Finally bought a Encore

[Old Moss]

OK Gents,  I've been reading some of the posts and I'm beginning to think I made a mistake.  Not much good being said about the encore and additional barrels.  Except the higher priced custom barrels.  I was really hoping to set-up a predator rig in 243 improved, heavy barrel and a Burris 3x9x50.  Not sure how to even begin?  Or should I cut my losses and trade in my frame?     :?     Thanks Old Moss

[Redhawk1]

Old Moss, the Encore is a great rifle. Just depends what you want to do with it. I, on the other hand have heard nothing but good about the Encore. But if you decide to sell your Encore frame please let me know.  E-mail at Surfish7@aol.com

[longwinters]

I have had 1 problem . . . a bad barrel.  But I really enjoy my Encore.  I think you will too.  I have heard nothing bad about the .243 barrels.

long

[onesonek]

Nothing wrong with Encore factory barrels. And any production can have a lemon now and again. I shoot some custom barrels. Only because I want something that can't be gotten in a factory.

[New Hampshire]

Well I got my income tax check in.  This means that Friday is the day.  Im hoping they still have my Encore (Synthetic 30-06 blued,) at the gun shop.  If not Ill have to order it.  Either way I will be a T/C owner this week.  I too have been worried about the recent post about QC issues, but since these were the first grumbles Ive heard in the months Ive been registered here I wonder if it can just be chalked up to what onesonek said, sometimes your gonna get a lemmon even with the best QC.  I think Ill do ok with this gun (knock on wood   )  If not then we will see what kind of customer service T/C can provide :wink: .
Brian M.

[MF]

I bought a new Encore 209x50 last year and I have nothing but praise for it. It was a real shooter right out of the box(and I had no previous m/l experience). I'm currently waiting for my new 26" .243 HB to arrive and if it shoots like my Contenders do then it should be awesome!   Mike

[doc-and]

Hi Old Moss,

I got three Encore frames and 4 barrels, 3 which are factory and 1 from FoxRidge because the 6mmRemington barrel is not offered by TC at this time but is available from FoxRidge.  I'm verrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrry happy with my set-ups the 6mm is a stainless heavy barrel w/weaver base & rings and a Weaver V-10 scope and a EABCO laminated stock (pepper) it not only looks great but shoots great also.  I still playing with the loads at this time, but I'm approaching sub MOA groups

doc-and

Heres a pic prior to my receiving my stainless frame!

[rpseven]

I have had been burned twice with T/C factory barrels. So that kind of lets your confidence level down doesn't it.

[Bullseye]

Contender barrels - have had 14 over the last ten years.  13 factory, 1 Fox Ridge

Encore barrels - have had 2 over the last two years.  Both factory.

Out of all them, I have had one barrel that did not shoot great.  It was a 30-30 Super 14 barrel.  This caliber gets mixed reviews in general.  My wife would look at the 30-30 groups at the range and asked what I was complaining about.  I would show her a target from any of the others and say that is what I expect.  So, basically the 30-30 was not that bad, just not to my standards.

Other than the 30-30, all I have had will shoot great.  I have never seen a need to pay extra for a custom unless it is not a factory caliber.  I would buy custom if I thought it was needed, but my money is too hard to come by to spend unless justifiable in my mind.  By the way, I have never floated a forend either.

Buy it and enjoy.  You could get a lemon, but the odds are good in my opinion that you will not.  After all Brownings are supposed to be premium guns but I have a Browning Gold that is a jamming POS.  I only have two Brownings so they are running 50-50 with me.  My T/C odds have been much greater than that.

[Ranger413]

My experiences with T/C have been somewhat mixed.  

The first T/C I had was a used Renegade flintlock that I picked up about 15 years ago.  After shooting it for awhile we ran out of rear sight adjustment and had to knock the front sight over to get it to shoot straight.  I eventually sent it back to the factory.  They recrowned the barrel, but the front sight still has to be offset to keep any adjustment on the rear.  Kills deer though - 5 so far.  All shots under 50 yards.

I picked up a T/C Encore 209X50 in SS last year at about  this time.  I ended up selling off the synthetic stocks and getting the laminated variety.  This set-up will shoot less than 2" at 100 yards with the loads I'm using.  I'm happy with it for sure.  

I then bought a 24" .223 barrel for varmints.  It would shoot MOA at 100 yards, but had a tendancy to string shots.  I decided to sell the barrel and get a 26" barrel in the same caliber.  I thought maybe the heavier barrel may prevent stringing and I wanted the extra weight.  While mounting a scope base on the barrel one of the screws stripped out.  I then noticed that only 3 of the holes tapped in the barrel were tapped their full depth.  Upon reccomendation from my local gunsmith this barrel is on it's way back to the T/C factory.

I also have a 15" .308 barrel.  I've been to the range once with it and am absolutely impressed.  With the 2-6X scope I have mounted I was able to print 1 1/2" groups at 100 yards.  That's without any experimenting.

Overall, I think I'm batting 50/50.  I went with the Encore because I liked the versitility of it and the idea of being a single shot hunter.  Another bounus was the idea of only having to spend about $250 per barrel instead of over $400 for a new gun.  I still have to wonder once and awhile if buying separate guns wouldn't have been better off.

Ranger413

[Old Moss]

Well Gents sounds like I'm OK, still, I hope the barrel I get is not a lemon.  I have 2 TC Contenders 1 by SSK in 375JDJ and one factory in 22LR, and 2 renegades so I've been a fan of TC for years.  I appreciate all the help.  My next question is does anyone know if Foxridge can do a 26" bbl stainless in 243 improved?  They do not show the improved on their list but have several other improved calibers.  I would just go with the 6mm Rem but a little affraid it may go the way of the Dodo bird.  Has anyone every mixed blued and stainless barrel / frames?  Any problems?  Thanks again.  Old Moss
P.S. I'm kind of a subMOA nut!  MOA is OK for a throw in the back of the truck gun but for my serious predator rigs I would like 1/2 MOA.  Where can I get the over sized hinge pins?    :grin:

[coyote 2]

:grin:
I also think the encore is a great rifle, Old Moss. I purchased mine with a factory heavy barrel in the 223. My groups were good groups. But I saw a Bullberry barrel 20" x 1" on an Encore. Well - my factory barrel has been sold and now I am on the waiting list for a Bullberry barrel. Only have 2 month more to wait. TC are great weapons and the Encore is even better. Smile - you have a winner.