Need help with 30-30 encore barrel please

[kid_couteau]

Hi All

A while ago I bought a brand new 30-30 encore barrel

I tell you I have tried 170 grain, 150 grain and even 150 grain fmj boat tails and at 100 yards the best I got was a 4" group with the fmjbt.

Crown looks ok and barrel seems fine just cant get any accuracy from it

Any ideas please?
Thank you
Kid

[Catfish]

I had a .204 barrel that did shoot well eather. I sent it back to T/C and they sent me a new barrel.

[Catfish]

I had a .204 barrel that didn`t shoot well eather. I sent it bact to T/C and they sent me a new one.

[Grumulkin]

Are you using a scope?

If using a scope is it tight in the rings and the base tight to the gun?

I have a 30/30 Contender barrel but haven't played with it yet but the following is what I would do providing I was satisfied with the scope and mounting thereof:

1.  The highest bullet weight I would use would be 150 gr.

2.  I would work up the load with Sierra or Nosler match bullets.

3.  I would look in the Nosler manual for their recommended most accurate powder for 150 gr. bullets and start with that.  I would start at the lower range of the recommend load and increase the powder charge until group size shrunk to the satisfactory level or until excess pressure signs appeared.  If I didn't get acceptable groups with that powder, I would try at least one or two more after which time I would contact T/C about sending the barrel back for repair.

[leadman]

I would try a box of factory ammo before condemming the barrel. If this shoots good I would look at using some flat based bullets as I find these shoot better in some barrels than boattails.
Also a look at your reloading methods could help. Break action guns require very close attention to details that are somewhat different than bolt guns.
Size the brass so it headspaces off the shoulder, not the rim. Headspace can be measured easily in a break action firearm by the use of a feeler gauge between the case head and the standing breech. Try to have a headspace measurement of .0015" to .001".

Also most of my Contenders and Encores like the bullet very close to the rifling. I use H4895 in both of my 30-30 barrels and have no problem with accuracy. This is an "Extreme" powder so is affected little by temperature changes.

Experiment with how the gun is rested when fired. My Contender carbine with a 21" tapered barrel only shoots good off a rest if my hand is between the rest and foreend.

There is a website that has alot of useful info on making these guns shoot. If you would like the link PM me.

[Grumulkin]

You know, I've had dozens of Encore and Contender barrels and I've never gotten out feeler gauges and agonized about headspace, I don't use hanger bars, I don't torque forends with a torque wrench, I full length size belted cases and make no effort to make them headspace off the shoulder, etc. and with multiple barrels and multiple frames I get accuracy that would make many bolt action rifle owners satisfied with "minute of deer" or even 1 MOA accuracy quite jealous.

In my opinion, the Encore headspace "issue" is for the most part a bunch of baloney.

By the way, the target in the photo was shot at 100 yards with an Thompson/Center Encore handgun with a 13 inch barrel and the group measured a whole 0.715 inches center to center.  This handgun had not had a trigger job, didn't have oversized hinge pins, etc.  The 375 H&H Magnum case is long and tapered and doesn't headspace well on the shoulder even if you try to get it to.  I wasn't even trying to get it to headspace on the shoulder anyway since my cartridges have to work in 2 different 375 H&H Magnums.

Mine even does OK at 200 yards.