Encore Problem

[carp]

I bought my Encore last year in the 209 x 50 configuration.I got a new Pro hunter .308 barrel this year and was really looking forward to using it this deer season.I had a problem Friday when firing my new .308 barrel for the first time.  The first attempt to shoot was a misfire using Hornady light magnum 165 grain factory cartridge. The next attempt produced the same results. The  primers had a dent. The next two worked. My friend and I tried to figure out what was wrong. We could see a very small gap between the barrel and the frame.(headspace?) I then swapped over to Federal 165 grain, factory, cartridges. I proceeded to shoot 12 rounds with the only noticable problem being after one shot I opened the Encore and the primer had come out of the back of the cartridge. You could see the smut where it had come out around the primer when fired. I remember feeling the blast from the primer when I made the shot and could also smell it. I could see the indentions in the primers varied in location from cartridge to cartridge like when you have a bent firing pin. I got it home and took the firing pin out and inspected it. It has a dent or damage on the tip and also appears to be slightly bent to me. Do you guys think the firing pin is the problem? I'm new to Encores and really want this rifle to serve me well. Any help will be greatly appreciated.

[sk330lc]

The small gap between your barrel and frame is the problem..   Sounds like The demintion from the center of the hinge pin, to the end of the breech is not correct.   PLease contact TC about this problem.!!

[carp]

I contacted T/C today and the fellow I talked to said it could be the pin or the space. He said the gap should be between .004 and .005 of an inch. They are sending me a new firing pin and spring. He said to try it and see if it works. He said the only other thing to do is send it to them and said it would be a long time in getting it back because of hunting season and they are backed up with people's guns. I'm going to measure the gap and see what it is.

[scratcherky]

Have you been dry firing your Encore? If so that could be part of your problem. It will damage the firing pin return spring. Also I have had problems after shooting as few as 2 of the Remington 209 primers when using the muzzleloader barrel. The primer blow by actually locked up my firing bad enough that the little spring could not retract the firing pin. This could lead to a bent or broke pin. As far as the gap, mine is less than 0.001 inch and does not cause a problem. Get yourself a snap cap if you dry fire. Good luck and let us know what you find out.

[carp]

No, I don't dry fire. I did use the Remington primers though but when I took the firing pin out it wasn't crudded up.I used the new 777 primers the other day and was amazed at how many times I could fire it without cleaning the bore. More than double what I could using the Remington or other 209 shotgun primers. I tried to slide a feeler gauge in the gap but the scope etc. prevents this.

[poncaguy]

I had misfires with the Remington 209's last year in my Omega and Encore. Using the new Winchester 777 this year, no problems at all...............