Encore pistol vs rifle

[Freezer]

  I'm considering an Encore.  Is there a difference in the frame between the pistol and rifle or is it just the serial number?

[Dezynco]

Some folks argue that you should buy the Encore as a "pistol" but upgrade to a rifle, but not to buy a rifle and convert it to a pistol.  This is in order to stay within the boundaries of an old dinosaur law set up by the BATF during the old gangster days.  I really don't think it makes any difference (legally) as long as you DON'T put a rifle stock onto a pistol-barreled frame.  That would be altering a rifle to have a "less than 16" barrel", which is illegal.

There's no difference at all in the frame between the rifle, pistol, shotgun, or muzzloader.  The only difference is the stock and barrel.   The barrels and stocks will interchange.

[Freezer]

    Thanks that's what I thought.  I plan on selling some things and narrowing down the collection.  I plan on buying the Encore and being a utilitarian I want the most versatility I can get.  I currently have a Contender but the longest barrel I have is a 14" 30-30.  I also have an NEF but I'm just not that impressed.  I guess if you want one gun to do everything it should be quality.

[Steve P]

If you find one gun that will do everything, please let me know what it is.

Steve 

[454-hunter]

Freezer and denzyno, listen this aint some old dinosaur law. I know that within the last twenty yrs. that a court case against thompson center said that if was bought as a rifle it could not be shortened but if bought as a handgun then it could be lenghtened. now I aint trying to scare you but if your purchased Thompson rifle is stolen from your house and it is stolen with a barrel shorter than 16 inches then someone uses it to murder someone then you will get in all kinds of trouble from the ATF.

Sincerely ,
stan
P.S. ask a few more guys get a couple of opinions.

[Keith L]

If you search this topic here and on the TC rifles forum you will find a bunch of different opinions.  I settled it for me by reading the case law on the subject, and for Encore owners the bad news is the Supreme Court case that decided the issue for Contenders does not address Encores.  Please read it for yourself.  You can google this topic on the web and get several opinions and the decision its self.  I own Contenders, and all my frames are pistol frames.

[Davemuzz]

Freezer and denzyno, listen this aint some old dinosaur law. I know that within the last twenty yrs. that a court case against thompson center said that if was bought as a rifle it could not be shortened but if bought as a handgun then it could be lenghtened. now I aint trying to scare you but if your purchased Thompson rifle is stolen from your house and it is stolen with a barrel shorter than 16 inches then someone uses it to murder someone then you will get in all kinds of trouble from the ATF.

Sincerely ,
stan
P.S. ask a few more guys get a couple of opinions.

454 is hittin the nail on the head with this one. Read this: http://www.gboreloaded.com/forums/index.php/topic,131141.0.html

[PA-Joe]

The encore has a very heavy frame built for the large rifle calibers. The new Contender II fame is ligther. So check both of them out. If your not going to shoot rifle magnum loads you may want to stick with the light frame. Pistols and rifles barrels use the same frame but you can not use encore barrels in a contender frame and vis versa.