Uh oh, this could be bad news...

[craig110]

...in the best sort of way. Most of you know that I'm thinking of getting into the TCArms Encore due to the number of calibers available at the mere swap of a barrel. Today I did some looking for match-grade barrels. Holy Toledo, Batman! Take a look at the list of chamberings available from sites like this: http://www.matchgrademachine.com/chamberings_public.php

This could be bad. Real bad. :supergrin: :30:

[JLarsson]

Yes, indeed, you've got it bad. Which is good. Until it's bad. :D

Personally, I am leery of the larger-diameter cartridges in the Encore. Anything larger than a standard magnum leaves less meat in the bottom of the scope mount screw holes AND exerts more backthrust against the receiver due to increased cross-sectional area. If you do choose one of those, I would recommend keeping the pressures on the lower side. But to each his own.

I love the Encore. I've got rifle barrels in .270 Win, .243 Win, and .375 H&H. My pistol barrels are .270 Win and 7mm-08. The triggers can be worked until they're very nice. If you have accuracy issues, there are a couple "standard" things to try. One thing to keep in mind is that for the best accuracy, the cases should be sized to achieve a headspace of between .001" and .003". Usually, there is a slight gap between the barrel and the frame when the action is closed, and you want your cases sized so the case head just grips a .002" feeler gauge. If your barrel-frame gap is less than that, it gets a little trickier. Just don't size them so long that the action shuts hard. If you size just enough that the action snaps fully shut when closed very slowly, you're probably about right. Also, you probably don't want to neck-size, but just size your fired cases back to the same point as before.

Prepare for your disposable income to take a hit, my friend. :D

[BIGGUNGOBOOM]

416 rigby, huh..... might need to look into them

[MONTEGOD7SS]

Hopefully they are stronger than this.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fF9zVVdLRBI

Also, this is a good place for TC stuff.

http://www.eabco.com/tcref.html

[craig110]

I love the Encore. I've got rifle barrels in .270 Win, .243 Win, and .375 H&H. My pistol barrels are .270 Win and 7mm-08.

Thanks for the accuracy tips. Are your barrels factory and what kind of MOA do they shoot? In reading about the Encores, I see a lot of comments about how accurate they are yet there are plenty of custom barrel shops that claim much better accuracy. Before I lay out the bucks for the gun I'm trying to figure out of the higher prices for the custom barrels (~$500 instead of ~$250-300) is worth it.

[craig110]

416 rigby, huh..... might need to look into them

While .416 Rigby is on that site's custom chambering list, it is also one of the standard calibers available from TCA so the barrel can be had for around $250. :wink5:

[JLarsson]

Thanks for the accuracy tips. Are your barrels factory and what kind of MOA do they shoot? In reading about the Encores, I see a lot of comments about how accurate they are yet there are plenty of custom barrel shops that claim much better accuracy. Before I lay out the bucks for the gun I'm trying to figure out of the higher prices for the custom barrels (~$500 instead of ~$250-300) is worth it.

I forgot I also have a 7mm Mag - My first Encore barrel (duh).

The factory barrels are a bit of a crapshoot. My 7-Mag barrel was "smeared" (for lack of a better term) just ahead of the chamber, probably from chips catching in the reamer and galling. They replaced the barrel and the new barrel will shoot into an inch. I should mention that I'm not an accuracy freak, so if a barrel/bullet/load combo shoots into 1.5" or better, I'm pretty happy. Smaller groups are nicer, of course, but in my hunting applications they just aren't necessary.

The .375 H&H barrel, which I bought used, also had rifling problems, this time visible at the muzzle end, and I was having trouble getting any kind of consistent accuracy.. I have not shot the new barrel they sent me yet, but the bore looks perfect.

.270 and .243 will also shoot into approximately an inch. I really haven't wrung them out or done any extensive load testing. I pick a powder and bullet I want to try, work up to see what the maximum will be, and then test for accuracy, working my way back down if it's unacceptable. I really haven't had to play with either of these barrels as the max load was good enough for me.

