Pro Hunter Is the extra money worth it?

[Myerslake2005]

I'm going back and forth on which muzzleloader to purchase for my 40th birthday.  The Encore is right up there since I can purchase the additional barrels. 

Went to a gun shop to take a look and the person working the counter more or less says you get a little bit of sugar coating such as engraving and fluting that doesn't make a difference and you pay alot more.  I know you gain 2" of barrel length, flex tech stock which what I have read on other posts does reduce recoil,  and a swing hammer trigger.

For those of you who are familiar with both the regular Encore and the Pro Hunter, is the Pro Hunter worth the extra money?  Rough difference in price is $80.

[grouse]

If you are going to buy extra barrels the Pro-Hunter is a great choice. If your not buying extra barrels a Triumph is a better ML. Actually the Bone Collector will hit the stores in april. I would go with the Endeavor if it was me. The speed breech is just amazing and simple to use. You also get the Power Rod with the Pro-Hunter / Endeavor. That cost's about $35.00 bucks. I owned the Encore and Pro-Hunter, the Endeavor would be first choice. To answer your Question, i would get the Pro-Hunter.

[hogrdr]

If you don't get Pro Hunter sooner or later you will end up with the flex tech stock! So you just as well get it now IMHO they really take some bite out of the recoil.
Hog

[mirage1988]

Is the flex tech really better? I have a laminated stock on my encore that is the best looking piece i've ever seen, but the recoil gets to me shooting 300 grain bullets.

[12ptdroptine]

I have one of each.. I started with the Encore ..and got an extra barrel for it. But I didnt like the re-zero when changeing barrels.In the meantime I thought I had to have camo..So I bought all new camo stock's Then I had extra stock's laying around so I got to thinking..A new frame is in order..However by the time I bought a new frame for about 50 more dollars I could get the flextech stock with it..so guess what? Now I have an Encore and a Pro hunter and still the extra stock's laying around..LOL But seriously the Pro hunter if only $80 more is worth it. I then bought the 20ga ProHunter slug barrel The resale is better the flextech stock does work..I personally do not like the swing hammer..Seems that the angle just doesnt transfer the pressure well. My Encore has a hammer spur on it and it cock's alot easier..Feels more natural. Seems like a lot better grip on it. And there isnt anything to go wrong with it.And there ar other barrel mfg's out there that are somewhat cheaper to buy..One being Bergara...and with QD ring's you can bounce around scope's also. I really looked at the Triumph..Not for me..Its some sort of alloy..powder coated something or other very light..Those who have them really like them. One thing to be aware of also is the staneless on the Encore needs proper attention or it will rust more quickly than you would think for staneless..My first one had a little rust on it in the shop..And it was brand new..But every T/C barrel I have for them are real shooter's Good luck Drop

[hogrdr]

Is the flex tech really better? I have a laminated stock on my encore that is the best looking piece i've ever seen, but the recoil gets to me shooting 300 grain bullets.

Is it better yes it is like night and day! I started with a Pro Hunter bought some wood for it as I love the look of wood. Shot my 270 win. with the wood one time and I can say never again. The 270 is not a big kicker but it made it uncomfortable on the bench and would never consider it on my 300 win. mag wood is reserved for my 22-250!
Hog

[black powder]

not realy ...when i bought my ENCORE stainless with a synthetic stock ,i took one good look at the recoil pad that T/C put on my muzzleloader and it felt like a hockey puck ..i bought a SIMS LIMBSAVER recoil pad and was very happy ,almost no more recoil ...then after i picked up a PRO HUNTER and the new flex tech stock felt realy nice ,i liked the feeling of the rubberized pistol grip ...so i bought the PRO HUNTER stock with the flex tech and the LIMBSAVER recoil pad and installed it on my ENCORE .i have to say that the flex tech made no difference to me ,the biggest change was the SIMS LIMBSAVER recoil pad ..[save ur money]

