My Encore BP pistol

I had an extra .50 cal encore barrel so I figured I'd turn it into a pistol.  Always wanted to hunt with a BP pistol anyway so.
Well I checked the federal regs and this is considered a "Contender" type firearm. It can be swapped from rifle to pistol to muzzleloader to shotgun provided you use the correct configuration (i.e.: butt stock or pistol grip). The finished barrel is 16 3/4" and because the total overall length of the firearm with a butt stock on exceeds 26" I can use it in either the rifle or the pistol configuration. But I plan to only use it in the pistol configuration. I have other muzzy rifles to use.
Today using nothing but hand tools I lopped 10" off the barrel then polished the face with various grits of sandpaper followed by 400 grit emery paper (oiled). For the crown I used a 5/16" cap nut and cut the head off a 5/16" bolt to be able to put it in my drill. for an abrasive to polish/cut the crown I used FEL-PRO Clover Compound which is a silicon-carbide grease mix.
When all done I blued the face. Total time took about 2 hours. The longest time was truing the face of the muzzle using a square and levels and a mill bastard file.
But the finish job came out pretty good if I must say so myself. I'm happy with it.
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Nice work! I did similar to a rifle about 30+ years ago. I have a TC Scout pistol in 50 caliber. Keep me in touch if you find a load and bullet you like. Yesterday I did a trigger job and took 2#'s off and is much nicer now. Mine is a 12' barrel.

SWEET!! That looks like a LOT of Fun Bronko

Load is 80 gr of Alliant Black MZ under a 45 cal Hornady 300 gr XTP in a Harvester black CR sabot.

Bronko22000 wrote:Load is 80 gr of Alliant Black MZ under a 45 cal Hornady 300 gr XTP in a Harvester black CR sabot.

Any idea what the velocity of that load is?

No sorry.

I'll let you know when I get back up north Lewis. I'll be getting that project barrel next week and going to send it to Bob Hoyt and have him clean up the bore, reline to 45 cal and put a 1:20 twist in it.
Looking for advice on a good bullet for it. I'm thinking my paper patched 44-390P Accurate bullet should shoot nicely out of it (slip fit)