Last Wednesday, I received my new Encore barrel from Van Horn's shop. It is 20" long with the Van Horn Muzzle Brake and 1" full bull diameter in Stainless Steel. I ordered the Rynite Rifle forend and Van Horn hogged out the channel to a perfect fit to the barrel. I was prepared to freefloat the barrel and work up loads for it, but I couldn't wait so I used a load for my other 7mm BR Encore barrel and went to the range Thursday morning.
Absolutely nothing was needed in the way of load development or freefloating was needed. This is my 15th TC Barrel (Contenders and Encores) and it is the most accurate barrel. I shoot 500 meter silhouette mostly. My old load of 28.8 grains of WC846(BLC-2) and a Hornady 162 gr Amax bullet at a velocity of 2115 fps is very accurate in my 15" Encore, so it will shoot minute of angle at 200, 300, 385 and 500 meters.
Today, just for fun I ran 20 turkeys at 385 meters in a row and then took a chicken at the same distance. There was only chicken there.
The finish and fit of the Van Horn work is perfect and of course, the accuracy is beyond my wildest hopes.
I sent a loaded round to Van Horn and he throated the barrel to suit my bullet of choice. The chamber is a smidge tighter than my Factory Encore barrel.
Harold Clark
