Bergara and factory TC Encore Barrels

[lopezni]

I just wanted to give people and honest opinion on the quality of TC and Bergara barrels for the Encore. I really love my Encore, it looks great, I love the stock design, and the ability to get barrels chambered for cartridges other manufacturer's don't have the guts to produce. People often wonder about the accuracy of these rifles. My 6.5x55 TC 26" HB shoots consistent groups in the 0.7..." range using RE-22 and Sierra 140gr SPBT's. I do have a locking hinge pin and a pillar bedded forend on mine, though the trigger is stock. It is a heavy trigger at about 4 1/2lbs and I am sure I could improve my groups if it were say 2 1/2lbs. Now some websites and articles rave about Bergara quality and claim they are better than factory TC's. Not even close. My stainless Bergara barrel chambered in .222 rem is a joke. The crown looks like someone cut it with a chisel, it is nowhere near true and it's not even smooth. The extractor is way too big and scratches the case and sometimes won't allow you to eject a fired case. Now, you can say why don't you send it back. Well I'm not going to send it back to Spain, if they let this out of the factory the way it is I can't trust them to make it right. It shoots okay, factory hornady got me several 1.5" groups and a promising .659" group. I plan on having the crown re-cut and I will fix the extractor by myself. Eventually when I finally get the time to fit the recoil pad I bought for it, I will post pics to show you how nice looking these rifles can be.

 

[jbkebert]

I bought a used Bergarra barrel for mine in .243 win. I would agree that the crown looks like it was cut with a chisel at best. After having it recrowned at a cost of $50 it shoots pretty darn well. The finish leaves alot to be desired but I can't complain about the groups that it shoots. My other 8 barrels at T/C and the fit and finish is much much better.

 

[Uncle Mike]

Bergara barrels..... your mother told you not to believe everything you heard, right?

That is good advice, and applies to the quality of their barrels!

 

[waterhouse]

I've gotten better groups out of them, but my TC barrel and Bergara barrel both generally shoot about 1.5-2" five shot groups. Neither is super accurate, both are good enough for hunting. I only have one barrel from each maker, so this isn't really enough to draw conclusions from.

 

[wombat13]

I can't compare the two as I only have one - CVA Accura with the Bergara barrel (stainless). I'm just starting to test bullet/powder combinations, but I've already found one that shoots great. Barnes Expander MZ (250gr.) over 2 pellets of 777 (100gr.) has given me much less than 1 moa groups (three shots touching with the fourth 1/4" away).

I could be wrong, but I seriously doubt a TC barrel would give me better accuracy/precision than that.

 

[lopezni]

I've gotten better groups out of them, but my TC barrel and Bergara barrel both generally shoot about 1.5-2" five shot groups. Neither is super accurate, both are good enough for hunting. I only have one barrel from each maker, so this isn't really enough to draw conclusions from.

Try an adjustable or locking hingepin. The standard one moves everytime you fire a round. I think the adjustable pin is like $15 on Midwayusa, it's the best accessory for improving the accuracy of the Encore. It should be a standard feature though.

 

[t george]

I got a barrel from Match grade machine in 30-06 and with heavy factory loads it shoots just under an inch... with the lighter loads it looks like a shot gun patern

 

[cowart]

You might have better luck with a Bullberry barrel - see
http://www.bullberry.com/encore.html

 

[JDGray]

My stepdad bought a 45cal barrel for his, and was so impressed with it he ordered a .308. After hundereds of rounds through it, and not getting anything close to a group, He sent it back to Bergara. They lost it, and many months later said "what barrel?" My Stepdad finally talked to someone that gave a s***, but they no longer offer a .308, so He agreed to take a 30-06 in its place. The 30-06 shot great, but it bulged his brass so bad, it wasn't reloadable, so it too, is on its way back to its maker. Not too impressive!!