I think I know the answer, but why do the "celebrity bubbas" use the Thompson Center single shot? I assume it is for the sponser money but I have yet to meet a hunter that used the darn things other than to get in a few more days of deeer hunting in muzzleloader season. What am I missing?

You're not missing anything... It's all about the sponsor $$$

They are free!

Just following the path set by Weatherby the marketer supreme

Because many producers will accept free gear and call it a sponsorship. Hats off to TC though, and I mean that honestly, no company in this industry gets more traction for less cash than TC. If that is marketing, and it is, they set the bar. I hate where they set it--WAY TO LOW, but there it is.

Any way you slice it buying guns is good.

I think they have some cool stuff but do not own one.

quote:

Originally posted by MARK H. YOUNG:
They are free!

Much more than just "free". All T-C television users I have seen are sponsored by T-C, meaning that hard, cold cash changed hands and one of the requirements for their sponsorship is that the TV program hunters use their gun.

As another poster has observed, I've rarely, if ever, seen anyone actually hunt with a T-C break-open single shot. The T-C certainly has its followers, but it is not widely regarded as a great hunting rifle for many obvious reasons.

I'm always amused at how the video editors pixellate out the logos on caps and shirt when they happen to be those of non-sponsoring manufacturers.

I agree it's mostly marketing. But, they are great inline muzzle loaders. They are about the only ones out there that have really made major improvements and upgrades in this type of firearm.

Jim Shockey is their MAJOR spokesman and I would definitly not call Jim a Bubba or Redneck. He is a quality act and shoots the best weapon of this type on the market, like it or not. Plus he is one big dude!!

And if you can't swing a Blaser with multiple barrels, they do offer many, many options for this shooting system. I just have never liked one gun with a lot of additional barrels. Would rather have lots of guns, to do all the different things. There are and have been a whole lot of guns out there that are way worse than a TC.

Larry Sellers
SCI Life Member

I'll buy one the week AFTER I see Craig Boddington shooting one on TAA and Ivan Carter is backing him up with one!
I see no way to ever pull one out of your gun safe and exclaim with pride "this is what I shot my Cape Buffalo/Elephant/Lion/Leopard/Rhino/Hippo with on my last trip to Africa...".


Rich

quote:

Originally posted by Idaho Sharpshooter:
I'll buy one the week AFTER I see Craig Boddington shooting one on TAA and Ivan Carter is backing him up with one!
I see no way to ever pull one out of your gun safe and exclaim with pride "this is what I shot my Cape Buffalo/Elephant/Lion/Leopard/Rhino/Hippo with on my last trip to Africa...".


Rich

Maybe pimp one out with lots of engraving and XXXX English walnut

Money - but cash is a poor substitute for good taste.

This is an interesting topic, if only for the fact the FTC is trying to "crack" down on celebrity endorsements.

If a celebrity is getting something for free or otherwise endorsing a product, they must state that up front. Good luck enforcing that in this industry. The people with whom I have spoken seem to think it is their right to ignore it.

Transparency is a beautiful thing...

quote:

Originally posted by mrlexma:
Money - but cash is a poor substitute for good taste.

Amen!!!

Brett

Nothing wrong with an Encore. They get 'em free...OK...I didn't, but they're a fine weapon. Ask Jim Shockey or the hundreds of others that use them. Matter of fact, not many others that can function as they do...pistol to rifle and return....and in the calibers offered as "stock"...not to mention the wildcat rounds. Craig has a Number 1 named after him that he uses....God Bless him. Good single shots all.

Gary
DRSS
NRA Lifer
SCI
DSC

I don't care who uses one for what--life's too short to hunt with an ugly gun. Period.

Every time I see some Sunday morning hunting show host using a TC Encore, I think to myself, "Greg Ritz has bought off another one!"

465H&H

I guess most here that are posting in a negative way are referring to the muzzle loader version? I think what you are saying is that you don't like muzzle loaders/muzzle loader hunting/muzzle loader hunters, right?? That's cool, your choice, but they are the best muzzle loader out there hands down.

I used one, borrowed one from a Dealer, to take my first and only Coues deer buck last October here in New Mexico. I think it was pretty cool, don't know that a lot of folks have done that? Rifle performed flawlessly, one shot at 180 yards and the hunt was history.

Why bash something you have no intention of using and help further divide hunters so we all lose? Same old story here, if you don't agree or don't like um don't use um.

Larry Sellers
SCI Life Member

Obviously, the TV celebs hunt with the T/C Encore because they are paid to do so. Also why they all hunt with Realtree Camo.

A friend of mine does some guiding. One spring, he ran into a couple of TV show guys at a local restaraunt, and they were complaining of how they weren't finding any Turkey for their TV show. My friend said that he could put them on some birds. So they make arrangements to meet him the next day. When they show up, the pull out a pile of Realtree Camo for him to wear so that he can be filmed on their show as their guide . . . my friend usually hunts in wranglers and whatever camo top was cheapest at WalMart (despite owning a business worth well in excess of $1 million).

On the other hand, I hunt with an Encore because I like the guns . . . like their accuracy and ease of customization. We have 2 frames and 5 barrels on these, ranging from .260 Rem, 6.5-284, 7x57, .358 Win, to 9.3x74R (with a 7x65R in the works). Custom woodwork in black walnut with mesquite tips (mine) and screwbean mesquite with black walnut tips (my wife's).

