Accuracy on TC barrels any good?

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12gaugeTim

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I recently obtained a TC Encore in .50 bp and I'm looking to get a center fire barrel for it. It was the pro-hunter model so it will need to be one of the newer Weather Shield barrels. I'm definitely going to scope it and it will probably be in 30-06 or .308. I've heard good and bad things about these barrels... Does anybody have experience with them, new or old? Please specify.
Or is the real problem the scope mounts? Even the heavy barrels without irons don't come with rails and I'll have to attach a base. Is there a certain base I should consider? I won't fret the cost much so long as it isn't always causing me to lose my zero.
 
As much as I like T/C black powder rifles, their accuracy with regards to centerfire rifles isn't very good at all.
Example IME:
Encore .45 & Triumph .50 will shoot 1- 1 1/2 moa with the best BP loads I've mustered.
Put a .22 PPC bbl on the encore, and it can't seem to do much better than than it does with 777 or Blackhorn 209 firing a 200 gr SST.
 
That's what I was afraid of. As an extension to the topic, are there third party barrels that will outperform TC's?
 
I own 9 barrels for my encore ph. All but two of them are t/c made. The other two barrels are made by bergara.

The two bergara barrels are .22-250 rem and .243 win. Both of these are great shooters well under one inch 5 shot groups at 100 yards.

The t/c barrels my .300 winchester magnum will print 5/8 to 3/4 groups consistantly. The only barrel i have trouble with is my .270 winchester. I have never been able to group less than 1 1/2 inches and average about 2 inches. Still perfectly fine for my wants and needs.

As far as bp goes. .50 cal t/c barrel 87 grains 777 and a 250 grain t/c shockwave superglide bullet, winchester primer will produce 7/8 to 1 1/8 inch groups at 100 yards scoped when i swab with a wet patch and dry patch between shots.
 
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As for the 2nd question I use leupold QR bases and high rings on all of my encore barrels.

There was a long time before each barrel had its own scope. So I could pop a scope off one barrel and lock it down on another. Since each and every barrel ends up with the same sight height, same lop, same everything. No changes were need to be made for eye relief or height. It remained constant.

As a test at 100 yards i used one scope and switched between 6 barrels. Originally sighted in for a .270 win went to the following.

.243 win, .308 win , .300 win mag, .22-250 rem, .223 rem the back to the .270 win. After the swapping back and forth the .270 win was right on the money still. Point of impact between the 6 barrels varied less than 3/4 inch from point of aim. I am sold on this system of mounts and really the gun platform as well.
 
Thanks for the wonderful addition. I'll look into Bergara - all these mixed reviews on the stock barrels make me afraid I'll end up with a lemon. I'll check out those Leupold bases as well.
 
I suggest the high rings even with a swing hammer you want that much height to comfortably be able to manipulate the hammer. Also T/C barrels have a accuracy guaranty of 1" or less. I could send my .270 win barrel to be fixed or replaced but I am just not that worried about it. I am not taking long range shots more like 250 yards or less. Gun groups around 3 to 3 1/4" at 300 yards so no problem.
 
My TC pro hunter 223 is supremely accurate. It's my primary prairie dog rifle. Try one for yourself....I bet it'll be a shooter.

Scope mounting is no problem at all....buy the TC base and put your rings of choice on it.

As for 1-1.5 MOA groups with a muzzle loader I'd say that's a pretty darn accurate rifle. What exactly did you expect from it?

ProHunter3.jpg
 
Damon555 said:
As for 1-1.5 MOA groups with a muzzle loader I'd say that's a pretty darn accurate rifle. What exactly did you expect from it?
Click to expand...

My muzzleloader barrel shoots just fine. I'm looking for a centerfire - probably a 30-06 or .308. It's not too much more for a 3rd party barrel, so that's what I'm leaning towards after seeing these mixed reviews on the factory barrels.
 
Tim, I own several PRE Smith and Wesson takeover Pro hunter barrels and a couple made by Hart. The Hart barrels outperform the TC a LITTLE bit but not so much that I would worry. The only reason for the Hart barrels is they were in a cartridge that TC didn't offer at the time. Every TC barrel I have will consistently print sub MOA including my .50cal ML barrel. I have not bought one since the takeover though. Most of the fellas I know with the newer ones are also quite pleased with their performance. Bergara barrels are pretty much on the same level. If memory serves, I believe they are the primary barrel maker for CVA. I wouldn't go so far as to say they are any better or worse.
 
the gentleman that posted after you.
Click to expand...
That would be me.

I am very happy with the 1-1/2" groups when shooting blackpowder. Until a few years ago, I'd never have imagined that a BP newbie like me could get MLs to shoot that well.

It's not the blackpowder T/Cs I'm referring to.
 
Yes bergara barrels are the primary for cva optima rifles. The two I own are very accurate. The finish is rough compared to a factory t/c barrel. Yet they are roughly $100 cheaper.

