Author Topic: TC Encore Pro Hunter owners out there!!! (Read 2040 times)

Dogmann · « **on:** June 29, 2013, 11:41:13 AM »

Can you TC Pro hunter owners out there please post some pics of your rifle setups?
I live the short katahdin barrels... They look awesome!

Camp Cook · « **Reply #1 on:** June 29, 2013, 02:21:23 PM »

I've been into Contender carbines for over 18 years now and finally bought my first s/s Prohunter last fall.

I traded the 7mm mag barrel it came with for a 28" 30-06 barrel and bought a 28" 375H&H barrel.

As soon as both barrels arrived I sent them to a gunsmith had him shorten them to 22".

After sighting in the 30-06 barrel with some 10 year old light loaded 150gr Core Loks I met up with my son he shot a nice 2X2 Columbia blacktail that same evening next time out = one month later we got back out again he shot this 3X4 Columbia blacktail loaded with 165gr Accubonds @ 2850fps.

Only pics I have of the rifle are from the second hunt that me in the pic.

kynardsj · « **Reply #2 on:** June 29, 2013, 03:42:13 PM »

Not a Pro Hunter barrel, it's an MGM in 45 LC, but everything else is Pro Hunter. Will touch three shots at 100 yards if I do my part. Have taken 8 deer with it since I put it together. All 1 shot body slams.

Camp Cook · « **Reply #3 on:** June 29, 2013, 04:10:32 PM »

kynardsj what length is the barrel?

I am looking into purchasing a 15" s/s Prohunter/Encore pistol barrel in 45-70 would use it as a light weight wilderness defense/hunting combo loaded with my Marlin level reloads from 250gr Monoflex - 550gr Jae-Bok Young Crater's and yes it is legal to mount a barrel like this onto a rifle frame as long as the overall length is over 26" here in Canada.

Here is a pic of one of my Contenders with a 14" MGM 45 LC barrel no deer with it yet but I average 1 1/2" - 2" groups at 100 yards with 300gr XTPs - 345gr Beartooth WLNGC's.

I now have it mounted on my G2 frame with the rynite factory stocks.

kynardsj · « **Reply #4 on:** June 29, 2013, 04:21:27 PM »

20 inches. I could have bought a factory barrel in 454 Casull or 460 S&W mag but wanted one exactly chambered for the 45 LC. It wasn't cheap coming from MGM but the way it shoots with my Ruger/TC level reloads I couldn't ask for any better.

Dogmann · « **Reply #5 on:** June 29, 2013, 04:37:01 PM »

Now that's a shorty!

Quote from: Camp Cook on June 29, 2013, 04:10:32 PM

kynardsj what length is the barrel?

I am looking into purchasing a 15" s/s Prohunter/Encore pistol barrel in 45-70 would use it as a light weight wilderness defense/hunting combo loaded with my Marlin level reloads from 250gr Monoflex - 550gr Jae-Bok Young Crater's and yes it is legal to mount a barrel like this onto a rifle frame as long as the overall length is over 26" here in Canada.

Here is a pic of one of my Contenders with a 14" MGM 45 LC barrel no deer with it yet but I average 1 1/2" - 2" groups at 100 yards with 300gr XTPs - 345gr Beartooth WLNGC's.

I now have it mounted on my G2 frame with the rynite factory stocks.

Camp Cook · « **Reply #6 on:** June 29, 2013, 04:38:54 PM »

29 1/2" overall length...

Dogmann · « **Reply #7 on:** June 29, 2013, 04:44:13 PM »

The katahdin barrels are cool also

kynardsj · « **Reply #8 on:** June 29, 2013, 04:55:08 PM »

Us folks in Alabama would get in trouble for a cute little Contender like that one. My frame had a Katahdin barrel in 500 S&W Mag on it for a while. It shot great and recoil wasn't bad at all with my reloads but I'm just a nut for the 45 LC cartridge so I sold the 500 and sent the money plus some to MGM to make the barrel I wanted. I don't do really long range hunting (150 yards or less is my range) and the short rifle handles well in an enclosed deer stand.

Camp Cook · « **Reply #9 on:** June 29, 2013, 06:10:20 PM »

I'm assuming the Ruger Vaquero in your avatar pic is also in 45 Colt...

