Any idea approx. how many inches are consummed by the QLA on the TC Encore ML barrel?

They start out with a 26" barrel, but how much is actually there to burn the powder in? 23"? 24"?

Also, any idea how much fps you would loose per inch of barrel loss, generally speaking?

Thanks!

Mark

The QLA on my 209x50 tube is about an inch long. I'd be a surprised if it has much effect at all on velocity. I use bore diameter conicals so a few fps one way or the other is of little importance to me. Good hunting!

Mark,

You'll have more variables in velocity between brands of powder/pellets as well as differences between lots of the same brand, than any loss from the QLA.

The QLA has only one potential weakness, they have been found to be machined off center on occasion. A popular manufacturer of machined ML bullets (can't recall which) kept getting conflicting reports from customers using the Encore/QLA. Some were reporting extreme accuracy while others would report missing the side of a barn. He conducted testing and found common loads that would shoot great out of a box stock T/C. When it wouldn't shoot, it was caused by one or both of two things. The QLA was off center. This would be corrected by removal and recrowning the barrel. The second was the pin would walk. He found the cheapest/easiest correction was to apply aluminum tape for HVA ducts and the walking would be eliminated. If you find there web site, it has the tests and all the details.

Gary

I think Doc White mentioned in another post that you lose about 15fps for each inch lost in the barrel. Personally I don't think the QLA should be removed. I find it hard to believe that machining it off center could have much effect on loading as when you load without the QLA how do you make sure you have the bullet perfectly centered?? Not sure who did the test but I would question it a lot before I would remove the QLA.

The reason I ask is because I am looking at a custom ML barrel that is 21" long and I am trying to figure out how much I would give up in velocity over the factory TC barrel, hence the QLA question.

Now it looks like I will be giving up 4" total barrel length (21" vs. 25") taking the QLA length of approx. 1" out of the equation.

What are your thoughts for loosing 4" of barrel length as it equates to loss of velocity or adequately burning up to 150 grains of powder?

Thanks for the help...

Mark

Since I bought the Omega for one reason because I could get the additional barrel length without giving up any length compared with bolt rifles; I guess you are asking the wrong guy. Personally I would not buy a 21 inch muzzleloading rifle barrel unless I had a specific reason for such a short barrel. You will be limited to faster burning powders and that will pretty much cancel out American Pioneer, Goex Pinnacle and Black Mag'3. You will probably be able to shoot 777 but the question is still why such a short barrel??

Reference the QLA, I think it was PR Bullet. Some of the QLAs were machined over .010" off center of the bore. It has nothing to do w/ loading but acts the same as having a bad crown causing accuracy problems. The other issue was that the press fit pin had a tendency to walk on some rifles also causing accuracy issues.

They were looking for a cheap and easy fix for any accuracy problems their customers may encounter w/ the box stock Encore as their testing showed they could easily make one shoot well under MOA.

You can have a custom machined pin fit for approx. $100, or use their method for $1. You can trash the T/C barrel that would not shoot any proven load and buy a new barrel at $200+, or recrown the barrel you have and shoot sub MOA.

One additional thing they came up w/ that is very popular w/ the Encore: an extended loading jag that has a rotating head. They did testing on some of the more popular sabot cups and found that on ocassion the standard T/C loading jag would not allow the bullet/sabot to spin w/ the rifling and would strip the plastic. When this happens, it causes a flyer.

I'm aware of two encores that shot poorly and were found to have the QLA off center. Once corrected, they shot as well as any I've seen. Mine shoots well w/ the QLA but gave me problems w/ the pin walk. The $1 method corrected this and mine is a shooter.

Gary

Fella's I have the test results from Experimental Ballistics Associates Director at time of testing Mr Ed Yard 110 Kensington Ave,Trenton N.J. The tests were for Thompson Center Hawkens .45 $ .50 Barrels Beggining with 38" barrel & cutting barrel finally to 28" The loss F.P.S.was 10'Per inch using 70grains FFG I have chart but don't know how to post it here ? anyone who want's it Concho@blazenet.net subject TC ballistics Chart

concho
I don't believe that the Hawkens has the "QLA" to begin with. Good information though.
I had Fred @Bullberry cut my QLA off and recrown it with the match crown. It shoots alot better now than before.
I have a newer bbl that simply will not group for some reason and I am considering doing it to that bbl as well.
Fred told me that he cuts off quite a few QLA's per year.