Encore 45/70

[bldgman]

I am looking to build a 45/70 encore Pro Hunter, but when I went to the custom shop to look at barrels, it says they are not accepting orders. Is there another source for the barrels?

Thanks for looking.

[3ncboys]

Try edstc.com/ . I am aware of 3 barrels (45/70) that have been ordered from Ed in the past 6 months.

[fishhawk]

Doesn't Bergara make some?

[Deleted]

They do and I ordered one for my Optima Elite also. Slufoot has it right now hope to see it here in a week or so. Look on Bergaga.com they should have some in stock to order also.

River Rat

[bldgman]

Thanks guys. How do I get in touch with Slufoot and Luke?

[fishhawk]

Just PM them, slufoot and lwh723.

[howa]

Got mine from edstc.com also.

[10ga]

Couple of years ago when I did my conversion got a 45-70 TC barrel from Natchez, and a good price too. Don't know if they have any now but easy enough to look. 10 ga

[bldgman]

Ordered my barrel from edstc today.

I also ordered a pro hunter ss frame from my dealer today.

Any advice appreciated, learned a lot from the board.

Thanks guys

[10ga]

Locker pin is nice. Put good bases and rings on. If ya shoot hot loads the Encore is light and it will tear up inferior stuff. That includes scopes. Slufoot did my buddies conversion and did a very good job. The crown job makes loading sabots nice. My conversion is very accurate. Have the BP spaced set with the primers you plan to use. Have all the gear you need to shoot ready when the barrel gets back. You'll want to shoot right away.

I'm guessing you are new to SMLing.

1. Always put safety first.
2. The smooth blue sabots seem to work best in 45 SML.
3. Read through the tips and hints from the board.
4. Clean your barrel real good, I mean real good. My conversion likes a barrel that is pretty clean. No more than 6 shots then I swab it out and clean it up.
5. Heat is the enemy of sabots. Use at least 15 min of wait time between shots or use a cool rod.
6. If you have any questions post it, as someone has probably had the same thing and can help you out.
7. Keep us updated on progress and how the build comes out and how it shoots.
8. If you have done MLing before be aware that SML is very different. I was a long time MLer and had to relearn a lot of stuff for SML as it is not the same as black powder MLing.
9. SMLing can become very addictive. ie...I'm mostly a hunter but since my first MLII I've added another SMLer every year. So now I have 2 MLIIs with one getting a new thumbhole stock refit this year. 1 Encore 45-70 conversion. Added 2 Rem. 700MLs this year for builds in near future. I'm also waiting for "guppy" to get back into the swing of things and start another barrel for the Encore.

Well, Welcome to the board! Need any more info just ask. Best, 10 ga

I'm sure others will add more and it's all for your benefit.

[Deleted]

Jul 25, 2012 21:21:08 GMT -5 10ga said:

8. If you have done MLing before be aware that SML is very different. I was a long time MLer and had to relearn a lot of stuff for SML as it is not the same as black powder MLing.

10 ga How is SML different from regular other than the smokeless/black powder??

Slufoot just finished my barrel for my Optima Elite and I hope to get it in the next day or so. This will be my first time shooting smokeless and I want to be safe as possible. I would like to watch my one year old daughter walk down the aisle!

Any help would be appreciated!!

River Rat

[10ga]

River rat. I hope others will chime in but here are some of the differences.
1. You need heat and pressure to ignite smokeless powder. This means you must have a good tight fit with sabot or bullet to build pressure or you get no ignition. Black powder and subs will ignite with little or no pressure build up.
2. Smokeless operates at increased pressure compared to black powder.
3. Due to more pressure and heat sabots will not perform properly in a SML shot with a hot barrel, usually after just 2 shots the barrel is too hot and you need to cool the barrel.
4. Smokeless powder needs to be measured by weight and needs to be very consistent, within .3 grain or less. Black powder is measured by volume for a ML and variations of 2 or 3 grains usually have almost no noticeable effect.
5. With black powder cleaning and gun care for every shooting session is extremly important! With smokeless some guns shoot better with dirty barrels. Both of my MLIIs shoot better dirty and after I sight them in for the hunting season the barrels are not cleaned until the hunting and shooting season is over and they are put up for summer storage.
6. Be very consistent with loading procedures, small variations can change your accuracy. Black powder MLing is much more forgiving.
7. With the higher velocities of SML the typical soft lead bullets of black powder do not give proper terminal performance. I shoot some home cast bullets but they are of a tough alloy and perform well at velocities up to 2600fps. Most SML use jacketed bullets or copper bullets due to the higher velocities. I also use the jacketed and copper bullets. soft lead bullets do not perform well at velocities over about 18-1900 fps. Many of the bullets for black powder are soft lead.
8. Mark your ramrod! Even a small mistake can be very costly!

SML is more like shooting higher velocity cartridge guns with lighter bullets where black powder with less pressure and velocity depends on big soft bullets for terminal performance.

I'm sure others will add more than I have mentioned but these are some of the differences.

Hope all goes well for you.
Best, 10 ga

[Deleted]

One thing that has been brought up in the past is that if you should have a hangfire.....wait....then make sure to reseat your bullet before trying another primer for ignition.reason being the primer might have push the bullet forward thus producing an air pocket with an obstruction in barrel situation....not good....can be explosive. Just be careful and attentive to what you are doing and the less distractions that you have the better..........good luck and have fun with it ........
Greenhorn