Well...I got sucked in this weekend..my local Sportsman's Wharehouse had a super deal on a TC Encore frame and forend...so I bought it.

I could use some help with sorting this thing out.

Any experience with the bergara barrels?

Other recommendations for a barrel? TC?

Bellm has a lot of info about trigger jobs...has anyone used the bellm kit? Worth the money?

Any recommendations for scope bases?

Thanks for any and all suggestions. I did a search first and din't find much.

Thanks.

Scope bases, can't go wrong with Leupold dual dovetail. Nothing to come loose or break. Very simple set-up.

Barrels, Go with one of Gary Reeders custom barrels. Right now he has a sale going on with them. Just about any barrel up to 15" (with brake if you want one) is 300.00 plus shipping. Just can't beat that price when you consider his quality. I have 4 or 5 and they shoot great.

reedercustomguns.com

Thanks Woodrow...guess I should have specified Encore rifle..

I enjoyed looking at Reeders website though..some insane pistols!

quote:

Originally posted by kreyten:
Other recommendations for a barrel? TC?

All of mine (save 1 factory contender barrell) are from Bullberry. I have (for the encore)

1 - 26" 9,3x74R
1 - 24" 6.5-284
1 - 22" 358 Win
1 - 22" 260 Rem
1 - 14" 7x57

Every single one shoots extremely accurately.

quote:

Originally posted by kreyten:
Bellm has a lot of info about trigger jobs...has anyone used the bellm kit? Worth the money?

Absolutely worth the money. You can drop your trigger pull to whatever you want it to be in about 15 minutes using his instructions. That's about how long it takes to change the trigger springs, first time, just following the instructions downloaded from his website.

quote:

Originally posted by kreyten:
Any recommendations for scope bases?

Most of encores have Burris Double-dovetail bases and ring sets. However, my most recent purchase I had Bullberry make thier 6 screw weaver base - and I mounted Leuold Q/D rings on it. Although I like the Burris Rings, I think if I had it to do over again, I'd have just bought the 6 screw weaver base from Fred for all of them, and used weaver-style rings for them.

Troy

I have had a couple different trigger jobs done on Encore's. Bellm has by far done the best job on my trigger's. I sent my frame to him, and had it back in less than 2 weeks.

As far as scope bases and rings are concerned I suggest the Warne. I like them over the Weaver because they are steel. And I like them better than the Leupold, because the Leupold base is too short. Not enough distance between the rings.

There are a few good barrels available. The factory barrels are OK. But for the little extra money the custom barrels give you a lot for your money. You can specify contour, length, cartridge, porting, finish, match chambers, and other features. For not a lot of money more.

I also like the fact that you have a bunch of different stocks to choose from. I settled on a LH thumb hole stock. And I really like the stock. My 30-06 is now my go to deer rifle. Tom.

Thanks to all for the tips/advice!

It should be fun getting the encore sorted.

Cheers and good shooting!

Tom, how do you like your thumbhole stock for a hunting rifle?
I'm a leftie also but a bit hesitant on getting a thumbhole to hunt with. Your thoughts?

quote:

Any experience with the bergara barrels?

I think their ONLY advantage is lower cost. At least until I hear better things about them, I wouldn't have one.

quote:

recommendations for a barrel? TC?

All of my barrels except one are T/C barrels and I've been quite please with them. My one custom barrel is by SSK Industries and it's very good as well.

quote:

Bellm has a lot of info about trigger jobs...has anyone used the bellm kit? Worth the money?

Bellm is very generous with his knowledge. I've had two trigger jobs done by him and have been quite please with them. I don't take all of his opinions as gospel however.

quote:

recommendations for scope bases?

For rifle barrels, I use Warne basses with the Warne quick detachable rings. I find it handy to be easily able to switch scopes on my Contender/Encore barrel collection rather than having a scope for every barrel. It makes packing for a trip easier as well.

For heavy recoiling handgun barrels, I use SSK Industries' 6 screw, 4 ring T'SOB base/rings.

+1 on Warne bases and QD rings. I think they're the best and I think they look good.

quote:

Originally posted by Cliff Lyle:
Tom, how do you like your thumbhole stock for a hunting rifle?
I'm a leftie also but a bit hesitant on getting a thumbhole to hunt with. Your thoughts?

This stock was the first Thumb Hole stock that I seriously started hunting with. I shoot my Emcore in a hunting situation better(noticably better) than any other rifle, or stock design I have ever shot. I have put together 3 more rifles with a TH since. I am even in the market for a TH stock shotgun. IMO you have much more control with the TH. I also believe it helps to tame recoil(considerably).

I am able to shoot RH or LH. And I have no problem doing that with my TH stocks. It is only slightly awkward to shoot off handed. And everyone I know is awkward shoting off handed-regardless of what stock style they shoot. Tom.

Matchgrademachine.com makes some of the best barrels you'll find anywhere, and their turnaround time is generally 5 weeks or less.

Also, they have quite a few barrels in their existing inventory that are ready to go and generally priced less than placing an order for the same thing.

With that being said, both the Bergara and TC factory barrels can be excellent shooters. Bullberry makes terrific barrels, but if you happen to need customer service and catch Fred on a bad day, you'll wish you went another route from the start. Another option is SSK Industries. THe quality may have slipped a bit over the years, but they are still very good, solid barrels.

As to bases, I prefer the MGM all-steel base and Warne rings. It makes for about as durable a combination as you can assemble.

If you have never done a TC trigger before, the Bellm kit is an excellent way to go. You get simple, detailed instruction and wind up with a trigger that is singificantly better than what usually comes from the factory.

As to potential accuracy:

Yikes! Very nice shooting Bobby. Well done.

I have no right being on this thread as I don't own any TC products. But I just have to comment on Bobby's targets...love those graphics!

Please consider starting a new topic telling us how you produce such professional looking targets.

I'm glad you said something about his graphics. I wondered how he did them.

It's really nothing to it. I generally scan the targets and then add text in Adobe Photoshop. By scanning instead of shooting a photo, it's very simple to maintain perspective and avoid any potential distortion.

The same can be done with a camera, but it needs to be shot using a tripod and using either grid lines or a perspective-control lens (generally used for architectural photography).

Again,

Thanks to all for the advice...

I have a 24 inch T/c barrel in 308 Win arriving from Natchez this week. I was planning to use Wanre QD rings and will probably go with the warne base as well.

Bellm trigger kit ordered, and with any luck..I will not make an abortion of trying to fit new spring etc.

If this works out..next stop will be a 358 win barrel.

Cheers

k