OPINIONS ON ENCORE RIFLES?

[Lawful Larry]

I always talk nice to my guns.  I treat them like my children.  And as with any errant child, one must give extra attention.  But after some trying times one must resort to tuff love!   :-D

[Tom Brush]

Buckskin:

Sorry for the late reply.  My barrel is a T/C blued factory barrel.  It shoots the Remington factory 40 gr. bullets into 1/2" for 3 shots at 100 yds.   It really likes my reloads and shoots the same 40 gr. Hornady bullets into .300.  The 32 gr. Hornady factory loads do not group well.  At least the few I have tried.  The same bullet in my reloads will easily beat 1/2".  I am working on the trigger now.  It is 4#.  I hope to get it down to 2 to 2 1/2#.  I do not expect it to shoot any better from the bags but it will be easier to handle in the field.

I let a friend who is a former benchrest gunsmith borrow the gun.  He shot one 5 shot group with the Remington factory 40 gr. bullets.  It was 1/2" at 100 yds.  He is now building a .204.  Could not get him to buy an Encore as he manufacturers his own actions.

I am now looking for a S/S frame with a Hardwoods camo stock in 25-06.

Tom

[iisabigone]

Hey guys I have had my encore for a while now and I thought I would just write a note on how it is performing for me thus far.  I havent shot any live game with it but the 2005 season is coming and I have been preparing for it.

We had a little bread in the weather this weekend so I took my rifle and my barrels out and shot 1 three shot group with each barrel and loads that have seemed to work well thus far.  All groups were shot at 100 yds of a bench with caldwell shooting bags. i allowed 5 minutes between each shot to allow the barrel to cool.

I started off with the 50 cal muzzleloader barrel. This barrel is set up with warne bases and warne quick detachable rings and a Leupold VX II 3X9X40.  I loaded up 3 50 grain pyro pellets with a 250 grain shockwave. I swabbed  the bore out with a wet patch and fired two caps to clear the barrel and breechplug of oil before loading the first charge. In between each shot I wet spit patched with one patch and dry patched with one patch, flipping each patch to use both sides.  Groups measure with a tape measure center to center was 7/8 inch.  Group is hitting 3 inches high at this point

I then switched barrels and forends for the 270.  This barrel is set up with t/c base warne rings and a Leupold Vari XIII 3.5X10 X50. I was shooting the 130 grain remington corelock.  This group measured 11/16 inch center to center.  Group is hitting 2 inches high at this point.

I then switched barrels to the 243 barrel. This barrel is set up with a tc base warne rings and a Leupold VXII 3X9X40. I was shooting the federal premium with the 100 grain btsp.  This group measure 7/8 inch center to center. Group is hitting 1 1/2 inches high at this point and 1/2 inch to the right. I adjusted 2 clicks left before putting it in the truck.

Not tack driving thus far but plenty good for hunting around here.  So far Im pretty pleased with the encore system

Only mods I have done to this encore thus far are free floating the rifle barrels with credit card material, a 1X hinge pin and I pushed on the trigger spring a little to take a little tension of it.  The directions for this procedure are in the specialty pistols forum.

I look forward to wringing this encore out this fall and winter in the field.  I sure have enjoyed getting it set up.
                      iisabigone

[Omega]

I have 4 Encore frames with 22/250, 7-08, 25/06, 270, 300 win mag, 375 H&H, 209x50, 209x45, 12 ga, turkey, 12 ga ML, 20 ga barrels. I love this gun!