New TC Encore purchase, looking for opinions.

[CASTER OF LEAD]

I am looking into buying an Encore for strictly Cast Boolits. I am leaning toward .308 , but also have considered the 30-06. Opinions on which you folks think is the better choice? All opinions welcome,however it will be one of the two calibers listed. thanks y'all

[Tatume]

That's too bad, because the 30-30 is better than either. Both the 308 Winchester and the 30-06 can be made to shoot cast well.

[curator]

In a "pistol-length" platform, like the Encore, a smaller capacity, rimmed cartridge may prove more efficient and more accurate. Using cast boolits you are going to find best accuracy is at under 2000 fps under most. circumstances. You might check with an Encore specialist like Mike Belim at www.belimtcs.com I have one of his .300Whisp-R improved barrels and am very pleased. A friend has one in .30 Herret and is convinced his is better. He does get an extra 50 fps velocity with accuracy than I can but with way more muzzle blast and powder to burn.

[Wayne Smith]

Tatume is right, both are slight overkill for cast. Given the choices the -06 is better because of the longer neck.

[NavyVet1959]

In a "pistol-length" platform, like the Encore, a smaller capacity, rimmed cartridge may prove more efficient and more accurate. Using cast boolits you are going to find best accuracy is at under 2000 fps under most. circumstances. You might check with an Encore specialist like Mike Belim at www.belimtcs.com I have one of his .300Whisp-R improved barrels and am very pleased. A friend has one in .30 Herret and is convinced his is better. He does get an extra 50 fps velocity with accuracy than I can but with way more muzzle blast and powder to burn.

The Encore is not just a pistol. There are Encore rifles also.

[historicfirearms]

Either 308 or 06 can shoot cast quite well. If you are already set up for either, that is the barrel I would get. If neither, then 30-06 would be my first choice.

[LUCKYDAWG13]

I had a 308 with a 17" barrel did not shoot cast that good but I didn't keep it long enough to work up a load I n have a 30/06 barrel that works better

[TCFAN]

I use a Encore 30-30 T/C 24 inch barrel for my main cast boolit rifle.I find no faults with it at all.I also have a 24 inch 30-06 barrel that I use for deer hunting with cast. It also shoots very well.....Terry

[CASTER OF LEAD]

That's too bad, because the 30-30 is better than either. Both the 308 Winchester and the 30-06 can be made to shoot cast well.

Tatume,
I hadn't considered the 30-30 option, the G2 series offers a rifle in 30-30 with a 23" bbl. I am pretty well set as far as molds go for any of these calibers. The 30-30 option may put me in a better position ,as far as brass goes. Might be reconsidering my caliber choice. Thanks - Caster

[CASTER OF LEAD]

Thanks Folks for your opinions & all your shared knowledge. I sure do love this site , for there is a wealth of knowledge & just about everyone will share it. I alpologise for not specifying it will be on a rifle platform. Caster

[Tatume]

Hi Caster,

One thing to consider before you buy; there is still some uncertainty about converting rifles to pistols in the Contender/Encore lines. If you buy a pistol or an undesignated frame and then add a rifle barrel, you're much safer than if you buy a rifle and later fit a pistol barrel. Of course, if you know absolutely that you never want a pistol barrel, then it's moot.

Take care, Tom

[JSH]

The rifle pistol thing has been beat to death, so I won't go there.
As to a barrel for your encore. 30-30 will be a custom and imho a step in the right direction. But, with the encore platform I would take a long hard look at a 30-40 Krag.
I have a 15" 308 factory encore barrel. It is a shooter with jacketed or cast. I have had a wheel barrow full of factory barrels and they can be a c-r-a-p shoot as to what you get. You can get a factory barrel to shoot, but it may take a lot of tinkering all of the customs or rechambered barrels I have took a lot less time to get to shoot to my standards.

[tdoyka]

MGM Barrels is all you need.

Thompson Center Contender Barrels | Thompson Center Contender

i have a mgm in 444 marlin and it shoots jacketed and cast boolits quite nicely. it and my old 30-40 krag go hunting with me using cast boolits.

[35 shooter]

My Encore is a 35 whelen and is a cast boolit nail driver from mild to wild.

If the choice is between .308 or 06, i might lean toward the longer neck of the 06 for cast if your going to use the longer, heavier boolits in 30 cal. to keep the gc in the neck.

Having said that, i'm working with a bolt action .308 now and only have maybe a 1/3 of the gc below the neck on a 200 gr. boolit(311299 noe) and can seat longer to keep the whole check in the neck. My .308 is built on a long action though.

Wish i had g2 in 30/30 as you mentioned though...should be a win win for cast.

[leadman]

atf-ruling-2011-4.pdf This is a little info on converting these guns. When I spoke with a ATF agent here in Phoenix he said to just break the Contender or Encore down to the receiver and attach the pistol grip or buttstock first and then put on the appropriate barrel. He also said I should carry a copy of the letter I attached here as not all of the agents are up on its contents.

My choice for the Encore would be the 30-06. I get more accurate loads than I did with the 308 Win. I do like the longer neck also. The 30-30 is also a great boolit chambering but you are limited to the velocity of this chambering.

[Ken TN]

Leadman,
Thanks for posting the link. I have been a T/C shooter for over 30 years and visited the factory several times while living in New England.
Having a copy of the PDF in the safe and while traveling with a T/C is a good idea.
Young agents tend to be very enthusiastic in enforcement and having a little "History Lesson" for them to read may save some time.

Back on topic I would go with the 30-30, case capacity, barrel availability (ie: cheaper and many made for Contenders), and less muzzle blast at cast velocity.

Ken TN (Now AZ)

[Preacher Jim]

I have several calibers in rifle all tack drivers.. have a barrel I bought for hog hunt before knees went going to sell my 45 70 katana no use now but I like the encore

[jaysouth]

Some shooters and TC owners think that highpressure loads in .308 and .30-06, and other rimless cartridges stretch the frame on an Encore. You have seen that a number of posters on this thread recommend rimmed cases like 30-30 and 30-40 to avoid stretching the frame.

One hot rimmed cartridge for the Encore is 7.62x54 Russian shooting jacketed.308 bullets with full tilt loads. A smith can ream a .308 to this round, or you can buy the Russian chambered barrels from MGM.

For really expert advice, I would email Mike Bellm at http://www.bellmtcs.com/store/

[CASTER OF LEAD]

Some shooters and TC owners think that highpressure loads in .308 and .30-06, and other rimless cartridges stretch the frame on an Encore. You have seen that a number of posters on this thread recommend rimmed cases like 30-30 and 30-40 to avoid stretching the frame.

One hot rimmed cartridge for the Encore is 7.62x54 Russian shooting jacketed.308 bullets with full tilt loads. A smith can ream a .308 to this round, or you can buy the Russian chambered barrels from MGM.

For really expert advice, I would email Mike Bellm at http://www.bellmtcs.com/store/

Thanks for the input. I kinda put the purchase on the back burner. Got a lot of additional research to do as well as information to process,prior to the actual purchase. Just looking to have my ducks in a row ahead of time. Thanks again all. - CASTER

[Iowa Fox]

At least buy yourself a nice frame. That way when you run into good deals on barrels you can pick em off.