I bought an Encore Pro Hunter with fluted stainless barrel in 500 S&W. Being in Germany, I am obligated to have the weapons proofed by the government office, which is supposed to insure their safety, but is probably more to have a sample bullet on file in case some majic happens and they think they can trace it back.

But anyway, I went today to pick it up from the testing office in Cologne, and they failed it. The guy said that the space between the barrel and the receiver is too great after firing a shot, and now I am no longer legally allowed to use the gun in Germany.

Last year at the IWA, the rep from Thompson said that they were having trouble getting the 500 S&Ws to pass German Proof, but he said they fixed the issue.

Has anyone had any experience with this?

Have you contacted T/C? I'd be interested in what they say.

Not yet I haven't as they are closed for the holiday. I plan to call them tomorrow. I'll let you know what they say.

Thompson Center is ALRIGHT in my book. I called them today and they explained that the Germans are very very picky about their break action rifles. Since the selling point with thompson encores is that you can change the barrel, the amount of tolerances multiply. Therefore, having a random barrel and a random reciever, will lead to a greater tolerance than the germans allow. Even though it is within saami specs, it is not within german specs. Since the prufamt in cologne gave me the amount of the tolerance, a Mr. Ernie French of Thompson Center is sending me a shim that I need to place between the frame and the breech plug, which should satisfy the prufamt. He was familiar with the german prufamt and what had to be done.

Hats off to Thompson, as they definately didn't have to anything, as it wasn't their fault I brought the weapon to Germany.