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Thread: Contender barrel or encore

  1. #1
    Boolit Mold
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    Contender barrel or encore

    I am looking at a used Thompson center barrel, the man doesn't know if it fits a contender or encore. How can he tell the difference?

  2. #2
    Boolit Master
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    All my Encore barrels have been marked as such. I'd have to check on the Contender barrels. You could check the lugs, as they differ, and the encore uses a larger hinge pin.

  3. #3
    Boolit Mold
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    Quote Originally Posted by mcdaniel.mac View Post
    All my Encore barrels have been marked as such. I'd have to check on the Contender barrels. You could check the lugs, as they differ, and the encore uses a larger hinge pin.
    This barrel is for sale online and the seller does not know what it fits. It's for sale at a decent price so thats why I was wanting to know. Thank you.

  4. #4
    Boolit Bub
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    My guess is it’s a contender Barrel
    All encore barrels I’ve seen say encore.
    Still its just a guess.
    Without pics or markings. No one can really tell you what it is.

    The contender Barrel has a narrower width underlug than the encore.
    I’m not where I can measure one right now. But if the seller can just measure it and give you that dimension you can determine which one it is.


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  5. #5
    Boolit Bub
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    Caliber may well answer the question too. Encores are for the high pressure stuff like .308

  6. #6
    Boolit Mold
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    44 magnum 10" barrel. I hope it is for a contender.

  7. #7
    Boolit Master

    LUCKYDAWG13's Avatar
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    if it;s a 10" hex barrel i would pass on it unless you love recoil
    kids that hunt and fish dont mug old ladies

  8. #8
    Boolit Master

    LUCKYDAWG13's Avatar
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    one more thing T/C made hot shot barrels to they had a screw in choke better get a picture
    kids that hunt and fish dont mug old ladies

  9. #9
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    It would have to be a custom Encore bbl to be a 10".
    [The Montana Gianni] Front sight and squeeze

  10. #10
    Boolit Buddy McFred's Avatar
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    Encore barrels are 1" diameter at the breech end. Contenders are .810" If the seller can't come up with a ruler/tape measure to confirm then it sound like it's time to walk away.

    For what it's worth Contender Hinge pins are .375". Encore are larger: .437" or 7/16th inch (according to Bellm)
    Last edited by McFred; 03-02-2018 at 09:04 PM.

  11. #11
    Boolit Grand Master
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    Quote Originally Posted by Trophy Tom View Post
    My guess is it’s a contender Barrel
    All encore barrels I’ve seen say encore.
    Still its just a guess.
    Without pics or markings. No one can really tell you what it is.

    The contender Barrel has a narrower width underlug than the encore.
    I’m not where I can measure one right now. But if the seller can just measure it and give you that dimension you can determine which one it is.


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro
    my encore barrels don't say encore any where on them
    Hit em'hard
    hit em'often

  12. #12
    Boolit Buddy iplaywithnoshoes's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by McFred View Post
    Encore barrels are 1" diameter at the breech end. Contenders are .810" If the seller can't come up with a ruler/tape measure to confirm then it sound like it's time to walk away.

    For what it's worth Contender Hinge pins are .375". Encore I think are larger.
    +1 on this. The shank is the easiest way to tell. If the seller is too lazy, that's too bad.

    shoe
    le ebin physics man

  13. #13
    Boolit Bub
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    White Eagle
    I haven’t looked at many encore barrels. Now I know they can be either marked or not.

    Mc Fred has posted the dimensions I referred to on the underlug. To me that’s the easiest way if it’s not marked.
    I’m also in the camp. A 10” Barrel is most likely a contender Barrel.
    The answer is find out the details on any items without a clear description.


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  14. #14
    Boolit Grand Master Tatume's Avatar
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    There are probably more 10" Contender barrels out there than any other. The barrel is marked with two lines on the left side "Thompson Center Arms" and "Rochester N.H." A third line, behind and not aligned with either of the first two says "44 Rem Mag." The barrel is drilled and tapped on top for a front and rear sight. The spacing between the two front sight holes is 1-1/2", and the rear four are in two pairs with 5/16" spacing, and 1-1/2" total distance from first to last hole.

    These are often very good barrels. Sometimes the throats are reported to be eccentric, and there is little that can be done to correct it. However, mine is concentric and shoots very well.

  15. #15
    Boolit Master
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    Quote Originally Posted by LUCKYDAWG13 View Post
    if it;s a 10" hex barrel i would pass on it unless you love recoil
    Dido on the octagon, I can asure you, you don't want it

  16. #16
    Boolit Master

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    Caliber might be kinda important as well as what one considers a decent price.

    Where has thread gone, did we ever hear any details of any value to provide useful infornation?
    Amendments
    The Second there to protect the First!

  17. #17
    Boolit Mold
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    Thanks for the reply's. Turned out to be a contender barrel.

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BP Bronze Point IMR Improved Military Rifle PTD Pointed
BR Bench Rest M Magnum RN Round Nose
BT Boat Tail PL Power-Lokt SP Soft Point
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