Encore Forends - Hole spacing question

[Riff]

I bought my first Encore today at a gun show. I got a nice used SS pistol frame with composite pistol grip and pistol forend, and also a synthetic carbine stock. It's obviously a pistol that was converted to rifle. It came with a custom 18" rifle barrel, but no rifle forend. The pistol forend was attached to the barrel but only by the rear screw since the hole spacing doesn't match. It doesn't fit very well, kind of loose and rattling, and if I attach a sling, it will probably pull the one screw out.

I want to put a standard T/C synthetic forend on this rig. T/C has two choices for me:

No.7708 Encore® Forend - Composite - Fits both 24" & 26" barrels
No.7660 Encore® Forend - Composite - Fits Encore Katahdin Carbine barrel

If someone could tell me the hole spacing for the Katahdin barrel forend, that would be really helpful. I already figured out that the other one is 5".

Thanks! :-)

[BeverlyHillbilly]

I checked both my Katahdin barrels against my 26" and 24" barrels and the spacing appears the same.  I was also able to mount my heavy barrel forend on the Katahdin, despite looking a little big compared to that compact barrel :-).     The spacing is right at 5" to 5-1/32".  

I have the 7660 Katahdin forend, but wish I had bought the wood one since I don't like the fit of it.  I am probably going to build my own forend for my Katahdin's this spring before these barrels see the range for the first time.

What kind of barrel did you get?  I have a 444 Marlin and 45/70 Gov't.

[Riff]

RCampbell -
Thanks for taking the time to measure that for me. I took a chance and ordered a standard forend last night, as they were on sale at MidwayUSA for a decent price.

The barrel that came with the rifle was an 18" Van Horn custom in 25-06. Luckily, Mr. Van Horn was at the same gunshow, so I was able to work out a deal for an 18" 30-06.  I load for 30-06 and while 25-06 is a very nice deer caliber, I didn't want to get another set of dies, etc...

I really like barrels in the 16-21" length, and it sounds like you do too! I have a 16" 223 and a 21" 30-30 for my Contender. I've been looking at the Katahdin barrels, but I'm not sure what I would use them for. But of course, you really don't need a "reason" to buy this stuff!

[BeverlyHillbilly]

Riff

Sounds like you had some good luck at that gun show.  I can never find much at them these days that I am looking for.  Good choice on the 30-06 in that length.  I have the 26" 25-06 for the Encore, and is pretty picky about the loads it likes.  I bet that 16" 223 is pretty fun to shoot.  I have been wanting to get myself a 22 K-Hornet in that 16-18" range for some time.  

I do love the size of the compact Katahdin barrels for the Encore.  All of my other rifle barrels for it are 24-26", and were great for target shooting, varmints, or long-range hunting, but not a good 'woods' length.  Due to that length, I pretty much only used my  Super 16" Contender in 30-30, since it was just the right size for the conditions where I hunt.  I used my Encore with pistol barrels some, but preferred the carbine.

I picked up both of these Katahdin barrels in the last month, so I don't know how accurate they are yet.   I really like both the 444 and 45/70 for hunting, so it should be fun to test them out.  This makes my 2nd 444 and 3rd 45/70 as I have Marlin Lever Rifles in both, and a 24" SS 45/70 for my encore as well.  

I think that I have that dreaded barrel disease.  I counted 23 barrels in my closet when I went in to check that spacing yesterday.  :shock: I guess I had better find a cure soon..... :-)

Good luck with your new barrel

Rich