:57 PM	#9
aaalaska Senior Member Join Date: March 14, 2007 Location: Palmer Ak Posts: 319	No long range stuff yet, still working out small details ,it's a new to me barrel I've only got 60 or so rounds through it. Alex

April 13, 2008, 09:58 PM	#10
hoghunting Senior Member Join Date: March 27, 2006 Posts: 1,559	JKump, You would be wise to check the hunting regs in GA as there might be a minimum caliber size for handgun hunting. Some states have a minimum caliber size or ft/lbs of energy requirement for handguns.

April 14, 2008, 07:06 AM	#11
JKump Senior Member Join Date: November 30, 1998 Location: Middle Georgia Posts: 428	The 243 fall in to the regs here in Georgia for deer. I have been handgun hunting with the 357 mag. in the past and have taking deer. I have taking deer with a 243 rifle also. __________________ Live everyday as if it is your last! Because someday you will be right. "Everyone has a game plan until they get punched in the mouth".

April 16, 2008, 11:46 PM	#12
aaalaska Senior Member Join Date: March 14, 2007 Location: Palmer Ak Posts: 319	A bit cool yet but just had to get out [the bears are out] and try getting ready one group under an inch with the contender 14 in 44 mag 240 gr an one just over at 50 yds but even at 50 yds the 460 just ain't makin it best of three groups was just under 2.5 in not ready to stick one up at 200 an start pokin away , not sure whats going on this time , but it keeps getting better.