G2 Shooter

T/C and their custom shop do not sell barrels in many cartidges such as Weatherby and WSMs but you can have those barrels built by a custom shop such as Bullberry or Match Grade Machine http://www.matchgrademachine.com/chamberings_public.php But that conversation could also be argued in the hundreds of "Why I need a magnum catridge" threads on this board.

I love my Encore. It has THE most accurate muzzleloader barrel I have ever owned. It is shorter than any of my other bolt action rifles even with a 26-28" barrel on it. The fact that I can have a different caliber barrel from $150-$300 is very attractive to me. Do some small modifications to it and it will lock up tighter than a drum. Those may total $50 at most. I can go on a trip and take a complete rifle and 2-3 other barrels and be totally covered for anything I want to hunt. That's a lot easier than hauling 4 bolt action rifles around. T/C's customer service is one of the best I have ever had to use.

I don't shun other styles of rifles. In fact I own several bolt and lever action rifles. I think the Encore/Contender is a versatile design with many advantages. It's obvious other manufacturers feel the same way since several imitations have been introduced in the past few years.

I totally agree that the Pro Hunter is way overpriced. I could care less about some engraving and a swing hammer. My Encore was listed at Bass Pro for $549 but I have their credit card so I think I only paid $450.

CommonSense

Jealous of a break action, single shot rifle? not hardly.

James B

I have little experience with the Encore but have owned and shot the heck out of several Contenders. I always got good accuracy and reliability from them. Yes, thank god they do not chamber the big powder guzzlers.

bigbulls

Last time I checked a bolt action rifle was a repeater. There are 3 or 4 more cartridges ready IN THE GUN to be loaded quickly should a second shot be needed.

I don't want to hear make that first shot count and you won't need another.

When you have an elk standing there 200 or 300 yards away and you have an oportunity for a second shot you take it. Your average hunter could get off at least two shots and probably a third with a bolt gun before a TC shooter could get the gun broke open, pull out the shell with his hand with gloves on(cause they don't have ejectors, only extractors), pull another cartridge off his belt, sling, or butt stock shell holder, load it, close the gun, and finally get back on target and make another shot.

With a bolt gun you can go through the entire reloading process and take another shot with out ever taking thecrosshairsoff the animal.

A stainless pro huter with a camo stock is going to cost you over $800 is the gun shop likes to have money topay their bills. I didn't say they all cost $800 but some of the do and then some.

And when a gunsmith does this they are bordering on possibly killing someone.An Encore barrel is right at an inch in diameter at the chamber and thereisn't enough steelsurroundingthose fat cartridgesto safely hold 64,000 psi. In fact, Bullberry does notoffer these chamberings in their encore barrels.

I knowTC chambers them for cartridges like 416 Rigby / Remingtonbut these are loaded to much lower chamber pressures than the new WSM and such.

I didn't say that cast receivers were bad as many gun makers cast their receivers. But it is an inexpensive way to build a rifle and an encore receiver has very little additional machining done to it whichshould alsokeepthecost down. There is a lot more machine work that must go into making a bolt action receiver than one like the encore. Guns likethe Ruger #1, O/U shotguns, etc... that's a different story. There is extensive machining that must be done to these firearms receivers and barrels.






Iwill give it to them in that they do shoulder well and feel vry natural in the hand but they aren't worth what they charge for them. Bottom line is that an Encore should be about a $500 rifle tops and a plain jane model should go for under $400. They sholdn't cost much more than a H&R / NEF. In fact you could purchase a NEF, Nikon buckmasters 3-9X40, rings and bases, and a box or two of ammo for less than an Encore by itself and I would put money down that the NEF will be at least as accurate as the encore.

HEAD0001

I wanted an inexpensive 6.5X284 to use in the ground hog fields. So I bought a custom MGM barrel for my Left hand Thumbhole stock(TC was the only factory rifle I could find with a LH thumbhole stock). I have about $800 in a very accurate rifle to hunt with. The rifle has a custom barrel in a cartridge that I can not even get from the mfrs.?? What is wrong with that??

I agree with you guys. IMO the Pro Hunter is overpriced. But then what isn't?? And I can not go along with the comment about the H&R being as good as the Encore. I just ain't buying that one.

The Encore is a short fast handling firearm for tight hunting situations. That sounds pretty good to me??

So maybe the bolt action is slightly more accurate than the Encore(not always). I use my Encore to hunt with, not bench shoot?? Pretty hard to tell the accuracy difference in the field??

We are teaching a 6 year old how to handle a firearm, and how to shoot a firearm. What better rifle than a break action single shot for a youngster?? Tom.

blackheel

I have an Encore and about to own a second one. Just had shipped a fully camo turkey Encore with sights and choke for $579. I love the Encore and actually like how they look and feel. The thumbhole stocks hold almost perfect for me but I have not actually gone with the thumbhole because my Dad is a lefty and I can loan him either gun this season (the camo one is going to get a slug barrel for deer season) and not worry about the bolt being on the wrong side.

As someone said to me about an Encore at the range this year, "hey that group is minute of deer, let's go hunting". He was right.

DM

Speak for yourself...

I bellied up on several decent caribou bulls one time to about 140 yards away that were laying down... (i couldn't get any closer) I had my Valmet 412 in 12ga. over 30-06. (non ejector)

I shot the first one laying down, and got the second one before he made 50 steps... I dropped the third one as he ran away, and all were one shot kills...



When i was a kid about 9,my oldest brother gave me a Savage 20ga. single bbl that has an ejector... I practiced with it a LOT... (i still have it)

One day i saw two mallards on a pond, soi crawled up to the pond. When i stood up they took off and i got the first oneabout 10 ft.off the water... I opened/ejected, and reloaded and took the second one before it got 35 yards away...

I love the "handiness" of a single shot. I like that they are light and easy to carry... I don't feel handicapped one bit when i'm carrying a single shot.

Icouldbe hunting with just about any gun i want, and i do... I hunt with an olddrilling, and the rifle bbl. is a non ejector single shot...



I've harvestedmy last 20 big game animials with this "single shot", all one shot kills.

DM

ox1443

Well i think the main reason people use them is because of the flex tech stock and that shockey uses TC haha

skb2706

As I said "they are not for everyone" but they are a tinkerers dream and when put side by side with any NEF there is so many obvious refinements that one is not even in the same league as the other.
I've hunted everything there is in CO with a single shot of some kind or another and to be honest never felt handicapped by it at all. I have bolt rifles and semi autos and use them all but the 'single shots' (whatever that means) are my first choice.

Don't care what you want to hear....make a good first shot.

Gas should cost $2 not $4 /gl...what things should cost has little to do with what they do cost.

Shoot what you'd like, I'm just glad i live in a place where I can.

I "handicap" myself even more I shoot TC g2/Contender carbines which basically limit the pressure level even less than the Encore. Its still my gun of choice. It still brings home game every season. Fun gun to hunt with and its doubtful that forum posts will change my mind.

Arguing about choice of gun is dumbass.

bigbulls

DM, I wouldn't classify you as an average hunter either.

Honestly, how many "average" hunters would put in the time to practice like you have to get off lightning quick second and third shots with a non ejector single shot rifle? Not too many.


I didn't say they didn't work. I didn't say they weren't decent rifles. My point is that an Encore is highly over priced for what it is and how it is manufactured. Period.