Flynmoose · « **Reply #10 on:** June 29, 2013, 07:15:02 PM »

I have a standard blue Encore that I recently got an MGM 44 Mag barrel for, 20" long. It is a very handy length that doesn't give up any accuracy at all. I have some 20" T/C custom shop barrels for the G2 carbine, don't know why it took me so long to try the 20" length on an Encore. Great Grandma used to say "too soon oldt and too late schmart!".
FM

kynardsj · « **Reply #11 on:** June 29, 2013, 11:54:40 PM »

" I'm assuming the Ruger Vaquero in your avatar pic is also in 45 Colt...

" Yep. Along with a couple of others laying around here.

Camp Cook · « **Reply #12 on:** June 30, 2013, 02:24:35 AM »

I'm thinking our taste in firearms is a bit closer than most = Great minds...

Here is a pic of a few of my firearms that handle 45 Colt.

7.5" & 4.25" Super Redhawks = 45 Colt/454 Casull

5.5" Ruger Bisley Vaquero's consecutive serial #ed = 45 Colt

20" LSI Puma M92 = 45 Colt/454 Casull

kynardsj · « **Reply #13 on:** June 30, 2013, 03:00:01 AM »

Those are some pretty toys. Mine are the Encore, a Super Blackhawk Hunter in 45 LC, 5 1/2" Redhawk and the 4 5/8" Vaquero before I put the custom grips on it. There used to be a 4 5/8" Blackhawk in the bunch but I gave it to my son for his birthday and a 4" American Derringer in 45/410 that I couldn't hit anything with. It went with someone that wanted it worse than I did.

Camp Cook · « **Reply #14 on:** June 30, 2013, 05:32:48 AM »

Just last week I saw a 4.25" Canada legal American Derringer in 45/410 for sale with black/gray laminate grips/black holster being that I have a thing for 45 Colt s/s black/gray laminate and also have a 21" s/s 410 Contender barrel I was very tempted to buy it but passed for now.

I figured it would not have very good accuracy but thought it might be fun to have.

Decided to order black/gray laminate butt stock and fore end for my Prohunter from Boyds Gunstocks instead.

Other option is I found another s/s Prohunter in 30-06 for sale been thinking of buying it selling off the barrel and thumbhole butt stock and having two complete Prohunters.

Oh what to do...

kynardsj · « **Reply #15 on:** June 30, 2013, 07:37:55 AM »

This is so weird. A year or two ago I bought a black/gray laminate Boyds stock for my Encore from someone here on GBO. It was beautiful but just not what I was looking for. I sold it on Ebay and put the synthetic thumbhole on it that's in the picture.

Camp Cook · « **Reply #16 on:** June 30, 2013, 08:34:09 AM »

Ah finally a difference...

I personally want nothing to do with thumbhole stocks makes it far to difficult for me to cock the hammer quickly.

I mostly use my Contender carbines and the Prohunter to still hunt thick rain forest here on the south wet coast of British Columbia for Coastal/Columbia blacktail.

When a shot presents itself I have only seconds to decide weither to take it or not.

I do not walk around with the hammer cocked with safety engaged I keep the select lever in the center fire position and cock the hammer when I want to fire = a thumbhole stock slows me down.

I have switched most of my firearms to stainless steel with black/gray laminate stocks/grips now.

kynardsj · « **Reply #17 on:** June 30, 2013, 09:00:33 AM »

I'm in with the look of stainless and black/gray laminate. Beautiful combination. The thumbhole stock to me puts my wrist at a natural angle like shooting a pistol. It also made me learn to cock my Encore with my left hand while holding the grip in my right when getting on a target. I'll see a deer, put the scope on him and decide on the shot, slide that left hand back to cock my Encore, slide it back forward and do the deed. A bit slower than just reaching up with your thumb but it works for me. Majority of my deer hunting is from a stand watching over a field or stretch of woods so I have time to do everything.

Camp Cook · « **Reply #18 on:** June 30, 2013, 09:30:05 AM »

I understand I would not have a problem with a thumbhole if that was my shooting style...

Check this video out gives an idea of why I want a pistol grip.

I'm using the rifle I have in my avatar pic.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pn--xHLUsho&feature=c4-overview&list=UU7CKLC_j4lVFd-DpZwHO9HQ

kynardsj · « **Reply #19 on:** June 30, 2013, 11:13:05 AM »

Nice videos.

Sfairchild · « **Reply #20 on:** June 30, 2013, 12:11:13 PM »

Mine are 15 inch barrel set ups