Encore 500 Magnum rifle

[sandman]

Encore 500 Magnum rifle. Anyone have much experience with one of these? I have the .44 barrel, and just looking to expand my collection but have heard good and bad. The bad being mainly recoil. Any info. is greatly appreciated.
Thanks

 

[42769vette]

i have no experiance with the 500 but i might be interested in the 44 barrel if you decide to change

 

[cce1302]

I have no experience with that particular rifle, however I do have some experience with the caliber. Recoil in the .500S&W X-frame revolver is stout. The numbers I have run show .500S&W potential comparable speed and energy to many 12 gauge shotgun slug loads. 400-440 grain JSPs or JHPs running 1800-2000 fps. From a 8 3/8" revolver barrel. I'd say enough energy to take any animals in Indiana.
That being said, recoil from your Encore rifle should not be any worse than deer slugs from a 12 gauge.
The Encore has a lot of potential in this caliber. The rifle is certainly strong enough for it. There is a site sponsor here that may be able to make you a barrel. At any rate, he can add to my small observations on this thread.

 

[fireball168]

It isn't often you see one shooting much less than 2" groups at 100. I'm sure a lot of that is operator induced.

The ones I've seen shoot 1.5" or less have had hanger bars and professional trigger work, along with a bit of weight or a mercury reducer in the stock.

If it is something you just want to hunt/plink with, and would be satisfied with the kind of accuracy I mention above - the Katahdin 20" barrels usually go for $315 with tax.

Otherwise, step up to a custom for another $125 or so and get tightened throat dimensions and a higher quality barrel blank.

 

[Mgderf]

2 words - muzzle compensator

 

[fireball168]

Adding weight will make CONSIDERABLY more difference than a muzzle brake on this cartridge & platform.

 

[Mgderf]

Adding weight will make CONSIDERABLY more difference than a muzzle brake on this cartridge & platform.

Why not both? I have the Contender in .45/70 govt. 16" barrel w/ muzzle brake. My brother has the same set-up, minus the brake. That alone, makes a pretty noticeable difference.

 

[fireball168]

Considering a 350g load for each, near safe maximum for both in their platform as discussed above.


Muzzle pressure on a 500 S&W, 20" barrel is a little less than 4000 psi.

Muzzle pressure on a 45-70, 16" barrel is a little more than 6000 psi.

Apples and oranges.


I can add a pound of weight for a little bit of nothing, or $55 for a mercury reducer that will do MORE than its weight.

$55 won't buy a muzzle brake before I flip the switch on the lathe.

 

[sandman]

Thanks all for your input. Much appreciated!

 

[jy951]

I had a factory Prohunter 500 barrel and sold it and went custom. The accuracy reports aren't all that good with the factory barrels. Mine has a muzzle brake on it and recoil isn't too bad. Accuracy is 1 MOA easily.

I think I've read somewhere the factory barrel like heavier loads like 400 grains and up.

 

[buzzard pickins]

IMO a good source for information on encores and contenders is BELLMTCS.COM. You will find information on easy fixes for accuracy problems. By that I mean, oversize hingepins and developing proper head space thru shims. He evens offers a free download on trigger jobs. I had the opportunity to meet Mike at the spring Tulsa show, and first impression, he didn't try to sell me anything, advised me to read first.