Which Contender??

[handgunhuntr]

I have had several contenders over the years in the original version.  Alot of what I read now says how big of an improvement the G2 is.  What are your feelings?  Which do you prefer and why?  Will all barrels with the split lug work on the G2? Is the grip angle really that big of a difference?

[Ladobe]

The Contenders always got it done for me in spades, never let me down and continued to exceed my expectations as new commercial cartridge and wildcat barrels were bought for them over the years.   So well so that when the Encores came out and I quickly bought several I only kept mine for 2-3 years before selling them off again.   Never owned a G2, so can only relate what I told Tim and Ken when they showed my the prototype G2 at the 2000 SHOT Show under the table, told me all about it and asked my opinion of it as a serious customer of TC almost since they opened their doors.   "I'll never own one".     That has never changed, even now that they have been use for years.   The whys are not important as they'll just spur negativity here, but they were founded on long experience with TC Contenders that served me very well for 43 years.   Just my personal choice based on that.  Others lean to the other side, some for erronious resons, but even that is OK.   They are satisfied with them and have confidence in them, so after all is said and done that is the only bottom line that matters.
YMMV
L.
 

[Hopalong7]

     IMO, The G-2 cured all the problems that never existed with the Contender.  I've not used them quite as long as Ladobe(but close), but I've never felt the need for anything else .  Never owned a G-2...shot one a little...I would guess they're a little cheaper to produce.
Walt

[Dezynco]

I own 2 G2 contenders and do not have any issues, but I love the old Contender too.

Like Hopalong7 said though, the G2 fixes a lot of problems that never really existed in the original Contender.  The trigger does not have to be reset if the hammer is lowered without firing, the G2 is a good bit easier to open, and is generally a simpler design therefore easier for the owner to make minor tune ups.  The G2 has a little stronger frame, not that you would need it unless you get into some of the really large, borderline cartridges.

I'm not a diehard fan of the G2, I'm a diehard fan of the "Contender", whether it's the old style or new style!

The only real suggestion I would make is that the G2 is easier to open for folks that might have arthritis or some other condition.  My old man traded all but one of his old Contenders for this reason, but that's the only reason.

[skarke]

The old Contenders, for me, have the sweetest triggers of any production gun.  they can be made REALLY sweet.  The G2s need replacement springs and considerable trigger work to approach the easy opens regarding their triggers, IMHO.  The G2 is probabaly more sturdy, but that is just conjecture on my part.  I've shot a 30 30 and a 35 remington for years with one old style, and it locks just like new.  It it almost 30 years old now.

[Ladobe]

The G-2 cured all the problems that never existed with the Contender.

Absolutely love that sentence - well said Walt.   All the G2 honestly offered was to give TC a model that is more lawyer friendly.

The trigger does not have to be reset if the hammer is lowered without firing...

Reread Walt's line above again pard, as that's one of those "problems" that is total BS.

The G2 has a little stronger frame...

Another misconcetion.   TC has NEVER claimed that in advertising or in person, so it is just hearsay from keyboard experts.    The G2 is their lawyers version of the Contender, made to follow the lines of the Encore for sales potential, nothing more.

the G2 is a good bit easier to open...

That could certainly be true - never owned one, but the so caled easy open version of the Contenders are also very easy to open when compared to their previous vintages of them that have not been converted to EO.

The old Contenders, for me, have the sweetest triggers of any production gun.  they can be made REALLY sweet.

Can't agree with the any production gun, but they are the best on the BA platforms offered by TC, both before and after tuning any of them.

I own 2 G2 contenders and do not have any issues, but I love the old Contender too.

And that folks is the best attitude of all IMO - love them all, use them all, be satisfied and confident with them all.   Well said Mr. D.

L.

[Keith L]

The old Contenders, for me, have the sweetest triggers of any production gun.  they can be made REALLY sweet.  The G2s need replacement springs and considerable trigger work to approach the easy opens regarding their triggers, IMHO.  The G2 is probabaly more sturdy, but that is just conjecture on my part.  I've shot a 30 30 and a 35 remington for years with one old style, and it locks just like new.  It it almost 30 years old now.

I disagree that it takes parts and lots of work to make a G2 trigger good.  I have both original and G2 frames and like them both.  My G2 triggers are great, and two of them came from the fatory that way.  All I have done with them is cleaned them up and removed burrs ect. just like I do with all guns new to me. 

You will never see TC claim they are stronger.

They are all cool.  I don't think you can go wrong with any Contender.

[Dezynco]

You will never see TC claim they are stronger.

Agree.  However a few custom barrel makers listed one ore two chamberings that were suitable for the "G2 only".  Don't know if they actually offer those chamberings any more or not.  The 30-40 Krag and 444 Marlin come to mind.  Probably pushing too much anyway, even if the G2 is slightly stronger, those chambers are probably best for the Encore.

[Ladobe]

Custom barrels makers have pushed the envelope with chamberings for the Contenders before many times, not proved wrong maybe until a situation did so for them to stop chambering them.   But they know no more about a Contender frames "strength" and what it can take, G2 or otherwise than we do from published data accessable for many years.   They didn't get it from TC or the conservative custom barrel makers.  So I guess it comes down to how much you trust them as custom barrel makers, because you may be betting your life on it. 

I've posted the picture of one blown Contender 444 Marlin barrel and frame here many times.  But many shoot it on the Contender platform with no problem at all as long as they stay away from hot loads.   Yet another problem spurred by custom barrels chambered for cartridges they probably should not have been chambered for because the barrel maker can't be sure some nimrod won't drive it past what they advise is safe in it.   The owner of a questionable barrel chambered for a cartridge with limitations in a Contender gets by only because he knows whats safe and isn't in it.   But what about the next person to own it, or the 5 people after that?   Regardless, the boundaries are there for good reason and pushing them will sooner or later cost a toll.     You are far ahead of the game to do them on the Encore, or match them with wildcats that are safe with the Contenders rather than risk them on the Contender IMO.

My list of possible chamberings for the Contenders is something over 250 if I remember right, does have a few I consider questionabnle or at least limited to shoot safe loads, has few of the metric cartidges or their possible wildcats that also would be safe in it just becasue they are not in high use in this country or wildcats based on them have not been tried ye to my knowldge, and many safe wildcats that can equal or exceed some of the parent cartriges deemed as "Encore olny".   Way more than enough to choose from for any task rather than risk the questionable ones on a Contender IMO.

Yeah I know, long winded yet again.   But when safety is involved, which should be every shooters top priority, there is never too much said about it.

[David D.]

I own, shoot, and hunt with both. I do not prefer one over the other. Given a deal on either one its coming home with me.