Author Topic: Oversize Hinge Pins (Read 1799 times)

hhuber50 · « **on:** August 29, 2006, 05:30:28 AM »

Does anyone have a good source for oversize hinge pins for the Encore? Thanks in advance.

Chuck White · « **Reply #1 on:** August 30, 2006, 05:02:20 AM »

hhuber50
A lot of people have bought the oversized hinge pins, but I haven't heard much about it in quite some time!

Myself, I for the most part feel that the oversized hinge pins are a lot of hype and an unnecessary purchase!

I have an encore and nothing at all special has been done to it! I have 3 barrels for it, 209X50, 221 Rem Fireball and 204 Ruger!
The 209X50 ML barrel will stay within 2 inches at 100 yards!
The Fireball will print sub-one inch groups at 100 yards!
The 204 will print 1/4 inch groups at 100 yards!

My recommendation is to play with your loads a little more, you will find a load that will shoot well in your Encore!

hhuber50 · « **Reply #2 on:** August 30, 2006, 06:31:57 AM »

Chuck --

Thanks for the information. My 209X50 does pretty well as is. I am setting up a 223 heavy barrel right now. Will see how it shoots out of the box and go from there.

BTW, I'm retired AF, also. Flew BUFFs.

Herb

Chuck White · « **Reply #3 on:** August 30, 2006, 08:31:45 AM »

hhuber50
My 204 and my Fireball are both heavy barrels! Like I said, they both shoot great!

BTW: I worked on BUFF's for the last 2 years of my 1st hitch!
Worked D Models at Dyess AFB, TX. That was 1970-1972.

Graybeard · « **Reply #4 on:** August 30, 2006, 08:44:17 AM »

While not everyone around here is in agreement I think it is the general concensus that the over size pins at best do no good and at worst actually cause harm.

Myself and some others have done comparisons before and after adding the over size pin and actually found it HURT accuracy and it also can make the holes over size with use so if you trade them off to someone else it might force them to need to use an over size pin as well.

I think you'd do better to spend the money on ammo so you can shoot more.

hhuber50 · « **Reply #5 on:** August 30, 2006, 04:37:42 PM »

Graybeard --

Thanks for your input and the rationale. The reason I ask questions and look for other perspective is that I know there is someone out there who has probably been there, done that. I find that I get into trouble when I get into a situation where I don't know what I don't know. Asking questions and listening to the replies is my way to ovecome that. I will most likely wait and see how the 223 setup performs before I decide to do anything else.

Chuck --

I was at Dyess in the late 80's with the H model. Never had the opportunity to fly "tall tails."

Redhawk1 · « **Reply #6 on:** August 31, 2006, 02:54:48 AM »

Quote from: Chuck White on August 30, 2006, 08:31:45 AM

hhuber50
My 204 and my Fireball are both heavy barrels! Like I said, they both shoot great!

BTW: I worked on BUFF's for the last 2 years of my 1st hitch!
Worked D Models at Dyess AFB, TX. That was 1970-1972.

Chuck White,
I was an old Buff AR troop. Worked them for 4 years at Ellsworth.

hhuber50, I am not a fan of the over sized pin in any of my Encores. If T/C thought they were a creditable fix to problems, don't you think they would sell them? My opinion is, if you feel there is a problem, get T/C to look at your gun.

iiranger · « **Reply #7 on:** September 11, 2006, 07:59:12 AM »

Thompson Center is a factory and as such, a bit more sloppy than a custom shop. Surprise. Mike Bellm, for one, has much to say about improving "factory practices" at T/C. He has a web site. While the oversized hinge pin is not the hot topic it once was, and there may be a bit more quality coming out of the factory, they are still available and many smiths, including Mike, will help you decide if you need one. As said, if you do, you will have "odd ball" frames and barrels ever after. Worth it? Your call. luck

Keith L · « **Reply #8 on:** September 11, 2006, 09:40:30 AM »

A few people like them, and I thinki it is fair to say that most of us don't see the need. If your frame is so sloppy that accuracy is impacted it needs work.