One of the other things that you might end up needing to do is pillar bedding the forend. I did this on the 7-Mag and it did help. I haven't had to do it on the .243 or .270. The process is described here: http://www.bellmtcs.com/store/index.php?cid=535

Bellm also recommends oversize hinge pins, which he sells, and I've used them, though they're not always necessary. Under NO circumstances would I ever do any frame reaming and I don't think I would touch my barrels, either.

He does speak highly of the Bergara barrels, which I have not tried, and they can help you save some money. Grafs used to carry them, though I don't know if they still do. They don't have as large a selection of chamberings, I believe.

The only "custom" barrel I have is the 7x30 Waters Contender carbine barrel my son uses for hunting. I wanted something longer than the standard 21" for a little extra velocity, so I ordered a 24" stainless barrel. It shoots okay, but the cases come out bulged pretty noticeably, so I think the body of the chamber is oversized. Since it shoots, I haven't worried about it too much.

In summary, I think you've got a better "shot" (ha) getting an accurate barrel on the first try from some of the custom guys. MGM has a good reputation, as does OTT (On Target Technologies). OTT uses EDM (electrical discharge machining) to chamber. Lots of options out there.

[MONTEGOD7SS]

It would be cool if TC would make a double rifle as well. I fought the urge to get a TC when I was looking for a hunting rifle and instead got a 700 SPS Stainless .30-06 becuase I can't afford all the scopes I would need if I went the TC route. Someday I will have one because I love how long of barrels you can get in such a compact rifle.

[craig110]

Thanks for the GREAT info and barrel review!

[Frostback]

This one might be for sale:

http://www.rugerhunting.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=2469

Frosty

[MONTEGOD7SS]

Koski, you'll like post 12.

[Steve Koski]

I'm waiting...

[MONTEGOD7SS]

Sorry, meant post 12 of the link Frostback posted.

[JLarsson]

Craig - The reason I put "custom" in quotes about that 7x30 barrel is that I ordered through Ed's TC's (http://www.edtc.com (http://www.edtcs.com)) but it came from the Fox Ridge Outfitters (or whatever TC calls their "custom" shop). The only thing custom about it was the longer barrel length.

[MONTEGOD7SS]

I found one 6mm-06 on Midway, but do you know of any others that make one? Someday I would love one of those or a .25-06 for a more long range deer gun.

[JLarsson]

MG7SS - Any of the custom makers should be able to put the 6mm-06 together for you. A lot of guys (not me) are shooting 6.5x284 or something like that for long range.

[MONTEGOD7SS]

I don't know which one I would prefer between the 6mm-06, .25-06, or 6.5mm-06, but I know they are all close in power with the 6mm-284 and .240 Weatherby. For deer it doesn't take anything bigger than .243cal to flop one, so I would probably lean more towards the 6mm-06. That would give me a nice laser flat deer gun then my .30-06 can handle anything else I have the desire to hunt.

[craig110]

This one might be for sale:

http://www.rugerhunting.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=2469

Frosty

Well, I had heard that Encores break down easily for swapping barrels, but that easy-disassembly scope is just asking for problems. I do see that he bought the reduced-size foregrip with optional extenders. Nice. Personally, though, I wouldn't have bought that trident barrel. Overall, nah, I'll pass on it as I'm not into .257 STW. ;)

[craig110]

He does speak highly of the Bergara barrels, which I have not tried, and they can help you save some money. Grafs used to carry them, though I don't know if they still do. They don't have as large a selection of chamberings, I believe.


I checked and yes, Grafs does sell Bergara barrels for the Encore. Nice prices generally in the $185 or $211 depending upon whether it is stainless or not. The caliber selection is more along the conventional-caliber line than the custom shops are, but I'm not harboring any immediate desire to get into oddball calibers so this might be the best way for me to go.

Thanks for the suggestion!

