T/C Encore 20 gauge rifled barrel

[Real25WSSM]

I just bought a 20 gauge rifled barrel with a 3" chamber for my T/C Encore. Here's my question, I am considering the Hornady 2 & 3/4" SST Slugs and the Federal 3" Barnes Vital-Shok slugs.

Anyone have any experience with these slugs in their Encores?

Any other slug recommendations?

Thanks.

[Real25WSSM]

ttt

[Real25WSSM]

ttt

[Real25WSSM]

anyone?

[Real25WSSM]

Well, I have decided to try these:

Winchester Supreme Partition Gold 2 & 3/4", 260 gr. Partition-HG @1900 fps

Hornady SST 2 & 3/4", 250 gr. SST @1800 fps

Federal Premium Vital-Shok 3" 5/8 oz Barnes Expander, 273 gr. Barnes @1900 fps.

I figure that the "published" velocities are probably from a 30" Test Barrel, I'll chono them to see what they are really getting.

Here are some pics:

My first barrel is a .204 Ruger S/S, so the two-tone look!!

Burris Fullfield II 4.5x - 14x with Ballistic Plex Reticle which I "stole" from my 25WSSM

Just wondering if the 3" Federal will shoot better since the Encore barrel has a 3" chamber?

[Steve E]

I had the best results in my barrel with the Federal Premium/Barnes Expander(1 inch to 1.5 inch) and the Winchester Supreme Part/Gold running just about the same.
The Barnes bullets really opened up holes in the Whitetails, be prepared to do some tracking with them though. Out of 6 deer I killed with them I had to track one 23 feet. Almost didn't find that one, wink, wink. Most dropped or stumbled forward a couple of feet.

                                                          Steve E..........

[Real25WSSM]

Out of 6 deer I killed with them I had to track one 23 feet.

Wow that is awesome!

I am gonna shoot the shotgun today. My dealer ordered my some Federal Barnes and Hornady SST's.

Right now I just have the Winchester Supreme's and some older Winchester BRI's.

I will post some pics after this 1st phase of testing.

[Steve E]

A lot of people have reported very good results with the Lightfield Sabot slugs but I couldn't get them to group any better than 6 inches at 100 yds in my barrel. Too bad for me as they don't cost  near as much as the other slugs. My 209x50 muzzle loader barrel shoots the Barnes Redhot 250 grain sabot bullets the best of all the sabot bullets I tried also. But I don't like the Barnes copper bullets for my centerfire reloads, I have tried several different ones and they just don't group good in my rifles.

                                                         Steve E............

[Johnly]

I'm considering purchasing one of these barrels and ordering a Paradox slug mold from NEI. Can someone slug their barrel and measure the bore diameter of a Encore 20 ga. rifled barrel?

Thanks,

John in Oregon

[†·ĦÙŃŦÈŔ·†]

   I been shootin the Lightfield 2 3/4in hybird sabots - been wasteing 3 shots each fall for the last 3 years sighting the gun in as the "zero" hasn't moved... as for sighting them in you need to sight them in at 50 yards 2 inches high - this will give you a dead center shot at 100 yards - my scope is a little bit of an over kill a Burris 3x9 but at a price I couldn't pass up... 

 Taken from lightfieldslugs .com

       
*Slug guns MUST be zeroed (sighted-in) while the slug is supersonic (above 1220 ft/sec in velocity). Therefore you must zero your gun 2 inches high at 50 yards, absolutely centered above your point of aim. You will then be dead-on zeroed at 100 yards because gravity will see to it. Zeroing at 50 yards also cuts down (by approximately 60%) your chance of adjusting windage error into your scope setting.

    http://www.lightfieldslugs.com/lightfield/ecatalog/index.cfm?id=2&cfid=9576421&cftoken=5218431



                                                                                                                                        ~ Scotia_Hunter~

[STJ]

Thats an odd comment from Lighfield...they must start to tumble under supersonic speeds...But a tumbling slug will mess up a deer's insides.

[Real25WSSM]

It's been awhile!

I'm in the middle of our Ohio bow season, but I am looking forward to shotgun season as well!

Anymore thoughts on the Hornady SST's in 20 gauge.

Thanks.

[equinoxbuilders]

depends on the distance you plan on shooting to.  SSTs are suppose to be accurate at longer ranges..  Are they in your gun?  I have both SST and 3" Lightfield Commanders IDS in 12 gauge 870.  both shoot well to 100 yrds.  I haven't practiced any further than 100 yrds, and mostly shoot to 50 yrds..  I'm partial to Lightfield Commanders because of the holes they leave and my group with them at 50 yrds.  My cousin likes Remington Copper Solids in his 870, because he shoots so well with them, and is recoil sensitive with 3" Lightfields.  Again, this is 12 not 20 gauge.

If I had the funds, I would get a 20 guage 870 and load with Lightfields if it shot them OK.  I like slower larger cal. to faster smaller cal... just from my own exp.
Oops,,,  I'm in the TC area..
If I had the funds, I would get a 20 guage Encore and load with Lightfields if it shot them OK.

You also said your dealer ordered you some SST's...  I hope you get them before next hunting season.  If you don't have them in your hand, you may wanna call Cabelas and see if they have a few boxes in stock and buy them to make sure you get them... My local retailer put in a large order last yr at a gun show with the Hornady Rep, and never got them till Spring. Nobody around here had em.  when I went there a few weeks ago, they had only 4 boxes left,and that was all they were going to have this yr. and I grabbed them all.

I also see you are a bow hunter and if your hunting shotgun like bow hunting, out of a treestand and ranges not longer than 40yrds, then save your money and find a good cheap slug that will group.
My cousin and I see so many shotgunners (including ourselves) that are disgusted with the groupings of some very expensive ammo...

good luck this season.

[Real25WSSM]

Dead Tie!!

Hornady SST = 1.25" 3 shot groups at 50 yards

Winchester Supreme = 1.25" 3 shot groups at 50 yards

Hornady SST = $3 cheaper!

[Tracker]

I have been using the Winchester supreme and have had great results.  Out of my NEF 20 Ultraslugger I can gt all three shots touching at 50 yards.  And they are absolutely deadly on deer.  I have been using the SST in my ML and while they are very accurate I have had mixed results on deer.  I would pay the extra $3.00 and stick with the Winchester.  The partition bulet is a pretty proven round.

[Real25WSSM]

Ok,

Got the 20 gauge Encore sighted in!

Hornady 2&3/4" SST Sabot Slugs

Here are 2 shots at 150 yards.