Author Topic: In search of the perfect rifle...UPDATED... (Read 958 times)

redneckd1 · « **on:** December 10, 2004, 02:39:59 AM »

I've been looking around for a new rifle and really like the Encore, so i started investigating a little and have heard rumors that the guns can be very picky in calibers above the .243 or so. Is that true?

I have an idea for a rifle and thought I might ask you fellas to chime in with some advice. I've been shooting a .270 for years, never have to trail a deer, they are always just laying there! So I would like to stick with that caliber or somewhere near it. (no wildcats, too expensive) Here is what I've been thinking in a rifle:

Blue Encore frame and composite stock, have the metal parts teflon, moly or whatever coated (any suggestions here would be appreciated as well)
Get a trigger job (heard they can be really improved)
Get a barrel, here is where it gets tricky for me, looking in the catalog it seems like you can only get a .270 in the 24" with sights, I'll scope it and don't want the sights. Now I was thinking the 24" Encore is probably about the same overall length as a 22" bolt gun, if that were so I was thinking a 20" or 22" barrel would make the gun a joy to carry in the woods and very easy to stick out of the shooting house window and if I had to get a custom one made at that length I should still get plenty of accuracy from it.

Any other 'must haves' to make a good encore great??
I know this is a lot, I want a short handy rifle that shoots like a bench gun, that can kill anything from coyotes to elk and not have horrible recoil, completely weather proof and inexpensive. Not too much to ask right?!?!?!

Thx for any and all help....Cheers
R

iiibbb · « **Reply #1 on:** December 10, 2004, 04:25:09 AM »

I'm sure others will extol the virtues of the .270 barrel. My .308 has done .75" groups with some ammo. You can have a custom barrel made in whatever you want... Foxridge outfitters is the T/C endoursed one... there are other companies too.

Trigger jobs can be had, but I don't mind a heavy pull, the crisp release is fine with me.

Open sights are easy to remove from the stock barrels... I like the Warne scope mounts, they are very heavy duty.

If you get a composite stock, I'd recommend one of the Limbsaver fitted recoil pads. Screws right on in place of the original one. It makes recoil very tolerable. You can get that from Cabelas for $25.

JCM · « **Reply #2 on:** December 10, 2004, 05:57:08 AM »

R,

Even with a 24 inch barrel, the encore is about 4 inches shorter than most bolt actions.

Ex:
Remington 700 in 30'06, 42.5 overall length, 22 barrel, 7 lb 6 oz.
Encore in 30'06, 38.5 overall length, 24 barrel, 6 lb 12 oz.

It does carry very well and for me it just points better (offhand) than any other rifle I carry. The stock and light weight make the recoil a little more, but I only notice it on the bench. You mentioned a trigger job, and although mine may be a little heavy, it is so crisp and breaks clean enough that I'm not going to touch it.

Hope this helps,
JCM

Redhawk1 · « **Reply #3 on:** December 10, 2004, 06:03:36 AM »

Quote from: JCM

R,

Even with a 24 inch barrel, the encore is about 4 inches shorter than most bolt actions.

Ex:
Remington 700 in 30'06, 42.5 overall length, 22 barrel, 7 lb 6 oz.
Encore in 30'06, 38.5 overall length, 24 barrel, 6 lb 12 oz.

It does carry very well and for me it just points better (offhand) than any other rifle I carry. The stock and light weight make the recoil a little more, but I only notice it on the bench. You mentioned a trigger job, and although mine may be a little heavy, it is so crisp and breaks clean enough that I'm not going to touch it.

Hope this helps,
JCM

I have to agree, I can shoot better off hand with an Encore, better than any of my other rifles.

robk · « **Reply #4 on:** December 12, 2004, 08:14:06 PM »

there is a lot of things you can do to get what you want to and including going to custom barrel that you can get some out to 28 to 30 inches if you want to pay the price. i am making one change on my 308 and i just about have it finished and that is a thumbhole stock that i am finishing and it;s coming along quite well and i should have it done tomorrow or the next day if all goes well and my sims recoil pad makes it in. the standard barrels are very accurate and the 308 i have can put three shots inside a quarter and for me that is pretty good lol. you can do so many changes to the gun from the barrel to stocks and forends and fluted barrels as well. it's all in the money you want to spend for your gun.
rob k

