Conversion of Encore pistol barrel to carbine rifle barrel, SS vs blued

[schuetzen]

I am looking into converting my existing Encore 15" .308 pistol barrel to a legal 16+" carbine rifle barrel by adding a muzzle brake.  I know that people don't recommend modifying a TC barrel because it will cancel the warranty and lower the resale value, but unless the TC Custom Shop opens back up, I don't see an alternative.  I already have the pistol barrel and do not intend on continuing to shoot it as a pistol.

I am looking into threading the barrel and then permanently fix a muzzle break such as the following:

http://www.brownells.com/.aspx/pid=13070/Product/MUZZLE_BRAKE

Questions I would have are:

1. Would it be a problem threading (and permanently fixing) a stainless steel muzzle brake on a blued barrel?

2. What measures should be made to the machined blued barrel to prevent future corrosion between the barrel and muzzle brake?

[trotterlg]

I would think you could find some welding rod that will stick to both metals, I have some silver solder that sticks to both.  I'm not too sure how it will look when done unless you can just do a spot on the bottom.  I am kind of thinking you may have wished you didn't do it the first time you fire it with a break 16 inches from you ear.  Larry

[Curtis]

Given the cost of the brake ($40-$60 per the link you supplied), the cost and trouble of getting the work done (correctly), and your concerns about corrosion I can't help but think you'd be money and aggrivation ahead by rather selling your 15" and buying the carbine length you want.  That is, unless your heart is set on having the brake.  Even then, I'm not sure I wouldn't put the money from the sale toward getting Bullberry or someone to build just what I wanted.  That's my $.02 and worth at least that much IMO.

Curtis

[schuetzen]

Given the cost of the brake ($40-$60 per the link you supplied), the cost and trouble of getting the work done (correctly), and your concerns about corrosion I can't help but think you'd be money and aggrivation ahead by rather selling your 15" and buying the carbine length you want.  That is, unless your heart is set on having the brake.  Even then, I'm not sure I wouldn't put the money from the sale toward getting Bullberry or someone to build just what I wanted.  That's my $.02 and worth at least that much IMO.

Curtis

You are probably correct, however finding one may be a problem.

[wreckhog]

A blue 7.62 brake ought to be pretty common. Check out someone like ADCO.

[schuetzen]

A blue 7.62 brake ought to be pretty common. Check out someone like ADCO.

Your suggestion also got me thinking.

I prefer to use peep sights and I have always liked using the diopter sights on an HK91.  HK91 surplus parts are cheap and I might be able to set one up with both an HK91 (308) flash hider and HK front sight (highly modified).

I took some initial estimates and the HK flash hider would add about 1.3" to the length of the barrel and the Encore barrel is large enough in diameter to include the necessary machining to do so.  Modifying the HK front sight appears that it might also work if the barrel was mounted in the central ring of the front sight assembly.

This would be an interesting project.

http://www.robertrtg.com/g3flashhider.html

http://www.robertrtg.com/g3frontsight.html

[southernutah]

have you concidered the noise increase. I won't have a firearm with one again. I would look for a longer barrel and sell your old one.

[schuetzen]

have you concidered the noise increase. I won't have a firearm with one again. I would look for a longer barrel and sell your old one.

I am not too concerned about the noise increase as I have already been shooting a 15" 308.  I also shoot an HK 91 (308) with <20" barrel.  Can't be worse than either of those.  The 15" 308 in a pistol is rather painful to shoot without a glove.

That being said, I recently found a good deal on a new condition 24" Encore barrel for < $200.  I haven't had the chance to shoot it yet, but I think I will be happy with it.  I had someone at a gun show offer to trade my 15" 308 for a 24" .204 Ruger barrel, but it was without sights.  As I usually stick to common calibers, I passed on it.  Maybe I can find a trade for another interesting caliber.

[southernutah]

have you concidered the noise increase. I won't have a firearm with one again. I would look for a longer barrel and sell your old one.

I am not too concerned about the noise increase as I have already been shooting a 15" 308.  I also shoot an HK 91 (308) with <20" barrel.  Can't be worse than either of those.  The 15" 308 in a pistol is rather painful to shoot without a glove.


I have a Encore pistol 16 1/4 " and 21" carbine  in 308 no brake, it is no where close to the noise of the 24" 30-06 I had with brake. I carried earmuffs even when hunting.