I have been trying to find a sling and the hardware to install one,swivels and a barrle band, I have seen them before but now it seams no one has them.Anyone know where i can find them?

I have an old one that I still use. TC still has them, look under contender things or access. I go to the hardware or like a backpacking store get about 6' of 1" strap and the buckles. I get the rest at a gun store. might be a little more trouble, but it is a little cheaper.I put mine around my shoulder let it hang down long enough on the oppsite side to pull up and push against the gun to get the eye relief at the right distance. I think it works great

a barrel band is not the best route to go....imo. pachmayer grip/forearm is ONE easy option. they come with studs in place.

sling options.... the "just sling it" sling would be well worth trying. i think "eabco" sells them. "southernutah" is the maker and posts ocassionally.
i use a standard rifle sling called the super sling. 1" or 1 1/4" nylon n made by "outdoor connection". it will shorten up real nice....n easy.

I've used barrel bands and Pachmayr Grippers or Pachmayr Encore Mag grips for 30+ years. If you carry the Encore a lot with the Pachmayr forend the small screws in the forend will eventually pull out of the barrel and strip the threads. I got all my barrel bands from the T/C custom shop, but with all the garbage going on with Smith/T/C, I don't know if it's even in existence. I put some thin material under the barrel band to get a better grip and not scratch up the barrel. This has worked well all these years.

I like barrel bands on mine.Uncle mikes makes a band for shotguns
that works great for me.The #1593-2 Q D 115 sg-2 fits barrels of
.800 to .850 dia. The # 1595-2 Q D 115 sg-3 fits barrels of .750 to.800 dia. Uncle Mikes also sells a set of super swivels for T/C's that go on the forend and bottom of grip # 1303-2 QD115 TC . I buy an extra grip screw and weld a shortened swivel stud to the bolt head for the rear.With the barrel band the gun hangs better for me, more vertical like a rifle. When mounted to the forend the gun hangs in a horizontal position.
These are 14 in. barrels , on 10 in I use a crossdraw holster.
Slings I make from 1 To 1 1/4 in nylon strap. I make a loop in the front part of the sling big enough to put around my shoulders
when unhooked from front swivel,and the sling just long enough to almost straighten my arms, which helps steady it on shooting sticks

interesting....i would not have a barrel band on mine. i converted my encores to either a custom laminate rifle forend or factory composite rifle forend. both have studs in place. i use the stud/grip bolt replacement from "the kit" on the grip. don't know where you find the kit now. ya might look around for used in forum classifieds or search all the internet/mail order outlets like midway, midsouth, graf and sons, etc etc to see if you can run onto one.

first time i've heard anyone mention stripping threads on the encore by using a sling. the pach's have only been available on the encore a few short yrs. the early forend did bend screws etc, before they redesigned to the "magnum" version.

i see cabelas has the pachmayr grips with the studs included.I have the grips i just need the studs.i dont see where they sell them seperate.

My mistake i dont have the pachmayrs they are just the rubber ones from t/c. maybe i will just buy the pachs with the studs.they have a internal chamber of some kind to dampen recoil.that would be good the 308 recoil is a handfull.some people develope a flinch shooting the bigger calibers.I have been lucky I havent.LOL

If you can't find the Uncle Mikes kit,or you are tight like me you can make the rear grip stud by welding a swivel stud, shortened to the right length, to the grip bolt. The kit has a sleeve that goes over the bolt inside the grip, which can be made with a small piece or pipe,if you feel the need for it.I use one factory bolt and two homemade and can't see a difference. The part # for the kit is in my other reply if they still make it.

another vote for just going with the Pachmayr's. I don't make use of the sling studs but they are very good at helping with recoil. I use them with my 300 Win mag and my 458 Win mag and they make both alot more comfortable to shoot.

Still one more recommendation for the set of Pachmayr Magnum Encore grips, with the included sling swivel studs. They have the added benefits of a slightly longer forend and a shorter trigger reach, both of which I find helpful.

Kyode, are you saying the Encore rifle fore ends will fit on pistol barrels. I have a G2 Contender and have thought about putting a rifle fore end on it to enable resting it farther forward without resting on the barrel.

I have put slings on all 7 of my contenders and encores. I drill and tap the grip bolt and thread in a sling stud. I drill and install a sling stud with a nut on all my fore ends. A barrel band puts stress on the barrel and throws off POA. I use a 16" sling custom made.

chuck m

never rest on the barrel for best accuracy......

they will not fit without modification. add a screw hole in the barrel(longer spacing for rifle), or use a custom made forend. tonysforendsandstocks.com has laminate forends with all 3 holes. you can use it for rifle or pistol, and it has aluminum pillars.

on the contender/G2, a custom made barrel or custom made forend would fix you up.

Kyode, thanks for the info. That web link however takes me to a marketing page.

boy it does doesn't it! my link was outdated. it was changed to tonysforendsandgrips.net!

http://www.tonysforendsandgrips.net/

also, stratton custom modifies factory forends, as does bullberry.......and don't let me forget ole georgia jim!! he does laminates and walnut also.

http://www.strattoncustom.com/home.php

ga jim can be reached by email, or message etc on "specialty pistols" website. i think he has a banner ad there.

one can go with hanger bar attachment or aluminum pillars in some instances. both serve to free float the forend as much as possible and will enhance accuracy in most circumstances.

On an older TC contender in .375jdj I use in Alaska for caribou,(just in case a brownie is near) I found a barrel band that just barely fit over the barrel. I scribed a line where I wanted it permanently mounted and using rough sandpaper scuffed up the barrel under the band, and the inside of the band. I used an aircraft epoxy to install the barrel band on the barrel, and clamped it with the factory allen screw. It has been in place for well over 20 years, with yearly trips and it rides very comfortably on my shoulder, or over the end of my pack frame. I use the standard pachmyer swivel screw on the rear. I have also used a swivel mount stud in the pachmyer forend, and mounted a harris bipod to it, but it will only last about 10-15 shots with the heavy recoil of the gun. It balances a 14" Contender very well tho, and I have taken caribou out past 300 yards (with a lot of hold over!)

I usually use nylon slings, due to the wet climate I usually hunt in, but a few years back I had a custom sling made by a leather crafter in Idaho. Check out levergun leatherworks, out of Athol, Idaho. He made me a very comfortable padded sling, with a thumb circle, so when I'm in rough terrain I can slip my thumb in the loop, and no matter how I move, the slinged contender never slips off my shoulder. If I need both hands to climb, I can unhook the QD swivel and go around my neck and one shoulder. A neat idea, and very simple, and it actually works!

bearskinner
Do you have pictures of your sling ?

Hey Bearskinner!
It's nice to see another local on here. I'm in Kenai. Briarhopper who posts here fairly regular is also in the Kenai/Soldotna area.

Nice to see theres some locals on here. Been building a new barn, so havent had a chance to get out yet. I'll see if I can get a pic of the contender sling set up on here.