Author Topic: Encore 7mag problems (Read 1760 times)

WV HUNTER · « **on:** November 10, 2004, 04:52:47 AM »

I bought a new Stainless 7mm rem mag Encore.I put a new Leupold scope on it and have shot remington,federal, and winchester ammo.I have changed the scope and done all I know.This gun will not shoot no better than 3" to 3.5"group at 100 yards.Help would be greatly appreciated.T/C said to send it back and I will but would like to use it for hunting this season.Have spent all this money and might not get to hunt with it this year.Frustrated

Chuck White · « **Reply #1 on:** November 10, 2004, 08:19:28 AM »

I would go ahead and use it this season!
Most of the time in deer hunting situations, we can live with the groups you're getting, unless you start stretching the distance!
As soon as the season is over, I'd send it right back to TC requesting they replace it or whatever other action is necessary correct the problem!

WV HUNTER · « **Reply #2 on:** November 11, 2004, 07:30:23 AM »

Thanks,that is what I will do.I think I will try the washer under the forearm trick and see if that will help before going hunting .Maybe the group will tighten up some.

smokey66 · « **Reply #3 on:** November 14, 2004, 04:12:24 PM »

a friend had the same problem with a 223 bbl. we tried and tried to work up different loads. the barrel just wouldn't give in. finally he sent it to T-C. they sent a new barrel. the new barrel likes just about any ammo you put in it. i agree with Chuck White, use it for the season, then get it replaced. you will be surprised with the groups you will shoot with a "good" barrel..

iiibbb · « **Reply #4 on:** November 14, 2004, 04:57:11 PM »

What is the "washer under the forarm" trick?

leverfan · « **Reply #5 on:** November 14, 2004, 06:09:59 PM »

Quote from: iiibbb

What is the "washer under the forarm" trick?

You just put a couple of small, thin washers between the forearm and the barrel before you screw the forearm back on. The screws pass through the washers, you snug them down, and your stock is now held in minimum contact with the barrel, almost "free-floated". It often helps Encore accuracy.

iiibbb · « **Reply #6 on:** November 15, 2004, 12:32:31 PM »

Think you'd have to rezero the scope, or would it just tighten the groups?

leverfan · « **Reply #7 on:** November 15, 2004, 06:27:57 PM »

Quote from: iiibbb

Think you'd have to rezero the scope, or would it just tighten the groups?

The only way to answer that question for a particular rifle would be to go and shoot a 3 shot group. It shouldn't shift your point of impact too much, but you always have to check after changing something like that. Besides, what if it makes your gun throw bigger groups, just because of some unique gun gremlins? There aren't any good short cuts, at least it's always worked poorly for me when I've tried a "short cut". :oops:

WV HUNTER · « **Reply #8 on:** November 16, 2004, 01:19:00 AM »

Thanks for the help.I did put the washers under the forearm and shot it again this weekend.The group looked alot better without touching the scope.I'm alot happier now.I will use it for this season and then I will send it back to T/C.Wish you all luck on your hunting this season.

robk · « **Reply #9 on:** November 17, 2004, 07:16:56 PM »

i was wondering about floating the barrel and the washer thing makes a lot of sense thanks for putting that on here it sure helped me also i am going to try a hangar from virgin and their forend i think to make the barrel work like it is freefloated . they say this works great in the accuracy department
rob k

WV HUNTER · « **Reply #10 on:** January 26, 2005, 01:46:17 AM »

Well my 7mm Rem Mag will be here tomorrow.T/C said they lapped the barrell and got 1 1/4" groups at 100 yards.So we will see this weekend if it will shoot decent groups or not.Let you know what happens.

flyer05 · « **Reply #11 on:** January 26, 2005, 12:20:56 PM »

Yes, post the results. I am working on a 7mm mag right now and need to shoot it beofore I have more time in the thing.

WV HUNTER · « **Reply #12 on:** February 07, 2005, 09:42:44 AM »

Well I got my 7MM Mag back.I took it to the range and shot remington,federal, and winchester loads.I still have a 3" group.Sometimes I get the first shot in target,2nd will fly 3" to 3.5" and 3rd shot will sometimes come back to the first shot.They said they had it shooting 1.25" group at 100 yards.Not for me.I have changed scopes using Leupold,I floated the barrell forearm and trigger adjusted.I called them they said they don't know to send it back or they will trade me calibers if I want.Thinking about going with a .270.I was told by one of the employees that they had some problems with the 7mm mag's.I have a Browning Medalion 7mm mag, so may go ahead and try this Encore in the .270.I'm really frustrated with this gun.All of my rifles remington,savage, and browning shoot excellent out of the box any ammo.I have probably spent $250.00 dollars on ammo for this Encore.I shoot 3 groups and cool barrell and clean.I have shot it dirty,nothing works.Let you know when I get new barrell.

reflex264 · « **Reply #13 on:** February 08, 2005, 06:31:46 PM »

