T/C encore accuracy?

[futureranger]

how accurate is a T/C an encore say in .260 or any centerfire for that matter? the simplicity of the design makes me think that it would be super accurate with a good barrel and trigger. I almost never use more than one shot when whitetail hunting so single shot with superb accuracy would be great for me. anyone shoot one?

 

[mt_dren]

I thought the same thing and purchased the prohunter in 30-06. Out of the box it would shoot a nice 12" verticle string with factory and handloads. I could never get better than 3 moa with 150 gr Sierra Gamekings. I tried a number of things as well such as a larger hinge pin, trigger job, and various different handloads. I'm not saying they are all bad and some people seem to have really good luck with them but the one I got changed my mind.

mt_dren

 

[Olympus]

I can get a really good accuracy out of mine with factory ammo. About 1.5 to 1.75 MOA at 100 yards. I'm really pleased with mine. As far as accuracy, most competition shooters don't prefer them because they're a break-open action. But I've heard that Mike Bealm? does an oversized hinge pin and trigger job that really helps with accuracy.

But I'm really pleased with mine.

 

[jem375]

I will let you know when the weather warms up a little with my new 308..

 

[Olympus]

And I just got another new barrel in .25-06 for mine too. I'll comment when it gets warmer too.

 

[hardluk1]

Might want to look at CVA's APEX too. Seems to be a better rifle and has bergara building barrels. Retail price is also better but extra barrels are a bit higher right now .

 

[The Highlander]

I've taken a couple deer with the .308 flavor. Plenty accurate for hunting.

 

[ArmedBear]

I can get a really good accuracy out of mine with factory ammo. About 1.5 to 1.75 MOA at 100 yards.

Nowadays, you can get better accuracy from a $300 rifle. I sure wouldn't call that "really good." If a $399 Weatherby Vanguard doesn't shoot better than that, you can exchange it.

 

[jfdavis58]

Handloads in 22-250 can produce a rough circle of five touching holes at 100 yards--call it 3/4 inch. Handloads in 270 Winchester are equally consistent at about 0.8 inches. Factory ammo in either will open to 1.6 or 1.8 inches with inexplicable fliers occasionally.

 

[R.W.Dale]

how accurate is a T/C an encore say in .260 or any centerfire for that matter?

about as accurate as any other break action firearm irregardless of price....in other words not very

I went through an encore phase with a couple of frames and close to a dozen bbls. Only one shot moderately well A 30-06 bergara bbl from spain. The TC bbls all ranged in accuracy from almost acceptable to shotgun patterns.

I will no longer allow another break action rifle to tie up space in my safe

 

[Arkansas Paul]

+1 ArmedBear. Since when is 1.5 - 1.75 MOA considered really good accuracy? There's times I might not be any better than that, but the rifle had better be.

 

[R.W.Dale]

+1 ArmedBear. Since when is 1.5 - 1.75 MOA considered really good accuracy? There's times I might not be any better than that, but the rifle had better be.

in all fairness I would consider that pretty good for FACTORY ammo as the poster mentions............But none of my encore bbls would do that save one

 

[Olympus]

Well considering that I'm shooting cheap Remington Core-Lok bullets and using the range provided plastic rest, I'd say that's pretty good. Give me a better rest setup and Black Hills Match and I'd bet I can do a lot better.

Here's a pretty good article...
http://www.6mmbr.com/gunweek055.html

I don't believe that the Encore was marketed as a super highly accurate rifle.

Nowadays, you can get better accuracy from a $300 rifle. I sure wouldn't call that "really good." If a $399 Weatherby Vanguard doesn't shoot better than that, you can exchange it.

No argument there. But what's the versatility like? I've never seen a Weatherby Vanguard muzzleloader or a Vanguard shotgun. How much is gonig to cost to rebarrel that $300 rifle if you want to change calibers? As a hunting rifle in average field conditions, can you really tell a difference in 1.5 MOA and 1 or Sub-MOA? I'd wager that the two deer I shot this year with my Encore wouldn't be able to tell the difference.

 

[Olympus]

in all fairness I would consider that pretty good for FACTORY ammo as the poster mentions

You beat me to the punch by 4 minutes.

 

[R.W.Dale]

No argument there. But what's the versatility like?

pretty good considering that for the price of a Encore ML bbl you can buy a COMPLETE muzzle loader and for the price of ONE encore shotgun BBL you can buy a set of single shot shotguns for ALL the common gauges

How much is gonig to cost to rebarrel that $300 rifle if you want to change calibers?

you can buy another bolt action for the price of just TC rifle bbl so your savings does not compute and if you buy a stevens200 or marlin xl series you can fit a shilen bbl for around $300 McChickens that'll put an Encore rusty sewer pipe to shame

 

[Olympus]

$249 for a blued rifle barrel at Natchez right now. T/C just ended their $50 rebate, but catch that promo again and you've $200 bucks in a new rifle. I'll pick a $200 Encore barrel over whatever rifle you can buy nowadays for $200 any day of the week and twice on Sunday. Sounds like you had some bad luck with yours. But I think it's a stretch to call it a rusty sewer pipe.

