New to me TC Encore Pro Hunter Rifle

[Camba]

Over the holidays, I snag a nice TC Encore Pro Hunter rifle from the used rack. I was looking for a 35 caliber single shot rifle or a 357 mag Rossi lever gun but as soon as laid eyes on this single shot rifle, I pretty much forgot what I was looking for and got it.

I do like the 223 Rem caliber and I already have a few of them. But now,after cooling down a little, I want to have a 358 Win barrel for it. The 358 Win is difficult to find unless I go custom (too expensive). The alternatives are: Trade the barrel for a 358 Win (far chance) or have Jes rebore the barrel to 358 Win.

What would you do?

Camba

[bosterr]

Don't write off custom barrel makers too soon. Compare the price of a factory barrel or reboring to MGM (Match Grade Machine). You'll find your caliber in their huge list of chamberings.

[earthling121757]

Well, the used barrel if it's in really good condition should be worth 175-200. A rebore is going to run 200 or so. I'd say sell the 223 and order an MGM, it's about even money. A 24" MGM will be 395 shipped (blue). They usually have some in stock so no wait (at least they did about a month ago when I bought one from them).

If you do decide on the rebore, measure the muzzle diameter and contact JES first to make sure there's enough meat there and you won't end up with a whip barrel...

[MT Gianni]

PM sent Camba.

[fryboy]

I've had a fair few various 223's,on several different actions including long and short on both the contender and encore ...never really cared for it much .. At least until I started casting for it,no idea why it's more fun thataways for me but ...
Congrats on the Thompson ..of course you know now you can kiss any cash goodbye don't you ? You see there's always another barrel ..that needs it's own scope and kit ...and sometimes even its own frame lolz,worse those barrels breed worse than rabbits ...:bigsmyl2:

[Camba]

fryboy:
That is exactly what I was afraid about ..."... those barrels breed like rabbits..."
Camba

[fryboy]

Well .... It's too late to run from it ...mite as well embrace it and have fun ;) ummm there's this site called edstc.com ,the list isn't ever current but he used to respond well to emails etc you can even blame me for pointing it out to ya lolz and of course bellm's tc...

[leadman]

Ed has a link titled "Hot Items" that contains most of the in-stock items. There are usually used and new barrels on E-Bay and Gun Broker. H&H Sports in Minnesota has many new barrels for sale at very good prices. The do advertise on E-Bay also.

There are some tricks to loading for the Encore or other single shot break open. Mike Bellm has some very good articles on his website .

Not only do the barrels breed, but the frames seem to follow suit!

[Camba]

I have developed a great cast boolit load in 358 Win for my Browning BLR-81 rifle and I would love to do the same with the Encore P/H. If I don't find one in that caliber, I may go with the 308 win or what about the 375 H&H... there we go...LOL. I should stay away from bone busting calibers.
I do have the G2 contender (rifle & pistol) but now I need to experiment with the Encore P/H. It is definitely nice!

[leadman]

H&H Sports has a 35 Whelan barrel on E-bay for $200.00.

[leadman]

I just bought a 24" stainless 7mm-08 barrel with sites off H&H's website for $225. Gotta feed the addition!! LOL

[Camba]

I am also fan of the 7mm-08. I have 2 other rifles in that caliber that go with the 7mm TCU and 7-30 Waters. I had been able to get good loads for the 7 tcu and 7-30w but not the 7mm-08. The 358 win is now my favorite.

[Camba]

I don't have anything in 308 win but it is another caliber that I may end up pursuing too.

[bearcove]

Here's a good rule for T/C barrels
Buy the ones you want, keep the ones you have.
Or you will wish,
You had got the ones you passed on, and kept the ones you sold.

No it doesn't rhyme.

[Camba]

bearcove,
That is very true :D

[tdoyka]

i have four MGM barrels and two encore frames. my next MGM is going to be a 38-55 in a 25" heavy factory barrel with open sights.

i'm really thinking of selling my rem m760 in 308 to give it to MGM to make the barrel. i'd try MGM first.

[Camba]

I have heard good things about MGM. I don't have any barrels from them. I will not overlook them for sure. I need to start saving some money for that.

