TC Encore experts...READ!

plumbob

plumbob

New member
Allright, I just sold my Savage .270 to buy me a new bow. Been looking to for a while to buy me a Encore, so now I am planning on trying to start putting together a Encore. I plan on buying the frame and stock first, then buy barrel later on. I have been looking, and need some help to choose. I want to have a frame that can interchange from centerfire, muzzleloader, and shotgun. Can the rifle frame do all of these? I see they sell a Muzzleloader frame, then they sell the rifle frame, different prices, what should I get? Thanks.
 
I was under the impression that one frame could do all three. I'm no expert by any means, but as far as I know, all you need is one frame.
 
Plumbob,

Like you, I'm no expert, far from it, I don't even own an Encore, BUT I was considering buying one a few months ago and did some research.

I may be completely off base here, so take what I say with a grain of salt, but I was told that there was a preferable way to purchase an Encore system that would keep you in good standing with BATF. Something to do with purchasing the frame as a rifle or pistol component, then if you later convert it to a MZL you were legal, whereas if you purchase it as a MZL then later convert to rifle or pistol you're in a gray area as far as legalities go.

Remember, I said at the start I'm not sure about any of this, I may be off base as far as the reasons go, may not even involve legalities, but I'm pretty confident I was told to purchase my frame as a "Pistol" frame, then go from there.

All this may be a load of crap, if so I'm sure someone will straighten me out, and rightly so. I do remember being told by a dedicated T/C fan that I should start off with a pistol frame though, whatever the reasoning may have been.
 
One thing you have to watch out is if you buy it as a rifle and convert it to a pistol you will be in deep poopoo. Pistol to a rifle is fine. I realize pistol wasn'tt mentioned, just thought I would throw it out there. An Encore frame will handle all 3, after all, it's a "Gun for all seasons" according to TC.
 
I'd always suggest buying just the frame as a pistol, just in case, and then adding what ever barrels you want to use, there should be no difference in cost. But as was mentioned, if the BATF wanted to get sticky, a rifle converted to a pistol, IS against Fed law.

If you buy an Encore as a ML and you have to go through a backround check, then it is registered as a centerfire receiver. ML's do not have to have the check before purchase, at least not yet.
 
Any receiver that is made to accept a centerfire barrel, regardless of the configuration when it's sold, can't be sold without a background check, federal law requires a 4473 be processed for the Encore, Contender, H&R Huntsman, CVA Optima Elite and the Knight KP1 to name a few. The state of Illinois considers all muzzleloaders as firearms. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smiliesmack.gif
 
The T/C frame as others have stated can do all 3. If you think you "might" want to add a pistol barrel buy the the T/c frame as a pistol. You can put a any barrel ona Frame that the "origional" FFL 4473 form says was "sold" as a pistol.

If you buy a rifle frame it says on the end of the factory recoil pad that barrels shorter than 16 inches are illegal.

Be sure to order a T/C pro hunter frame...The new swing hammer is so convienent.

Hoggy
 
Above info is correct. To reiterate,

A T/C Encore muzzloader is subject to the same rules of purchase as a centerfire rifle because of it's conversion capabilities.

Using a barrel less than 16" long constitutes that firearm as a pistol and should be registerd as such. Swapping from rifle to muzzloader to shotgun is 100% OK once the gun has been purchased legally.

I originally bought my Encore as a .50 cal muzzleloader & later picked up a .204 bbl and rifle forearm for varmints.
 
I didn't love mine, and she was a pretty SS/Composite Pistol
version. It isn't mine anymore. But yes, if you think you
may want to shoot it as a pistol, get the pistol version.
From there any barrel/grip is legal.

I thought I read somewhere that all Encores are registered
with the BATF as pistols, regardless of the configuration
they are sold in, but I could not get independent confirmation
of that information. Since I am out of the Encore market,
I did not pursue it too far. It might be smart to get the
word directly from T/C on this issue.

Squeeze
 
Quote:

I thought I read somewhere that all Encores are registered
with the BATF as pistols, regardless of the configuration
they are sold in, but I could not get independent confirmation
of that information. Since I am out of the Encore market,
I did not pursue it too far. It might be smart to get the
word directly from T/C on this issue.

Squeeze



my TC Encore Pro Hunter came with a rifle stock, the 4473 stated rifle, the end of the T/C Box it came in and manual stated rifle, and warned that rifled barrels shorter the 16" and smooth bore barrels shorter then 18" were illegal.

the salesman gave me a vacant smile and told me I could put any barrel I wanted on it.
 
