T.C.Encore Pro Hunter

[Bill]

I have a chance to pick up a T.C. Encore Pro Hunter here shortly. The price is very right. I'm thinking of doing it just so I have a walking gun as most all of my rifles are actually pretty heavy guns. I can get the action and thumbhole stock first and all the barrels I want for about 2/3rds the cost of new. Is it worth doing? I keep thinking a .25-06 would be nice in one of these.

[deputydon]

never handled one. But I noticed that a lot of the "TV" guys seem to use them. So either they're not bad OR GOOD SPONSORS

[jmarriott]

I do not have the encore but the old contender,

The encore is a stronger reciever. Handle all the 300 win mag ect. has 12 and 20 guage shotgun barrels and muzzleloader barrels. I think someone even make a 22 conversion so they now do rimfire.. Nice little setup. barrels can be purchased as tapered or bull.

The trigger's are not as sweet as the gen 1 contenders ot of the box as they have the lawyer friendly triggers, Not a light as the contender.

I can see a person buying a encore pro hunter and using it as the only gun they have for everything. I can just think of goose or duck as being a problem but they reload very quickly after you get used to them.

If i had a good chance to get a frame i would purchase one without a second thought.

Bullberry, MGM and coyote creek make some match grade barrels with every caliber and twist you want.

[bounce]

Jeff wanted one last year but ended up geting the other brand much cheaper, Looks as good to me. I know he does use it but will have to ask him how he likes it now and what all barrels he has now? Seems it was much cheaper than TC and to look at it it did seem you were mostly paying for the name on TC. But right now I can't think of the other name LOL.

[Bill]

CVA makes one also. Not real fond of them. Kind of made a hit when they first came out but that tapered off very quickly.
One of the guys I work with has a Pro Hunter and I watched him pop an Antelope doe last year at 350 with it. Its a .25-06 and they come with 28" SS fluted heavy varmint barrels. Whole gun weights nothing. Only problem I have seen him have is reloading while shooting prone.
Shoots very well.

[xphunter]

Bill,
Personally, I would not use a Rem Mag or a Win. Mag in the Encore if you intend to reload for it.
With the larger head size the thrust is such that you get more flex in the action, cases grow with incipient case/head separation being a reality if you try to load to bolt rig levels.
Been there and experienced that.
The only other negative with the TC system is that the forend is not free-floated. Adding a bi-pod or putting different pressure on a different part of the forend than the last shot can be problematic at time with POI changes.
Just something to be aware of.
Ernie

[jmarriott]

Rubber washers will semi free float the barrel. Hanger bar systems are availablle for bullberry barrels. The barrels are then specialized for the hanger bar and forearm. Costly. fred is the greatest when it comes to custom T/C stuff.

I have one of freds barrels in 7-30 waters. I have not switched scopes around to make if functional since i have been purchasing to many other guns to make a dedicated handgun scope purchase.

[Bill]

I really doubt that I would ever put a magnum caliber barrel on as I have enough rifles in those calibers already. ;D
I was thinking maybe .223, .25-06, and maybe a .308 Win
I can get the blued receiver even cheaper so am thinking that might be the way to go. I have plenty of time to do this so I will think on it a bit. Just might be something fun to play with and keep around as an extra for those "Just in case" times. Not that I really have any need for it at all but it might just be something fun to play with.