TCR, How does it compare to the Encore?

[Stump Jumper]

I have a chance to buy a number of these rifles in various calibres.  They look like new and I'm impressed with the craftsmanship and feel of the gun.  I really don't know anything about them, strength, accuracy, cost for custom bbls.  value etc.  I would appreciate any information that you have in regards to these rifles.  I really value personal experience as well as what is out there in print.  As an aside I have viewed this board for a long time and find it informative and the people very polite and helpful.  Thanks in advance for your input.  Stump Jumper

[PaulS]

Stump Jumper,
I will caution you to stay clear od TCRs in 223 and 223 based rounds. My Brother had one in 6mm TCU that had problems from day one with primer parts being blown into the firing pin hole. We tried everything to cure the problem including loading down to 2200 fps (which was unacceptable to us) - still having primers blow. It was sent back to TC twice trying to solve the problem and they couldn't say anything other than we must have loaded rounds with too much pressure. We finally cured the problem by wildcatting it to 6mm x 30-30. We had no problems with the large primers at all. This is my only experience with the TCR but it left a bad tast - and shortly after this TC dropped it from their lineup. I haven't heard of the same problems with the Encore so maybe it was more of a problem for them than they let on.

PaulS

[Graycg]

Sir,
  Not sure what problems were involved with Paul S and his TCU barrel, but that is just the opposite of my experience.  I have 2 frames and barrels in 22 hornet, 223, 22-250, 7mm-08, 7mm Mag, 32-40 and 12 Gauge slug.  I love them, very accurate, very reliable, super flexible, custom barrels are available from Virgin Valley.
    This rifle is pure joy to carry hunting, very light and short pionts like a dream.  I wouldn't bad mouth the flexibility of the Encore, but the Encore is bulky and heavy, the TCR was much more like a fine German Stalking rifle.  I believe that the tooling for this rifle was destroyed in the Factory fire that TC had several years back.  I love my ruger Number one, but it can't hold a candle to the handling qualities of the TCR.  
 If you can get one at a good price, I'd recommend it.  If you don't want it, tell me where it is so that I can check it out!!

thanks,
  My opinion only,
 Graycg

[bsekf]

I sold my TCR and four barrels because of the fire at TC.  There are no more parts!  If it breaks, you fix.  I never got my 22-250 to shoot as well as I expected.  I think it had a short chamber.  The gun was well made and I won a lot of turkeys with the 12 ga slug barrel. Friends called it the "attitude adjustment gun".

[Graycg]

BSKEF,
  I just recently (February) returned a TCR action to them that wasn't working correctly, they fixed it, installed several new springs and a new firing pin.  Not sure why they told you there aren't parts unless they made some new ones.

regard,
 Graycg