308 heavy blued 24" barrel

[Cheesehead]

I have had an Encore handgun for years and have debated on a rifle barrel for some time. Today I ordered one for 217 bucks from Natchez. I have never owned an Encore rifle and realize they are shorter due to the single shot action, lack of a bolt. The 24" may seem short but I would like to cut it off to 20" to make it more compact and lighter. My question is, would that be to short and do the barrels comes with a sling swivel or are drilled for one? It comes with no sights and I have a nice Burris 4x ready to go. Just need to get a stock and forearm now.

Cheese

[poncaguy]

No swivels or drilling for them, 20" for a 308 or 7-08 would work fine IMHO................

[Grumulkin]

I don't see a problem cutting the barrel back to 20 inches but also can't see what you'll really be gaining.  The weight savings will be minimal and the Encore rifle is pretty compact as it is but each to his own.

The barrels don't come with a stud for a sling swivel but the composite forends do.  My favorite stock/forend for the Encore with a blued barrel is the Realtree camo thumbhole version.

[Cheesehead]

My reasoning is to make the over all length shorter, creating a more compact package. With the barrel cut off to 20" it would be as compact as a bolt rifle with a 16" barrel. Once I get it in my hands I may see your point and the errors of my ways! I reload for some magnum calibers and several larger cartridges and choose the 308 as the best fit for this compact rifle concept.

Grumulkin, What length and caliber is your rifle?

Cheese

[Grumulkin]

My gun is a 30/06 with a 24 inch tapered barrel with iron sights.  The scope is mounted in Quik Sites so I can still use the open sights with it; this puts the scope a bit higher than many would like but it's a very practical combination.  I also have a heavy 308 Win. barrel for my Encore which works very well and, I agree, the 308 is an excellent cartridge both in a short (meaning 15 inch pistol barrel which I've shot) and long barrel.

So...I wouldn't consider a 20 inch 308 barrel an error it's just that I wouldn't go to the trouble and expense of shortening it 4 inches but that's my just personal preference.  You'll lose a little weight, the barrel may fit better in small places and you'll lose probably less than 100 fps in velocity.

[nomosendero]

From a pure performance standpoint with the 308 round, it is not a big deal. Cheese, you have the velocities for the different barrel lengths for the 308 in the article I shared with you a couple of days ago. If we were talking about a 25-06 or 264mag, etc. we would have to look at it in a totally different way.

As someone just said, it is short as it is, as short as a 20" bolt gun. At 6' 1-2" tall & 280#, I figure the hardest part to get through a thicket is me, not the gun.

Here is something I would consider if I were you. Since the TC has no real action length, if you cut the tube to 20", you will be bringing the blast much closer to your face, so the blast & the noise will be more apparent to the shooter than a 308 would normally be.

 

[reelhook]

I won a med. hvy barrel from MGM that is 20: in 308 and it is a pleasure to shoot. I also own a 357 mag barrel that is 16+ inches and it makes a fine whitetail  rifle for around 100-125 yards. When you go short then you can go heavier. Weight should be forward for balance and tracking.

[Chris Potts]

I have a 19 inch barrel in 357 max for my encore.  I think that it makes for nice compact package.  I am not sure what it cost to have the barrel cut, but it might not be that much more to just get a custom barrel made at 20 inches.  That is unless you have found a good deal on a used 24 incher.  I think that there must be some demand for this barrel length or TC would not have come out with the katadin.  The TC website should have a picture of the katadin if you want to see what the proportions of the gun would be.  I have pictures of mine but I will have to figure out how to post them. 

http://www.tcarms.com/firearms/proHunterCenterfire.php

Scroll down a little ways and there is a picture of the katadin

It handles nice with a scope on it but I am thinking of putting open sights on mine.  I really liked the way the gun handle without a scope.

Chris

[Cheesehead]

The TC link Chris provides shows a very good example of the 20" barrel. It looks compact and useful and maybe loud. I like it. I can get the barrel cut off for cheap from a good friend. Probably cheaper and faster than a custom barrel.

Cheese

[dakotashooter2]

I have considered having my 243 barrel chopped down to about  16 1/2". It would make for a super short carbine or a long but manigable pistol if I so chose. form large varmints and medium game I could use it as a handgun and for small varmint( prairie dogs) It would be more accurate for me in the carbine form.

[Cheesehead]

I got my 24 inch 308 barrel and took it to the range today. I turns out to be a medium weight barrel with iron sights. I removed the rear sight and replaced it with slave screws. Then on went the Weaver base, rings and a Burris 4x. It shoots very well  in its present configuration. Not too loud or hard recoiling. The stock and fore arm are standard synthetic. The barrel seems to be 4 inches to long so off goes the end of the barrel and the front sight with it. This will give it a "cleaner" look and a more versatile length.

Cheese