New Encore in .44 Rem Mag

[HAMMERHEAD]

I finaly bought a replacement for my Contender.
I bought a new Encore stainless in .44 Rem Mag.
What suprised me most was the trigger. I had read a lot of complaints about Encore triggers. Mine is quite respectable. About 4 pounds, but very crisp. No creep that I can detect.
I thought synthetic stocks meant Rynite, it doesn't. Both the grip and the forend are a rubber like material with an insert in the back of the grip for recoil. A Georgia Jim thumbrest grip and forend will be next.
Another thing that must go is the last three inches of the barrel. 12 inches is longer than you think! (no jokes please) I'm going to have it trimmed to 9 inches and remount the front sight.
I put an order in at Match Grade Machine for a .357 barrel. That was the original intent of this pistol. A big, overbuilt precision .357 launcher to test my handloads and knock over little steel rams at 100 yards (IHMSA).
I'm also toying with the idea of either a muzzle loader barrel, or a black powder cartridge like .45 Colt.
I'll  post again when my .357 barrel  comes in.

[swampthing]

I know you did'nt ask but I think this is worth mentioning.
I bought a customs shop 9.5" 44mag barrel with the intent of having a nice Snub nosed Encore. If you like to use heavy slow traveling loads forget it. It will require a front sight that is big enough to gut a deer, and forget fiber optics as they will not be tall enough. You would be able to get it on paper with the faster moving loads but it is going to become a handfull. With mine there was a significant drop in velocity when compared to the 12",{even tougher to get proper sights for}  which forced me to use a slower powder to keep the velocity up.
Rynite is used only on the rifle stocks, as rubber is what is used for the pistols.
Finally decided to go back to the foot long barrel and enjoy the excellent accuracy. Best to date was better than .2" { yes two tenths} for 3shot group at 50yds with open sights. 280g LBT WFNGC at 1185fps... I'm expierimenting with Unique and AA#5 powder. AA#9 does about the same but @1285fps, H4227 ditto @ 1400+ fps.
I told myself I did not need a .480 ruger barrel on this gun.

[swampthing]

Made a mistake. The  AA#9 and H4227 gave 1400+fps.
AA#5 gave the 1280fps.
Unique gave 1185fps.

[HAMMERHEAD]

Thanks for the heads up.
My .44 loads will be subsonic 240 SWC loads. My first recipie will include Hornady magnum brass and SWC's, .060" fiber wads under the bullet base and a little Titegroup. I'll probably give Trail Boss a try when I find some.
Velocity loss is not a major concern-it will still run faster than most revolvers.
I figured I might need a taller sight blade which I can machine at work. .44 special cowboy loads print just fine at 25 and 50 yards with the  rear sight down most of the way.

[armory414]

Has IHMSA changed their rules about non-factory barrels in competition?  Or will they allow aftermarket barrels now?

[EdK]

I have bull barrels for my Contender in 44mag/10" & 45 colt 9.5" and like them just fine. I'm also satisfied with the velocity. Performance is better than a 10" revolver and for these two chamberings I think that's pretty good  

[HAMMERHEAD]

Has IHMSA changed their rules about non-factory barrels in competition? Or will they allow aftermarket barrels now?

From what I understand custom barrels are now allowed in production class as long as the barrel has ALL the same features/lack of features as a stock T/C or Fox Ridge barrel.
The theme seems to be 'if it looks stock, then it's OK'.
I have not read the 2006 rules (still not posted on the IHMSA site ) so this is just what I've read on the web. MAYBE they will have rule books at the next match.
Rumor has it this is the last year for IHMSA as an organization. It seems to be a rudderless ship and we may be shooting NRA rules next year.

[Buckmaster 30-30]

I was thinking about buying an encore in .44 mag and i have shot the .44 revolvers and i was wondering if the encore kicks worse or not because i want a good deer pistol without alot of recoil

[huntswithdogs]

Buck,
I just traded for a 12" 44mag barrel. I shot it this past weekend with factory Win 240 soft points. After 50 rounds the recoil was still managable. Heck, my Ruger Blackhawk(45LC) kicks worse than this thang! I've not weighed it yet but with the scope and all is a right sizeable weight.

HWD

[Buckmaster 30-30]

Another question i have is around how much does a new one of these guns go for?