Went to the range today, and once sighted in at 50 yards, I had 3 bullets practically touching. Moved to 100 yards, and all the bullets are all ovar the place.
back to fifty, and still all over the place.
I checked my ring screws, and everything tight. Also checked the side screws on teh weaver mount, and they were tight as well.
I obvously didnt check the base screws, but they were locktighted in.
I checekd the forearm screws, and they werent loose, but hey werent excactly tight. Could that do it?
The screws on the top of the trigger guard on the reciever was farily loose, Could that do it?
The bolt in the stock was Very tight, and couldnt be tightened anymore.
The only other thing that I could think of, was on the scope the Focus ring isnt exactly the tightes, but I dont think that could be it as it doesnt hold anything down.
Any other places to look is much appreciated.
Thanks,
W.

I would check to see if there is any perceptible movement on the scope bases
to the barrel. Also could be a scope problem. What caliber are your shooting? Some scopes don't like heavy recoil in handguns.
Good luck.

I am shooting a 30-06 Rifle barrell.
Thanks,
W.

In Encores, the scope is attached directly to the barrel. For this reason, a loose forend, stock, etc. doesn't have a huge impact on accuracy.

I would say your problem is a loose (even a little looseness in the base or rings will cause significant accuracy deterioration) or malfunctioning scope.

Make sure that you did not dent or scratch the crown when you moved the rifle around. A boogered crown will act just as a scope malfunction. Otherwise, the scope and/or mount is the likely culprit.

If it is the crown, it is simple to fix with a pilot, a cutter and hnadle and some oil from Brownells. I just fixed a .270 that I thought the scope had failed on. It was the crown. One tiny nick and the bullets sere all over the paper - no pattern at all.

Lok-Tite won't guarantee anything with the base, but it does help. It the screws were not allowed to fully bottom out, that could indeed be the cause as they would then work loose.

Be sure to clean out the screw holes thoroughly and then make sure they are completely dry (acetone, alcohol, etc) before proceeding.

Grumulkin wrote: "In Encores, the scope is attached directly to the barrel. For this reason, a loose forend, stock, etc. doesn't have a huge impact on accuracy."

After having worked with Contenders since the early days and Encores sicne they were introduced, I can tell you that variables with the forend and stock can cause very notable shifts in accuracy and group placement (POI).

Woodsie,
let me help you open another can of worms,
Accuracy issues many times can be a function of barrell fouling.
I have had instances where the barrell needed to be cleaned. Is this a new barrell, how many rounds have been fired since it was cleaned. Do you have proper tools for cleaning?
GWB

Interesting post. I have a T/C Pro Hunter with a 20" Katahdin barrel in 460 SW. When I first got the rifle last year, it exhibited the same symptoms you are experiencing. After wasting about 100 rounds, I found the stock bolt to be loose. Once tightened, the gun shot well. However after a few months in the gun safe, I pulled it out last week, and it is throwing rounds all over the place. The best group I can get at 100 yards is about 5 inches, where as last year, with the same ammo, it was grouping about 1.5 inches. In addition, the groups center changes. I have swapped scopes, both have been Leupold, checked the mounts, stock bolts, forend, etc etc, and have about given up. I am thinking of selling it. I am tired of feeding expensive ammo to something that is inconsistent at best. Cleaning the barrel has not helped a bit BTW.

Accuracy is made up of a combination of different things. Gun, rest, ammo, shooter and you have determined that your problem is only one of those factors ?
Could be the nut behind the butt, could be crappy ammo, could be bad scope.....the possiblities are far greater than the gun itself. But since you have cut thru directly to the gun and you're thinkin of selling, I'd buy it. If in fact it is a gun problem, with an Encore they are simple to solve.

I have tried 5 different bullet weights, three different ammo brands, shoot from sand bags, am a 23 year police veteran and firearms instructor also sniper certified, etc, etc. I really can't blame pathetic accuracy on me. I wish I could, it would be easy to fix. I am just tired of buying expensive ammo and feeding it to a rifle that just won't shoot.

One other thing to check. Make sure the pin that holds your barrel to the receiver is not undersized. Sometimes the pin does not fit tight enough which allows the barrel to move at the pin, causing poor accuracy. Mike Bellm is the authority on Encores and I would call him to see what his recommendation would be. You can visit his website at www.bellmtcs.com