[tdoyka]

http://matchgrademachine.com/

if you do try mgm, they will put on open sights for free. but you must buy the open sights first.:D

for about $400 its the same as buying a used tc barrel and then sending it out for a rebarrel job. the nice part is you can decide what size barrel is up to you(16 1/4 - 27").

[Camba]

Well, I went today to the range finally to shoot this gun in 223 Rem. I could not believe how accurate this barrel is! All I was trying to do was just sight the gun. Did that and curiosity kicked in. I was shooting LC ammo plus some reloads and they both were dead on at 50yds and 100yds. Slightly less than an inch at 100 yds and clover leaves at 50.
Darn! That means I need to buy another barrel in 358 Win and/or a 24" 45-70 Govt.
MGM seems to be the way to go.

[Ramjet-SS]

I really like my 45-70 stainless barrel. very accurate

[Camba]

Ramjet-SS,
I am a chicken when it comes to recoil; but then again, I shoot my 12 ga shotgun with slugs and my .50 cal ML with 150gr of black powder (3 pellets of 50gr each). If I want to keep it in the left of 1500 fps (more in the 1200fps), how's that recoil compared to the 12ga slugs and 50 cal ML?
Camba

[Ramjet-SS]

To be honest I mostly shoot cast bullets and load them in the 1200 FPS or less. For example one the fun loads is 12.0 grains of Unique with 455 grain cast WFN it runs around 1100 FPS. I did load that same bullet with a good dose of RL-7 and can without doubt say it kicked pretty darn good. The other bullet that I really like is the Gould 322 Grain HP cast loaded to about 1400 FPS it is devastating on game up to and including ELK. My Encore is set up with EArthur Browne Laminated wood stocks it does a nice job soaking up recoil. I also like the barrel mounted Williams peep and green fiber optic front site.

[Camba]

When I am hunting, I do not remember any recoil and sometimes, I barely hear the shot from being focus on the moment of hunt. In the range, it is another story. It is loud and the kick is cumulative. I am talking 12ga slugs and 50 cal ML. How does your load compare to the 12ga lug load?

[Ramjet-SS]

About the same as a 12 big push like I said the Wood laminated stock soaks up allot but the rifle is light weight and the bullet is heavy slug at 460 Grains. Not a 1oz slug but moving out faster than a 1 oz slug especially with the max load of RL-7. Unless hunting grizzly bear Or in Africa I see no need for that stout a load from my Encore.

[leadman]

Ed's also sells new MGM barrels at less cost than MGM does. Check the Hot Items listing on his website.

[onceabull]

The H&H Encore factory barrel in 35 Whelen in also on GunBroker for $200 (for those who do not choose to enter e-Bay..) It's high on my bucket list,primarily because so far, I haven't found a 358 Win. anywhere close to that price... AND H&H has LOTS of them... Onceabull

[Camba]

I should not say never to the 35 whelen; however, I like to pursue the 358 win or maybe even the 9mmx39. I prefer shorter cartridges and the 358 win seems to be the right size. The reason is that I like to shoot cast boolits and I shoot them right at about 2000 fps. To get the same speed with the 35 whelen, I have to use more powder than in the 358 win. I was actually intriged reading articles in the 9mmx39 russian cartridge. It can shoot the 200 gr cast boolit at around 2000fps with less powder than you need in the 358 win.
The calibers that I am adding to my opportunity list are:
1. 358 win
2. 45-70 gvt
3. 308 win
4. 357 maximum
5. 7mm-08 Rem
The 223 Rem barrel that came with my rifle is a tack driver at 100 yds. It is becoming my favorite rifle very fast!
Camba

[leadman]

You could go custom and have it chambered to the 30-30 necked up to 35 cal. I have read that this was a fairly common fix for 30-30s with bad bores long ago. Or 35 Rem. as this would save more powder than the 358.

I sent the 7mm-08 barrel back to H&H. Had a groove in the chamber where the case meets the shoulder and would leave a ring of brass in the chamber and a ring on the case.
Got the replacement today and the chamber looks good. The rear iron sight on both barrels was installed backwards and the scope base screw holes had blasting media under the little plug screws. The bore is soaking overnight with Hoppe's #9 and will mate it to the receiver tomorrow and load some ammo.