.22LR Cust Barrel Encore (Bullberry, EABCO,

[Graybeard]

Well I know for sure that VVCG does the rimfire conversion. Not sure about the others. At this time we have three barrel makers who are sponsors on this site. They are in alphabetical order: E. A. Brown, SSK and VVCG. Since they are the folks who help keep this site up and running I'd sure recommend you select from among them.

GB

[KYODE]

well, i once had a 6x47 bullberry 15" contender. traded off like a idiot. it was a nice barrel but only matte blue finish. not pretty but that was how i ordered it, so not their fault. it shot excellent.
my virgin valley 13" stainless 6br encore is downright beautiful, if i do say so myself. it does seem to shoot so far, and i've only just begun.
i bought the action and all from them during the shorty barrel sale. you can get a pretty good price on a custom barrel during that sale. but you are limited on length. i guess it just depends on what left over stock they have. i'd say 12" would be easy to get. but they may only run that sale in the summer. it is a shilen match grade barrel to boot. which i believe are air gauged and such. i do know it cleans easy with no copper fouling as of yet. the action came with a trigger job i specified at 2lbs. very nice. i couldn't be more pleased with mine.  :grin:

[jim nash]

I have a VVCG 18" .22LR barrel topped with a 6.5-20X Fujinon scope. It is way more accurate than me. I got it used, except for the scope, and got the barrel,forearm and hanger and VVCG scope base. The frame has a VVCG trigger job, excellent. I've been using it for NRA Metallic Silhouette competion. My only complaint is it's too heavy. The barrel is probably an inch or bigger diameter. It's bigger than my .920 10/22 barrel but it does shoot like a house afire. I'd like to have something lighter but I can't get rid of anything that shoots this good. I probably have $750 in it but if you enjoy .22's it's well worth it. You can never have enough good .22's. I'd like to have a 18-20" octagon from VVCG. Go for it. Most places only give you 2 weeks to spend your paycheck before they make you take another one.<g> Good shooting, jim

[Doesniper]

I have used both VVCG and EABco and was very happy with VVCG and will do business with them again.  EABco was a nightmare, after sending the barrel back 3 times it still won't shoot any better than a factory T/C barrel and they wouldn't make it right.

[Deaf Smith]

A Contender with a 22LR barrel in any length you want and for that you won't need a "rimfire conversion" Becouse the Contender fired both rimfire and center fire cartridges its also smaller and lighter than the encore as well as having al whole slew of barrel lengths and calibers avaiable for it including carbine conversions I have a dandy for minw with a 16" barrel and rynite stock and forend very light yet very accurate perfect squrill and bushytail gun. I can also put the 16" 45/410 barrel on it and use 3" 410 shells to chace the rabbits as well if I want to do that both barrels and frame fit in a small case I can carry on my motorcycle if I wish or in the car. Very compact and the whole kit did not cost me what you are going to pay for one 22 barrel and conversion. There is spendig money for what you need and there is spending money for what you want.  For less than you plan you can with some careful shopping get a setup simular to mine and even less if you skip the 410 barrel. You also get a second gun out of the deal that converts easily to a small carbine for kids as well especually with the Youth stock from T/c for youngsters.
Makes a great gun for the younger ones. JMHO
Jim L

[luredaddy]

I agree with Deaf Smith, go with the Contender.  I was lucky to find a Russ Carpenter, custom 22  carbine barrel.  In my opinion, the Encore is too big and clumsy, for a 22 squirrel pistol or rifle, for the same reason I had a 45 cal Van Horn muzzleloader barrel made for my Contender.  An Encore in 22 Cal or 45 Cal Muzzleloader, just does not feel right to me. Many will disagree, but the feel to me is just not right.

[Steve E]

I got my 22 lr Encore barrel from Mike Sirios at OTT, it does not need a rimfire adapter and shoots as good as any of the 6 target 22 lr guns I have. 3/8 th's of an inch or less at 50 yds all the time. I sent him a Green Mountain 22 lr blank and he sent me a fantastically accurate 22 lr Encore barrel. He can do the same with basically any 22 lr  take off barrel or he can furnish a blank. I have three barrels from him now and they all shoot great but then again my three Van Horn barrels shoot great also. Mike Sirios is a great guy to deal with. He's at 1-603-750-3232 and

http://www.mbmco.net/
   

                                                      Steve E.............

[bobg]

I have three custom barrels  from Virgin Valley. If and when i think i need  a custom barrel it will come from V V.
 
             bobg

[B_Koes]

Mike runs a small shop and is busier than a hooker on dollar day, but he got that way for a reason.  He's built some sweet rimfire barrels for the Encore that do not require a rimfire conversion...just swap the barrel and away you go!  Refer to the above post for his contact information.  If you can stomach the wait then he will do you right.  I almost forgot to mention that his prices are generally amost the lowest around.