This is both a good and bad thing. Good because I am a T/C fan from way back and am heavily invested in both Encore and Contender platforms. Bad because now I have to build another .300 Ham’r on one of my Encore frames. 18” with suppressor is gonna be fantastic.

You can find the details at Haus of Arms if interested.

I’m liking what I read about that caliber

It wasn't like TC was making bad barrels, because they weren't...well when they were making them anyway. But congrats to Wilson Combat for picking up that work...I've haven't seen a bad WC barrel either.

MGM has been doing this for a long time. It's good to see WC doing it too. I wish I had more Encore receivers.

Good to know. The old TC barrels were good barrels as well.

Will see what WC offers in TC chamberings .

Just so you know, Thompson Center is back in business. Encore frames will be hitting the marketplace shortly with Contender frames not far behind. Exciting times for us single-shot aficionados.

I definitely see a T/C Contender or Encore in my future, good to see another barrel option out there and I'm glad T/C is back making frames, should bring the prices back down on the used side.

That’s what I’m hoping for.


But it didn’t seem to help with the price of lever actions when they started making marlins again

I always thought they were lame and antiquated.

I bought my first one in 1985 through Shotgun News. I own 6 Contenders now but only show 5 in the pic. I might would buy another Encore frame as I only got two of them.

That photo makes my wrist hurt I had a contender pistol and it was fun too shoot as long as you didn't shoot it too much...if I remember it was a 35 Remington that had a radial brake, talk about getting some attention when you touched it off at a public range.

Sold or traded most of my Encore barrels the last few years. Have two frames, a 50cal muzzle loader barrel, 18" 30-06, and a 26" 7Mag.

I had one in 45/70 with the same brake. Made the mistake of shooting it in an indoor range. It is clear everyone out till I was done.

I really do not have any thumpers anymore, they do not interest me at my age and they can me flinch if shot too much. I had a 45-70 barrel and it was useless to me because it was 3 shots and I am done deal. I still hunt with a 7-30 Waters or a 30-30 but they are not near a powerhouse load. What is interesting is the 45 Winchester Magnum barrel has a real sharp kick to it, worse than the 30-30.

I ended up with a couple of Encore barrels I will never shoot, a 308 and a 30-06.

Hardest recoiling TC I have owned is 45-70 in a G1 Contender. One of my favorites is 357 Max in the Contender.

I have thought about getting a 375 Winchester barrel for the Encore.

I've got a 300 WM, recoil isn't too bad.

I used to have a 6br Encore handgun with a 16'' barrel, a 15'' 7-08 and a Contender barrel in 357 Maximum. I decided to just keep 14'' Contender barrels in 223, 6mm TCU and 7mm TCU. So fun to shoot.

I hunted with a 26” .300 Win Mag Encore for quite a few years. Recoil was not bad at all with the Prohunter buttstock. Deer did not like a 150 grain soft point at Win Mag velocities.