Custom built T/C Encore

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Carpman62

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Check out this puppy and let me know what you think. What scope would you put on it?

The barrel is 1.250" in diameter, and I now have the following identical switch barrels in these chamberings;

219 Donaldson Wasp
30-30 Ackley Improved
6mmX444 Improved
25X444 Improved
6.5X444 Improved
7mmX444 Improved
308X444 Improved

This gun is not built to be carried everywhere, but set up in my tower stand on my ranch, I get a ton of practice in on all the varmints during the year, then when deer season rolls around, we are more than ready. Love the new stock set with the big finger grooves.

I know this is not everybody's ideal rifle, but for the hunting and shooting that we do, it's perfect!

My favorite carry rifle though, is a Ruger #1 in 30-30 Ackley Improved, and that is an awesome rifle!

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That’s a beauty. I keep looking at encores and thinking I will end up with one, but so far I’m only playing the contender game. Your rifle looks awesome though, and that heavy barrel setup and the known accuracy potential of the platform leads me to believe that it is a serious critter-gitter. I would love to see how you store your other barrels while not in use, as that can be as interesting as the gun itself.
 
Thank you!

All Encores barrels have their own dedicated safe, with each scoped barrel sitting horizontally in a heavy felt cradle, that keeps them from banging up against each other.

I actually prefer the old style Contender, the one with an engraved cougar head that has the center pivot pin, that makes it easier to break open the action. 3 receivers and over 20 barrels, from the Super 14" pistol barrels up to 25" custom bull barrels, the Contender would be my "1" firearm pick out of all of them.
 
DocRock,

I have never hear of that scope before, and will check out the link you provided. Thank you!
 
Beautiful rifle(s)!

Very interesting cartridge selections, quite the spread. Any particular reason for all the 444 based cartridges?

A 24, 25, 26, 28, 30? I personally would have skipped one or two, but I think it's real cool just how much versatility you can squeeze from that. I'm assuming you just have one load per barrel and keep it zeroed instead of loading up and down, which can make a lot of sense.
 
Thank you gotboostvr,

it's only "1" rifle, just multiple barrels.

Once the brass has been formed and then fireformed, I use one size to load for all calibers, and just change out the neck size bushings per caliber. Bullet seating dies are Hornady's New Dimension Universal Bullet Seater, so I have very little money spent on reloading dies, compared to a lot of other wildcat cartridges that I have seen!

You're right, I could have left out a couple of calibers, but why? It's only money and I got what I wanted.

You are correct again. I have one load per barrel and that will not change. If you're interested in my choice of bullet per cartridge, then just let me know. Each barrel has it's own drop table that I made and laminated, and take with me every time we go out shooting. Once the "target" is ranged, the scope is dialed in to that distance, so there is never any guesswork as to where the bullet will strike. I don't shoot "at" walking or running game or varmints, and if I am not 100% sure that I can make a clean one-shot-kill, I won't pull the trigger.

The reason for the 444 based cartridges is because it is "rimmed". I have seen it proven countless times over the years, that a rimmed cartridge in a break open single shot, is consistently more accurate than what a rimless cartridge is.

Here is the necking down process to get the 444 Marlin case to 6mm -

064.jpg

053.jpg
 
Ultra cool is what I think of it. Nice setup. I've had a 15" Encore handgun in 7mm-08 for 20 years now. Thinking about selling it and putting the money towards an Encore rifle. Got the itch for a single shot long gun and I like Encores.
 
gotboostvr said:
Beautiful rifle(s)!

Very interesting cartridge selections, quite the spread. Any particular reason for all the 444 based cartridges?

A 24, 25, 26, 28, 30? I personally would have skipped one or two, but I think it's real cool just how much versatility you can squeeze from that. I'm assuming you just have one load per barrel and keep it zeroed instead of loading up and down, which can make a lot of sense.
Click to expand...

Plus, a rimmed cartridge headspaces easily and extracts better from a break action single shot, making the 444 Marlin case very versatile and friendly for Handi Rifles, Contenders and the like. 6mm-444 Improved must be a very nice cartridge indeed!
 
I only had the one Encore that I had to let go... a 17" 357Max
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I'm really considering putting together a super lightweight Contender for coyote hunting out in Arizona.
 
Carpman62, that's a fine looking rifle. I bought my first TC this spring, a Gen 1 Contender Super 14 in 7-30 Waters and plan to hunt with it this season. There's some work I'd like to get done on it and prefer to stay instate. I tried to PM you about your gunsmith but the software won't allow it; I believe it's the way you have your account set up. Could you please PM his info to me.

Thanks.
 
Wow guys, I like the way you have your guns set up. Very nice looking!

I'm boxing up the last of my Super 14" Contender barrels as we speak, sending them to Dave and having them turned into legal rifle length barrels, so I can add a butt stock and rifle scope so I can see better.

