Will be getting a new rifle in 300 win mag and want one that is noted for accuracy. Want stainless and synthetic and thinking about a Steyr Pro Hunter of a TC Encore. Have seen a lot of professionals on the outdoor shows using them and like the idea of a TC. Should be handy to carry but probably willhave a lot of recoil in the 300. Don't want a Ruger #1!!

Main questions is, how accurate??

With Winchester Supreme 180 gr. Ballistic Tips, I cover a three round group at a hundred yrds, with a dime. This summer I'll reload for it and see what happens. As for recoil, I highly recommend a Sim's recoil pad! It tames the recoil of the .300 Win Mag. tremendously!

I love my encore.....but I'm afraid shooting a 300 Mag will dislodge the brain-stem from the brain!!!!

Good luck and enjoy.

(I guess it couldn't be any worse than 3.5" turkey loads though!!)

The Encore has the potential for excellent accuracy. But first, you'll need to avoid that awful factory synthetic forend and get a hanger bar system from Bullberry or elsewhere -- not to mention a good forend as well. Then, pick up a Bellm oversized hinge pin (www.bellmtcs.com). They only cost a few bucks and will do more for consistency in the accuracy department than you'd ever imagine.

Also, some factory TC barrels have the chambers drilled so badly off axis that you can see it with the naked eye, and in most, the throats go one forever and are rough as well.

I prefer custom barrels, and as an example, I have a 26" full bull barrel made by Dave Van Horn in 6.5x55 that almost never exceeds 1.5" for 3 shots at 300 yards -- and that's with my hunting loads, not match ammo.

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Also, some factory TC barrels have the chambers drilled so badly off axis that you can see it with the naked eye, and in most, the throats go one forever and are rough as well.

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Now that's the kind of stuff I want to hear about! Anyone else?

I have one Encore barrel from Fox Ridge in a 250/3000 that is very accurate (I don't know if you would consider it a "custom" barrel). I bought a .270 barrel for my other Encore with the "ugh" synthetic forearm and it did not shoot very well until I "modified" it as per instruction from this site. I also put a "limb saver" recoil pad on the stock, even though it was not a hard "kicker" (the frame also houses my 209/50BP). I was never satisfied with the level of accuracy I got out of the .270 compared to the .250 and traded it off for a .243, which is much better. My next improvement will be the oversized hinge pin. Thanks for the tips. Mags

Yup....I guess I didn't know how bad'a shape my Encore was till I read the above post by B/T.....them sub MOA groups I'm getting from a "Plucked from the Air" load and being fired out of my plain 'ol Encore with the standard fore end and hinge pin must be pure accident....and with that ratty 'ol factory barrel to boot, Oh My, what Have I Done???

Actually, they are pretty accurate right out of the box............

zoomzoom-
I guess you didn't fully comprehend my post. First of all, there are accurate Encore (and Contender) factory barrels out there -- I know as I own a few. But far too many of them are indeed plagued with problems. If you are at all familiar with the intricacies of single shots, you'll know this is basically gospel in the TC world.

Fortunately, there are a few things, such as those I alluded to, that can save the day and improve the accuracy potential. Those who understand and implement these techniques are the ones smiling all the way to the target range...

Actually I did fully comprehend what you wrote. I just don't necessarily agree with it.

First, you can put fiber washers between the fore end and the barrel...Less than $1 in cost. Much less money than a new fore end and hanger system, which still has to attach to the barrel with the same screw holes as far as I know.

Second, the hinge pin thing I don't fully agree with either. As in, if your pin is loose, by all means it needs fixed...but I don't see that as a necessity on all the Encores. They all are going to have to function... as a hinge pin. By the same token, I see at the Bellum site that they sell hinge pin hole Reamers...just in case one is too tight.

Thanks for the opportunity to respond.

ZZ

I did the Encore thing a few years ago. I had a .45ML barrel, a .223 bull barrel and .30-06 barrel, all factory. They all would shoot about 1.5-2.5" plus or minus @ 100yds. Nothing spectacular, but I've bought bolt action rifles I couldn't get that out of before too. Mine was all stock and was sold that way. I never could get used to the stock shape, great for bench work but a pain in the butt in the field. If I was to want another one, I'd look for a used one. Most people either love'm or hate'm. Chances are you can find one that's hardly been shot and you'll save some $$$ to put on another barrel.