GAPShooter · « **Reply #5 on:** December 13, 2004, 01:23:47 AM »

My RugerM77 in 30'06 never fit me so I put together an Encore: camo stock, matte finish 24" 7mm-08 barrel, VariX2 3-9 50mm matte scope. I was looking for an easy to carry, accurate (with good power), low shine finish hunting gun. I like the gun a lot and recoil is not a problem.

redneckd1 · « **Reply #6 on:** December 13, 2004, 04:00:36 AM »

Thx for the info guys. I'm still researching exactly what I want to do. Wish TC made a 22" med-heavy sporter barrel in .270 (no sights), I think that is what I'm looking for. Thought about getting a 26" barrel and haveing it cut down and recrowned, but I could get a custom barrel for the same money! There are so many options with this gun, I'm falling in love with it and have never even shot one!!!
GAPshooter, where did you find a matte finish barrel? all I've seen are blue and ss.
Thx again guys,
R

armory414 · « **Reply #7 on:** December 13, 2004, 11:29:38 AM »

For Encore barrels, you might want to talk to Mike Sirois at On Target Technologies (OTT). The website is http://ktsammo.250x.com/ottindex.html

He's the new kid on the block when it comes to custom TC barrels, and while I've never shot any of his barrels, I've seen them in action, and they are shooters! He uses Douglass barrel blanks, chambers the barrel, adds the lug, and adds the finish.

smoky · « **Reply #8 on:** December 14, 2004, 03:52:23 AM »

You need to check out T/C's custom shop at Fox Ridge Outfitters. Go to www.tcarms.com and then click on Custom Shop. I believe you can get the barrel you want for just a little more that the cost of a regular factory barrel. You should be able to get the exact length and taper you want along with no drilling for iron sights. If you buy your frame from E Aurther Brown, they do a very nice trigger job for half price ($20). They can also cut and crown any factory barrels they sell for about $40 and can French Gray coat the metal. Check out www.eabco.com.

Smoky

redneckd1 · « **Reply #9 on:** December 14, 2004, 05:59:03 AM »

I checked out the ebco site and was wondering if the heavy sporter barrel is exactly what the doctor ordered. Sounds like what I am looking for, I'm thinking of a 20 or 22 inch heavy sporter in .270, will that length still produce ample velocities, energy and accuracy?
Also, is the french gray a protective finish or just a dull finish?
I have a stainless ruger now and I do not like the 'shine' it produces in the woods. Thx for all the info guys, this site is great!!!

southern utah · « **Reply #10 on:** December 14, 2004, 06:39:38 AM »

Redneck, I have gone to all stainless frames and barrels . Little up keep and rust resistant. I use some camo tape you can pick up anywhere during the hunt and remove it when I give it a good cleaning. The tape protects the barrel in a gun rack or out beating around the hills. I have even used the removable camo paint but found the tape protected better and easier to take off. Favorite barrel is the 26" factory in 330 win mag. I use the composite stocks and have either Bullberry or Virgin Valley hanger bars on the forarms.

redneckd1 · « **Reply #11 on:** December 21, 2004, 06:25:54 AM »

OK, I have decided that the .270 is the caliber I want to stay with and I have contacted EABCO and Bullberry about building a rifle.
The EABCO quote was about $890 with everything, minus a durable finish, approx. $130 more (they recommended the swift scope, not sure about that), haven't heard back from Bullberry yet.
Now I was thinking appropriate barrel length, I measured my 10/22 and it is approx. 38.5 inches long, (same as a 24" Encore) that is pretty handy, but....
If I got a 20 or 22 inch barrel on an Encore the overall lengths would be 34.5 and 36.5 respectively, which would make carrying this rifle in the woods and sticking it through the window of some small cramped shooting houses a joy!! My question is with the shorter barrel can I expect the same kind of accuracy that I've read about on this forum (sub MOA @100 yds)
Any suggestions/recommendations would be greatly appreciated.
Thx,
R

Thomas Krupinski · « **Reply #12 on:** December 21, 2004, 06:36:15 AM »

For that compact situation you are talking about, why not also consider the addition of a 15" or maybe a custom longer Encore pistol barrel with the rubber grip and forearm.

It's easy to switch out your frame between the configurations (3 screws) and you will keep your same trigger pull. Just put a long eye relief scope on the 270 pistol barrel and I suspect in those shooting houses you will have more room than you can imagine.