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Author Topic: .204 barrel, Encore or Contender?  (Read 1218 times)

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Offline Harryo1

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.204 barrel, Encore or Contender?
« on: July 15, 2010, 03:34:19 PM »
 ???Which would be better? Have both frames and looking to replace my NEF. Price is about equal for both. Encore is a little heavier but the contender has a better trigger. Any suggestions or first hand experiance with either?
Thanks,
Jeff
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Offline Grumulkin

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Re: .204 barrel, Encore or Contender?
« Reply #1 on: July 15, 2010, 03:37:49 PM »
I have the Contender version and really like it.
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Offline Keith L

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Re: .204 barrel, Encore or Contender?
« Reply #2 on: July 16, 2010, 01:42:05 AM »
Quote from: Grumulkin on July 15, 2010, 03:37:49 PM
I have the Contender version and really like it.

Me too!
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Offline hornet112

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Re: .204 barrel, Encore or Contender?
« Reply #3 on: July 16, 2010, 04:35:05 AM »
got a 28" pro hunter barrel for my encore , worst shootin barrel I own
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Offline Harryo1

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Re: .204 barrel, Encore or Contender?
« Reply #4 on: July 16, 2010, 04:45:01 AM »
Guess those answers definitely give me some direction.
Thanks for the input. Might do some shopping later.
Jeff
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Offline TRM-1

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Re: .204 barrel, Encore or Contender?
« Reply #5 on: July 16, 2010, 02:43:51 PM »
I had one in a 28 inch encore pro hunter barrel. With 32 grain Hornady bullets it was one of the best shooting barrels I have had for a encore or contender Should have kept it I guess. Oh well.
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Offline Harryo1

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Re: .204 barrel, Encore or Contender?
« Reply #6 on: July 16, 2010, 04:00:09 PM »
  Looked both barrels over good today. The encore is stainless and fluted. The contender is blued. Then I noticed a plain 26 inch 06 barrel for $50 bucks less. That one came home. Going back to look at the 204's on Sunday. Hoping for another gun sale to go through before my credit card bill comes in or the wife won't be pleased with me. :o
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Offline Grumulkin

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Re: .204 barrel, Encore or Contender?
« Reply #7 on: July 18, 2010, 04:27:24 AM »
Quote from: Harryo1 on July 16, 2010, 04:00:09 PM
  Looked both barrels over good today. The encore is stainless and fluted. The contender is blued. Then I noticed a plain 26 inch 06 barrel for $50 bucks less. That one came home. Going back to look at the 204's on Sunday. Hoping for another gun sale to go through before my credit card bill comes in or the wife won't be pleased with me. :o

Good choice.  I have a plain 24 inch 30/06 barrel that shoots very well.
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Offline Harryo1

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Re: .204 barrel, Encore or Contender?
« Reply #8 on: July 18, 2010, 10:07:01 AM »
 Well I picked up the Pro Hunter 28" fluted barrel. Was only $30 more than the contender barrel. Got a 3X9 TC scope to put on it for now. Hope to shoot it next weekend. No time right now. Let you know how it shoots.
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Offline skb2706

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Re: .204 barrel, Encore or Contender?
« Reply #9 on: July 19, 2010, 05:36:10 AM »
I have 3   .204 Ruger carbines on Contender frames. Guess you can figure what my choice is. Tow are factory and one is MGM.
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Offline saltydog

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Re: .204 barrel, Encore or Contender?
« Reply #10 on: July 24, 2010, 11:50:38 AM »
I have the .204 Ruger prohunter ss barrel on my prohunter ss frame. Shoots fine with Vmax's. I have a bolt Rem 700 to compare with and I have found them pretty close to equal in accuracy. Under MOA if I do my part with either. The 28 inch prohunter barrel allows me to keep powder charge down a bit while fps is the same as the 24' REM.
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Offline Harryo1

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Re: .204 barrel, Encore or Contender?
« Reply #11 on: August 17, 2010, 04:06:43 PM »
  Finally got to shoot the 204. Not real happy with it yet. My NEF(yuck) actually shoots better with the factory Remington loads I had.
Going to try some load development after Bear season here. Using my 460 Katahdin for that with 454 Win Partition ammo. Shot better
than my 204!? Guess I should have just got the contender. Maybe I'll listen to reason next time but I doubt it.
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