Davemuzz · « **Reply #9 on:** September 12, 2006, 02:55:53 AM »

Hhuber50,

I bot a factory .223 barrel for my Contender last year. Now, I know that every barrel likes it's own bullet powder combo, but it took me a little over a month to finally get one that my barrel loves.

So, just an FWIW, if you can't get something working, try a Nosler 40 grain Balistic tip over 28.5 of BL-C2. From my gun you can cover a 4 shot group with a dime a 100 yards.

My longest G-hog kill this year was 325 yards, and that's only because that's the longest shot I had. If I missed one, it certainally wasn't the gun's fault. (It was my wife's fault....well, maybe not).

Anyway, good luck and I hope you get one ragged hole.

Dave.

rebAL · « **Reply #10 on:** October 02, 2006, 10:35:04 AM »

I was reading on Precision Rifle website about using aluminum tape called MACTAC sold & used by heating industry or you can order it on-line from Precision. http://www.prbullet.com/encore2.htm Has anone tried this?

Chuck White · « **Reply #11 on:** October 02, 2006, 11:39:57 AM »

You can get the aluminum tape at any heating / air-conditioning shop!

Maybe even a hardware store that sells furnace supplies!

tigmaned · « **Reply #12 on:** October 03, 2006, 05:45:52 AM »

has anyone did a side by side test of a tight hinge pin and a normal one from the T/C fatory, on accuracy from shot to shot?
i thought once the barrel was locked in the frame and ready to fire the movement in the hinge went out of play, but then i could be very wrong and why i am posting to this. knowledge is all ways a good thing!

Keith L · « **Reply #13 on:** October 03, 2006, 10:57:59 AM »

There are lots of opinions about the hinge pins and their affect on accuracy. I haven't tried them because I don't have the problems some have. I have measured all my hinge pins and they are round enough so there isn't a problem if they move (which they don't. And once my guns are closed there is no wiggle that I can find. There was even a post about the black power barrels that indicated that the pin fell out of one side of the frame while shooting. If using an unmodified forend then that can't happen. One poster was so concerned by what he heard and read from self proclamed experts that he removed the side areas of his forend so the pin could be removed without taking the forend off.

So don't take it from me. I claim no special expertise. I just shoot them, and have not had a need for snake oil yet. I tell folks to try their guns out and go from there.

Qtip · « **Reply #14 on:** October 03, 2006, 12:03:04 PM »

I have a 20 ga. slug barrel w/scope. When I first shot it I noticed a wiggle in the barrel when it was locked up. On an old double I wouldn't even think much of it; but on a new gun I wasn't pleased. The gun shot "okay" and functioned as should. The trouble with wiggle or wobble is that at the instant of ignition vibrations start and what you thought was a correct sight picture is now thrown off to a greater or lesser extent. What would happen on a bolt gun with a "loose" barrel? Having the scope mounted on the barrel as on the T/C makes no difference. I went to a one-size larger hinge pin for that barrel and the gun is now tight as it should be and the groups tightened considerably.

Qtip
Soli Deo Gloria!

Keith L · « **Reply #15 on:** October 03, 2006, 01:59:25 PM »

I would have sent it back to TC if it wiggled when locked up. If new it was not made right, if used it was worn past where I would have put up with it. Either way TC would have fixed it and sent it back (in my experience).

Qtip · « **Reply #16 on:** October 04, 2006, 10:43:24 AM »

True. But it was only two plus weeks until deer season. I'm happy now anyway.

Qtip
Soli Deo Gloria!

Keith L · « **Reply #17 on:** October 04, 2006, 12:36:56 PM »

Your happiness is the most important part. Good hunting!

rebAL · « **Reply #18 on:** October 07, 2006, 03:47:05 AM »

What do you think that MACTAC tape will do to the blued finish of Encore?l

tcshooter52 · « **Reply #19 on:** October 07, 2006, 03:02:31 PM »

Bottom line on accuracy for Contenders is headspace. You don't neck size only!! (this is going to raise a ruckus), unless you are loading light loads which will work for a while) Determine your barrel to frame gap and go form there. It's so easy to do, and once you do that you will have fewer headacks.

John