Improving Encore accuracy

[Myerslake2005]

It's a toss up for a Encore or Omega for my 40th birthday.  Other than matching the right bullet/powder combination are there other ways of improving the accuracy of the Encore?  With the Omega you can glass bed as needed but with the Encore I believe you can't  I plan on using the black horn powder.

[jammer308]

You can pillar bed the forend. I think some people have had luck by just making rubber or leather washers to give the forend some clearnce. Either way you'll want to use a torque driver to be consistant when taking it apart and putting it back together.

[12ptdroptine]

Get yourself a "Wheeler " torque wrench..It measure's torque in inch lbs torque the forend screws to the same torque each time you remove it..should be about 25 or 30 inch lbs.. It will say on the back of the package. This will help more than you realize. Then just work up a good load combo that your's like's. I only use loos powder anymore.. and if you REALLY want to get it shooting good then measure out a handful of your charge's ...then weigh them on a powder scale and make them all the same. I dont go quite that far. And I am going to try BH209 this next season... With my set up and ritual which is 100gr777 ffg loose by volume between each shot I run 1 wet patch with cleaner and then 2 dry patches flipped. I can get 3 hole's touching at 100yds. It is always moa or better..if I do my part.  This can be achieved with an array of gun's though. Its the shooter's consistancy that counts the most. Drop

[hogrdr]

I would say buy what feels good when you pull it up! IMHO bullet and powder combo does more for accuracy than all that other stuff. Since switching to BH209 my groups are more consistant 85 gr all three touch at 100 yds. but 100 gr opens a little about 1/2" still a killing machine. Far better than I ever expected from a M/L. By the way I just shoot Pro Hunter just like it came in the box! Prior to BH209 my POI would change from one trip to range to the next.

Maybe you should get Omega to avoid the dreaded barrel virus I caught. It all started 1 year ago when I wanted a M/L now I have 2 frames and 5 barrels.
Hog

[12ptdroptine]

Barrel virus aint bad...I got the new frame virus.... I need another..I have a set of furniture lying around...Drop

[Myerslake2005]

The barrel virus is why I am looking at the Encore.  I've got kids that are going to be shooting in a few years so I'm considering the Encore so I can buy some small caliber barrels for them.  Now I've got to look at the wallet,  $460 for the laminate Omega or $650 for the Encore Pro Hunter.

[Davemuzz]

Floating the Encore barrel is a good idea. Using a torque wrench is also a good idea. However, IMHO I would stay away from using leather or rubber for the "float material". Instead, I would recommend using metal. Metal will remain the same in rain or snow or in changing temperatures. The last thing you want to happen is sight in your Encore on a nice warm sunny day, only to have a 12 point standing at 90 yards on a 34 degree rainy morning and you wondering why you missed! Or worse yet.....why the hit wasn't where it counted.

Dave

[AndyHass]

The accurization potential (note, I did not say accuracy potential) is greater with the Omega.  If your Omega isn't perfect there is plenty you can do to it....the so-called fixes for the Encore are half-hearted  at best.  I've walked people through it, few were really happy with the results.

Some Encores are really accurate right out of the box and it's not a problem.  But get a 2 MOA Encore and a 2MOA Omega, the Omega will be better after tweaking.

[Davemuzz]

....the so-called fixes for the Encore are half-hearted  at best.

I'm still laughing at this post. Have a trigger job done on your Encore and float the forend with metal. Neither one of those matters are brain surgery. And that's good, as none of us on this forum are brain surgeons.

Here is a picture of my ProHunter .243 six shot group at 100 yards. Post trigger job and forend float. Nosler BT 70gr. and max load of H-414.

[TRM-1]

I have had some problems with my pro hunter But after floating the forends and a trigger job I am especially happy with the accuracy of my rifle barrels (204 - 25-06) using factory ammo and with my muzzleloading barrel using 120 grains blackhorn and 250 grain shockwave bullet. Wouldn't give up my pro hunter encore for a omega. Altough my dad has one and it is a shooter.

[AndyHass]

....the so-called fixes for the Encore are half-hearted  at best.

I'm still laughing at this post. Have a trigger job done on your Encore and float the forend with metal. Neither one of those matters are brain surgery. And that's good, as none of us on this forum are brain surgeons.

Here is a picture of my ProHunter .243 six shot group at 100 yards. Post trigger job and forend float. Nosler BT 70gr. and max load of H-414.

You assume every Encore is going to respond like yours, which is not the case in the numerous ones I have seen attempts done to accurize.  Some work, some don't.  There is no such thing as a truly bedded and floated Encore.  No matter what you do, that foreend is attached to the barrel.  How many precision rifles do you see on a break-action platform?  There is a reason the answer is essentially zero, but from your immature reply I don't think you are up to engaging in a decent discussion on this point.

Additionally, while not bad your .243 group is hardly anything to brad about compared to what my bolt actions shoot.  It's also not a ML group which is what we are talking about here.  If you can't get under .75 MOA with a .243 barrel, what do you think a ML barrel is going to do on that frame?

[Davemuzz]

How many precision rifles do you see on a break-action platform?  There is a reason the answer is essentially zero, but from your immature reply I don't think you are up to engaging in a decent discussion on this point.

Well Mr. Maturation, I don't shoot benchrest so I don't know. And is the answer "essentially zero" or "zero"? And what is the difference? (Essentially zero - zero = ??). And at least you have three words in a row that do in fact make sense. Those words would be: I don't think. Now, we can go on with word jousting forever.....but it really is pointless. None of my previous comments were derogatory and nor were they meant to be.

Additionally, while not bad your .243 group is hardly anything to brad about compared to what my bolt actions shoot.  It's also not a ML group which is what we are talking about here.  If you can't get under .75 MOA with a .243 barrel, what do you think a ML barrel is going to do on that frame?

The .243 group is a 6 shot group. Most groups are measured with 3 shot groups. I can assure you if I take that gun out today and shoot 3 shots at a 100 yard target, it will be under .5MOA. In fact, it may very well do that at 200 yards at this point in time as I have ran many more loads down that barrel and it has had a chance to get nice and broke in now.

But then, based upon your comments....I'm crushed and I'm just going to sell the ProHunter lock-stock-'n barrel for $100. I mean....who would pay any more for a POC like this?

Dave