should i....

[tdoyka]

i have a tc encore with a 23" MGM heavy factory barrel that has been slugged to .429". i decided that since it shoots .430" 265gr hornady fn and 200gr xtp, i would go with the .430" 265gr(280gr) ranch dog. i cleaned the barrel out, it took two days/ 3-4 hours a piece. i started with gunslick foaming bore cleaner, then i went to sweets 7.62, and then i went to shooters choice.and then i started again and again and again.(each one i followed the instructions) the patch came out clean when i was done. i figured it was clean, so i began shooting.

this is 10 shots(265gr ranch dog) which took about 1/2 hour on a caldwell lead sled plus at 50 yards. wasn't trying for accuracy, i shot 10 to "dirty" the barrel.


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now i know this barrel does wonders for me .4-.6" at 100 yards with hornadys. i figured i could get 1 1/2" of the ranch dogs at 50 yards. boy did i figure wrong!!!http://www.marlinowners.com/forum/images/smilies/new/vollkommenauf.gif
the next five at 50 yards, 265gr (280gr) ranch dog with 39.0gr of h4198. i was trying for accuracy.


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i aimed at the left one(says aim) and its roughly 1" square. it looks like my holes are perfect(hard for everybody to tell) so i don't think sideways boolits are the case. i'm sure the lead sled does it job too, in case you are wondering, 30-40 krag and 165gr ranch dog, is sighting in.


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30-40 krag and 165gr ranch dog 7&8 are sighting in, 9&10 are si, 11-12 are si, 13-14 are si, and 15,16,-17 are si

now to the question. what do i do? do i...

a. shoot 10 - 20 more and then the groups will shrink. i still have to shoot 40-43gr.

b. buy .431" boolits, shoot another 20 - 30 rounds and then start looking for accuracy. bought them from carolina bullets.

c. clean the barrel until your arm falls off, blood comes out of your eyes and shoot it again.(please don't say this one. please, pleasehttp://www.marlinowners.com/forum/images/smilies/new/biggrin.gif)

d. i don't have a clue!!!!

[country gent]

First off try the rifle off a good front rest rear bag set up. the lead sled may be stressing the single shot slightly diffrently each time. A solid front rest rear bag and position the dosnt place any stress on the rifle may be more conductive to good accuracy. Also experiment with alloy and lube. Slightly softer and slightly harder. Also play with seating depth on the loaded rounds. Experiment a little and you should be close to duplicating your hornnady bullet performance.

[selmerfan]

I'm not sure how familiar you are with the Encore and it's potential finickiness, but I ALWAYS have better bench results by having the front bag supporting the gun just ahead of the frame rather than farther out on the forend.

[Lonegun1894]

Have you by any chance measured the inside of the case mouth of a fired case to see what the biggest bullet it will let you chamber is? I ask because my H&R .44 Mag Handi-rifle does well with .429/.430" jacketed, but is horrible with .430" cast. The good news is that excellent performance returns once you step up to .434" cast. This may not make any difference in yours, but it may be worth a try. Let me know by PM if you want some to try and if they will chamber in yours. My two .434" options are a NOE 235gr RNFP and a Lyman 429421 that casts at 268grs, both cast at .435" and I size them down to .434".

[tdoyka]

i measured a few cases.....
nine were .430" and one was .4305"

[Artful]

Are you seating into the lead/rifling? or giving a running start ;-)

[tdoyka]

my col for my encore is 2.510". right now, i am at 2.507".

i am going to try selmerfan and country gent's advice. i have a homemade forearm device with a small sandbag for the rear stock. and i have another small sandbag for the forearm. i'll have to see which one works better. i might just have to buy a new bulls bag!!!

[tdoyka]

well, you was right. the cadwell lead sled + is NOT the thing to use for my encore. i shot a group at 50 yards using mini sandbags and my rifle rest(homemade).
http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h273/tdoyka/1432320180771.1_zpsou7ztax0.jpg (http://s66.photobucket.com/user/tdoyka/media/1432320180771.1_zpsou7ztax0.jpg.html)

and another was using two mini-sandbags which didn't work out.

http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h273/tdoyka/1432319904845.1_zpszoyezykc.jpg (http://s66.photobucket.com/user/tdoyka/media/1432319904845.1_zpszoyezykc.jpg.html)

the right one(homemade & sandbag) shot pretty good for 50 yards. my col is 2.507"(2.510" is the max). i didn't measure it, but it looks to be around 1 1/4". this is a good place to start, moving the col, up/down 1/2gr of h4198.

the left one, i used two mini-sandbags and it really didn't help. 41.0gr of h4198 with col 2.507"
i gotta get a new scope with more eye relief, probably a leopuld (the swift got me again, this time i got a little blood from the scope ring).

thank you for all of your help!!!:D