Troy

It's money, pure and simple. T/C makes a good gun w/o question, and they certainly are the best marketers in the game these days. IMO it isn't the best ML on the market...that title belongs to the Savage. Even if you don't want/choose to use smokeless powder in it, it will still shoot the pants of any Encore. And yes, I've owned/hunted with a couple of those but they're long gone now.

LOL...

T/C has all the money and that's why they get their guns on TV.

No one but TV personalities use T/C weapons for hunting.

So...

Maybe a dozen TV personalities use T/C guns and everyone else uses something else for hunting so T/C must make a BUNCH of money on the few guns they must sell for hunting. Or maybe they're getting all the huge amounts of money they get for advertising from other types of shooters who use their T/Cs for target shooting, concealed carry and home defense.

Come to think of it, I can only think of maybe 4 or 5 TV personalities who regularly use T/Cs. The others I've seen have used things like Sakos, Rugers and Blasers (another crappy it will take off half your face gun).

I remember well the time when T/C first marketed the Contender. I thought it was such a dumb looking gun I couldn't see how anyone would buy one. Many years later I bought one, then an Encore, then more Encores and even a Blaser. I guess I gravitate toward dangerous, crappy and ugly guns.

I think they are a good value.
Not an extended pinky gun but they are inexpensive.

John S - The one I borrowed for the hunt mentioned above, shot way less than 1" groups at 50 yds from the bench, 2" groups at 200 yds.. Would be interesting to see a Savage do as well. I have minimal experience shooting ML's and simply used two Pyrodex 50gr pellets, TC 220 gr sabots as per recommedation by the shop owner to accomplish the above.

Never heard of or seen a Savage muzzle loader, so that shows my lack of experience I guess. Glad you like yours.

Larry Sellers
SCI Life Member

quote:

Originally posted by John S:
It's money, pure and simple. T/C makes a good gun w/o question, and they certainly are the best marketers in the game these days. IMO it isn't the best ML on the market...that title belongs to the Savage. Even if you don't want/choose to use smokeless powder in it, it will still shoot the pants of any Encore. And yes, I've owned/hunted with a couple of those but they're long gone now.

My Contender rifle is light, superbly accurate, and IMHO quite good looking.........so to me its a perfect little gun. I haven't ever regretted buying it.

Just my $0.02

Seems like some folks aren't ever happy with a company.......seems to me that TC is doing about as well as a company can.......and during these times, seeing a firearms company (that makes stuff other than AR15 parts) prospering and making everything in America can't be a bad thing.

Matt

Larry,
If I lived out west and could use a centerfire for my big game hunting I wouldn't know much about MLs either! That said, I'm forced to use one, or a slug gun, so I spend considerable time shooting and testing these things. The Savage is cheaper to buy, cheaper to feed, far more powerful, cleans up easier and is more accurate...game, set, match.

John - The clean up factor is what has most likely kept me from getting into the ML shooting to any great degree. Uggh. I don't even like cleaning the dirt off my broadheads.

Larry Sellers
SCI Life Member

quote:

Originally posted by John S:
Larry,
If I lived out west and could use a centerfire for my big game hunting I wouldn't know much about MLs either! That said, I'm forced to use one, or a slug gun, so I spend considerable time shooting and testing these things. The Savage is cheaper to buy, cheaper to feed, far more powerful, cleans up easier and is more accurate...game, set, match.

I shot a friend's Encore muzzleloader---- and found it is the most uncomfortable and odd feeling rifle I've ever shot. The odd angle of the pistol grip precluded accuracte shooting and the fact that you had to hold your head so high to see through the scope guaranteed you got punched in the chin with the ridge of the stock. I'd throw the sucker in the pond and find a proper gun to shoot!

quote:

Originally posted by Grumulkin:
LOL...

T/C has all the money and that's why they get their guns on TV.

No one but TV personalities use T/C weapons for hunting.

So, I guess last weekend, I was an armed hiker. Because I sure ain't no TV personality.


In MS, an Encore chambered for a cartridge .35 cal or larger is legal for their'primitive weapon' season.

My Encore in 35 Whelen is my primitive weapon choice for late season Mississippi.

They serve a purpose.

Larry,

NOTHING! is ever going to give a T/C the graceful lines of a real ML rifle like my TVM Early Lancaster flinter.

Nobody is ever going to make an Encore with the eye catching lines of a classic Model 70. The break open design and canoe paddle-like butt stocks would make a man with an appreciation for good walnut and rust-blued steel retch.

Rich

T/C Encore may well be one of the finest tomato stakes ever designed.

quote:

Originally posted by John S:
Larry,
If I lived out west and could use a centerfire for my big game hunting I wouldn't know much about MLs either! That said, I'm forced to use one, or a slug gun, so I spend considerable time shooting and testing these things. The Savage is cheaper to buy, cheaper to feed, far more powerful, cleans up easier and is more accurate...game, set, match.

+1

I got tired of barrels going to hell no matter how hard I tried. Smokeless is the way to go.

Brett

I love my .223Rem Encore in stainless with heavy barrel. I shot a .076" group (just once!) from 100 yards and scoped with a 6-24X, I have used it to pop the heads off squirrels from more than 200 yards. It will chamber ammo my ARs will not. Mine has a really nice lefthanded, thumbhole stock in American Black Walnut. I think it's a pretty gun...