Encore 209x50-Where to buy & other questions

[smoky]

I am contemplating the purchase of a stainless 209x50 bbl for my encore.  1.  Where is the best place (cheapest) to make this purchase?  2. Are these barrels offered in different twist rates?  If so, which one should I buy (to be used primarily for whitetails)?  If not, which weight bullet should I begin with?  3. Is there a particular barrel break in proceedure I should follow?

If I have my way, I will use 2 or 3 50 grain pellets with a powerbelt 245 grain bullet(no sabot).

Any suggestions, comments, and/or load recipes welcome.

Thanks for the help.

Smoky

[Wolfhound]

I am contemplating the purchase of a stainless 209x50 bbl for my encore. 1. Where is the best place (cheapest) to make this purchase?

It's a firearm so it has to be purchased from or shipped to a FFL holder.

2. Are these barrels offered in different twist rates? If so, which one should I buy (to be used primarily for whitetails)? If not, which weight bullet should I begin with?

Only in the two different calibers. 1/28 for the .50, 1/30 for the .45. I'd stay with a 50 cal. The 240-260 is a good weight class for whitetail.

If I have my way, I will use 2 or 3 50 grain pellets with a powerbelt 245 grain bullet(no sabot).

If the rifle you get likes it then Ok. I'd stick with the aerotipped version though. Try a wide variety of sabots and conicals to find out what the rifle likes. By limiting yourself to 2 or 3 pellet loads it'll be tougher to find a good load, but not impossible.

[longwinters]

Try Ed's for the barrel.  He is a sponsor of this web site and has about as good a prices as you will find anywhere.  I am shooting 245 gn Powerbelts with 120 gns Goex cleanshot propellant.  Accuracy out of my rifle is very good.  With this weight Powerbelts the manufacturer recommends shooting between 120-150 gns of powder/propellant.

long

[doninva]

I think you can buy barrels direct, as I did, from ed's or an individual, just not the frame or whole gun. I was unaware that Thompson made 209X45 barrels in 1-30. I knew Knight uses this twist rate but thought Thompson used 1-20 on their earlier barrels and 1-28 now. Oh well, you learn something new every day. Don

[Wolfhound]

I was unaware that Thompson made 209X45 barrels in 1-30. I knew Knight uses this twist rate but thought Thompson used 1-20 on their earlier barrels and 1-28 now.

Oops, your right. I was thinking Knight .45's. T/C uses a 1/28 twist on their .45s.

[dakotashooter2]

I believe Don is correct. Thompson has changed the twist in their barrels. One will accomodate maxi balls the other to better accomodate saboted projectiles.  Barrels do not need to be shipped by or to a FFL Only a  whole gun or partial gun that includes the reciever requires a FFL.  Ed seems to be about as good a deal as you will find.

[sduve]

i kn ow where you can get a used 209x50 used. It shoots real good.