[packerbacker]

in comparing the encore vs the prohunter vs the endeavor, does the simplicity of breech removal come into play for anybody, or is the focus more on the stock. i'm curious as i also am looking for an inline and would like to stick with the t/c choices that can interchange barrels. i think i'm more focued on the one that is the easiest to load, clean and take care of. my gut intinct is the endeavor.

mitch

[hogrdr]

not realy ...when i bought my ENCORE stainless with a synthetic stock ,i took one good look at the recoil pad that T/C put on my muzzleloader and it felt like a hockey puck ..i bought a SIMS LIMBSAVER recoil pad and was very happy ,almost no more recoil ...then after i picked up a PRO HUNTER and the new flex tech stock felt realy nice ,i liked the feeling of the rubberized pistol grip ...so i bought the PRO HUNTER stock with the flex tech and the LIMBSAVER recoil pad and installed it on my ENCORE .i have to say that the flex tech made no difference to me ,the biggest change was the SIMS LIMBSAVER recoil pad ..[save ur money]

Save your money?? I see you have flex tech stock mounted on your encore so it must have other advatages! So what your saying is save $80.00 them spend $40.00 on limbsaver recoil pad that means he is only saving $40.00 but gaining a speed breech which IMHO is great thing to have. Many will argue the swing hammer personally I like but not a make or break. But I feel the flex tech forearm and butt stock with the rubber gives better control over the old encore stocks with the checkering.

[teddy12b]

Is the flex tech really better? I have a laminated stock on my encore that is the best looking piece i've ever seen, but the recoil gets to me shooting 300 grain bullets.

Is it better yes it is like night and day!

+1.  I bought a regular stainless encore in 30-06 before the pro-hunters came out.  First thing I did was buy a thumbhole stock for it because it's more comfortable for me.  Then the pro-hunters came out and I sold my encore thumbhole stock to buy a prohunter thumbhole stock.  WOW, what a difference.  In this day and age there is no reason for a guy to shoot a gun that has a junk recoil pad on it.  I want my should to last a lifetime of hunting & shooting so for me I paid the money for the stock.  As far as everything else on a pro-hunter, I don't really care for it.  I don't use hammer extensions or care that the hammer rotates, the engraving doesn't do anything for me, the longer barrel isn't a bad thing, but my 30-06 already has a 26" barrel.  The forend on a new pro-hunter doesn't look like it would be easy to put a bipod on it and I use one frequently at the range.  Having said all that, the pro-hunter is a fine rifle, but it's just a dressed up encore.  The real value in the pro-hunter is the recoil reducing stocks, in my opinion.

[Lawful Larry]

If you want to buy a ML, then do just that and don't worry about the idea of additional barrels.  I had an Encore and had nothing but trouble. 

The ML barrel had a tight spot mid way down the barrel.  I sent it back, but the techs said there was none.  Been hunting and shooting for over 50 years and I know a tight spot when I feel one.  Next, I bought a .30-06 barrel.  Long story short, it made it back to the factory twice and after the third time they exchanged the barrel.  I still had the same problem. 

I was so pissed off with this piece of junk that I ended up selling it and buying another ML and a Winchester Model 70 rifle and have never looked back.  My story is not the only one out there.  There are others that have experienced the same problems with this gun.  Others may be so tired of their story that they don't give a damn anymore and dont' want to take the time to talk about TC Encores.  I hope you don't have to go down this road and if you do get one, I hope it works for you. 

[TRM-1]

I have a pro hunter .50 cal muzzleloader with a nikon omega BDC 250 scope that I shoot 120 grains of blackhorn 209 powder with a 250 grain shockwave. I am very satisfied with this gun. Would recommend it highly if you wanted the switch barrel feature. I know that T/C has had problems with the encores in the past, But haven't heard of any with the newer barrels. I owned a blued encore .50 many years ago that put a lot of meat in the freezer for me.

[DannoBoone]

Is the flex tech really better? I have a laminated stock on my encore that is the best looking piece i've ever seen, but the recoil gets to me shooting 300 grain bullets.

A mercury recoil reducer and a Simm's butt pad will do wonders for that problem, and you can keep that beautiful laminated stock --have
your cake and eat it to! That's what I did to my Boyd's stock.