The American Beagler Forum

I am looking at getting a encore for this season.
i seen a post on here and someone said they liked the 10" barrel. i have not seen any 10"
only 12" and 15".
i like the vent rib but it only come's in the 15" in the SS
the blued comes in 12" and 15"

an extra 3" dont seen like it would hinder you much.
but may shoot the 45 LC a tad better if i was to use it on a deer.
????? input please

i seen a pic on here one time of a hole crew of encore hunters setting on a log or bench and i think they was all familey.
i would like to see that again. and pics of other rabbit slaying encores.

also i seen a nice leather rig with shell loops. i want to say Deer Host had it but it was a year or more back.
anyone know where these come from?
THANKS in advance for your replys.
Steve

I shoot a contender with the 12" barrel, does great one hare and cottontail. I personally didn't like the 10" barrel, and the longer the barrel the better the pattern out of those things.

also have a T/C 410 with 12" barrel. Great fun , and also makes it much easier to handle dogs.

i have one with a 12inch barrel and love it

Steve, get a 22 auto pistol. Have a lots of fun shooting at a running bunny.

i have a 15 in barrel. i kill rabbits out to 30-35 yards. love it

I have the 10" barrel, and I love it. I had a 14" in the original Contender, but I didn't like it's additional couple of inches. I traded it off for a 10". I didn't notice any additional patterning performance out of the 14" over the 10". Why carry an additional couple inches of steel if it's not giving you something? You can get some auto and pump shotguns w/ 18"-21" barrels. If I'm going to carry a handgun, it's going to be a handgun. 15" is getting pretty close to being a shoulder-stockless shotgun. So when I bought my Encore, I got the 10". When T/C first came out w/ the Encore, they offered the .45/.410 barrel in 10". Now, it's 12" or 15". You might be able to find a 10" used, or you could get one made from Fox Ridge Outfitters, T/C's Custom Shop.

As for the .45 Colt shooting, don't waste your time or ammo. The only reason you even have the option to shoot the .45 is to make it legal (unrifled handguns that shoot smokeless powder are illegal in most states). The whole point of the gun is to shoot .410. The 3" of freebore before the rifling starts causes horrible accuracy w/ .45 Colt ammo. If you wanted to try some sort of a single projectile, I'd try .410 slugs (I personally never tried them, but I have shot .45 ammo out of 14" Contender, 10" Contender, and 10" Encore .45/.410 barrels... It's a waste of time). Also, when you're shooting .45 ammo or slugs, you need to remember to take out the "choke" tube. It's not a "choke" tube in the traditional sense, it's designed to slow/stop the shot charge from spinning (due to the rifled barrel). Shooting solid projectiles through the "choke" tube would be a bad thing. If you do pick one up, spend some time patterning it w/ different .410 loads. Not all shotgun ammo shoots the same. Your gun will like some ammo (pattern-wise) and not like other types. I think this gun has gotten a little of a bad rap from some people who bought it and didn't pattern it. Out to 20-25 yards, I'd put my gun w/ it's preferred ammo up against any full length .410 and some 28 gauges. I use mine regularly at my gun club's skeet range (although I've never broke 25 straight yet w/ it). But I have killed a whole bunch of rabbits and a few pheasants, grouse, and woodcock w/ it.

If you're considering deer hunting w/ the Encore, you'd be far better served by just picking up another barrel in the deer caliber of your choice. Counting custom options, your choices are practically limitless. I bought a custom 15" barrel from JD Jones, of SSK Industries, in .338 Winchester Magnum. He'll build you anything you could dream up or have the courage to pull the trigger on. Once you have the frame, you can hunt anything on any continent w/ that gun. .17/.22 for squirrels, .223 for groundhogs, .44/.45/.454/.480/.460/.500/.243/7-08/.308 or whatever for deer/bear, whatever hand-cannon you can dream up for the bigger stuff.

Very cool versatile guns.

Steve, I just got one and can't wait to hunt with it this fall. I got the 12" vent rib. shot it the other day and I
love it!!! Should be able to take one out to 30 yards easy. i was shocked at how tight the pattern was.

I would like to see how everyone packs it while hunting. Im thinking about a single action cross draw holster
but would love to see some feedback from others on how they carry it.

Don't judge the Encore on these guys. This is not the guns fault.




http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MolAvKtOLXo

Thanks yall keep the comments and pics comeing.
Freeman, it just so happens i have a ruger auto and when you take me to some of your honey holes i will bring it.
so bring me a pocket full of ammo too, ok.

macardy, this was the pic i was refering to. thanks

good post dogrich. thanks!

rodger is yours the blued one?
i also want to see some holster set up's .

thanks again everyone
Steve

Holsters....... skyviewsbeagles.com

I bought one last year and love it. Shot quite a few bunnies with it although mine does not hold as tight a pattern as some are saying, It is deadly out to about 22 to 25 yards, after that forget it, just too many big holes in the pattern to kill reliably but right out to 25 it is great. I bought the 12" because a lot of guys said swinging the longer barrel was not conducive to rabbit hunting and I think they are right, the twelve is plenty. As for holsters I looked on the specialty pistols.com website/forum and there is a guy on there that will make you a custom holster really inexpensively out of cordura or leather. I bought two and they are very well made and comfortable. I believe it is steves holsters. PM if you want his number I think I still have it. Good luck!

This is the link to the holsters we have. You have to buy it seperate .

http://www.gunaccessories.com/Pistol%20 ... lsters.asp

thanks guys. i just wish they had a 12" vent rib in SS.

also what shells does everyone shoot?
i would like to see if there is a commen brand and size that the Encore likes over the others.
it may save me some time pattering it if i can nerrow it down to a few.
Thanks
Steve