T/C Encore... for Long Range?

[spclark]

Over on another forum I found a post by a self-named "newbie" about using a T/C Encore, fitted with a 26" "bull" barrel, chambered for 6.5-284, for his first forays into long range shooting.

I have a couple of these actions,the original version, not the new and improved), though I've only seen fit to use either with various 14" mostly pistol-cartridge barrels.

,I did buy - and shoot - a few rounds in a .35 Remington-chambered 14: barrel but please don't ask me why!)

Out of simple curiosity,and selfish interest in self-preservation should I find myself squadded next to this chap someday) might I ask what experienced LR shooters think of this use of Thompson Center's products?

 

[280man]

IMO it would be like taking a Z71 Chevy and trying to run the Indy 500 it could be done but there are many ways to do it better. The biggest problem I see right off is most LR shooting is done from the prone position not easily done with a break open action. Nothing against the Encore it is a fine hunting rifle.

 

[Preacher]

Real easy to charge a TC Encore or Contender while prone, just tip the rifle sideways pop in a new round and get back to shooting.
Those break in the middle rifles and pistols shoot lots better than most folks can shoot......

 

[JDJones]

The Encore is a fine rifle and will shoot wioththe best bolt guns if you give it a little work. I have a custom 28" barrel full bull fluted Rock Creek barrel chambered in 300 win mag. This gun will shot sub 10" groups at 1000yds and into 2" at 500yds consistantly from prone and a bipod with decient long range shooter. It has an over sized barrel pin, worked over trigger, bedded and floated forend and a custom 20 moa base. I have no trouble shooting it and reloading it from prone.
The biggest problem guys find is that the gun has to be moved around to much to return to a repeatable battery, this is a non issue in hunting and if yout just a little patient its a non issue at the bench either.

The Encore rifles are often scoffed at by bolt gun shooters because they have never shot one that was well put together. As for the "New and improved Encores" I assume you mean the Prohunter, from the 5 that I've delt with they are far from improved, all five took WAY more work to get the triggers right and all took a 2x pin to get the barrel and frame snug, the internal fit and finish on these guns is crap, I can't believe that TC is charging this much more for what is a massive slip in Q.C. I charge $25 more to do an accurizing job on the Prohunter that the older Encores because it takes so much more work on the trigger.

 

[spclark]

I'd tend to count myself among the scoffers then only as my experience with T/C's has been with otherwise stock actions and 14" barrels. I know they're fine hunting pistols as well as a fine platform on which to hang a longer barrel for more "out there" shooting.

How much time, energy, and money would one have to invest in "prepping" a new action & custom barrel - including everything you speak of, short of a proper choice of optics - to get where you are now? I'd be willing to venture a newbie would have no idea about what would be involved in bringing up a stock T/C to the level you describe, only to be left in the end with something no less accurate but still not as suitable to a more traditional bolt gun for less $$ and time.

Better to spend those shooting IMHO.

JDJ, you the "JDJ" of "375 JDJ", etc.?

 

[JDJones]

Nope, not that JD Jones, I diden't even think about it when I made my screen name I'm James D.Jones from Slidell, LA but I do a fair amout of gun work and build a few when I have access to the tools.

I'm not sure about a total price as I built the barrel myself but the blank was $300 and if you found sombody to weld the lug on for ya it would probably run another $100-$200. Fred At Bullberry makes some realy nice barrels I have two from him and they both shoot well under 1/2 moa out to 400yds.

I charge $125 to "accurize" an Encore, that includes bedding the forend between screws and free floating the rest, replacing the trigger spring and stoning the enguagements to a mirror finish and changing the geometery so it can be safe at a half pound. and replacing the hinge pin, I have a few 10 flute carbide reamers that are cut .001 undersized from Mike Bellm's pins up to 3x that I use to make the holes in the barrel lug and frame even I then lap them to a mirror finish that takes up about .0005" so generaly I get around .0005" interfierance fit this makes the frame and barrel feel like a bank vault when its open and closed, I have seen the frames need a 3x pin from the factory but have to have the factory pin driven out so you have to make them both the same or their won't be a perfect lockup when the barrel is closed. I make the 20 moa bases and charge $25 to install it with upgraded 6-48 torx head screw and bed the base to the barrel for a skin tight fit.

 

[tclover]

I have two contenders, old style and new g-2.
Both are excellent weapons.
I would put either up against any bolt action rifle out there and put up one heck of a shoot out on the range. In the woods there is no better weapon for big or small game.
I have one of the 358jdj's and love it.
I shoot from 22mag up and would not trade either for a bolt action

 

[Skillet]

Nope, not that JD Jones, I diden't even think about it when I made my screen name I'm James D.Jones from Slidell, LA but I do a fair amout of gun work and build a few when I have access to the tools.