Hey WV HUNTER. I haven't been GBO in a long time. I got on tonight started looking around and ran into the very same problem (except not as bad) that I had. I ordered a .264 Win Mag barrel form TC's Fox Ridge custom shop. I already had my encore with a 30-06 pistol barrel shooting 1/2"groups with hand loads and couldn't wait to try the .264 out. The first time out I knew something was wrong. It was shooting 18" vertical strings. It went from bad to worse. I called them several times and kept getting all kinds of suggestions. The stringing quit but my encore was shooting 8" groups at 100 yards. I washered the forend to no avail and did everything humanly possible but it was still a scatter gun. They finally agreed to let me send it back. A few days latter I got a call that they were sending a new barrel. I had to pry the truth out of them. My barrel was chambered shallow. When the breach was closed the brass was tight against the breach face which is very undesirable on a encore with a high pressure cartridge. Then told me that 6" from the muzzle there was a 1/8" long piece of rifling gone. I thought all my troubles were over. I got he new barrel and my groups improved to 6". I got on the phone and told them what was going on. I felt like the problem was more than met the eye. One day while trying to sort it out I opened it after a shot and my son looked down and said one of the bolts is broke. When I examined it I got sick. I tore the gun down and discovered that the locking table edge was rolled from the factory. I got on the phone again and told them what I had discovered. They had me return the barrel and frame to them. They replaced the frame and test fired it. They told me it was fixed and sent it back again. Now it shot 3" groups. I got in contact with Mike Bellm and explained my problem. He told me to get one of his over sized hinge pins. and see how that helped. Now I had a 2" gun. He told me to do a clearance check on the frame to barrel (explained on his website) and I discovered to my horror that the chamber was .007" long. This explained stretch marks on factory loaded shells. He told me to full length size my cases and add .006" to the sizing length. I replaced the factory forend with a VVG hanger system and forend. Bingo! To date it has shot a .151" best but shoots consistent .50" groups. A lot of work for a gun I thought I would just go shoot. I now use it as a bean field gun. I have actually shot a deer with it at a lasered 600 yards. I will be glad to help anyway I can if you have more problems. reflex264

here is the finished product. 26" barrel, Weaver Tactical scope. VVG forend.Bellm hinge pin.

WV HUNTER · « **Reply #14 on:** February 09, 2005, 01:19:13 AM »

Thanks alot Reflex264.I have really been confused with this gun.When I sent it in I sent frame and barrell.I called T/C and told them what was happening when I got the gun back,they said they couldn't explain to send it back again and they would work on it or send me any caliber of mt choice.I believe I'm going to try the .270.T/C said to only send barrell this time.I will try this again.About the hinge pin,where did you get it from.I am a machinist and thought about making me a different hinge pin with a tighter tolerance and see what that would do.I'll just keep trying until I get something that will shoot.They say this gun should shoot 1.5" groups at 100 yards.If they can get it too shoot that I would be pleased and do what I need to get tighter groups from there.Thanks alot for the help.Let you know what happens when I get the other barrell.

reflex264 · « **Reply #15 on:** February 09, 2005, 04:16:07 PM »

Hey WV HUNTER. The pins are available from http://www.bellmtcs.com/store/index.php. TC explained that they used a fitting jig to check headspace and originally insisted that my first barrel checked ok. I am surprised that they still missed it with your frame in hand. There is a article on this site that gives an experiment to check your breach clearance. Thats a good place to start looking for problems.reflex264

WV HUNTER · « **Reply #16 on:** February 15, 2005, 01:26:23 AM »

Well I sent my barrel back to T/C yesterday to trade for a .270 stainless caliber,I also told T/C to send me another hinge pin.Hopefully this one will shoot.Let you know what happens.

WV HUNTER · « **Reply #17 on:** March 02, 2005, 01:20:01 AM »

Well I finally got my barrel yesterday.I put the scope on it last night and have it ready to shoot.Let's hope it will shoot some kind of group this time.I will shoot it this weekend and let you know what happens.

WV HUNTER · « **Reply #18 on:** May 03, 2005, 01:35:14 AM »

I finally got to shoot my .270 barrel.I only had a few sheels because I wanted to make sure it would shoot before spending alot money like I had done with the 7mm barrel.Looks like this one might shoot.I used some remington core locks 130 grain and it shot groups 7/8" and better for no more than I shot it.Will shoot more and let you know,but looks like this one might be good.Need to shoot more,let you know.Thanks for the help.

tcman · « **Reply #19 on:** May 03, 2005, 03:47:42 PM »

I have never been overly impressed with 7mm mag and 257 Wby Mag I had...never really got good groups out of any belted mag I loaded for either.

On the headspace problem, it seems that headspace problems and T/C are like the oil leaks in the older Fords...the factory don't charge you any more for them......

I had a barrel that I believed to be reamed too deep...brass (ALL brass I tried) set down in the barrel .0015. Which in its self isn't to great, but when you add a .0055 barrel face to breach gap, now we have a headspace problem.........unfortunately, $10 in shipping and a months wait only revealed what others preached....T/C would say all is ok and ship me the barrel back...yup, that's what happened.