Quick Guidance Please ..............

[Cleburne]

I have an opportunity to buy a T/C Encore muzzle loading rifle. It's .50 caliber, and from the photos looks like either stainless or a satin nickle finish. Synthetic stock and foreend. Priced at $200.00. From what I see online, I would expect to pay this or more for the barrel alone. Am I correct in saying I can interchange centerfire and rimfire barrels on a muzzleloading frame? I don't need another frontloader, but will jump at the opportunity if I can use multiple caliber cartridge barrels. Advice please.
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Think I'll take the leap and get this rifle while I can. From doing a quick check on the T/C website, it appears to be a Model 5886. Only thing missing is the ramrod. Owner said the bore is excellent. Barrel OD said to have a few small rust spots. I like the versitility an Encore offers i.e. rifle, pistol, shotgun, centerfire and muzzleloading.
 

[Cleburne]

I did a quick scan through the sticky thread on pistol vs. rifle legal issues. Makes my head hurt. Even so, I think at $200.00, the long gun would be a good investment. It can, as I understand it, be switched legally between any rifle and shotgun barrel of any caliber or gauge as long as the barrels are within the legal length.

[streak]

I concur with you Cleburne!
If it is a Encore the receiver alone would be worth that! Do you have any idea how old this setup is!

[Ranger413]

Somewhere about seven or eight years ago I purchased the exact same model you are looking at.  Mine included Leupold base and QD rings which I didn't like.  I ended up making a deal with the fella selling it on an auction site - $500 shipped for everything.  I sold off the base and rings.  In reality, less the scope base and rings, I paid about $450 for it and I thought that was a great deal at the time.  $200 is an absolute steal.
 
I also sold off the synthetic stock set and replaced that with a gray laminated set from E. Arthur Brown.  I've also purchased a .223 and a .308 barrel to round out the set.  This is a warning though - once you get the dreaded "Encoritis" you'll be swimming and barrels and eventually more frames.  Then it will spread to the other single shot disease, "Contenderitis".
 
 

[Cleburne]

Well the seller seems to have crawfished out of the deal. He failed to follow up with a reply to one of my emails until I prodded him for an answer. Computer problems I'm told. Now has a "potential" buyer and I'll be the first he notifies if the sale falls through. I was a solid buyer and only asked if he could meet me halfway to transfer funds / rifle. I suspect someone must have talked him out of selling, at least at his low advertised price. No problem, Lord knows I have enough toys to play with.

[Ladobe]

You missed snagging a great deal for sure.   But for only $200 and you were haggling over transfer costs?   
 
When I sell or buy a firearm the buyer pays all the shipping costs, and any FFL transfer fees are paid by he who is on the end of the fees.   Keep it simple and maybe you won't miss out on the next giveaway (literally) that comes your way.   FWIW

[Cleburne]

Nope, I wasn't haggling over transfer fees. It was to have been a face-to-face purchase locally. I simply asked if he could meet me halfway, cutting my travel time from two hours one-way, to one hour. Money was never an issue for me at his asking price. However I suspect he had second thoughts on the sale, possibly not wanting to let it go after all.

[epanzella]

$200 was a gift.

[Ladobe]

Sorry pard, I misread.   Why I have to use scopes instead of open sights - the eyes are not what they once were.