Gray area is right the BATF don'yt even really understand it. As at one tme the Contender was considered a pistol and had to be sold as such with all the attendant restrictions, even if it was configured as a rifle/carbine Then T/C came out with the Encore much stronger frame able to be used more readily as a rifle in real rifle chamberings so BATF had a change of heart now you buy an Encore Rifle frame with butt stock and it is listed on the 4473 as a rifle, but if you buy the Encore with a pistol grip stock it is them forever a pistol unless you configure it as a rifle, or ML. Then it is no longer a pistol according to BATF,l and if you change it back to pistol configuration with a barrel shorter than 16" they can come get you for manufacturing a Short Barreled Rifle. I know sounds nuts but we ARE talking about the BATF. They change the rules to suit themselves. Get your Encore frame with the stock of your choice I would suggest the thumbhole flex tech myself. And if you go long gun you are safe with a center fire rifle barrel or Muzzel loader configuration but if you go pistol be aware that if you change to long gun it has to remain that way or at least don't tell anyone.
BTW I am doing the same thing but I am only going rifle so far, but then I keep changeing thinking a matched rifle and pistol would be nice one of the engraved frames from T-C's custom shop in consecutive numbers maybe. 30-06 or 300 Mag in the rifle and 204 or 223 in the pistol. But I am busy getting my AR projects done first since I want to have them before they ban them single shots are way down on the ban list right now. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused1.gif
 
Quote:
Gray area is right the BATF don'yt even really understand it. As at one tme the Contender was considered a pistol and had to be sold as such with all the attendant restrictions, even if it was configured as a rifle/carbine Then T/C came out with the Encore much stronger frame able to be used more readily as a rifle in real rifle chamberings so BATF had a change of heart now you buy an Encore Rifle frame with butt stock and it is listed on the 4473 as a rifle, but if you buy the Encore with a pistol grip stock it is them forever a pistol unless you configure it as a rifle, or ML. Then it is no longer a pistol according to BATF,l and if you change it back to pistol configuration with a barrel shorter than 16" they can come get you for manufacturing a Short Barreled Rifle. I know sounds nuts but we ARE talking about the BATF. They change the rules to suit themselves. Get your Encore frame with the stock of your choice I would suggest the thumbhole flex tech myself. And if you go long gun you are safe with a center fire rifle barrel or Muzzel loader configuration but if you go pistol be aware that if you change to long gun it has to remain that way or at least don't tell anyone.
BTW I am doing the same thing but I am only going rifle so far, but then I keep changeing thinking a matched rifle and pistol would be nice one of the engraved frames from T-C's custom shop in consecutive numbers maybe. 30-06 or 300 Mag in the rifle and 204 or 223 in the pistol. But I am busy getting my AR projects done first since I want to have them before they ban them single shots are way down on the ban list right now. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused1.gif





I'd have to see cases where that has happened because I do not believe it's true. I think it's a dealer that doesn't have a clue about the law making up cases. IMHO Out here I run into dealers that will "quote" you the law "from memory" and tell you what it is. When I've looked it up myself, I find they do not have a clue.

Some even try to tell me they cannot accept shipment from a private party, nor can they release their FFL to a private party so they can accept shipment even from another dealer. This is pure bunk and fear on their part, it is NOT the law.

There is NO law about putting a long barrel on a pistol. there is no limit on how long a pistol barrel can be, BUT there ARE limits on how short a rifle barrel can be.

Long story short, as has been mentioned, if you even "think" you might want a pistol barrel, ever, then buy it as a pistol FRAME and order what ever barrel you want. That's how it works in CA and this is one of the most anal states in the country about handguns.
 
As has been recommended, I would buy the frame in a pistol configuration, Midsouth sells them that way. When I bought a used Encore frame, my FFL told me that since it was originally sold as a pistol to the original owner, that she would have to process it on the 4473 as a pistol which meant a 7 day wait. Best prices I've seen on new frames and stocks is Midsouth and Ed's.

Midsouth Shooters Supply Encore Frames

Ed's Contenders
 
What Blindog said!

I still cant figure out the reasoning behind the swap barrel systems here in NY. I bought a contender with 3 barrels but only one is listed on my full-carry permit. If I was aproached for whatever reason with another barrel installed its my understanding that it would lead to problems. Its the frame that carries the number for verification not the barrel.

I just go about my swapping and hope that the problem never arise's.

Nice to have a definate heads up on the "Grey Area" someday.


Dave
 
The BATF originally maintained that once it was converted to a rifle it had to stay a rifle. However TC took them to court and won the case saying it can be converted back and forth as long as it was bought as a pistol.

Jack
 
Thanks for the help. I'm going to start looking for me a frame, unless I find a good deal on a whole gun. The info was exactly what I was looking for. Thanks again
 


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