I was checking them out online. They look pretty nice. My questions are, can you change the barrels from a black powder to a centerfire? Do they chamber any barrels for ultramags? Also is the 209 primer exposed to the weather? Where I live the primer has to be exposed to be leagal.

They do not have any chamberings in the Ultra Mag yet. They do have barrels in centerfire calibers from 22-250 - 416 Rigby. Thompson Center websitewill have the centerfire chamberings offered. The rifle is a break open and the primer would not be exposed. You may have to go with a traditional ML due to none of the inlines that I have seen have exposed primers.

I have the Encore 50cal ML and can't say enough about it.Shoots well right out of the box. The reason I choose the Encore was the capability to interchange barrels. I know they are pricey but some day it will be in my sons hands and if he chooses not to use it as a ML he can buy the barrel of his choice.

I will say one thing, its well worth the money to buy one of the new style Bellm hammer extenders for it. Getting a thumb on the hammer can be a little tight if you add a scope.

http://www.bellmtcs.com/store/index.php?cid=11&
http://www.tcarms.com/TC_HTML/TC_Enc_R_CalChrt01.htm
http://www.foxridgeoutfitters.com/section.cfm?section=16

It may be a mute point if the laws in your state do not allow for the primer to be enclosed, but I just bought a Encore three weeks ago and absolutely love shooting it. It is my first muzzleloader and I shopped it hard and read this forum for over a year before I made the purchase. Like everyone says, do a little home work and this gun shoots sweet right out of the box.

Check this place out. I don't know a thing about the place or the people other than they quoted me (by email)$400 for a complete G2 Contender 209x45.

Need barrels? http://pages.prodigy.net/mktcdyksman/

I am a big fan of the Encore. I have had two, first a walnut and blue and then decided I wanted a camo and stainless version. I was not so lucky with regard to "shooting well out of the box" however. I was about the wrap my first one around a tree due to its inability to shoot ANY load in the T/C manual that would even hit a 4'x4' target holder at 100 yards. But after a lot of trial and error and input from some knowledgeable helpers on-line, I discovered Precision Muzzleloading Bullets and had two loads recommended by them, a 300 gr. ballistic tip and a 330 gr. HP, both in sabots which both shoot consistently into 2 in. groups at 100 yards with almost any loads from 100 to 150 gr. of Pyrodex, loose or pellets. My newer Encore shoots both loads equally well. I have also found the 300 gr. Barnes bullets to shoot well. My guns, and apparently many of the guns with faster (1:28) twists, shoot heavier, longer bullets better than many of the shorter, lighter bullets.

exactly correct.