.243 Encore performance check

[Hawken50]

my local gunshop has a new thompson center encore pistol, blued, with a 12" .243 win barrel and a bushnell reddot. how bad would the recoil be? (the biggest handgun i've shot is .357mag). i already handload .243, and i'd want to use it on varmits and northeastern whitetail. i know the .243 is great out of a rifle barrel, how does it perform out of a 12"pistol barrel? i've wanted an encore for a while. i like the ideea of interchangeable barrels. down the road i'd be getting a 12ga. barrel and stock for it, for all purpose use (turkey, trap, grouse and such.) i know the rifle and pistol forends are diffrent but do diffrent calibers require diffrent forearm grips? thanks for any help.

 

[Legionnaire]

Can't comment on the 12" barrel; mine's 15". I've found the recoil to be stout but manageable. From a sandbagged rest, I've been getting 4" groups at 200 yards. But if you're right handed and shooting from a bench, be careful where your right elbow is! First time I had the .243 at the range, I was shooting from the bench with bent elbows and the recoil caused me to smash my elbow into the edge of the tabletop. Ouch! After that I was more careful and haven't had a problem. Have taken a couple of deer with the .243 Encore. It's a great gun.

 

[Coltdriver]

I can't speak for the .243 on the Encore but I do have a 204 Ruger and just got a 450 Marlin barrel.

It is probably not a big deal, however there is some confusion over changing one of these from a pistol to a rifle etc.

When you buy it the dealer will register it as one or the other. With a short barrel, its a pistol.

I got a receiver with a rifle barrel (23 inc 204 Ruger) and registered it on purchase as a rifle.

Since the Encore was designed to handle rifle pressures, why not start that way.

It is a great and addictive concept. Now for the cost of a barrel I can get any rifle I want! My 204 is extremely accurate. I just tried the 450 Marlin yesterday. It is "stouter" than me but I'll get used to it.

 

[P95Carry]

Didn't realize you had that .243 Ken - sounds very nice. I only have the std Contender so couldn't go that strong up the power ladder.

Must say tho I love my 14" barrel for .223 and also when I occasionally fit it, the .44 Mag 10". Have given thought to 45-70 but think I'd need the Encore to shoot my top-end loads in that!

Something about T/C's tho eh -

 

[Hawken50]

sorry,

it must be a 15 inch barrel. i was just on the tc website and they only have a 15" in .243. thanks for the input. i got a little worried when the gunshop owner told me the guy he ordered it for brought it back the next day cause it was "too much gun for him."

 

[Okiecruffler]

Technically, if the frame (reciever) is registered as a rifle, it can only be configured as a rifle. If you slap a barrel under 16 inches on it, or a grip that makes it under 26" you've just broken the law. If it's registered as a pistol, no harm setting it up as a rifle. I seriously doubt if anyone from the BATF is going around checking.

 

[Hawken50]

no problem there. i'll be buying it as a pistol. thanks for the tip though. wouldn't want to get myself in a jam.

 

[Okiecruffler]

Should be fun. I've been resisting the Encore temptation as best I can. This Contender sucks enough money out of my wallet as it is. You should give this board a look see,
http://specialtypistols.infopop.cc/eve/ubb.x
Alot of real smart guys there along with a few yahoos like me.