IF your starting out which encore frame should you get

[Spot Shooter]

I'm thinking of upgrading my NEF to a Encore so I can put a 17 rem barrel on it, and also get rimfires without changing frames.

Anywho, looking at the frames they have listed Muzzleloader, rifle and pistol.  I'm thinking that the pistol is out, and I have no idea what the difference is (best option) between the rifle and muzzleloader frame?

Which would you start with and why, and is it cheaper to get a gun then just buy the barrel you want?  Provided they have a caliber you want in a gun, or is it about the same to buy the frame and then hunt down your barrels.

Thanks
Spot

[Encore28]

Spot
You need to buy a Encore frame-There are two, Stainless or blued. Then you need stock and forend (the forend is different for tapered barrels and muzzleloaders) assuming you want carbine length.
I started by buying a blued frame,stock and forend ($250) then buying my .17 Rem barrel from Fox Ridge ($280). Since that time I have bought a 209x50 barrel and a muzzleloader forend. Just this week I ordered a .257 Roberts barrel also.
Keep in mind barrels take 10-12 weeks from Fox Ridge so order soon!!
Hope I answered you question???
Encore 28

[New Hampshire]

The only difference between the frames you listed is what stocks they come with.  If you order the muzzeloader frame you get a buttstock and forend designed for use with the ramrod.  A rifle frame comes with buttstock and rifle forend.  Pistol has a pistol grip and short forend for pistol bbls.  It is cheaper to buy the gun whole and add bbls, BUT not all THAT MUCH cheaper.  I had thought about starting with a frame and buying add on components and if I remember correctly the price savings was less than $40.  If you want to shoot rimfire you can buy a replacement pin assembly, but this requires some time for conversion, not like a contender frame that allows the switch right on the firing pin.  Just keep that in mind.  So all thats left is what Encore28 said, picking your metal choice, blued or stainless.
Brian M.

[300 Loudnboomer]

If you think you may ever want to shoot your encore as a pistol then buy it as a pistol , It is legal to convert pistol frame to rifle but not the other way around . It is a felony to convert a rifle to a pistol without paying a $200 fee to BATF .
I am not a lawyer so check the law for yourself , There are many long threads here in the t/c pistol forum on this subject.

[dakotashooter2]

Sorry to step on your toes Boomer but that is not entirely correct. It IS NOT against federal law to convert from a frame registered as a rifle to a pistol (this has gone to the supreme court and TC won). HOWEVER as I understand it, it MAY be against state law depending on where you live. I believe Kalifornia may be an example. Spot Shooter.... You may want to check your state regs on this. Boomers advise is still sound though. If you register the frame as a pistol it will keep you in good standings if you move to a more regulated state or sell it to someone in a more regulated state.

[Runs with Scissors]

If I had to do it all over again, I would buy a color case-hardened frame from the T/C custom shop (Fox Ridge) and a custom barrel from them or Bulberry. Once you get an Encore, you spend a great deal of time just looking at it. The case-hardened frame is nothing more than eye candy, and the extra $80 or so is worth it to me.
As far as factory barrels go, I'm batting 500. My original .270 barrel is back at T/C for the second time. In fact, its either been at T/C or in transit for 4 out of the 6 months I've owned it.
My second barrel is a factory 26" heavy barrel in .223.
It shoots fantastic (1/2" @ 100 yards).
With factory barrels of the last year or so, It's a crap shoot.

Bill

[Spot Shooter]

Guy's,

  Great information, I couldn't figure out why they were different and was worried that the face of the action might be a different size.
 
  I also didn't know the encore doesn't have the center / rimfire swivel on the hammer.  

  I like the idea of an fancy action myself, I was looking for an engraved one like varmintal.com has but have never seen one.  I'm going to have to look at that case hardened one.

  Any tip's on the contender G2 vs. the Encore - probably a thread on this somewhere.  Anyway, I'll either get a stainless, with a 17 Remy, and then a 220 swift if they make them ?  or at least a 22-250.


  Thanks for all the great information!
Spot

[New Hampshire]

You can get a custom bbl in 17 Rem, but checking Fox Ridge and Bullberry Ive found that you cant get the other 2 calibers.  The Encore is, for lack of a better description, a Big Brother to the contender.  It handles the more higher pressure rounds and heavier recoiling rounds.  Like I said, you can get replacement plugs to switch to rimfire.  It requires unscrewing a bolt or two and replacing the stock unit with the rimfire unit.
Good Luck.
Brian M.

[Sean]

I wouldn't buy a barrel from Fox Ridge if I were you. I have two from their and there won't be a third. They cut the throats entirely too long. By handloading I have been able to obtain satisfactory accuracy with these barrels but factory ammo scatters tot he winds due to the long jump to the throat. I complained to T/C and even returned one of the barrels. They said there was nothing wrong with it and sent it back.

I've heard OTT makes really good barrels, as well as Virgin Valley, and Bullberry. I've never really heard much about E A Brown, though they offer quite a selection of chamberings. Sean

[Runs with Scissors]

I was visiting with Ed of Ed's Contenders. His shop is about 6 miles away from my home.
He told me that he only returned one Contended barrel since he started his business. He then said he returned one or two Encore rifle barrels each year until two years ago when he ordered a bunch of rifle barrels from the factory and his return rate jumped to 1 in 5.
He reported no problems with Encore pistol barrels. Ed sold the entire lot of newer factory Encore rifle barrels and now stocks what he calls the "older barrels" (apparently T/C changed the packaging).
My .270 24" barrel is apparently the new stock as I purchased it with a complete rifle last October. It's back at the shop for the second time.
My .223 26" heavy blue barrel came from Ed's. It was packaged in a white box with red lettering (no yellow anywhere). The box has browned slightly with age.
That barrel does consistant 1/2" or less groups at 100 yards where the .270 does 2".
I'll likely buy another factory barrel at some point. It will come from Ed's old stock. I'll never buy a newer factory barrel.

Bill