[Oleg Volk]

I've been musing about a .223 pistol for a while now. Reading about Tennyson Champion put the idea back in my mind last year.

How heavy is the recoil from a 14" .223 pistol with 55gr ball?

Would Contender or Encore be a better choice? Why?

[Jeeper]

I have a 225 in a contender which is more juice than the 223. The recoil is non existant. Really light. The contender has a better trigger system but the encore can handle more rifle rounds. I still prefer the contender.

[Oleg Volk]

Next question: with the effective range, from a rest, being about 80-120 yards, would it makes sense to mount a scope or a red dot sight, or stick with iron sights? Are aperture sights available? Compact size is pretty important.

The purpose of the weapon would be to have some stand-off capability without a long gun. Since the use is defensive rather than offensive, am I kidding myself by considering a single-shot firearm in the first place?

[Black Snowman]

The purpose of the weapon would be to have some stand-off capability without a long gun. Since the use is defensive rather than offensive, am I kidding myself by considering a single-shot firearm in the first place?

With my complete lack of experiance my armchair response would be "Yes, you are kidding yourself." Moving targets are HARD to hit and if it's hostile I wouldn't trust one 223 to do the job. I do trust the 223 to do the job, but I have 30 of them in the magazine of my Bushmaster M17S to make up for unforseen variables :) Durable, Heavy and short. Great for home defense.

If you want real firepower from a pistol sized platform IMI thought the Desert Eagle was a good idea. My understanding was it was developed for vehicle crews where even a folding stock rifle would be slow to deploy. YMMV but I like mine.

If you're standing off enough to think you need a rifle cartridge for reach but can't get to a rifle before they get to you then you're rifle is too far away ;)

[Jeeper]

Standing and shooting at that distance is hard. Open sights or holosight(cmore) would be easiest. The other common method is to use a LER RIFLE(or normal Eye relief) scope and tuck the gun close into you body. It is very stable. 80-120 isnt a problem then. With the light cartridge you should be fine. Get a comp on it if you are really worried about the recoild up close. Holding the 14 out there is really tough. Get a 10 or 12 if you want it out at arms length. I would say 10.

[Kamicosmos]

I don't think a single shot would be a good choice for defense. Although, there is a scene in Hard Boiled where the heros antagonist is shooting at them with a 10" 223 Contender. He gets off a few (missed) shots before they get to him. If you're wanting a short rifle for medium ranges, a good lever gun, Beretta Storm, or an M4 styled AR would be a much better choice.

But, all that said, Contenders are fun! Especially for range and hunting work. I use mine mostly for load development. I have thought about getting a .223 barrel for mine.

The barrels are not interchangeable between the Encore and the Contender though, so if you're wanting to shoot the heavier cartridges in the future, you'll need the Encore.

I hadn't heard about the trigger group being different, but I haven't really kept up with the TC stuff like I should be. I also don't know if the Contender is going to be phased out since the Encore is around.

[critter]

Oleg,
I have a contender with 2 barrels. Both are the super 14" in stainless. One is in .223 and the other is in 30-30 Win. Both are scoped. The .223 has s 3-9 variable on it while the other has a 4X.

The .223 has almost zero recoil-but that sucker is LOUD!!!! From a bench rest at a full 100 yds with 50 gr Nosler Bt's and IMR 4198 , it will put 3 into a group that measures about 11/16"!! I have taken varmints at quite a bit longer ranges with a field rest. I AM NOT very good at standing, unsupported shots with either barrel.

The 50 gr bt will make a 'whoooomp' sound on most varmints and they are DRT!!!! Very enjoyable. I have also shot military ball from it and it groups almost as well. The 30-30 will group under an inch also and I have taken several whitetail with it from box stands and carefully placed shots, also providing INSTANT stops. Almost all the shots were through both front shoulders very low in the chest (not BEHIND the shoulders). Closest was 5 yards-longest 175 yards.

I believe the .223 is SO very shootable, has SO LITTLE recoil and so effective, it COULD well be put to the use you suggest. It is a VERY FUN gun to play with and shoot and ammo is cheap. Some considerable practice would be necessary (for ME!) in order to become proficient with standing and unsupported shooting except for larger targets.

Good luck-I hope you get one cause you WILL enjoy it!

[Standing Wolf]

Since the use is defensive rather than offensive, am I kidding myself by considering a single-shot firearm in the first place?

If you put in enough practice time with a Contender, you can become pretty deft, but I still wouldn't recommend a one-shooter for any sort of defensive use.

That said™, Contenders are wonderful pistols.

[pauli]

single shot firearms are great if you want to give your target a fighting chance. i'd go for it, as long as you plan to defend yourself against deer, standing broadside, that aren't yet aware of you.

[Hal]

Oleg,
Open for a suggestion of an alternative?

The Raging Hornet in .22 Hornet.
It's got more rounds than a single shot.

After reading up on the .22Hornet (due to some gentle prodding by some members here ;)), I've come to the conclusion that the .22Hornet is an extremely underrated, if not unknown, caliber.