Also even if you have a prohunter any encore barrel will work. You might have to change a forend for a diffrent taper but that is all.

Bullberry also makes top notch barrels. Any encore question you can think of check out mike bellum t/c excellant website.
 
Sorry Damon! I checked on their website and they do in fact claim to have every barrel tested by a "Master Gunsmith" before it leaves the factory. And from all these good reviews, it seems my best bet is to just go with TC. It would be about $200 cheaper than a stainless custom from MGM. Thanks to all of you for taking the time to help me out.
 
I second on something other then T/C

you should read what http://www.bellmtcs.com/store/index.php?cid=562 has to say about the T/C barrel.
and you may want to look into Bullberry.com
I bought one of his Barrels.. and I have to say they back what they sell..

I have two T/C barrels. one in 221, and one in 223,, the 221 shoots so bad, that im going to cast the chambers of both, the 223 shoots groups of 3 in. at 50 yards, with factory loads.And not much better with my hand loads. I'm sure after reading what bellmtcs had to say I think casting my chamber will show I have two bad Barrels.And yes both are mounted with 3/9 scopes..
 
280, number one, you have to realize that Mr. Bellm is ADVERTISING for HIS work. Of course he wont be saying that TC has a 99% success rate on accurate barrels. Number two, I am not so sure the trouble you are having from your 2 barrels is the barrels, I have a strong feeling you are having some lockup issues. Usually related to the hinge pin.

TC has been making highly accurate single shots for a pretty good bit of time now. I have owned several of their firearms from SS handguns in several cartridge offerings to many Encore offerings including the Pro Hunter. out of over 30 barrels, I have had exactly one that was bad. And it was a poorly cut chamber. Sent it back to them (they paid shipping both ways) and had a new barrel in 3 weeks that performed just as well as all my others.

Lockup problems have happened over time and a new hinge pin fixed every one of them. Cheap and easy fix. TC has always been a VERY good customer service company in the 20 years that I have dealt with them. I would take anything that Mike Bellm had to say with a healthy dose of salt.
 
I hear what yur saying about the pin. but I have a 30 herrett from Bullberry in 12 inch, that will shoot 1/2 groups at 100 yards,

my 221 barrel i bought new in the 70s. my 223 is the long rifle barrel i bought in the late 80s or early 90s, So I will cast the chambers of both of thee barrels. to see if maybe,, they arent right,, I spent a lot of money and 4 scopes to try to get these to shoot halfways decent,

Im just waiting for the cerrosafe from midway .then I will see whats what,,

My family and I all have T/C in some form or another,, and I'm the only one with problems,,, go figure,,my luck,, I do have to say T/C will and do stand behind what they sell.
 
I HAD a 270 Win. TC ProHunter barrel about 4 years old and it was worth exactly nothin". I tried 20 different loads and finally got about 2'' groups. Problem was, the next time out the groups moved somewhere else on the target or just sprayed patterns rather than groups. My 20 ga. slug barrel also grouped 2" at 75 yards but it too moved to a new impact point each time I brought it out. My Bergerra 223 shoots fine as does my 45-70 stainless TC barrel. I got rid of both TC barrels (270 & 20 ga) and replaced them with a Tikka T3 and a Savage 220. My faith in TC is nonexistant. Two crummy barrels plus issues with their "lifetime" warranty on my Seneca BP rifle (sorry, no parts, send in your gun and we'll junk it and send you a coupon for what we think it's worth. What about 35 years of history? Sorry!) Almost bought a Venture instead of the Tikka but my conscience said "no". Good thing, they were recalled also. Sorry for the rant.
 
I have three T C Contenders and a whole lot of barrels.....all old, also, pre S&W if that makes a difference. Worst shooter is a G2 50X209 but maybe I just don't have it figured out yet. An old frame with a newer 223 barrel and carbine stock/forend will give me 1 1/2", a bull barrel pistol 22lr will group around an inch on a really calm day, a 45 Colt (not 45/410) will put ragged clusters together at 25 yards and stay in 3" at fifty, an old 357 is a tack driver, (so far all are octagon 10" except for the 22 and the 223 is 23" I think). 45-70 on the G2 is still a work in progress. 30-30 bull barrel 10" will get around 3" with 130 grain pistol bullets (Sierra) but I need a stronger scope, and a 222 oct/10" is around 3".
I'd not be afraid to try TC for your Encore. I'm looking for a pair of 300 whispers, one pistol barrel and one carbine.
 
I went to the store and got a .308 factory heavy barrel today. If anyone is still subscribed to this thread and cares, I'll shoot it Saturday and post my results. I'll be shooting 150 grain Hornady SST's.
Put a Redfield Revolution 4-12x40 on it.
 
The SST's shot superbly out of my TC barrels. I kind of got away from them and went to the Interlocks and Interbonds because of close range blow ups on deer. Had 2 instances with 7mm.08 139 grain. In .308 150gr SST's you may or may not ever have an issue. Just a friendly caution.
 
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