I have deliberately stayed out of this as I have little experience with the Encore. A bud has one, and while I do not like the look of the buttstock as compared to the #1, I think it looks OK. I keep wondering if anyone around here has experience with the thumbhole version.

That said, I think they are neat guns that are very capable of excellent hunting accuracy. Nope, not gonna see this design type on the bench rest line, but that was never the intent. The plan was to be able to fit the latest and the greatest cartridge into an interchangeable platform. Nice as the Contender is, it simply cannot do this. Encore not only does it, they do it very-very well, and I for one am thinking seriously about getting one.

Psalm 19:14-May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.
_
Humble servant of Jesus Christ. Living His plan and praying to show it in name, word, body, and light.