[ID_shooting]

Oleg,

I love my contender and it will be last firearm I give up if I have to. That being said, it is not for self defence.

On page 5 of my manual (in bold letters) says:

"By design, the Contender Pistol has no importance as a combat weapon..." & "The only proper application for a contender in hunting, target or sport shooting.."

Now that that is out of the way, yes, it could be used in your application, but IMO only from a conceled and covered location. Once you alert the bad guys you are there, drop the Contender and reach for a high volume defensive rifle.

Trigger: There are 4 major types of T/Cs out there. They all have differences.

Encore: heavy wieght of the bunch, can handle every modern rifle cartridge clear up to the super mags. Tigger is not "user adjustable" but can be tuned with a parts kit. Mike Bellm is a good place to go for this. http://www.bellmtcs.com/

Old Contender: the first, classic design, again, non adjustable trigger, hot a heavy wight, best suited (like all contenders) for pistol or light rifle calibers, can be chambered in low pressure loads like 45/70.

New Contender (my fav): Has thier "easy open" design. Much improved from my experience. Also has an adjustable trigger. overtravel and sear engagement. Stock, mine fals in with 0 creep and over travel and a nice 2.5 lb pull.

G2 Contender, the newest, beefier frame, not as good looking, took away the cool trigger and left you with a "lawyer friendly" crappy one - nuff said.

Hope this helps :)

Edited to add: If you want more details, ask, I will be happy to oblige.

[ID_shooting]

OH, as for optics. I use a 3x pistol scope. IMO, use some form of optic over open sights. Pointing accuracy is greatly improved.

[Okiecruffler]

I've got a 14 inch contender in .223 and I've even used a rifle scope on it from time to time without bruising my eyebrow any, so recoil is light, much lighter than my 10 inch 357 barrel. Haven't tried anything as heavy as 55gr yet, but I have several loads from 40-50 gr that will do 5 shots MOA.

[Series 70]

The situation you mention is defense at 80-120 yards.

You are in immediate risk of death or great bodily harm from a person or persons who are 80-120 yards away and you are considering a single-shot pistol to save your life, chambered in what many people consider a varminting cartridge.

I must disagree with your choice.

If you really and truly require the compactness or concealability of a sidearm for this scenario, go for a scoped magnum revolver. Otherwise, this might be a good time for a levergun, or other carbine-sized rifle.

[P95Carry]

'Nother happy 14" .223 Contender dude here! Great gun, and at 100 yds excellent. Defensive? .. no not really, just too damn slow to load. Otherwise .... one superb varminter.... (and fun gun!). I have EER scope on that and a 12" .44 mag barrel.

I would seriously be more at ease defensively with something more of a hand cannon ... if long guns are out. For instance SRH in .454 Casull .... this will hit hard at 200 yds even and is very accurate - I have proved it. Plus of course, six shots and .... not too long needed to reload either. A Millet red dot makes for great sighting for me.

[tex_n_cal]

Oleg, if you search around you might just find an XP-100R in .223. I have a .22-250, and it is a 1/2 MOA weapon. The "R' version is a 5 shot repeater.

Contenders are fun, but the XP is the original and still the best hand rifle.:)

[Ky Larry]

I have a Contender with a .223 14" barrel. It has a T/C 2.5X7 scope. It's a joy to shoot but it's very LOUD! It's great for punching paper or critter control but I wouldn't want to use it for self defense. At 80-120 yards, an AK-AR-M1 type weapon makes more sense.

P.S. I also have a Ruger 77V in .223. I've had a ball trying to find a hand load that works for both. I'm getting closer but not there yet. Sounds like an excuse to reload and shoot more.:D

[P95Carry]

Sounds like an excuse to reload and shoot more. ''Excuse'' Larry .... ''excuse''??.

''REASON'' ......... :D More to point!

[JohnKSa]

I have two problems with the T/C single shots for defensive use.

1. Break action guns are a pain to operate from prone.
2. The T/C single shots have extractors only, not ejectors.

[goalie]

I used to have a Contender in .223 with a Shilen match barrel on it and a Simmons scope. Not bad in the recoil department, and with a clamp-on Harris bi-pod, I could hit golf balls at 100 yards all day long.

[jem375]

sure you can use it for self defense........people forget that at one time the pioneers had to use single shot black powder rifles for all their needs....and also you can load the contender pretty fast when the need arises........take a look at the Savage Striker if you need more than 1 shot.

[Series 70]

people forget that at one time the pioneers had to use single shot black powder rifles for all their needs

That was when the bad guys also had to use single-shot black powder rifles for all their needs. If it's the best you have, you use it. No sense handicapping yourself intentionally, though.

[jem375]

in the first place, it is not a handicap if you can shoot .....and the bad guys are not going to charge like the Japs did on their banzai charges in WW2...
and the question was....encore or contender?......I would get the encore in case you would want to up the caliber to 308,30-06 and etc......