Burrhead, here's Dave's email address and tell him the Carpman from Texas sent you.

[email protected]
 
Carpman62 said:
I actually prefer the old style Contender, the one with an engraved cougar head that has the center pivot pin, that makes it easier to break open the action.
Click to expand...
That’s the one I have, and I am considering the addition of another one, possibly producing another one myself from 7075 aluminum with heat treating and putting together a 22lr barrel for it just to have a lightweight 22 that is all mine right down to the machining. Parts kits for the internals are surprisingly high for as simple of an action as it is though.
Carpman62 said:
Here is the necking down process to get the 444 Marlin case to 6mm -
Click to expand...
Wow, 444 down to 6mm is roughly sizing down to half size at the mouth. That’s more of a jump than I do when making .256winmag from .357, and I get a whole lot of cracked necks even when using annealed cases. How many times are you annealing, and what would you estimate your fallout rate to be from cracks?

burrhead said:
a Gen 1 Contender Super 14 in 7-30 Waters and plan to hunt with it this season.
Click to expand...
7-30 is a dandy to hunt with. So far mine has only claimed raccoon and opposum but I have zero doubt it will do its job. 120s seem to stabilize and shoot more accurately in mine than any of the other more common 7mm bullet weights, and the old 7mm pistol hunter bullets are worth snagging if you can find them. I have a few left, but they definitely expand even in light game so they should do really well on mid-size game, so if I stumble across more then I will be buying them.
 
My one Encore frame still gets turned into a pistol on occasion, but mostly lives in one of two carbine stocks (1 synthetic, 1 laminated). Gotta buy a couple more receivers!

I have two carbine-length barrels, both my Match Grade Machine. One is a .22 K Hornet; the other is for a simple wildcat I came up with using .357 Magnum case necked down to .308, which I call the 30-57 Shadow. It's sort of a rimmed 300 Blackout with a shorter neck. I mounted a Brown scope rail with an integral peep sight.

I've a pistol-length Encore barrel in 30-57 too.

ShadowMaster.jpg
 
Dave DeLaurant said:
My one Encore frame still gets turned into a pistol on occasion, but mostly lives in one of two carbine stocks (1 synthetic, 1 laminated). Gotta buy a couple more receivers!

I have two carbine-length barrels, both my Match Grade Machine. One is a .22 K Hornet; the other is for a simple wildcat I came up with using .357 Magnum case necked down to .308, which I call the 30-57 Shadow. It's sort of a rimmed 300 Blackout with a shorter neck. I've a pistol-length Encore barrel in 30-57 too.

View attachment 932538
Click to expand...



where did you get that stock set?
 
WestKentucky - I have never had to anneal the 444 Marlin brass when necking is down, even going as far down as 6mm. I think this is some of the best brass that Remington makes, which I must also say also includes their 357 Maximum brass as well. I normally go 100 for 100 with no loss as long as I pay attention to what I am doing. Imperial Size Die Wax is your friend here.

The 7X30 Waters and 7mm TCU are 2 of my favorite 7mm cartridges for use in the Contender. I load each one totally opposite of the other, and they both perform very well!


Dave DeLaurant - I load for the 30X357 magnum in a Contender, and it is one of my favorite "light" caliber rifles. I like the way you have your Encore set up, really sharp looking.

I always use Starline nickel plated brass in my 30X357 Magnum.

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Loaded with Hornady's 208 gr. A-MAX, this makes for an excellent "head shot" round.

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Here is my Super 14" Contender in 357 Maximum that has been converted into a rifle, and loaded with Speer's 180 gr. Hot-Cor, I carry this gun more than any other, especially when filling the game feeders and have to literally be worried about being attacked by a wild boar. This gun weighs only 4 1/2 pounds and is very accurate and fast handling, and has killed some pretty big hogs that were in full charge, but that 180 gr. Hot-Cor has always stopped them in their tracks!

This is what all of my Super 14" Contender barrels will look like when I get them back in a couple of weeks.

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I have to say a big THANK YOU to my gunsmith Dave for sending me these pictures, and for my granddaughter for posting them for me since I am completely and totally computer illiterate.
 
Carpman62 said:
Dave DeLaurant - I load for the 30X357 magnum in a Contender, and it is one of my favorite "light" caliber rifles. I like the way you have your Encore set up, really sharp looking.
I always use Starline nickel plated brass in my 30X357 Magnum.
Loaded with Hornady's 208 gr. A-MAX, this makes for an excellent "head shot" round.
Click to expand...

What twist rate do you have on your 30x357 Contender barrel? Mine's a 1-in-8" -- I think it could also handle a bullet of that length. Is there particular powder you've had good results with using this bullet?

I've mostly been using resized Berry's plated 123 grainers loaded subsonic for the local indoor range.
 
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