Hi all, I was thinking about a .17 Mark IV and something like a 220 Swift and maybe a 6MM PPC. I have too many guns now and was thinking about an encore but know nothing about them. Do you just purchase the tubes or does the maker need the action as well? Also, who is a good stock maker for a thumb hole? And last, but most important, do most of them hold half MOA if you do your part. Be honest and just tell me if you love them or hate them and why. Thanks

The Encore is a terrific set-up, and barrel change only takes a minute -- if that much. But to get the kind of accuracy you want (half-MOA), you need to do a couple of things: First, get a Mike Bellm oversized hinge pin, which will do more to make your groups consistent than anything else. Then get the trigger kit from Bellm (www.bellmstcs.com) Then, order a barrel from Bullberry, Virgin Valley, SSK, Reeder, Van Horn, etc. Factory barrels are a hit and miss proposition when it comes to accuracy. You may get a good one, but you may not, either. The tight-tolerance customs will afford you the accuracy potential you are striving for.

As to stocks, Bullberry & VVCG do great work. Van Horn is excellent as well but is having some problems which have affected his business. There are semi-customs available from a number of different sources. My main suggestion is to go to a hanger bar system. And, a wider forend certainly helps at the bench when shooting tiny groups is important.

[ 11-30-2003, 08:00: Message edited by: Bobby Tomek ]

Bobby Tomek: Thanks for all the information on
Encore. You may have made up my mind for sure.

koerther, you may want to find someone at the range or a friend who has an Encore with a thumbhole stock to try first. With the thumbhole stock you must remove your hand from poisition to cock the hammer, very inconvenent. Try a laminated stock such as those sold by eabco, or one of the custom barrel makers such as Virgin Valley or Bullberry's. I currently have 3 Encores, 1 set-up as a pistol and 2 set-up as rifles. One wears the factory plastic stock and my stainless wears an eabco laminated stock. Accuracy is great but you will have to find the loads that works for your barrel. More than likely to get the last bit of accuracy out of them as with any rifle, you will need to tinker with the set-up, ie: float the barrel in the forend.

doc-and

koether -- Very good info from both Bobby & doc. I
second the hanger bar system with a wider forend. A
trigger job also really helped mine, as did a decent
barrel from VVCG. Got a factory barrel to become
more accurate, but it took more work from my part
than it ever did from T/C.

As for the stock, try shooting an Encore as is. The
stock design is one of the most comfortable one
can handle in the original configuration.

What are the best waysto order a barrel from say VVCG? I see that they have tight throat options and are these recommended? Also I have heard guys talk about barrel/frame gap. Can you give me some basic info on this type of stuff. I am thinking of ordering a 26" SS Tactical 20 barrel form them? What are some considerations you guys guys would think about before ordering? I also think about their muzzlebrake on it too. My buddy say he wouldnt own another varmint gun w/o a brake. He like to see red fog! Thanks for any info.

duster, tight throats are ok if you dont mind spending a lot of time prepping brass/turning necks. I dont know maybe I got lucky but the trigger on my Encore is sweet. I did force wear it a bit though. I have stretched my frame a bit by shooting a round that many consider to create reward thrust..ie bolt thrust beyond the design parameters of the encore frame. I have a custom 6BR barrel done up by one of the new and very affordable smiths and it will close on a .012" feeler gauge..placed between the chamber and frame. But the damn thing will shoot sub moa...go figure. He is currently working on a 25x284 and a 17PPC for me. Now knowing my gap he will compensate somewhat by welding the underlug on forward a few thousandths. TCs are a lot of fun but can be frustrating at times..poi shifts and different loading techniques required than those used with bolt guns.
Have fun...Oh yeah and to order from VVCG check out thier web site then give them a call.

Dave, Who are you using to do your new barrels? Maybe Ill even check him out. Thanks for the info. It is appreciated. Anymore send it my way. I am also thinking of a 6.5-284 for my hunting barrel. Just something for a trip to Eastern Colorado for whitetails in a year or two when I finally draw a tag.

[ 12-06-2003, 08:42: Message edited by: chuckduster ]

Chuckduster,
You can read just about anything technical you want to know about TC's at http://www.bellmtcs.com/TOC.htm

Mike covers barrel to frame gap problems in depth. Happy hunting!

Doc-and: You made an excellent point, one that I am still thinking about. The thumbhole stock is just funky enough to feel a little out of place for those who have not used one before. Considering the scope must be mounted on the barrel, and thinking this would require a long eye relief, I thought one could move his face up and down a thumbhole stock and not worry about a sharp punch to the jaw. My thought was to put an adapter on the hammer and use the thumb of the left hand for cocking while the rifle is supported by the Harris bipod. This would prevent an accidental discharge caused by moving the right hand back to the thumbhole and trigger guard while looking through the scope. It is kind of like dancing with a different woman and your hands are accidentally placed a little lower than her waist � the slap comes rather abruptly, catching you by total surprise and ruins your fun. However, I was wondering what affect the hammer adapter would have on the fall time and accuracy? It is not a perfect would and everything has limitations. So, I guess I am still undecided. What are your thoughts about the hammer adapter and fall time? Also, what varmint scope would you recommend? And thanks for the comments about the hanger bars; it was a brilliant idea. You don�t know how frustrating this is because I am passing up a lot of good deals every week trying to decide if Encore is for me. My inventory is all bolts, one No.1-V and a few lever actions. Yet, the idea of carrying something short, stiff and accurate sounds familiar if you get my drift.