Author Topic: 1st Day at the Range with the new Encore.................... (Read 919 times)

Captainkev · « **on:** October 24, 2003, 08:06:23 AM »

Well, I just got back from a session at the range, trying out the new Encore in 308 for the first time.
The recoil was mild and didn't seem much more than my 44 Super Blackhawk Hunter.
It was a bit frustrating though, as I was having a bit of a time keeping it grouping where I wanted it.
It seemed to be very angle of trigger pull sensitive, more so than my Super Blackhawk.
At 100 yards the best I could get was a 3 inch group, and I have to admitt I wasn't extremely consistant at that.
I know it is a new barrel and stock trigger pull, but are there some little secrets regarding grip and pull that would help me get this gun shooting like I know it can?

Kevin

Captainkev · « **Reply #1 on:** October 24, 2003, 10:52:37 AM »

I just found on this site, the return spring adjustment instructions.
I pushed the spring in a few times, and WOW, big difference on the weight of pull. Hopefully that will help a bit on the groupings.
I did the same thing on my Super Blackhawk, by droping one side of the return spring off the post. It gave it about the same pull as the Encore has now, and it groups VERY tight.
I am taking the Encore out West with me next week, and will spend some more time at the range with it, and try and connect on a few Yotes.........didn't pull a Bull tag this year for Oregon, but going along anyway.

Kevin

KYODE · « **Reply #2 on:** October 24, 2003, 11:48:20 AM »

have you tried to get the forearm to not touch the barrel as much as possible? try a few layers of electrical tape folded into small squares. place one near each screw, between barrel and forearm. may cut your groups in half, and sure doesn't hurt to try.

Duffy · « **Reply #3 on:** October 24, 2003, 06:51:05 PM »

Kev
I had the same problems with mine when I first got it. It takes a while to get your grip in the same place every time and it DOES make a difference! Little movements seem to make big groups and fixing the trigger helps too. I was putting too much finger on the trigger and pulling to the side plus anticipating the recoil makes for crappy groups too. You may try the forend shimming like Kyode mentioned but it made no difference on mine with the rubber forend.

Captainkev · « **Reply #4 on:** October 25, 2003, 03:14:47 AM »

Thank you for the feedback. I took off the fore end last evening, but I have the t/c factory rubber grip and fore end, and I don't see where putting tape or washers will float the barrel.
The design of the rubber fore end has it touching the barrel along the sides, the front and the back. It would take a whole lot of tape or washers to completly float the barrel away from the fore end. Am I missing something here, or were these more applicable to the wooden fore end ?

Thanks again,

Kevin

KYODE · « **Reply #5 on:** October 25, 2003, 03:41:43 AM »

sorry! yes i have the walnut, and i havn't dealt closely with the rubber ones yet. if you figure out a way, let us know.

BCB · « **Reply #6 on:** October 25, 2003, 08:33:28 AM »

Captainkev,

I have relatives that have the Encores and they seem to be a bit like the many Contender barrels that I have...ROUGH, ROUGH, and MORE ROUGH!!! So, what I do is shoot a dozen of so reloads and then thoroughly clean the bore. Then do that again. It really isn't breaking the barrel in but it does help remove the copper/lead fouling. I use Sweet's 7.62 and J&B Bore Cleaner. After a few hundred rounds, I have found the barrels "calm down" at bit. A particular .223 Remington barrel that I have took almost 400 rounds (I would not have such patience today!!!) with insane cleaning to finally get to shoot. Now it is a sub-M.O.A. shooter. Clean, clean, clean, and then clean again!!! Might help you a bit. Good-luck...BCB

longwinters · « **Reply #7 on:** October 25, 2003, 10:23:17 AM »

Get a piece of wooden dowel, a little bigger around than your barrel. Wrap some sand paper around it and start sanding. Take care not to sand the plastic pillars that your screws go thru. It took me only about 15-20 min to get mine to where nothing touches except where the screws go thru to attach the forend to the barrel.

long

haroldclark · « **Reply #8 on:** October 25, 2003, 04:52:19 PM »

I really don't think the fore stock touching the barrel has anything to do with the accuracy. I have a shooting buddy that has the Pachmeyer grip and fore end. He hasn't done anything with it and we sit side by side and head shoot 500 Meter Rams. My gun as a loose fitting wooden fore stock and it is deadly accurate. We are shooting 7mm TCU 14 inchers.

When my buddy first started shooting a Thompson 18 months ago, he thought something was wrong with the gun too. I would shoot it and it was fine. So, we tried the empty chamber game and he wouldn't know if it was empty or not. He was flinching when trying to fire an empty chamber. He immediately knew that he wouldn't have hit the barn. Earlier, he declared that he was not flinching. He has mastered the game now.

I have fired a 308 Encore with a muzzle break. That was a real yahooze. I really had to concentrate on the shooting basics with it to keep from flinching.

It takes some getting used to the recoil on the Thompsons, but once mastered; they are a dream come true.

Have any of your tried shooting your Thompson handguns at the 500-meter Rifle Silhouette Range? Yesterday, we moved the 400-meter Turkeys out to the 500-meter line (550 Yards about). My buddy and I hit them with scoped 7mm TCUs. The 7mm TCU with any bullet weight is on the downside of even being marginal to take a 55 pound steel ram off the Rail. We set them lightly on the rail (part of the feet off the back side) so that we can knock them over with the 7 TCU. We just head shoot them and that nearly always takes them down. We can take all other targets without setting them light. If you find a range to play this game, you will like it. It's like drugs, it so addicting. I shoot 6 to 7 hours a day two days a week. We are addicted.

I'm looking for a 7mm-08 or 7X57mm in a 15 inch encore barrel that will provide a little more knockdown power at the rams. I need one with a decent muzzle break though. My old elbow can't stand much banging.

Harold

Captainkev · « **Reply #9 on:** October 26, 2003, 05:27:01 AM »

I was running a bore snake with touch of bore cleaner while at the range.
I did do a thorough cleaning though at home after shooting the initial 40 or so rounds.
After letting the Shooters Choice sit for 30 mins or so, and some run throughs with the brush, I did patch out some mild copper fouling.
It was fairly clean from using the Bore Snake though.
I am planing on putting another couple hundred rounds through it next week between range time and chasing Yotes.
Hopefully between lots of shooting and cleaning, the barrel will break in, and I will get the feel for this gun.
Thanks for all the input and advice.

Kevin

Captainkev · « **Reply #10 on:** November 03, 2003, 05:39:19 AM »

Well,

I just got back from out west, and was able to get 180 rounds through the Encore before the bitter cold weather came to visit.
I am guessing the trigger is now at about 2 lbs. and with the barrel shot in a bit , the groups are shrinking.
At 100 yards, with PMC 150gr ammo, it is down to about 1 1/2 inch groups. I am sure with different ammo and a bit more shooting, the groups will shrink some more.
I did shoot at a 6 inch Gong we have set at around 170 yards, and hit it 2 out of 3 times on a windy day, so I was pleased with the progress of the gun and the shooter as well.

Thanks for all the input..............

Kevin

KYODE · « **Reply #11 on:** November 03, 2003, 08:29:11 AM »

sounds good! keep us informed

KYODE · « **Reply #12 on:** November 03, 2003, 08:33:26 AM »

have you tried anything loaded with nosler balistic tip's? some factory ammo has them loaded, i'm pretty sure. might be something to try some time.