A word of caution! while the bug never got me, I've seen people wound thier savings accounts pretty bad after becoming addicted to the T/C Encore! If you like it, you can never own enough barrels for the thing!

Terry

I hear what you are saying about ending up with a boat-load of barrels. It could happen easy.

I currently have the 50 Cal M/L, 22-250 and 25-06 barrels. I figure that if I get any more barrels, I'll eventually end up with another frame. My wife has got back into hunting and she packs the 50 Cal M/L while I bow hunt... this year we will both be toting a firearm at the same time, so it should get interesting.

I have to say my 22-250 shoots a lot better than your experience. I'm getting just under MOA with no real load testing as of yet. I fully expect to cut that in half over the long haul, as I really am a little nuts-o about tight groups.

I actually like the shape of the stock and weapon in general. Of course, I have always been a south-paw shooter with a right handed bolt rifle, so I really enjoy the single shot.

with a factory 26" ss 223 bbl, boyds laminated stock set, belum #1 pin my gun will shoot 3/4" groups all day..I have a 25'06 & 50 cal bbls but am afraid to do anything because the 223 shoots so well..

Bought my Encore in Sept. Shooting it straight out of the box with factory ammo I'm getting 7/8" groups at 100 yards. It's a factory 24" .308win barrel with walnut furniture. Ammo is Hornady 150 grain SST's.

Planning on playing with it some more and working up some handloads, I know she can do better.

I have an Encore. I have two barrels, both factory. One in 7mag and 22-250. Leupold QR rings and bases and TC synthetic stock(two washers under forend) with Simms pad, and a Belm #1pin. Both wear Leupold VXII scopes, 3x9 and 6x18.

In 7mag it is my primary venision harvesting tool. I mainly shoot 150 Nosler Balistic Silver Tips at about 3200. They will print consistant 1" five shot groups @ 100yrds. Recoil is not a problem, and I am 5'9" and 150#. The 22-250 is also accurate and fun, but doesn't get used near as much.

I have grown to like this rifle more and more it is usually the one I grab first to go hunting. It took a while to get used to the stock but now I really like it. With a 26" barrel it is shorter than all of my bolts and close to my #1a. All in all I am very pleased with this rifle.

Nobody has mentioned the triggers on these things. Don't get me wrong, I love my Encore and am addicted to buying barrels for the thing (as someone else warned about) but the factory trigger absolutely sucks. I can deal with a heavy trigger if I have to, but heavy and creepy was too much to deal with. Anyhoo, a new trigger spring and a little honing and I'm back in the game.

Billhilly66.....

Did you do your trigger your self or send it in?

I've been eye-balling the Bellum spring kits and also tinkering with the idea of sending them my frame for a trigger job.

I too feel that a good trigger equals better groups, all other things being equal.

My trigger pull is 3 pounds from the factory, but I do have a little rough creep.

I would actually like to take the roughness out and reduce the pull to about 1.5 pounds.

Do the trigger job yourself, get the instructions and take your time, you will be pleased with the results. Each Encore will have it's own personality, but they can, and do shoot really well with a little work.

quote:

Main questions is, how accurate??

Lets put it this way. At our range we have a fella named Bill Hallin. Sunday before last he showed up to test his new, stock, out-of-the-box Encore. Can't remember the cartridge, but do recall that it was a full-sized rifle caliber of some sort.

Bill was shooting from the sitting position using cross sticks, targets at 100 yards, 5-shot groups. By the end of the day, we all figured his gun was about a half-incher (or a little less) with his handloads. That rings a little bell...he was shooting 168 gr. Sierra HPBTM bullets, so was probably a .308 Winch or .30-06.

Anyway, in a couple of months, Bill will be 97 years of age! If it can shoot like that for him, I don't think you'll have any trouble with a similar one....

Alberta Canuck

I have one with two bbls, as others said a trigger job is a must. The factory bbl shoots MOA, however, the Bullberry custom is flat amazing.

Hey Easyup....does Bullberry have a web site...I'm kind of interested in seeing what they offer (if anything) in the way of Stainless steel Encore Barrels... That's the one rub I have with T/C....not enough stainless offerings.

Never mind...found it.

Have an Encore also and it out shoots every rifle I have. I had a VVCG .338 Ultra mag and it shot .750 or under groups all day long. Recoil was a bit depressing but ya gotta love those groups. Besides shooting alot off the bench was saved for the smaller calibers.