All,
On the theme of sick Encores, I have reached terminal frustration with my new
T/C Encore pistol, with a .308 Win barrel(15" SS). I measured the chamber with
the Stoney Point OAL guage, and came up with 2.950" to the lands, with a 125 gr.
Nosler Ballistic tip bullet. That is .075" longer than the max COL of the .308(2.875")
Not to be discouraged, I tried three different bullet/powder combinations, and
the best I have seen is about 2" at 50 yards(4 MOA). So today I called T/C customer
service. They said, write it up, and send the barrel back. If it shoots their choice
of factory ammo, in the 1 to 2 MOA range, then it is coming back to me. So, I
asked about their choice in factory ammo, and was told either Federal, or Winchester,
150 gr. Soft points. So tonight I do something I haven't done in a good long while...
I buy factory ammo. I was wondering if anyone shoots either of these flavors
of .308 Win, in their T/C barrel, and gets acceptable accuracy(1-2 MOA)? I would
appreciate a reply if you do. I will buy Winchester, just because I prefer their
brass over FC, if I don't get any replies to this. I want to shoot the same ammo
that T/C is shooting just to be certain that they are going to see the same
spray that I am seeing, and to potentially prevent some unnecessary shipping expense.
I did shoot some reloads, that I have crafted to be rough duplicate of WInchester
Silver box loads, and they shot like crap. Just to be thorough, I will buy some actual
factory ammo, and give this barrel one last chance to shoot something that remotely
resembles a group.
I really believe this long throat is killing the accuracy in this barrel, but I could be
wrong. The barrel and frame do have a snug fit, where I actually have to apply
some pressure to the barrel, to get the action to break open. There is NO play
in the fit of the frame, and barrel. It is a composite version, with a rubber feeling
forearm, and I did add a couple of plastic washers to the mounting screws, in
an attempt to free float the barrel. But I see this as really an exercise in
futility, since the rubber forearm really flexes, where the barrel, and the forearm
meet. I have a 2-7 Burris Handgun scope on it, mounted securely, on a T/C
one piece base, with Warne Maxima rings. The base screws are tight, and have
been locked with blue Loctite. The Warne rings are very tight. I don't get
any shifting of POA, just spraying around the POA. If any T/C shooter has
some thoughts on something to try, before I box this up, and send it to T/C,
I am all ears.
Thanks in advance for any info you may provide.
Squeeze
