I changed to a thumbhole stock on my encore muzzleloader, went withleupold quick release base and low rings on a leupold 2x7x32 scope. My question is now to get the eye relief right for me with glasses, I can barely get my thumb between the scope eye piece and the hammer, I dont think med rings would help much and I hate to get the scope up high. Does anyone usea hammer extension? I thought I had read the thompson center discouraged their use. Any help or thoughts would be great........thanks

I had the same problem with my Optima, and I installed see-thru scope mounts. It gets the scope up higher from the barrel, but at least you can cock it! No problem with the scope being up a little higher on the barrel.

I mounted a 3x9x40 on my Encore using the Leapold QR base with QR high rings.....Have room to cock the hammer but I went ahead and put on a hammer extender anyway. I bought it from Cabelas. Much easier to cock the hammer with it on.

I haven't heard anything about T/C discouraging the use of a hammer extension. Really see noadverse affect on the rifle firing mechanisms.

http://www.huntingnet.com/forum/tm.aspx?m=817009&mpage=1&key=hammer%2cexte nsion?


I had remembered this topic discussed before. I remember someone saying that a hammer extension voids the warranty on the rifle as far as Thompson Center was concerned. So take that into account. I posted the old link. I found it running a search. There is some good information in there, so you might want to take a look.

cayugad thanks for looking up those past posts for me, I tried higher rings yesterday and it just didnt feel right, I am going to order a bellmextensionand try that..

Yup, that is what they told me although I still use my hammer extension. The original problem was that some shells would not fire with my 12 gauge slug barrel. I have since installed Bellm locking springs and hinge pin and I do not have the problem anymore.

I have noticed that in all hunting shows that are sponsored by TC, none of the hunters use hammer extensions. Don't know if it is just coincindence or not.

Just followed up with T/C Customer Support and asked them the question on hammer extensions and warranty. Answer is 'yes' they void the warranty. T/C also saidthey receive many calls a day regarding this subject. I wasn't given any good reason why, just that it voids the warranty. T/C recommendshigher scope mountsfor clearance to the hammer if needed.

I guess it pays to ask first but I personally can't imagineone of these extenders would have any kind of ill affect on the firing mechanism. Reading the past posts that 'cayuqad' provided, there is some discussion of T/C saying the hammerextensionscould cause torque problems andthe hammer notseating in the correct position properly when cocked.That really seems hard to believe. Maybe with a Daisy BB rifle but not a T/C rifle. Worst case that I could see would be that it becomes loose and needs to be re-tighten.

I really didn't need a hammerextensionbut it does make it easier to cock, and it appears to be safer too. I plan on leaving mine attached since so many othersare using themand I haven't read of anything bad. I figure if so manyplaces such asCabelas, Bass Pro, Gander Mountain, etcall sell them, there can't be anything that terriblywrong. The one I purchased from Cabelas did have a warning that just stated it wasn't a T/C product.

That was the reason they gave me also. That it could torque the hammer mechanism and you would not get the full force striking the firing pin. I have not had any problems since I installed the Bellm products. I also did not have any problems on any of my other barrels, only on the slug barrel. I do not know why this would void any warranty but maybe they replaced several recievers due to this before they found this "excuse". Other than this, I have not had any problems with their customer service. I have had my hammer extension on my Encore for 2 years now without any problems.

I think the problem was with steel extensions and the thin part of the Encore hammer. The added weight was bending or breaking the hammer at the thin part. I think I read that aluminum extension work ok. You won't go wrong with a Belm part.

Ethan