Encore VS Savage and Tika

[Water Rat]

Hi
I plan on buying a new rifle in 223 or 243 soon (I want both).  

I have been looking at the Savage heavy barreled rifles in 223 and the Tikka T-3 light in 243(I want both).

I would really like to have both the heavy barrel and light weight barrel but $$ flow doesnÂ’t allow me to buy two $500+ riffles :cry: so buying both is not an option.

But I could probably swing buying an Encore rifle in one of the above configurations and then just buy the other barrel and forearm a few weeks later if I was satisfied with the Encore.

I am pretty anal about accuracy, I like my guns to shoot 1/2" or less @ 100yds and if they wont do at least 1"@ 100 I usually sale them.

So will the Encore rifles shoot as accurately as the Savage and Tikka out of the box?
Water Rat

[coyote 2]

Water Rat : I made the mistake of purchasing a TC Encore with a 223 26" heavy barrel. Well - it was not really a mistake - as the barrel shoots 3/4 to 1/2" groups at 100 yards. BUT - if I had to do it over again - I would just purchase the frame and stock - then contact Fred at Bullberry ( http://www.bullberry.com/index.html )and purchase two of his bull or heavy barrels. They will shoot and you will be well pleased with the accuracy of the barrels. His barrels will shoot 1/4" groups at 100 yards if you do your part.  Only draw back is time - 4 months out. The barrel that I just ordered is a 20" x 1" full bull in the 223. (Bench-rest shooting) Fred stated that I should get 1/4" groups with this barrel. I also ordered a 2" x 12" Target forearm. It would of been the same price - more with the new forearm - as the 26" heavy barrel from TC. If you like shooting single shot rifles - you will LOVE the TC Encore. I sure do!!! Plus you can add more barrels anytime you have the money....  223 - 243- 17 HMR - 22LR...wow....its endless....(they also have a convertor so you can shoot center fire and rim fire ammo.) Cool...... :eek:
       

[jamie]

I get 1/2" groups with my 15" -06 encore with hunting bullets, Sierra GK 165 grn HPBT, yep Gameking not Matchking.  Don't write off the factory barrel so quick.

[jim]

best i get is 1 1/4" 5 shot groups at 100 yds not to happy with the accuracy , average group size is 1 3/4" - 2"  , i have a .243 standard barrel , i wish i would have gotten a savage .

jim

[quicksdraw45]

My encore 26 inch heavy barrel .223 with about 500 rounds through it has produced a best group of 5 shots into 3/8 inch at 100 yards , It usually goups around 1/2-5/8 but would probally do better with a more experianced rifle shooter . My contender 14 inch pistol in .223 will shoot 3/4 inch groups at 100 yards.

[Water Rat]

To all

This is sounding good.   Just thought of something.
Can the Encore rifle be fitted with a pistol grip and pistol barrels making it a pistol or can the Encore pistol be made into a rifle?
It would be cool if one frame could double as rifle and pistol.
Water Rat

[jamie]

Go to the T/C Handgun forum that conversation is going on now under "Frame vs. Complete Rifle"  It happens every couple of months and still come up with the same thing,  NO ONE KNOWS!   Every one seems to agree that if you are gonna switch then buy the pistol frame and swap it to a rifle.

[dakotashooter2]

Have a factory 243 barrel that will shoot around the 1/2" mark with a couple of different loads. I am soon to retest a load that would have been one hole had it not strung vertically (5 shots all touching in nearly a straight line). Keep in mind the loads have not been tailored to this particular gun. They are FL sized in order to fit two different guns. My TC has a slightly larger chanber than my sons savage. My best loads have also come from Mil Surp 308 brass resized to 243 and fired without further case prep. It's hard to say what it will shoot when I get around tofitting a load to it.

[saltydog]

Your goal of 1/2" moa for an out of the box rifle no matter which one is pretty aggressive quest - as long as you have the walllet to back it up you won't have a problem. However Your consideration of the basic $500 Savage or Tika will not meet your goal and you can't buy an Encore for $500. A Savage F class or custom barrel T/C may get you there in either caliber but plan on spending the better part of 1K to do it. Then we have the issue of first class glass - with your anal obsession about the rifle it can be assumed you wll be looking at Zeiss, NightForce or other similar high end scope to meet your anality needs. Best of luck.

