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What Barrel for T/C Encore

8K views 9 replies 8 participants last post by  kiddekop 
#1 ·
Well I got the encore rifle frame over the week end, I am wanting to set it up for both big game and varments (Prarie dog and Coyotes) My problem now is in the varment calibers I already know I will be ordering a .30 cal most likely 30-06 for big game but I am stuck on a varment cal. .223 or .22-250? I checked with T/C custom shop and they told me that the .223 barrels are only cut in a 1-12 twist. I already am set up to handload .223, my question is what is the gain in the 22-250 besides speed? I used to shoot Varments with my 30-06 bolt action(125 grn TNT at 3000 fps) but my daughter talked me out of the rifle last year.
I have long had a hankering for the T/C, as I feel that single shots, are the true marksmans rifle. And more of a challenge for the true sportsman. What are your opinions I have only been on this board for a few weeks. But I can see that most of you people are very knowledgable.
Have any of you any links to barrel makers for the Encore that will set me up with the right twist for my needs?
 
#2 ·
I don't know your barrel length, but in a 24 in. barrel the 22-250 is a much flatter shooting caliber. Just depends on what distances you want it to shoot. I would give the .223 out to about 300 yards and more if you know the drop. The 22-250 is good out to about 500 yards, and much more if you know the drop. So really up to you and how you will be shooting it.

Why do you need a different twist for the .223? Most are 1-12" twist. Some are faster, but that should do fine. I don't know of anyone making T/C barrels to your specs. Maybe someone else in here will know a little more on that than me.
 
#3 ·
I like the .223 although the 22-250 or 220 Swift both have things going for them. The real benefits of the .223 are affordability. Cheap brass, not alot of powder going into that case. I have to agree with Gizmo that the .223 with 50-55gr bullets is pretty much a 300yd coyote cartridge. I know guys that go dogging every year and the .223 is their cartridge of choice. Less noise, less recoil, less money, and less range pretty much sums up the .223 over the 22-250. I own 8 .223's and have taken plenty of coyotes with them. I do limit my shots to 300m or less. If I need more than that I use a T/C Encore in 6mm BR with 75gr V-Maxs. Also for varminting 1-12 twist is just fine. Unless you plan on using bullets over 55gr. Try these custom shops: www.bullberry.com, www.matchgrademachine.com, www.bellmtcs.com, eabco.com. But be prepared to pay a premium for them. I have 1 T/C Custom Shop barrel and 2 Virgin Valley Custom (now called matchgrademachine) barrels. They are nice but more expensive. Also check your posting on single shot handguns I answered you there before I came here.
 
#4 ·
Twist rate

Gizmo; a faster twist in the .223 will help sablize the heavy bullets.Hevy goes further and hits harder :D
Oh yes jusy fyi EAQ Brown co will make up a barrel for some calibers for the encore in several twists and chamber throat depths ie long throat. T/C sell what they got no options but conure and finsh. I am still trying to decide between the .223 or the 22-250 though only thing in favor of the .223 is I already am set up to hand load for it. Sold my 22-250 die set when I sold the POS I had in that caliber. It was shooting five in groups and nothing I could find was causing it, but that was twenty year ago too. Oh well maybe time to try again.
 
#5 ·
Ernest said:
Gizmo; a faster twist in the .223 will help sablize the heavy bullets.Hevy goes further and hits harder :D
Oh yes jusy fyi EAQ Brown co will make up a barrel for some calibers for the encore in several twists and chamber throat depths ie long throat. T/C sell what they got no options but conure and finsh. I am still trying to decide between the .223 or the 22-250 though only thing in favor of the .223 is I already am set up to hand load for it. Sold my 22-250 die set when I sold the POS I had in that caliber. It was shooting five in groups and nothing I could find was causing it, but that was twenty year ago too. Oh well maybe time to try again.
I understand about rate of twist. Just curious why you don't want a 1-12 twist. The Ruger is 1-12, the savage is 1-9. In my mind the 1-12 would be the better twist for the .22 caliber and the bullet weights available, unless you plan on shooting 70 or 80 grain match bullets in a .223, then I could see going to the faster twist. My dad has two bench guns in .223 and both are 1-12 twist shooting 50 grain bullets.
 
#6 ·
.223 is really hard to beat in an all-around varmint gun, and doubly so in the Contender/Encore platform. Don't get hung up on the barrel twist rate. 55 grain and below bullets work just fine, and sometimes you can get the heavier ones to work well in a 1:12 barrel if you do your part. Both my CZ527 (1:12 twist) and my 14" Contender shoot 69gr Sierra MatchKings better than anything else I have tried out to 300yds. I don't have a range available with longer distances so I can't comment beyond that.

Given the results I have had, I don't see the 22-250 giving me anything I want, but YMMV.
 
#7 ·
How about a .223 AI barrel? Something new, something different. Velocity plays a partial role as far as the twist rate goes. If you are not going to go beyond coyotes the 55-60gr bullets should be just fine, and the standard twist barrel should handle them.

If you are not a high volume PD shooter I would take a .243, or better yet a 6mm Rem, over the smaller stuff any day.

.223 AI barrel 26" stainless
http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.exe/showproduct?saleitemid=667372

Midway has them all in all forms, but they will be special order. The 6mm-06 is another option.

I'm pretty happy with the 6mm Rem in general, offers enough added capacity over the .243 when coupled with a 26" barrel to make a real world difference with all bullet weights...only thing better would be AI version if you don't have an aversion to forming brass. The good thing about the .243/6mm barrels is that they typically all come with a faster twist rate barrel that will handle deer weight and vermin bullets of pretty much any kind....you don't have that versatility in the .22's...but you burn less powder (barrel life if you like to shoot quick) and have a great selection of bullets that are suitable for anything from vermin and target to deer with the 6mm.
 
#8 ·
For your Varmint gun, get a 26" heavy barrel. The 24" sporter barrel flexes a lot more and just isn't as accurate.

I have a 26" 22-250 factory heavy barrel with 1-12" twist (standard in T/C) and it drives tacks with 55gr Matchkings. I mean little bitty tacks!

If you want to shoot a lot, the .223 is a better option due to throat life and economy.

If you want to shoot a few hundred rounds a year like myself, the 22-250 is more fun because you can stretch it out quite a bit. It beats the .220 swift on barrel life and is more versatile for reduced loads (a way to extend barrel life even more).

Either way I suggest getting the heavy 26" barrel. Of course the beauty of the encore is...you can get both!
 
#10 · (Edited)
I have 2 Encore rifle barrels:TC 24" 243 and Bullberry 20" being rechambered to S&W 460 I want to try the 460 on yotes and pigs to see if it will reach out to 250 yds.The 243 barrel with S.African PMP ammo is accurate and my handloads are very accurate there are so many barrels it's a chore to decide what I want or need as I still have vivid memories of a 45-70 schuetzen rifle weighing 10+ lbs and bruising my shoulder on more than one occasion.I contacted Thompson Center regarding the changing of pistol to rifle with contender/encore request a copy of the court decision from TC.I have the TC court decision re conversion if anyone wants a copy I'll gladly send it.
 
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