The Encore pistol and rifle frames are completely identical. The only difference is legalities. Some jurisdictions have more legal hurdles to buy a pistol than a rifle. If you buy it as a pistol you can convert it to a rifle without paying a $200 tax to the ATF. You can not put a barrel less than 16 inches on the frame if it has the shoulder stock attached unless you have an approved ATF form 1 for making a short barreled rifle. Converting a rifle to a pistol is illegal unless ATF authoization is obtained as well as paying the $200 tax. This is a routine matter though.
