Bull barrel for Encore - need a forearm

[Dezynco]

My brother just purchased a MGM "bull-barrel" for his Encore.  It is a 1" straight bull barrel.  Does anyone know if the forearm from a 12 gage shotgun barrel will fit?  If it will not, he'll probably have to purchase a custom forearm, right?

[Grumulkin]

I believe the T/C Custom Shop, a.k.a., Fox Ridge Outfitters, has forends for straight bull barrels (i.e., not a heavy barrel which has a mild taper just ahead of the chamber).  I would call them and/or MGM to find out what will fit.

[Bill In SC]

If the screw holes line up, and the only problem is with the barrel channel, I have opened up quite a few barrel channels with sand paper wrapped around a deep socket. 

Takes a little bit of time, but I get the fit I want.  Free floated except for the screw point where I use #10 nylon washers. 

I use a little Birchwood Caseys Tru-Oil to seal the area I sanded.  Also check that the ears are not touching the frame...

Bill

[Hopalong7]

I think the 12ga forend will work, but you'll have to change out the screws.  The shotgun barrel uses the Contender type set-up and screws but the hole spacing is the standard Encore.  I use a 12ga. forend on my Katahdin barrel(which is not full bull), but I have to put a fairly heavy leather washer under the front screw.  I'm not sure if the 12ga barrel channel is big enough or not.  I'll have to measure my barrel.  I'm assuming here that MGM is using the standard Encore hole spacing.  GOOD SHOOTIN', Walt 

[Hopalong7]

OK, I checked my 12ga barrel and it is, for all practical purposes, the same as a full bull barrel.  From breech to muzzle it reduced less than .005".  Therefore the shotgun forend should fit perfectly.  As I said earlier, you just have to change the screws. 
GOOD SHOOTIN', Walt