[MONTEGOD7SS]

Well, I had heard that Encores break down easily for swapping barrels, but that easy-disassembly scope is just asking for problems. I do see that he bought the reduced-size foregrip with optional extenders. Nice. Personally, though, I wouldn't have bought that trident barrel. Overall, nah, I'll pass on it as I'm not into .257 STW. ;)

C'mon Craig, the .257STW is a screeeeeeamer. Built on the 8mm Mag necked down, yowee.

[craig110]

C'mon Craig, the .257STW is a screeeeeeamer. Built on the 8mm Mag necked down, yowee.

Hmmm, maybe someday. I'll likely get a couple of barrels in traditional calibers and then eventually start getting into the more exotic ones. (Luckily, I'm also interested in doing some blackpowder shooting, so I'll likely buy the Encore with a blackpowder barrel so that I'm not spending money on a factory barrel in a caliber for which I want good accuracy.) I'm thinking .308 first since it is cast-bullet friendly and then I'll go up and down from there.

[craig110]

C'mon Craig, the .257STW is a screeeeeeamer. Built on the 8mm Mag necked down, yowee.

Whoa, I read up a bit on the .257STW and it can top 4000fps? "Screeeeeeamer" is right! Too bad it is such a barrel burner. Can I get it in about a 40" barrel so that the powder has time to fully combust? :biggrinjester:

[JLarsson]

40" barrel - hmmph..hmmpph...phtbphtbphtb...HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH AAHA :rofl: :animlol:

I'll second what MG7SS said about "compact" - They can still be pretty heavy, but they maneuver well and you get a long barrel to boot.

[craig110]

Using the throat wear formula posted over at http://www.glockpost.com/forums/showpost.php?p=89000&postcount=14, I just calculated that a .257 diameter barrel running an 83gr load (from reloadersnest) would start losing its accuracy after less than 600 rounds. :yikes:

[MONTEGOD7SS]

Craig, most rounds like the .257STW, 6.5mmSTW and 7mmSTW are meant for long range hunting. In those cases you could probably pass the stock barrel down to your kids and still have it shooting well. Varmint shooters are the hardest people on barrels because they shoot them sizzling hot and can ruin the barrel in a weekend on a dog town. There is a lot to be said for a 100gr .257cal bullet shoving off at 4000fps when you're reaching way out yonder at deer and antelope. Plus, just get a 28" or 29" barrel so you can have it cut down and rethreaded and it'll be good as new, just an inch shorter.

[JLarsson]

Can't cut down an Encore barrel for rechambering. The lug is welded on at the rear and is not easily (or really "ever) moved. Bolt-actions, yes - Encore, no.

[MakeMineaP99]

600 rds is on the lower end of the barrel burnout range, you may want to consider a different chambering.

[MONTEGOD7SS]

Sorry, got a little sidetracked there. The .257STW I was referring to something like a Model 700 bolt gun. MMaP99, lasers burn out barrels, that's just part of the price of admission. That is by far one of the flattest shooting rounds ever made and will get on target so fast they won't have time to move after it go bang. For an Encore I would probably go with something like a .25-06 just to cut down on the powder and make the barrel last as long as possible since it can't be cut down.

[JLarsson]

Rebarreling on an Encore is cheaper, though. :D

[BigSlick]

MGM got a couple tables and a endcap at Tulsa.

I stopped ta check it out. They got some serious nice stuff. I almost bought a frame, but I had ta just walk away from it.

They got some for real money on their tables, maybe 5-600 barrels an a whole lotta rings/bases etc..

Wouldn't take long ta get in over ya head with em for sure.

[MONTEGOD7SS]

Man I was pricing out a barrel on MGM's site last night and with all the bell and whistles those things get up over $850 for an Encore barrel. Ouch.

[JLarsson]

Thus far I have taken my chances with factory barrels and things have (eventually) worked out okay. I have hunted almost exclusively with the Encore for about 5 years now and don't regret it. I've got other rifles, but the Encore has become my workhorse.

[craig110]

600 rds is on the lower end of the barrel burnout range, you may want to consider a different chambering.

Don't worry, for (non-professional) target shooting I wouldn't get into such a barrel burner. I was just following up on my curiosity being raised from the comment on the .257STW being such a screamer.