So, I'm ordering myself this new rifle for Christmas. This will be my first T/C Encore, and let me tell you, I'm exited and can't wait to start collecting more barrels for it. The one I'm starting off with is the 20" Katahdin in .45-70. Pretty sure the 209x50 muzzleloader barrel will be next. Man, I cannot wait to get this rifle! Gonna be just in time for the Mountain Lion I'm planning to hunt during the Christmas holidays.

Should have bought a Contender in 45/70. It is at least 1 pound lighter. You will know why this is important after your first day of following the hounds in mountain country if you are on foot. If you are on mules or horses the weight difference is not as important.

wish we could use hounds. they outlawed hunting lions with dogs here in Oregon....not really sure what the gameplan will be...

varmint call

I agree on the Contender over the Encore in a carbine. I just bought a 17" 45-70 barrel with a TC muzzle tamer. I am putting together a LW carbine. I am going to put a Leupold VX-3 in 1.5X5 scope. The scope comes in around 9 ounces. This is going to make one fantastic light weight carbine. It will be short, light, and super fast. Just the perfect scenario for a hound gun. And you can get MZ barrels for the Contender. And used Contender barrels run about $50 to $100 less than used Encore barrels.

I gave $175 for the barrel(with a muzzle brake), $225 for the frame. And I am in the process of ordering a custom LH thumb hole stock for $265. So I will have exactly what I want with a custom stock for $665. That is pretty tough to beat.

Not exactly sure what this rig is going to weigh. But I think it will come in right at 5#. And that is with a heavier laminated stock. I may go with Walnut for a little more money. And that should be slightly less in weight. I just can't get use to that Rynite stuff.

And I am extremely jealous of your cougar hunt. I would consider that a hunt of a lifetime. But I will never be able to do one. But it would be a dream hunt. That and a real lion hunt in Africa. And I may be able to pull that one off some day. But I am taking my 1886 Winchester in 45-70 for that hunt!!! Tom.

Just took my first deer and with my new Encore. Pro hunter stock, black frame and bbl, 30-06, 3x9x40 Fullfield 2, Beartooth comb kit. Love the prohunter stock (and I am not a fan of plastic). Just my 2 cents.

I had a ProHunter with the 20" Katahdin bbl in 45-70. I also had the 209x50 bbl. Great combination and fairly accurate. One of the benefits of using a ProHunter (Encore) frame is that your choice of barrels/cartridges is much greater. The extra pound never bothered me and may reduce recoil a bit.

justinboyette13: You have a PM. Merry Christmas

Justin,
I shoot a contender in 45-70 and it is a deffintly a hanful even with trapdoor loads.
I wish I would have got it in the encore as I do have it to.the extra weight of the encore should help recoil,plus you load to higher speeds if desired.

I had a Katahdin setup in 450 Marlin.I killed several deer and a few hogs with it.I got a wild hair up my ass and traded it away.I am haunted to this day about that decision.The 45-70 is a great old cartridge and should do the job on your mt lion quite nicely.Good luck,look foward to the story and pics.I just picked up a 15" 460 S&W that I am having a permanent brake affixed to to make it into a carbine.Should be a blast.
Jim

I bought one in 444 for my encore.its a stubby & spits a flame out about 2 feet but deadly accurate.I switched out to the tech stock they say it cuts recoil 45%.I don't know about that much but it does work well.
pete

Encores are very nice. Contenders are old news.

txpete: man thats a sweet lookn set-up you got there. did the barrel come with that brake or did you have it put on? looks wicked anyway....
don't look like i'll be huntin lions for christmas...still waitin on my Encore. Should be here by the first. Done bought some ammo though. lol. i'm like a little kid exited to get this gun.

hey lastofthebreed, i replied to your pm....

I have been shootin Contenders for over 40 years ad they ain't got old to me yet. I am down to about 17 barrels both carbine and pistol. I got my first Encore in 1999. and currently have 11 tubes for it. 9 Contender frames and 6 Encore frames. To say I am addicted to the switch barrel things is a given. I have several short barrel Encore carbines and they are easy to carry and plenty accurate. I actually prefer the Encore in rifle/carbine form to the Contender but I like the Contender better in the Pistol configeration as it fits my hand better. I have a 30-30 AI in the Contender that out runs my .300 Savage Encore. I would be quite content to use them for any type of hunting I do and not feel under gunned. But then that is what I have been doing for the last 40 years anyhow

So my encore pro hunter arrived, but without a barrel. T/c is out of stock and will send my katahdin barrel when they get it made. Kinda sucks. I sure like the sling txpete has on his rifle in the pic up there. Can't seem to find one like it anywhere though. Anybody know what kind it is?