Three broken hammer spurs..

[Skyhook]

My brother is a bit miffed for it seems he has to figure on his Encore breaking almost every outing. Trouble is he likes shooting the 209X50 beastie and he NEVER (unlike yours truly) has used a 'hammer extension' 'Hammer Expander',.. none of those things.
His last breakage was day before yesterday on the range and TC did not return his call! They did the previous two failures, but not this time..
Bottom line; He likes the rifle enough to keep it and took the hammer out, went to a speciality welding shop, and had the thing reinforced.
Talk about your field testing!
My Encore- both with the .223 and the 209X50- has not broken at the hammer spur and I use the aluminum extender because of my 'scopes. Maybe I'd better get ready for a failure? Dunno.

[KN]

I have 5 Encore frames in calibers from 22-250 up to 450 marlin and I have never had a problem with a hammer. Many thousands of rounds have gone through them. The only problem I ever had was on an 11" 444 marlin barrel that I had a hammer extension on. It was bending during recoil. Took it off and never had another problem.   KN

[Skyhook]

"..what kind of loads is he shooting in that 209x50?" -Chris
_________________

His usual load is a sabot .44 185 gr. w/two 50gr pellets of CleanShot. I use the same with the .44 nd .45 bullets of comparable wts.

[whitfang]

Your brother's Encore is breaking the hammer even though he's not using an expander - while yours is fine with one?

My advice has been for Encore shooters to buy the Peterson's hammer expander from Cabelas; hope I'm not causing problems for them.

I'm shooting a 209x50 rifle and a 209x50 pistol with 100gr Pyrodex and a 300gr Hornady XTP sabot.  Both of them have the hammer expanders.  You'd think if the problem was recoil that it would certainly show up in a pistol - with the expander.

I once saw a guy at the range with a 209x50 pistol (no scope) who loaded it by resting the back of the grip flat on a bench so that the muzzle pointed up at about 45 degrees.  He must have been using high-effort conicals because they took some muscle to load.  If the hammer rests on the bench, would it be possible to stress the hammer enough during loading that it breaks while firing?

[whitfang]

OOps - scratch that last reply.  In re-reading, I see your brother's RIFLE is having this problem.  Forgot which Encore forum I was on.   :oops:

Maybe his thumb looks like Arnold's bicep and he's just snapping them right off?   :lol:

[Steelbanger]

I have a friend from the western end of the state that had an Encore hammer break. The gun was brand new & the hammer spur just broke off. Your brother is not alone with his dilema.

[whitfang]

This must be a quality control problem at T/C.  Doesn't seem to be related to caliber or load much.  Although that doesn't explain multiple breakages.  The odds of getting several 'bad' hammers in a row would be incredibly high.

Maybe the hammer is hitting too hard - could be the spring or hammer adjustment.   :?

Good thing T/C has a lifetime warranty.   :grin:

[Chuck White]

I have fired thousands of rounds through my Encore, including the 209X50 and, centerfire rifle cartridges and I just can't picture in my mind just how a hammer spur can break off during firing!

Could it possibly be something in handling the rifle during reloading?

Has TC given you any idea of what might cause it, besides the hammer snapping forward, then the sudden stop?

[Skyhook]

Thanks for the replies, comments, and questions, guys.

"Could it possibly be something in handling the rifle during reloading?

Has TC given you any idea of what might cause it, besides the hammer snapping forward, then the sudden stop?"

This brother has extensive experience as machinist and he's worked with and around firearms for over forty years. I have firewd Encores with him and his loading technique is exactly like all others I have seen- and exactly what I use. Nothing out of the ordinary in any respects.

The last word from TC was something in the "I'm away from my desk, please leave a message and I will return your call..." That was almost three weeks ago and a couple of phone calls back. Frankly, I thought TC would have tried to get right on this. :?

After the holiday, he's going to try once more to talk to the tech. I will let ya'all know what transpires...

[Skyhook]

Bottom line from my bro's point of view, anyhow is he went on his own with the TIG welder (7018), filled the cutout on the bottom surface of the hammer and says he'll not bother TC with the problem further.
There ya have it.

[epicgrizz]

I also had a broken hammer spur on my Encore.  It is a blued frame that I shot mostly .243 through, but shortly after starting to shoot the 209 X 50 barrel I noticed the hammer was cracked and shortly there after broke.  I was using a hammer extention and thought it was a fluke.  I ordered another hammer and replaced it and it has been going strong since.

[EDG]

Sounds like the percussion application is the problem. The hammer in the percussion version must be driving a heavier pin to fire the percussion cap. This pin may be driven back the gas venting out of the nipple causing the hammer to be snapped backward.

Ed

[Chuck White]

Me Again;
I have been thinking about this subject for quite a while now!
Keep in mind, Encores around the world have fired bigger, more powerful loads than the 209X50 ML!
I've looked at the possibilities of the Encore being mis-handled and while looking mine over have come up with the following conclusion!

If I were to bet on it, I'd bet that he is putting undo force on the hammer spur, "AFTER THE HAMMER IS ENGAGED"!  In the excitement of the hunt, I can see where this could happen, with the adrenalin rush and all!  Maybe it would be possible to put a "STOP" under the tail end of the hammer spur!

[whitfang]

You know, now that I look at the hammer again, it IS pretty thin, with NO reinforcing underneath it.  

Comparing the Encore with a Ruger hammer, the Ruger is probably 3 times as thick at the base as the Encore hammer.  The Ruger also tapers to a point.

Does anybody have any connections to the T/C factory?  You wouldn't think it would take much to add some reinforcement under the flat part of the hammer.  Then even Popeye-thumb couldn't break if off!    

It would be interesting to know if only Encore muzzleloaders have this problem.

[Gregory]

I had one break on my Encore, was using a hammer extension at the time.

[Skyhook]

You know, now that I look at the hammer again, it IS pretty thin, with NO reinforcing underneath it.  

Comparing the Encore with a Ruger hammer, the Ruger is probably 3 times as thick at the base as the Encore hammer.  The Ruger also tapers to a point.

Does anybody have any connections to the T/C factory?  You wouldn't think it would take much to add some reinforcement under the flat part of the hammer.  Then even Popeye-thumb couldn't break if off!    

It would be interesting to know if only Encore muzzleloaders have this problem.

Yes, that cut-out on the hammer's ventral surface does produce a rather thin area. That is no longer an issue as I said, above, but just the idea some person could exert enough force during the cocking the hammer to weaken/break it makes me shake my head.