Here's another good article...

http://www.6mmbr.com/BellmEncore.html

 

[TUBBY1]

Could be better

There is an after market swivel pin by aurther brown that will help zero in but over all a good old bolt action would serve you better.my 300win. Mag is good two or three shots then starts to wander.better as a muzzle loader.maybe because it longer between shots.only shoot it one or two times if i'm on target. Good luck...

 

[R.W.Dale]

but catch that promo again and you've $200 bucks in a new rifle.

no you have 200 clams in a new BARREL that still needs optics and mounts

and if you eliminate the one time promo and go with the std price on centerfire rifle bbls of between $260 to $300 you find that you can indeed buy a COMPLETE bolt action rifle that'll shoot rings around an encore for the price of ONE bare barrel

Sounds like you had some bad luck with yours.

that's an understatment. Let me ask you a question, do you shoot 3 or 5 shot groups?

 

[ArmedBear]

no you have 200 clams in a new BARREL that still needs optics and mounts

Bingo.

Also, do all the foreends fit all the barrels?

 

[Olympus]

no you have 200 clams in a new BARREL that still needs optics and mounts

Bingo.

Unless you buy a combo, rifles don't normally come with optics or mounts either. I may be out of the loop, but I haven't seen any combo rifles for $200.

and if you eliminate the one time promo and go with the std price on centerfire rifle bbls of between $260 to $300 you find that you can indeed buy a COMPLETE bolt action rifle that'll shoot rings around an encore for the price of ONE bare barrel

I'd wager that if you bought a barrel from Natchez right now for $250 and then went out to a given sporting goods store and bought the best rifle you could for the same $250 then fit each with the same optics and shoot the same ammo, the rifle isn't going to "shoot rings around the Encore".

 

[R.W.Dale]

I'd wager that if you bought a barrel from Natchez right now for $250 and then went out to a given sporting goods store and bought the best rifle you could for the same $250 then fit each with the same optics and shoot the same ammo, the rifle isn't going to "shoot rings around the Encore".

I've been there and have the T-shirt. You could indeed go into a gun shop and buy the nastiest most abused looking stevens 200 or Sav 110 E they have for $240 and it will put a brand new $800 pro hunter to shame at 100yds every day of the week and twice on sundays.

You'd lose that bet friend

Ive said this many times. The break action rifle is ill suited to accuracy no matter the cost. It's one thing when your $220 handi rifle shoots 2 to 3 MOA it's quite another when an $800 encore does no better or in my case worse.

Yes you can throw money, resources and time at one and get it to shoot. But have you researched the gunsmithing and reloading practices involved in obtaining such results?

Also, do all the foreends fit all the barrels?

no they do not

 

[Olympus]

C'mon up to Kansas City and I'll take that bet. I've got a brand new Encore barrel that's never been used.

I understand that you've had some trouble with yours. But that doesn't mean that they're all like that. I had a BAR Safari that I couldn't get to group for nothing. Most people don't have any problems with them. I don't post in BAR threads calling them sewer pipes though. I gives the facts about what mine did and acknowledge that mine could have just been different than most.

 

[Dr. Tad Hussein Winslow]

Here's hoping that krochus's experience is not like mine will be, since I just got into Encores with a Prohunter .280 barrel & frame/rifle. I'll let you know after I hit the range with it. But it's a hunter, not a bench rifle, so I will be happy with 1.5 MOA. I will NOT be happy with 2 or more MOA, however.

One thing against the T/C for accuracy is the long lock time from the external hammer. Can in theory be eliminated in the hold, but hard as a practical matter.

T/C Encore and Contender are often touted for their accuracy, so it's a bit odd to hear the opinions pile up 180 degrees - not saying that it's wrong, just bizarre.

But ya know, I've always been one of those dudes that has to learn things the hard way.

 

[josh...just josh]

why wouldn't a break action be accurate? does it have something to the looseness of the receiver to barrel lock?

 

[Olympus]

I'll be eager to hear your report. Some pictures would be nice too. I know you've had success with the Icon and I don't think you'll be disappointed with the Pro Hunter either. Getting 1.5 MOA shouldn't be a problem. Maybe you can get some handloads worked out for even better results.

Like I said, in hunting conditions it's a great rifle. My .300 took two this year. My muzzleloader barrel a wild hog last March as well as my old man's Endeavor. I liked the .300 so much that I got the .25-06 over Christmas for the fall 2010 season.