Another Encore Question

[EugeneInNC]

Hello everyone. I just got a Encore Pro Hunter Pistol. I took it to the range today and shot it from a bench at 100 yds. It shoots very well. I think this bench rest pistol thing may be addictive. I made a few minor modifications to a bench rest and used a rear bag made from the leg cut out of an old pair of jeans. I put a custom forend I borrowed from a friend and a 6-18 X 40 Nikon rifle scope on it. With this kinda rigged setup I was shooting 3/4" to 1-1/4" by the time I finished a box of 50 rounds of ammo that was loaded with data worked up for a 20" Kreiger barrel I have on an AR. I think if I work on my setup and get some trigger time with this puppy it will do great.

My question is will a factory Encore rifle forend for a 24" or 26" barrel fit on a 15" barrel. This will work better than the factory pistol forend in a bench rest. I would like to try a synthetic material as I plan to Duracoat it. Thanks in advance for any help or advice you can give.

 

[xphunter]

Rifle forend won't fit a 15" barrel, but you can always take a rifle barrel, chop it, and recrown it and you are good to go.

How did the riflescope trial run go for you?
Something you will continue to do?

 

[EugeneInNC]

XP, I will continue to use the rifle scope. It is working very well for me. The artices and posts you made in other threads have been very helpfull for me getting started with this type of firearm. The only thing I had a problem with is that when I shoot a rifle I have the same cheek weld every time I shoot. That helps me get the same scope picture every time. With a handgun there is no reference point like I have with the cheek weld and the stock. That makes it easy for me to not sight down the center of the scope. In that regard it is almost like starting over again. I guess that just takes practice and trigger time with the gun. One thing is for sure. I can see much better with the rifle scope. I would like to find a place to shoot at 300 yds. ASAP. That is when the rifle scope will really start to pay off. I plan on ordering two more of the same scopes this evening. I can see more barrels in my future. Perhaps even one of the custom guns that I saw you guys shooting.

Thanks for the info. on the forend. Is it the holes that don't line up? Would it be easy to modify a rifle forend to work on a 15" pistol barrel?

 

[BCRider]

The rifle fore end will fit but you need to drill and countersink an extra hole to suit the forward mount screw for the short barrel.

 

[xphunter]

Even without a perfect "cheekweld" you can shoot great IF your parallax is set properly. Also you can use the dark ring around the edge of the optic (When you pull back and the darkness begins as the sight-picture gets smaller) as tell-tale sign of if you are lining up properly from shot to shot.
If or when you upgrade to larger cartridges, I highly recommend a muzzle brake.
Holland's new Radial brake is my hands down favorite.

 

[EugeneInNC]

BC thanks for the advice. I will give it a try. That will allow me to return the borrowed forend. I hate to borrow things.

XP, I see what you are saying. I remember similar to that when I was learning to shoot a rifle. I noticed the guns in your photos had a brake on them. If I can find a place to shoot far enough to justify anything over about a 6BR I will have a brake on the barrel.

Thanks for the help.

 

[xphunter]

Eugene,
Look forward to more shooting reports.
I am in the process of getting ready for a big 3-day match beginning August 20th.
I will be shooting my center-grip 7mm SAUM XP-100 Specialty Pistol out to about 1200 yards, confirming my drops.

 

[EugeneInNC]

XP, that sounds like fun. I would be happy if I could find a place where I could practice at 300 yds. once a week. Do any of the major gun makers offer anthing like the XP-100 that can still be bought new or is that a custom built only sort of thing. I know I like the custom guns I saw in your links and photos but they may be a little over my budget. Then again... I might save some cash and be able to get one.

thanks
elw

 

[xphunter]

Contact Rich Mertz at MOA Corp if you want custom falling block SP.
Lot cheaper than building a XP.
http://www.moaguns.com/
There are a number of other links too.

 

[BCRider]

If you're going to do the mod you may want to consider insetting some brass or aluminium slugs to do the foregrip spacing or "post" mod. My own Encore rifle seems to have gained a bit of stability from doing this and I'd expect it to aid the pistol as well. On mine I made it so that the front screw is located accurately but the rear post and screw head counterbore has a slight slotting to it and the screw was made so that it just barely bottoms as the screw grips the post to the barrel so it can slightly float as the barrel heats and cools. Even so I've found that with repeated shooting too close together the barrel in the foregrip seems to stay hotter for longer due to the wood insulating the barrel and the shots tend to walk up at the target. My next mod is to releive the barrel channel and to slot some holes up into it from below through the wood. This will encourage more airflow and a more even heating and cooling that is closer to that of the unshrouded part of the barrel.