Cracked Encore Stocks

[Sandy Flakeman]

Anyone else experienced cracked walnut stocks on the TC Encore?

I love the walnut but shooting 50 cal ., 2 pyrodex pellets has caused my stunning walnut tiger stripped stock to crack just behind the hammer and below the trigger.  I also shoot 12 gauge slugs with my slug barrel (2 3/4" only).

I was considering a large caliber magnum but the stock looks pretty thin and with the quality of wood these days............................

On the bright side, TC's warranty people said mail it in for a replacement.

On the dark side, I had to leave the hunting to others after the stock came apart in my hands (I missed).

Total rounds fired were about 20 sabot slugs and about 25- 240 grain XTP bullets with no more than 100 grains of Pyrodex.  Less than 50 rounds total in under 3 months of ownership.

Did I just get a bad piece of wood or are others having trouble with cracked stocks?

I'd especially aprreciate some comments from the magnum shooters.

Thank you very much.

[KN]

I would say you just got a bad piece of wood. I have shot full house 45/70 loads in mine with no problems.  KN

[Thebear_78]

I have had three encore wood stocks break on me, all in the same place.  Two of the standard walnut stocks and one laminate.  The encore factory stocks are very weak right behind the reciever.  Any kind of side to side pressure can crack the wood along its grain.  It comes from the stress of loading it with the ramrod.  The guy at TC even said that they do break occasionaly while loading, especially after the third or fourth shot when the sabot becomes harder to seat.  I went with the synthetic stock until I get the money around for a virgin valley kevlar set.  Virgin valley and bullberry have an aluminum bedding block that also helps a lot with stock strength.   The 209x50 is a great barrel and the occasional stock break with factory stocks is just one of those things you have to watch out for.  Try being especially careful while loading it. Until the factory takes steps to fix this inherent problem with the encore rifle stocks I'm afraid you just have to settle for synthetic or the after market stocks like virgin valley or bullberry.
Here is pic of the virgin valley pillar bedding block in the encore frame.

[luredaddy]

If you can  get by with a Contender, stay with a PROVEN commodity, in my opinion.  I have a Van Horn 45 Cal. Muzzleloader that I enjoy, granted I cannot shoot 12 gauge slugs, but that is what shotguns are for.   I am sure there may be a cracked Contender stock out there, but I have not seen one.  I have thought about an Encore, but all the problems with inaccurate barrels, have caused me to wait.

[HogFan]

I have a 7mm-08 Encore, and the first trip to the range, it cracked right behind the action. I was pretty POed, as I could not hunt with it that season. I sent it to T/C and had a new stock at my door in 8 days.

HogFan

[Sandy Flakeman]

Thanks for all the tips.

I'll look into the Virgin stocks.  I like the concept.

The stock was fine until I switched barrels for black powder season.
Once shot in cold weather and it was in two pieces.

The stock looks awesome but it is in need of serious engineering redesign
to avoid cracking.

[Thebear_78]

you probably cracked it when you loaded the muzzle loader barrel but didn't notice it until the shot opened up the crack, making it obvious.

[Sandy Flakeman]

you probably cracked it when you loaded the muzzle loader barrel but didn't notice it until the shot opened up the crack, making it obvious.

Forgive me but I'm not sure if I understand what you mean.
Are you saying the "physical act of loading" the 209x50 cracked the stock?

I don't see how this is possible but I'm here to learn and appreciate all comments.  It DID break while hunting with the 209x50 barrel.  The 12 gauge slugger kicked a lot more with no cracks visible.  I inspected it the last day of shotgun season and it looked fine.

I wasn't holding it by the pistol grip when I loaded it.  As always, opinions appreciated.

By the way, I checked out the price of those Kevlar stocks.  I can see why you have to "save" for one.  I would need 3 seperate forends at $180 a piece (shotgun, rifle, 209x50).  Not sure I could explain this one to the old lady.

[Thebear_78]

THe design of the stocks is such that any side to side pressure on the stock is very prone to cracking it.   when you push the ram rod down on the sabot  if you are not pushing exactly striaght down you will develope side pressure on the stock, and it will crack along the grain right behind the action.  For example if you took the encore and held it in your left hand at the top of the barrel with the butt resting on the ground and then pushed against the action from the side it would crack the stock along the grain of the stock.  It is the weakest part of the wood and due to T/Cs design is also the part of the stock that experiences the most stress, very poor design.  How it normally happens is as you are loading your 209x50 barrel the butt is resting on the ground and you are pushing the ramrod down to seat the bullet, 9 times out of 10 you are not perfectly straight as you push down and this causes slight lateral pressure on the wood directly behind the action, the wood will split along the grain but not completely come apart.  The next time you shoot it the quick recoil will seperate the wood the rest of the way.  During shooting of rifle cartridges there isn't any side to side pressure so even heavy recoiling barrels like your 12ga won't crack the stock.  you will find that almost every cracked encore stock you hear about had a 209x50 barrel on it some time before it cracked.

[doc-and]

Hi Sandy

My recommendation would be to have TC replace the stock and then sell it to off-set the cost of a replacement by one of the custom stockmakers.  My personnal choice is the laminated stocks EABCO sells as they are beefier behind the grip area (as a side benefit they feel better in my hands) they come in either pepper (grey color) or nutmeg (brown color) and are only about a half pound heavier than the composite stock I own.

doc-and