[SD Handgunner]

I can't really comment on T/C Encore Rifles but have shot a few T/C Encore Handguns over the years. They were as follows

12" T/C Custom Shop 7mm-08 Remington
15" T/C Factory 7mm-08 Remington
15" T/C Factory .243 Winchester
15" T/C Factory .284 Winchester (factory 7mm-08 barrel that was rechambered to .284 Winchester by David White)

All of these barrels would shoot sub 1" 100 yard groups and a couple got close to 1/2" with certain loads.

I have on the other hand shot more different T/C Contender Handgun Barrels than I care to count. Cartridges in the Contenders have included:

.22 LR
.223 Remington
6mm-223 Remington
6mm T/CU
.250 Savage
7mm T/CU
7-30 Waters
.30-30 Winchester
.30-30 Ackley Improved
.44 Remington Magnum

Of these chamberings the 6mm-223, 6mm T/CU and .250 Savage were custom barrels. The .30-30 Ackley Improved was a Factory .30 Herrett Barrel that SSK rechambered to .30-30 Ackley Improved.

All of these barrels would also shoot sub 1" groups at 100 yards, with some coming in at 1/2" or slightly less with the right load.

I am in the process of putting together a T/C Encore Rifle in .30-06. Not all of my parts-n-pieces are here yet, but hopefully I will be shooting it before the end of the month.

Larry

[gunrac]

So will the Encore rifles shoot as accurately as the Savage and Tikka out of the box?
Water Rat
[/quote]

Hmm, Just a guess, but I'd like to think Water Rat has made up his mind on this by now. After all, this thread was started nearly 5 yrs. ago. lol

Since this thread has been resurrected. IMHO, the answer is no.  I do know the Encore can be made to shoot as good as the other 2.

[bolewine]

         Just put together my first t/c encore pro hunter stainless camo thumbhole stock cabalas pine ridge tactical turret scope 6-18x40,shooting hornady  .223 factory ammo 55gr fmjbt, I have been able to put together ¼ moa groups @ 1oo yd. and have killed 3 grounhogs 1@ 100yd 1@ 225 and 1@278 all hit with a laser range finder first. It’s a great set-up. Range click yardage on turret find a steady rest and fire and have every confidence the hog or what ever you are aiming at will die. This is by far the most accurate rifle I ever owned right out of the box. Can’t wait start hand loading for it will be a tack driver, next barrel ,7mm rem mag my personal favorite big game load that should shoot just as well. This could be the last gun I will ever buy, but not the barrel I will need many more! My advice, pull the trigger, you may too fall in love with a single shot, quality built firearm.






                                                                  Shoot straight, and what ever else you do DON’T FLINCH!!

                                                                                                               Brett

[bolewine]

P.S. this setup without ammo ran around $1,200

[BoshTank]

this is a group from my .223 encore at 100yds the sticker is 1in round

i also like savage and have a couple the shoot this good but i like the 1 shot idea and havung differant barrels to change to,

[Grizz66]

Here's my 2cents, I own all 3 encore,savage and Tikka. Versatility encore hands down winner small plinkers to 12 guage plenty accurate for hunting and such, as for consistent little bugholegroups imo not with standard factory barrels with customs yes,ya I had some issues with factory barrels  280 ack and a 45-70, but still ordered a 375jdj for hunting. As for Savage and Tikka I have a older savage .223 that would give a BR gun a good run for it's money and also a 6BR thats a tack driver. Tikka I have a 6.5x55 that is hands down the most accurate hunting rifle I own and ya I own quite a few. So seeing your an accuracy kinda person I would go with either Savage or Tikka. My 0.2 of course. 

[Hopalong7]

    Asking a switch barrel, break open action rifle to shoot groups with a quality bolt gun is asking an awful lot.

[Drugstore Cowboy]

Grizz,
What kind of accuracy did you get with the 375 jdj and what was it like to hunt? Contender or Encore?

[Grizz66]

Drugstore,  I don't have that barrel yet ordered it 5 weeks ago should have it hopefully by end of August.  It's for an encore rifle lenth barrel. I'm hopeing it shoots good I would like to have it as a goto rifle. I'll gladly let you know how it behaves when I get it.