Rifles in Handgun Calibers

[kynardsj]

Wasn't really sure where to put this even after looking thru the entire site so since I'm talking about another Encore rifle barrel I came here. I have always thought it was very handy to have a rifle in the same caliber as one of my handguns. Hence the post I put in sometime back about 45 LC Encore rifle loads. I'm extremely pleased with the performance of the MGM barrel I received in 45 LC ( or just 45 Colt for those who don't like the L ) that I believe I need one now in 357 mag. I know there are 357 mag rifles out there in lever actions, NEF and such but I'm really fond of my stainless Encores. The increased speed that can be had with a magnum handgun round in say a 20 inch barrel with no cylinder gap is impressive and makes a nice short to medium range rifle for game like whitetails and such if the proper bullet/powder combo is used. Would like to hear from the other members that feel the same and even those that just don't like the idea. 

[DEACONLLB]

I have a contender stainless 44mag 25 inch custom shop barrel and I love it shoots great and holds a much better group than I can with a hand gun and not all that muzzle blast, also just picked up a MGM 23 inch in 357 mag for my Encore and it is a real shooter I have only shot some factory 110 grn and some 158 grn hp but I have picked up some bullets in 110 140 and 158 grn in hp and cant wait to work up a good load.
 
Deaconllb

[Slowpoke Slim]

I have an old Van Horn 20" bull barrel in 45 Colt myself. What a thumper with 300-330 gr hardcast bullets over a max charge of AA #9. I've wanted to take this one hog hunting, and hopefully someday I will. I've got an old Nikon monarch 1.5-6x scope on it. It's a lot of fun at the range, just enough recoil that you know you shot something, but not enough to hurt even a newbie shooter. It will tear one ragged hole in the target at 50 yards.

[Doublebass73]

I've always been a big fan of pistol cartridges in a rifle, especially 45 Colt and 357 Magnum. You get a very respectable amount of power for such a small amount of recoil, especially if you handload.

[schuetzen]

I like the idea as well.  I have a .357 Maximum Encore barrel.


Unfortunately, with the Custom Shop down it's often hard to find pistol caliber Encore rifle barrels, especially set up with iron sights.  I have been considering going to a Contender since it is easier to find pistol caliber rifle barrels often already set up with iron sights, but I like my existing Encore and don't really have that much interest in Contenders with pistol length barrels.


How accurate are the Encore barrels in .45 Colt / .410 for shooting .45 Colt?  Does one loose accuracy from a rifle committed to only .45 Colt?  I suppose a 460 S&W barrel would suffice for shooting .45 Colt.


I'd really like to find Encore rifle barrels in 10mm Auto, .45 ACP or 9mm.

[kynardsj]

When I had MGM make my 20 inch barrel in 45 Colt I wanted it chambered in that caliber exactly. I could have bought a rifle barrel outright in 454 Casull or 460 Mag but didn't want my bullet to have to make the jump to the rifling. Then there would have been the carbon build up too if I ever wanted to shoot the proper caliber in it. Like the problem of trying to get a 357 mag to go into a cylinder of a pistol you've been shooting 38's in a lot. My 45 Colt Encore barrel will keep everything in 1 1/2 inches at 100 yards if I do the job right on my end. MGM barrels aren't cheap but the ones I've had so far are top quality.

[Camp Cook]

I'm not into Encores yet but I am into Contender carbines I have 2 handgun cartridge barrels a Custom Shop 18" blued factory tapered 10mm and a MGM 14" stainless bull in 45 Colt...
 
Both are great fun to shoot/plink with I even hunt with the 45 Colt barrel and I normally only plink with the 10mm barrel but I am planning on taking it coyote/bobcat hunting in a few weeks planning on using my 135gr Nosler HP's @ 2050fps loads.

[schuetzen]

When I had MGM make my 20 inch barrel in 45 Colt I wanted it chambered in that caliber exactly. I could have bought a rifle barrel outright in 454 Casull or 460 Mag but didn't want my bullet to have to make the jump to the rifling. Then there would have been the carbon build up too if I ever wanted to shoot the proper caliber in it. Like the problem of trying to get a 357 mag to go into a cylinder of a pistol you've been shooting 38's in a lot. My 45 Colt Encore barrel will keep everything in 1 1/2 inches at 100 yards if I do the job right on my end. MGM barrels aren't cheap but the ones I've had so far are top quality.

Yes, I have been dealing with carbon build up in my 357 Mag LCR while shooting .38 Special +P.  I decided to keep all my hand loading to 357 Mag for practice and use commercial .38 Special +P for defensive round to cut down on the carbon ring.  I've only shot my 357 Maximum a few times and am thinking likewise that I will primarily use hand load 357 Maximum.

[schuetzen]

... a Custom Shop 18" blued factory tapered 10mm ...

So there are probably a few 10mm examples out there.  If your interested in selling it, let me know! I looked at the recent Custom Shop caliber offerings and they don't show 10mm.  I thought I saw 10mm listed somewhere but I don't remember where.

[kynardsj]

Seems like I saw one on EDSTC before.

[jackruff]

My CVA Scout .44 magnum put three Magtech 240 grain JSP bullets into a pattern just over one-half inch wide at 100 yards a couple of days ago.  Two of the holes were touching; the third just barely missed touching the other two. 

[OK hunter]

I will place on order, this week, an encore barrel in 460 S&W.  I'm looking at either an 18" or 29" bbl.  I wanted the 460 as I can shoot 454 and 45 Colt in it as well.
Following this barrel will be a 357 Max in the same configuration.

[Camp Cook]

... a Custom Shop 18" blued factory tapered 10mm ...

So there are probably a few 10mm examples out there.  If your interested in selling it, let me know! I looked at the recent Custom Shop caliber offerings and they don't show 10mm.  I thought I saw 10mm listed somewhere but I don't remember where.

I've been into the 10mm since 1987 have a Colt Delta Elite/Glock 20/Glock 29 & the 10mm Contender barrel sorry but I will probably never part with, I'm thinking it maybe the longest 10mm barrel the Custom Shop ever made.
 
If I were to get into Encores I would want it to be stainless with a s/s 20" 460S&W bull barrel, a s/s 22" 375H&H factory taper barrel and a s/s 22" - 24" 260 Rem barrel.

[schuetzen]

I've been into the 10mm since 1987 have a Colt Delta Elite/Glock 20/Glock 29 & the 10mm Contender barrel sorry but I will probably never part with, I'm thinking it maybe the longest 10mm barrel the Custom Shop ever made.
 
If I were to get into Encores I would want it to be stainless with a s/s 20" 460S&W bull barrel, a s/s 22" 375H&H factory taper barrel and a s/s 22" - 24" 260 Rem barrel.

I've got a Glock 21 and a Glock 10mm 6" hunting barrel.  I believe I got the barrel through GSSF a long time ago, but I don't remember.  The barrel is made for the Glock 20, but it will fire and cycle in the Glock 21.  If I someday find a 10mm rifle barrel for an Encore or Contender, I'll plan to pick up a Glock 20 as well.

[Camp Cook]

If you go to GlockTalk 10mm Reloading forum you will find a sticky with carbine data the Glock 4.6"/Delta Elite 6" and the 18" barrel data is mine.