Originally Posted By: drifter101
i wouldnt really look at the pro hunter or even the encore if you are looking for a light wieght back country rifle. but budy carries one from time to time and it is not light by any means. his tc contender is about 2lbs lighter. and that is what he carries 90% of the time.

fyi he also has a custom barrels for his contender, 26" 30-6 barrel, 26" 243 barrel, and 28" 7mm barrel.

the contender frame has held up to alot of hot 30-06 and 7mm loads. so i wouldnt hesitate to get a 7mm barrel made for a contender frame. and you would be looking at a rifle under 6lbs. he is 6.4lbs with the 28" 7mm barrel in #2 contour and very slight fluting and scoped ready to hunt.

dont know how much any of that would help. but he was talked into buying a pro hunter, cause it was a "much better" rifle then the contender. but in his opinion and from his vast experience with TC rifles, a contender with custom barrel is the way to go if you are looking for a light wieght mountain rifle.


The TC Contender should not be used with 30-06, 243, or 7mm Unless the 7mm is a 7TCU, 7-30 Waters etc. These frames were not built to handle those round and you will stretch the frames. If you want to fire the larger/high pressure stuff you need to get an encore. I have been shooting contenders for hunting and silhouette competition for over 25 year and would not risk one of my frames to one of those rounds.
Bret