Author Topic: Reloading for Encore Rifles (Read 773 times)

mdc1 · « **on:** December 10, 2003, 02:27:11 PM »

I bought a Contender several years ago and have been extremely happy with it. I have barrels for 7-30 Waters, .44 mag, and 22 Hornet. I reload for everything I shoot and have had zero problems with any of the afore mentioned calibers. I've been lead to believe that shooting rimmed cartridges out of single shot TC's will keep you out of potential headspacing problems. I'm looking for a .25 cal rifle barrel for a new Encore, but first would like to know if there is any validity to the rimmed cartridge theory before I make a caliber choice. Be gentle, this is my first foray into an online forum.

KN · « **Reply #1 on:** December 10, 2003, 04:17:50 PM »

Headspacing with a rimmed cartrige will always be better than rimless. But if your careful in you reloading practices and don't set your shoulder back too far you'll be just fine. I personally would not let a rimless design keep me from choosing a caliber. KN

Bullseye · « **Reply #2 on:** December 10, 2003, 04:27:47 PM »

I had problems in a Contender with a 35 Rem (hardly no shoulder) and a 222. Both misfired with factory rounds. I have since stuck with rimmed cases in the Contender and never had any problems. However I just purchased a 223 barrel so I am venturing back to a rimless caliber.

I have a 25-06 barrel for my Encore and have never had any mis-fires with it. I think the hammer spring is marginal in the Contender and the Encore has a more powerful spring which might help to overcome some of this problem. Seems that I have never heard of any one having misfire problems in an Encore.

mdc1 · « **Reply #3 on:** December 11, 2003, 12:02:37 AM »

Thank you for the replies. 25-06 would be my choice of a rimless cartridge. I was thinking of 25 Ackley Krag as a rimmed alternative. It sounds like if I neck size only (don't set the shoulder back) the 25-06 should be fine.

onesonek · « **Reply #4 on:** December 11, 2003, 01:41:25 AM »

Hi mdc1,
I use fl dies, and set them to just bump the shoulder. Neck sizing only in single shot can also lead to chambering problems. Not always but possible. If you choose neck dies. It might be a good practice too, chamber them after sizing and before loading. If you are going to use brass from unknown origin, FL dies are the way to go. Single Shots don't have much in the way of camming action for tight rounds.

str8shooter48 · « **Reply #5 on:** December 11, 2003, 01:34:58 PM »

I too had misfires problems with my 35 Rem. Contender. I solved mine by purchasing a set of Lee Collet Dies and just necksizing the cases. Another plus with them is you don't need to lube the cases.

mdc1 · « **Reply #6 on:** December 11, 2003, 11:41:18 PM »

If I'm using brass that has not been shot out of the chamber I'm loading for I full length re-size. Once it's been fireformed to a chamber, I back the full length dies off .050". I read that method somewhere when I started reloading (20+ years ago) and have never had a problem using it. Hopefully, that will keep me out of trouble with the 25-06. Thanks again for all the response.