T/C Encore 45/70 Conversion Almost A Go (pics)

[Howa]

I'm converting the Encore Pro Hunter to smokeless. I got my T/C custom shop heavy contour 24" matte black 45/70 barrel in the mail today. Sending it to SMI for the breech plug install tomorrow. Should be a smokeless .45 muzzleloader by next weekend. I mounted her up this evening just to see what I would have. Very pleased with this little lightweight gun. It will be my boy's muzzleloader but Dad may borrow it for heavy cover and stalking. Here's a pic beside my Savage .50 just for size comparison. I bet it weighs 1/2 what the Savage weighs.

 

[SAWDUST]

Nice. wished they made that barrel stainless. What length barrel is it?

 

[Howa]

They will make it stainless if that's what you want, all it takes is money.

 

[Rubberduck270]

What kind of fps are you expecting out of that set up? As short as that gun is it would be perfect for a ground blind.

 

[Howa]

What kind of fps are you expecting out of that set up? As short as that gun is it would be perfect for a ground blind.

I'm planning on about 56-58 grains of H4198 getting me about 2500-2600 fps with a 200 grain Hornady SST. Guess I won't know for sure until I shoot it, hoping it doesn't shoot flames out the end. lol

 

[landman]

Let me know how it works out

 

[BowGuy84]

I'm curious as well. Have a plane jane encore right now...thinking of making a change by next year. This might be easier than selling and getting a savage. Love the feel of my encore and trigger it has going on.

 

[280longshot]

I've never heard of converting a 45-70 to a .45ca. muzzleloader. Can u explain more on the conversion?? How will it shoot?

 

[Wobblyshot1]

You plug the breech and shoot it. Just wondering.....does TC endorse this kind of conversion?

 

[Team Browning]

Endorse it???? Why the heck would they? It doesnt make a whole lot of sense. (1) it wasnt meant for that purpose and (2) they wouldnt be selling you something in the process.

No. Im sure there is an army of lawyers to tell you why the answer is no way.

 

[W.Seay]

Cool

 

[Howa]

I've never heard of converting a 45-70 to a .45ca. muzzleloader. Can u explain more on the conversion?? How will it shoot?

A 45/70 is already a .45 barrel, it's already designed for centerfire rifle smokeless powder pressures, all it needs is a breechplug threaded into the chamber and shazam, .45 caliber smokeless muzzleloader. It actually makes perfect sense, far and away the least expensive way to go smokeless if you already own an encore. I expect it to shoot m.o.a. out to at least 300 yards.

 

[Howa]

Endorse it???? Why the heck would they? It doesnt make a whole lot of sense. (1) it wasnt meant for that purpose and (2) they wouldnt be selling you something in the process.

No. Im sure there is an army of lawyers to tell you why the answer is no way.

As far as finding a lawyer to tell you not to do it.....what DO lawyers recommend that you do, other than bankruptcy and divorce I mean?

 

[Howa]

Cool

It's easy to tell who the smokeless guys are. lol

 

[280longshot]

Converting to a 45cal. sounds good but who is SMI and what do they do? I would love to have a smokeless muzzleloader.

 

[Howa]

Converting to a 45cal. sounds good but who is SMI and what do they do? I would love to have a smokeless muzzleloader.

Smokeless Muzzleloading Inc., they can convert a 45/70 or they can just make you a .45 barrel, I took the less expensive route and converted. http://www.smokelessmuzzleloading.com/

 

[280longshot]

Thanks for the info.

 

[Stalkhunter]

Love as much info on this Howa good info so far. I have an encore as well and I love it. I was getting ready to buy a new barrel till mike243 told me about your post. Cant wait to see the results.

 

[Howa]

Got my barrel back from SMI today, the scope, rings, and bases should all arrive this week, I will post up some pics when I get it all together. Can't wait to shoot it and see how good it is.

 

[JA1234]

marking

 

[gcl14]

How bout that update Howa?

 

[Rubberduck270]

How bout that update Howa?

x2

 

[Howa]

Sorry guys, I was youth-hunting all weekend, scope, rings, and base all came last week, got everything all mounted up, it's ready to go. I just didn't have time to shoot because of tmy juvi's. IF I can get home before dark tonight, we're gonna go boom. I will shoot this week sometime because my boy is using it this Saturday for his 1'st ML hunt ever.

 

[Howa]

Was planning to shoot this afternoon but had a DR's appt., had a couple pre-cancer spots on my face and he froze them off, looks like I've been badly beaten in a bar fight. No shooting happening today. I did weigh up some charges tonight though, so I'm ready. I'm gonna try 40 grains of N-110, Hornady 200 SST's, and the Harvester light blue sabots. This should be a fairly mild load for my son. Should still be moving about 2325 feet per second, which is 200 fps more than a 120 grain load of Blackhorn 209 would do, with much less recoil.

 

[Rubberduck270]

I was lookin at smokeless ML's on the web today and I ran across some load info for the BadBull ML's. They use 100 grains of 4350. That's gotta pack one heck of a punch.

 

[Tennessee Lead]

Howa I am sure you have answered this in here somewhere but I missed it. But where did you order this barrel? Would love to make the switch for mine. Thank you.

 

[7wsm]

slufoot does a out standing job i have his contact info if you would like it

 

[7wsm]

Howa I am sure you have answered this in here somewhere but I missed it. But where did you order this barrel? Would love to make the switch for mine. Thank you.

roost1 has a pic of his on here from SF

 

[Rubberduck270]

Howa I am sure you have answered this in here somewhere but I missed it. But where did you order this barrel? Would love to make the switch for mine. Thank you.

Pretty sure he bought the barrel directly from Thompson Center's custom shop and had SMI do the breech plug install. Unless they have recently changed, TC's custom shop isn't accepting orders. http://www.tcarms.com/customShop/

Robert Young (Slufoot) can do the breech plug install on a factory TC or Bergara 45-70 barrel with a Savage breech plug. He isn't a member on tndeer but he can be reached on doug's message boards ( http://dougsmessageboards.proboards.com/board/23 ) if you register over there. It's a great place to learn about smokeless muzzleloading.

 

[Tennessee Lead]

Yes I would like that please thank you