I am thinking about an Encore Pro Hunter in a 280. Does anyone have any experience with the accuracy of these rifles? Thank you.

I don't know of this is going to be any help, but here it is.
I have an Encore with numerous barrels from .223 up to .50 M/L. Not the Pro Hunter. I have found that if I take the time to work up the right handload, each and every barrel will shoot right around MOA. However, I for one am not satisfied with 1" groups, so I consider the Encore platform to be strictly a big game rifle. I don't get the kind of accuracy I desire for varmints with this gun.
Now, I don't have any high end after market barrels, so I don't have any experience with them.
If you are looking for a reliable single shot with reasonable big game accuracy, I don't think you will be dissapointed. If you are planning to play with the 'chucks, get a Savage.
Hope this helps.

I've played with numerous Encore and Contender loads and barrels (all factory). All of the rifle barrels will do 1.5 inch or less 100 yard 3 shot groups. The 1.5 incher was a 375 H&H Magnum. All the rest did or will do less than 1 inch and some in the 0.5 to 0.75 inch range.

The handgun barrels are just about as good. How about 0.6 inch groups from a 223 AI or 1.5 inch groups (still at 100 yards) from a 500 S&W Magnum?

In my opinion, Encores are definitely accurate enough for hunting. Some custom barrels are probably more accurate than the factory barrels I use. If you're looking for a bench rest gun and 0.25 inch groups, you'd probably be better off with a bolt gun though.

a good friend has a encore in a 15 inch ,708 that shoots super with great reloads.
he also has 2 pro-hunter barrels 28 inch in 22-250,and 270 winchester, they are fantastic shooters with great reloads brewed for them. ive personaly shoot the later 2 rounds to 625 yards,yes i'm impressed.encore ,ruger #1,winchesters 1885 (browning made),heck take your pick there all great shooters,and i'm a bolt action guy saying this!!!.........regards

While I generally prefer the custom barrels, I did have an Encore Pro Hunter .280 Rem barrel for a while before selling it to a board member here. With 140 grain Accubonds, it would easily do 0.75 at 100 yards -- and that was with a new, non-broken-in barrel.

Using Re-22, my loads clocked right at 3150 fps from the 28" barrel and featured rather mild pressures. I actually took out a 2nd chronograph to double-check the velocities as the readings seemed a bit high to me. But they were on the money, which puts it right on the heels of the 7mm Remington Magnum with a 24" tube.

Check out the report in the African Hunting Reports to see how one member likes his Encore.

375H&H and he did fantastic.

The first two groups from my 30-06 Pro Hunter were between 3/4 inch and 1 inch. That is with factory ammo, the 150 grain light mag stuff.

I have quite a few Encore barrels. Some are TC and others are Bullbery and MGM. I found that by mating a laminated forearm, pillared bedded to each barrel, making sure my brass is sized correctly, good dhandloads with the bullet that particular barrel likes, and using a Bellm1X hinge pin I am able to get 1/2MOA from some barrels and 3/4MOA or under from the others. By most accurate barrels are TC Heavy Contour barrels in 257AI and 280AI. Don't have any Pro Hunter or fluted barrels.

I've got a new Encore in .204 Ruger. Has the 26" heavy barrel. Has about 200 rounds through it now and does clover leafs.

I thought I would chime in on this. I have 6 high powered rifles and my prohunter is my best shooter. Mine is chamber in .243 and I have had many 3 shot groups with all three shots touch. I am afraid the swap barrels in fear that I might mess these groups up somehow.