Accurizing an Encore

[HBG]

I have a 24" blued .308 that groups 2" to 2 1/2" at 100m off a rest with 150gr Win powerpoints or 150gr Rem corelokts.

What options do I have to tighten up these groups?

Have you found them to like heavier bullets?

Thanks

[stubshaft]

Add a hanger bar or bed the forend.  Mine will shoot anything from 150 to 180.

[Hopalong7]

      I make spacers to "float" the barrel by cutting a little square washer out of a section of used 12ga shotshell and place them on the forend screws.  Other folks use various other means to do the same thing and all work well. 
      Another tip would be to be sure you are resting the forearm in the same place each shot and usually most break action rifles will shoot better if that spot is just in front of the trigger guard.
Good Shootin',  Walt 

[Thebear_78]

I use small rubber orings to "float" the forend.  It has realy helped my barrels to maintain POI reliablility when swapping barrels and has shot better with all barrels.   Other than that check the basics, bases, rings, optics, make sure everything is tight, and have a couple other people shoot the gun also.   


WHat kind of groups is it shooting,  stringing verticle, stringing horizontal, or fairly round groups.

[HuntMeister]

Keep trying different ammo, you may find some factory offerings that it will like. It may not be an option for you but custom handloads would probably get you dialed in.

[HBG]

 When you mention the o-rings or the plastic, you are placing them on the screw and then tightening them down?

 Round groups

 I do need to get some 308 dies

[Ranger413]

O-rings or washers go between the forend and barrel.  They provide spacing and essentially "float" the barrel.

[HBG]

Thanks, I'll give that a try.
I found an article on pillar bedding the forend, anybody try this?

[Flynmoose]

I use o-rings on the Encores and small washers on the G2s.
They all showed improvement with these treatments.
FM

[Hopalong7]

HBG,  Yes on the screws.
Walt

[Ranger413]

I pillar bedded a Savage Model 110 awhile back.  I may try treating one or more of my Encore forends with pillars.

[bsekf]

I pillar bed all Encores and Contenders.  Back screw, real tight; front screw, finger tight.

[shvlhead.45]

It may be as simple as a switch to another brand of ammo.  I keep finding myself using Federal Power Shock, Fusion, and Premium loads with heavier bullets in my Handi and Encore Rifles.  Hornady ammo almost always  shoots tighter groups than Winchester and Remington ammo as well.

I find the 165-180 grain work best in .30 caliber guns, 117 grain loads in .25-06.  I did have 165 grain Cor Lokts shoot almost as good in my .30-06 Encore barrel.  Floating the fore end on my Handi made a big difference as well but hasn't been an issue on my Encore Pro-Hunter.

Good luck finding the right combination.

[Dezynco]

A lighter sear return spring and an overtravel screw will go miles in improving accuracy. 

[gman628]

A trigger job to get the pull weight down and the creep out of the trigger!  Had mine dropped to just under 2-1/2 lbs.  I use it mostly for hunting, if you're just punching paper, you can get that down a lot further than that.

[HBG]

Thanks for all of the replies.  I'll start with the o-rings and some 180s I picked up

[nomosendero]

I hope this thread stays active for awhile, I would like to see what others have done. I have an Encore SS frame with beautiful wood, I am undecided whether to buy some barrels or sell. I bought it as a 50MZ, the barrel did not do well, even after sending it back to TC. After they repaired the faulty muzzle it would shoot one load OK, the one they said. It was not suitable for Elk & I sold the barrel to someone who did not care about that.

I am not interested in doing anything like oversized pins that would hurt resale

I'm leaning toward trying again with a 50 & a centerfire or 2. We'll see.

[Sourdough]

I bought my Encore as a Muzzleloader, fell in love with it.  No messing with those plastic sleeves for the primers, like my buddies Knight.  Accurcy was great and range was way beyond what I thought I could get.  250yards hitting a 4" clay target everytime.  300 yrds I would hit the clay 3 out of 5 times.  More than adiquate for Moose or Caribou. 

The accuracy of my Encore with rifle barrels sucked.  Everything I tried did no good.  I bought 30-06, .243, 22-250, and .338 Win Mag.  Finally sold all the barrels except the Muzzleloader barrel.  I gave up the Encore is a lost cause.

I have a TCR-83, and I am happy with it.  I have 22-250, 243, 7mm mag, 30-06, 35 Whelen, .338 Win Mag, and 3 1/2" 12ga with removable chokes.     

[tdv75098]

There are alot of options for accurizing Encores and Contenders. You can search for accurizing Encores online.

[ecgate]

I have gottin my triggers down to around 2lb by just polishing and stoning the contact points in the trigger and then adding a stronger hammer spring. And I have found by putting rubber washers between the barrel and forend is just as effective as pillar bedding. I have had good results doing these simple and cheap upgrades.  Hope this helps you out.

[Plinker]

Check the crown on your barrel,could be the problem.


 I like my Encore and Contenders for Prairie Dog's.
 Never had a lot of trouble get'n them to shoot,just like any rifle,light  trigger,polish/lap barrel,
work up your loads and have piller's for the forend screws.
  Here's a few groups from my .223's earlier this week.


 I Shoot often,,,,,


 An shoot alot.

[HBG]

I checked my crown, nice and crisp edge without dings.

[HBG]

Nice shooting, that's what I'm shooting for.