Well, I really really love my TC Encore. I think its a handsome gun, that handles well, and is a very great concept.

However, over the year I have owned it, I've never been able to get it to shoot factory ammo under 3". My handloads brought it to around 2"... but thats all it will do.

Its a 7mm-08. I have a single piece Tally Ring/base with a Leupold VX-III 3.5-10x50. Had a gunsmith do a trigger job, and the trigger is a beatifully crisp 2.5#s. I installed a Bellm heavy duty lock up spring and oversized hinge pin (size 2). That helped, as it used to shoot 5" groups.

I'm shooting from a Lead Sled. My three shot groups have taken me about 4 hours to shoot. Time is something I've got for the barrel to cool. The groups are not two shoots close and then a flyer, they are really all over the place. Its shooting perfect triangles. Everything is good and tight, I've checked and rechecked.

Back in June, I noticed the wood stock was broken right at the wrist, so I replaced it with a Flex-tech stock. I called TC beforehand to see if they would send another if I returned the broken one. No dice. I was kind of supprised. It appears that since SW has taken over, the notoriously poor service of SW has rubbed off on the reputedly great service of TC. Who knows?

Anyway, I have fired literally every type of factory ammo made through this gun. Remington 120s and 140s, Hornady Light Mag SSTs and Interloc SPs, Federal 140 ballistic tips and 150 Hot Cores, Winchester Power Points and Ballistic Silver tips.

I have handloaded 140 and 120gr TSX bullets (which ain't cheap). Also 100gr flat base varmint bullets and 162 Interlocks. The 162s acctually shoot the best, averaging around 1.75-2" groups. But for the nearly $1000 I have in this rig (not including the near $400 worth of ammo I've had to fool with, and my time which is nearly a YEAR now), I'm a little frustrated.

Anyone got any ideas what the issue might be? Should I send the barrel back to TC? Help.