I'm not sure about a total price as I built the barrel myself but the blank was $300 and if you found sombody to weld the lug on for ya it would probably run another $100-$200. Fred At Bullberry makes some realy nice barrels I have two from him and they both shoot well under 1/2 moa out to 400yds.

I charge $125 to "accurize" an Encore, that includes bedding the forend between screws and free floating the rest, replacing the trigger spring and stoning the enguagements to a mirror finish and changing the geometery so it can be safe at a half pound. and replacing the hinge pin, I have a few 10 flute carbide reamers that are cut .001 undersized from Mike Bellm's pins up to 3x that I use to make the holes in the barrel lug and frame even I then lap them to a mirror finish that takes up about .0005" so generaly I get around .0005" interfierance fit this makes the frame and barrel feel like a bank vault when its open and closed, I have seen the frames need a 3x pin from the factory but have to have the factory pin driven out so you have to make them both the same or their won't be a perfect lockup when the barrel is closed. I make the 20 moa bases and charge $25 to install it with upgraded 6-48 torx head screw and bed the base to the barrel for a skin tight fit.

 

[2506]

As with most of the shooting sports I suggest that if the only rifle you have is a T/C Encore use it. What ever firearm you have that will get you started in your chosen sport use it. If you really want to get serious you will eventually get what you really need. I have seen some mighty fine shooting T/Cs both Contender and Encores. I have a few Contender pistols that will hold their own within range limitations to the caliber with a whole bunch of rifles.

 

[johnfred1965]

I have a stock prohunter in .223. I can shoot 3/4 inch at 100 yds even with the worse trigger I have ever used. It is worse than a stock AR trigger. With t he factory barrel, I think I could shoot 1/2 inch with a good trigger job. Haven't even considered a custom barrel yet.

 

[sawcarver]

I have a bunch of contenders and have had encores before both pistols and rifles. As everyone has said they are a great hunting platform and I have probably killed more things with a contender than anything else.
Contender pistols are what started me down the long expensive long range road.

They can do very well at distance however a bolt rig is inherently more accurate in my opinion. Having to take the gun completely out of battery every time you load it makes it difficult I don't see where you could do well at at an F-class match with one, at least not as well as a bolt gun.

I have shot my contenders to 1000 yards before and it works, but if it's serious work I'm grabbing an XP-100 before a contender

 

[Clancy]

I have fired 3 factory rifles in my lifetime that gave me the wow factor.

A) A CZ 527 223 that will agg in the high .2s bone stock.
B) A Weatherby ultralight 270 that a friend owns. It will shoot dimes with factory ammunition on command.
C) A T/C 7mm Rem Mag that I sighted in for my uncle. I fired 3 shots to zero, and the following 5 measured just over 1/4” at 130 yards. I offered a mint for it but he declined.

So yes, they’re at least capable.

 

[Ktmracer358]

I'm currently using a cva break open in .223 as a trainer. I've had my best group down to .6 and my average at .75 using 69gr smk with 8208xbr. So all in all I would say break opens don't shoot half bad

 

[snert]

OP...just a thought. You mention twice using standard 14 inch barrels, and once a 35 Rem. You mention "old frame". Just wondering if you have a contender, not an encore? Common for folks to mix up the two.

 

[spclark]

OP...just a thought. You mention twice using standard 14 inch barrels, and once a 35 Rem. You mention "old frame". Just wondering if you have a contender, not an encore? Common for folks to mix up the two.

Yeah, think you’re right about that.

I was new to this game back then, learned much in the years since.

Still have those actions though, and that 35REM 14” barrel....

 

[snert]

Yeah, think you’re right about that.

I was new to this game back then, learned much in the years since.

Still have those actions though, and that 35REM 14” barrel....

And I have my 357 Herrett 14 inch as well. Still love it. 21 deer have fallen to that gun, with a little 2x Leupold and old 180 grain SSp bullets. Don't make those anymore...sadly. That cartridge is an outstanding deer whacker. Put a bunch of my shotgun toting buddies to shame with it. Now it is devoted to a 17FB and eventually another K-hornet barrel for varmints. I love the TC for a hunting rig.

 

[TC260]

The biggest deer I've taken was with a similar same set-up, Leupold 2x on a 10" 357 Herrett with 180gr XTP's. I'd sold that factory barrel during a divorce and just recently replaced it actually with a used MGM barrel off GB. Can't wait to carry it this season.