First Post! Need help with Encore Bench Gun!

[Kisatchie]

First off let me say Hello:wave: to everyone, this is my first post. I have been here for about a month now just as a guest. What brought me to this forum was my interest in Competition Bench Rest Match's, I recently became a member over at Bench Rest Central and learned of this fantastic forum. I have been interested in this for about 3 yrs now but until now there have not been any local match's that I was aware of and no local range where I could go to shoot regularly. That all change recently and now a new range has opened that is only about 25 min from my home, and I have learned of several Match's that are held within reasonable driving distance. That being said, let me get to my questions:,

I wish to convert my T/C Encore into a gun that I can take to the Range and have fun shooting and compete in these Match's. I know already from my previous post on this subject that the Encore is not the Base I need to build a winning gun. I wish to shoot this Encore because I already have it, I am comfortable with the gun and it is about the cheapest way that I can get myself into a 6mmBR or 6mmPPPC at this time. I plan to use my Encore now as a beginner, get to learn more about the sport and go from there. Yes, I do want to build myself a great Bench Gun someday, but now I myself do not know enough about it to even begin to assume what I would want. I Plan to take this Encore the the Match's and shoot for fun, there I can learn from some of the other competitors and make friends. Once that I see this is something I am willing to invest the money into, I will start thinking about a custom gun. I have already been to a match and I have made contacts with some key people that have been involved for years. With this in mind I would like to hear your opinions on what options are available for shooting the T/C Encore in Competition.

I have done much research on the topic. I would like to hear from anyone with experience who has taken this same road. I have many options to considers that I am aware of. Most importantly is my choice of Barrel Maker. I have located a T/C custom Shop 6mmBR, but this is not a match grade barrel, many makers such as bullberry, MGM, & Van Horn Barrels and others offer Match barrels. Also there is the option of Barrel Stubbing, along with Custom OTT's Barrels with the new EDM Technology. So many Choices!:idea: Any help here guys!

I leave it here to get started, but also fill me in on some options for Optics as well..Thanks in advance and I will be back with many more questions

 

[redrock]

STOP!!!!!, Since the encore is something you all ready own, sell it on Specialty pistols and invest the money into a Used Rem 700 Action,,cheaper than your encore frame) Then buy a Krieger, Rock Creek, Bartlain, or whatever, and have it chambered for the same money that your going to waste, i mean spend at ott, MGM, or Bullberry buy a stock and have the smith that does your barrel inlet it for the 700,,you'll have to buy a custom stock for your encore anyway)put $50.00 worth of trigger parts into your 700 and you just built a FAR MORE competitive rig for less money than you'll have into your Encore.
I Know EXACTLY what your trying to do, because i tried to do it two years ago, you will never be happy with the way the encore shoots because you can't reach the pressures that you'll need to for competitive BR....You will be stubborn and think "this guy doesn't know what he's talkin about" But for the same money and you'll save about a year of your life go with a tuned up 700, and when you want to go hunting put it into the old stock, since the barrel lug will be pinned you'll be able to change barrels the same as you would with your encore except your not pivoting the barrel away from the action everytime you reload, which is extremely inconvenient when your shooting off a bench you'll have to modify your front rest to even do this in a sitting position not to mention how extremely slow this process is when you need to blast through your rounds because your conditions are only holding for a short time....you've only got 7min...

I'm only trying to save you from this grief because you said you wish to compete with a encore, if your going hunting then buy all means poor the money to the thing and be happy with your half in groups, you'll need to get it to shoot in .1's most of the time and no worse than in the .2's always to be competitive...this is possible with a 700 for the SAME money...Again I know because i have been there done that!