Okies... For my next purchase I've decided on my favorite modern caliber, the 7mm-08 Remington. Since I'm also a single shot nut but can't afford the more traditional rifles, I'm going to combine my passions into a 24" barrel T/C Encore in 7mm-08 Rem.
The 7mm-08 I understand. I loaded for that beauty a lot in the early 1980's and I know what can be wrung out of the wee cartridge. But, what about the T/C Encore? I tinkered with a Contender in the '80's as well, but only in .22 Hornet and to no great extent.
Who here as experience with the rifle? Who's willing to share? Anyone got experience with this pairing of gun and cartridge?
Can't speak to loading the 7-08 in the Encore but I have a bit of exerience with it in other chamberings. The main thing that will foul your accuracy in the Encore is if you try to only neck size your casings and the action closes on them in such a way that there is tension on it. You don't want to size your cases any more than you have to, but you also don't want any "spring" tension on the action as a result of being closed on a insufficiently sized casing.
I was not the one who orginially discovered this, so I'm not trying to take credit for it, but it cured some barrel trouble I have had that nothing else could really explain.
If funding allows you might want to get your barrel from Bullberry Barrels, or another custom supplier...especially if you are interested in shooting lead bullets from the barrel. Most TC barrels I have/have had don't have a real gentle taper from chamber to rifling..in fact most of them don't have much of any taper at all....which can make lead bullet shooting a challenge.
I've had very good luck with these folks when it comes to Encore/Contender barrels and wood. The barrels they sell come at some premium, but if you want something else you have no real problem getting your money back out of them. Hand lapped barrels are a real pleasure compared to some of the rougher factory stuff that I've seen from TC. I'm not bashing TC, I have or have had many of their barrels, but the factory stuff doesn't compare with a good custom barrel. I believe they gaurantee 1" accuracy, but I'm not sure about that, I've not yet had to call to ask about it.
I love my Encore. I don't have a 7-08 yet, but it is on the short list. I shot the best group I have ever shot in my life (~.200 CTC, 3 shot group) with my factory 30-06 barrel! I did have a muzzle brake installed when I bought it, and that probably contributed, but the barrel itself is factory.
I agree with the previous post on sizing. I have a set of Redding "Competition" shellholders, which are built to allow adjusting the full length sizing in .002" increments, up to .010" over length. I use the .004" shellholder for mine. The shellholder kit comes with instructions, but they don't cover the Encore barrels very well. For mine, with the barrle off the frame, I progressed through the shellholders with once-fired brass until the case sat just flush with the end of the barrel. I repeated this with a few cases, just to be sure. I read somewhere that this should be done with the extractor removed, but mine sits a little low, so I didn't bother.
I also set the seating depth using the same method to get the closest spacing to the rifling. It is a little tedious, but the results speak for themselves.
The regular caveats apply, since rounds built this way will tightly fit the barrel and that is likely to raise pressure above expected levels.
Ditto on the accuracy end, my daughter has a .243 Encore, Blue/Wood, that absolutely drills with 95 gr. Combined Technologies coated ballistic tips,topped off with a Leupold 3x9x40 vx-11...
I have a .50 cal ML and .22-250 Heavy Barrel for my Encore. They both shoot impressively well. IMO - An Encore right out of the factory needs to be tuned a bit to get bolt-action type performance. But it is not difficult or expensive. Two things I would recommend for sure is:
1. Have a good gunsmith can polish up the trigger sear (which is an investment cast part from the factory). This cost me $20 and made a huge improvement in crispness and accuracy.
2. On the Bellm web-site, you will find a link to
Mike Bellm's online store. The one must-have items is a oversized hinge pin. (This is the pin "aprx 3/8" that allows the action to hinge). I bought the 1x oversize pin for $15 and this tightened up my group sizes significantly. Changing barrels is still easy, but this pin did tighten the whole system up quite a bit. I now get .75" at 100 yds with the 22-250 and 2-3" with the .50 cal muzzleloader.
After making this $35 worth of improvements, you'll have the base you need. Then the skies the limit on barrel choices and other modifications (lighter sear springs, heavier hammer and lock springs etc). It's a wonderful system. You can have a whole new gun for $225 rather than $500 and spend the savings on better optics. If you are so inclined, you can wildcat the thing to death with the custom barrel options. AI rounds (Ackley Improved) are particularly attractive do to their zero bolt thrust, higher performance, and longer case life.
Okies... For my next purchase I've decided on my favorite modern caliber, the 7mm-08 Remington. Since I'm also a single shot nut but can't afford the more traditional rifles, I'm going to combine my passions into a 24" barrel T/C Encore in 7mm-08 Rem.
The 7mm-08 I understand. I loaded for that beauty a lot in the early 1980's and I know what can be wrung out of the wee cartridge. But, what about the T/C Encore? I tinkered with a Contender in the '80's as well, but only in .22 Hornet and to no great extent.
Who here as experience with the rifle? Who's willing to share? Anyone got experience with this pairing of gun and cartridge?
I mist say your choice seems well thought out. I am a BIG fan of the 7/08 and tho I hunt with a shorter barrel I have yet to have a whitetail walk away from it. GOOD CHOICE!
I mist say your choice seems well thought out. I am a BIG fan of the 7/08 and tho I hunt with a shorter barrel I have yet to have a whitetail walk away from it. GOOD CHOICE!
A cool thing abou the encore is that the overall gun length is held down by the the short receiver. So a 24" barreled encore is still shorter than a 22" Bolt gun.
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Related Threads
?
?
?
?
?
Shooters Forum
1.2M posts
51.5K members
Since 2000
A forum community dedicated to Sport shooters, owners and enthusiasts. Come join the discussion about optics, hand casting bullets, hunting, gunsmithing, styles, reviews, accessories, classifieds, and more!