Author Topic: Encore Problem Areas (Read 2034 times)

Runs with Scissors · « **on:** February 29, 2004, 07:16:31 AM »

I thought it might be interesting to see where the more common problems are occurring with the Encore.

Runs with Scissors · « **Reply #1 on:** March 02, 2004, 07:22:59 AM »

So far, it doesn't look too good for T/C's quality control of their capable but hurried Encore line.
Out of 10 voters, we have 4 who have no problems with their firearm.
There are five who do: 2 with loose actions and 3 with barrel problems.
Both of the latter problems pretty much negate the claim of "out-of-the-box accuracy.
Hopefully, we see the percentages change as more owners vote.
As it now stands, the votes indicate more troubles than the "one-in-five" estimates.

Bill

Runs with Scissors · « **Reply #2 on:** March 04, 2004, 04:05:49 AM »

Runs with Scissors · « **Reply #3 on:** March 04, 2004, 04:16:53 AM »

I would really like to see at least 100 votes here. Right now, it appears that over half of Encore owners are having problems.
Maybe T/C should see the results. :eek:

Bill

Redhawk1 · « **Reply #4 on:** March 04, 2004, 05:47:16 AM »

I have 2 Encore Muzzleloaders and a Encore pistol and a contender pistol. I have not had any problems at all

.

Runs with Scissors · « **Reply #5 on:** March 04, 2004, 09:56:29 AM »

I have an old Contender as well as a Hawken .50.
Both were purchased when T/C was a very new manufacturer.
The Contender served as a silouhette pistol (30-30) for it's first decade of use. Its been through several barrels and now is a .22 scoped (4X Lobo) tack driver pistol. The Hawken has a 4 digit s/n.
I have never had any problems with these guns, only the Encore.
It's disappointing to see the poll results, and that better than half the Encore owners responding are having difficulties. T/C returned my brand new Encore with a rattling action as "up to factory specs". It remained loose until I installed a Bellm 2X pin.
I'm serious. Had you (or anyone else) picked my Encore up off a rack in a store and held it/felt the loose lockup, you wouldn't have purchased it.
It started out tight, but loosened up badly in its first 40 rounds of .270 Win.
Its unbelievable that T/C's warranty repair department would return a firearm in the condition they returned mine. The fact that it took a 2X pin to correct the looseness suggests "factory specs" are really liberal.

Bill

skb2706 · « **Reply #6 on:** March 04, 2004, 12:18:46 PM »

Comparitively I wonder what the satisfaction percentage of the Contender is (not the G-2) ?
I had frames for four of those and other than one split hammer TC fixed for free.. and one crappy finished barrel I have had zero problems dating back to '78. Decent "out of the box" accuracy.

New Hampshire · « **Reply #7 on:** March 04, 2004, 01:14:04 PM »

Ive only put 60 rounds through mine so far. But in those 60 rounds I had no problems. For out of the box, using American Eagle 150 grain FMJ (plinker stuff, not premium,) I managed to put the last 8 or so rounds in a grouping I could cover with my hand at 50 yards. As it stands alone this gun seems fit for hunting/field use (which is really what I plan on it for.) But we will move up to premium ammo and then onto my handloads to see what it can really do. I have not even floated the barrel yet (though I have the washers to do so,) and the results are within what I can call satisfactory. Of course I have experience with just my one factory bbl, though I will probably add on eventually.
Brian M

MINNESOTA DICK · « **Reply #8 on:** March 05, 2004, 02:07:08 AM »

My Encore 223 rem with 26 hvy factory barrel shot ok I guess. But I wanted to improve it. Don't remember what the grouping was.

So the things I did was:

1) Reworked the trigger down to 14 oz pull.
Now you don't want to put your finger on the trigger until you are ready to shoot. This is not a hunting rifle. I use it for shooting P-dog from a bench rest.

2) Kissed the crown with a crown repair tool.
The crown had a burr form the factory.

3) Piller bedded the forearm.
This allows the forearm float from the barrel with the only contact points being the pillers.
When piller bedding the forearm I re-tapped the barrel mounting screw holes to use 8-32 cap screws for forearm attachment. That way I can get attachment screws any lenght I want at the hardware stores. I hate those special screws that T/C uses.

How does it shoot now, I don't get any replys/complants from any of the p-dogs I have shot with it. :wink:

Runs with Scissors · « **Reply #9 on:** March 05, 2004, 06:52:03 AM »

I'm really encouraged to see the Poll results indicating better than half of the voters having no problems with their Encores.
But we still have 7 inaccurate barrels and 5 loose actions from the 47 responding.
My frame looseness is remedied now and I'm anxious to try out the barrel this weekend. If I have a shooter, the next step is to reduce the trigger pull to less than 2 lbs.

Bill

Tc300mag1 · « **Reply #10 on:** March 08, 2004, 03:21:49 AM »

No problems at all i did lose a forestock screw but that was my fault.. Wish ya could get them screws locally

Runs with Scissors · « **Reply #11 on:** March 09, 2004, 06:17:35 AM »

I'm glad to report that with the 2X oversize pin, my .270 Encore outshoots me. I was able to get 2" groups @ 100 yards with no flyers :grin:
I now have a shooter that will satisfy its task as a deer rifle.
I also think my groups will reduce in size as I become more accustomed to my new rifle and work up some handloads.
As we speak, my frame is on its way to Virgin Valley for a 1.5 lb trigger job. That should help a lot as my groups drifted right as I pulled the trigger (I'm right handed).
I'm still a little pissed that T/C returned my rifle as "set to specs" when the barrel still rattled in the receiver.
Still, everything was sorted out with aftermarket parts.
My next step will be a 25-06 varmit barrel. I'll get it from Bullberry.

Bill

Encore Joe · « **Reply #12 on:** March 10, 2004, 04:01:10 PM »

I purchased my Encore as a pistol in 7mm-08. This year I bought a laminated rifle buttstock from Boyds, a custom shop 375 Winchester barrel (24"), and a Virgin valley forend with hanger bar.

I started with iron sights, but decided to install a Leupold 2x7 with Warne QD rings and base. I just returned from the range after the first outing with new optics.

Shooting factory loads, I shot a 0.40" three shot group. I wasn't expecting this kind of accuracy and am thrilled! No problems with this rifle and barrel.

Joe

Runs with Scissors · « **Reply #13 on:** March 11, 2004, 06:39:47 AM »

I would like to see the poll reach or exceed 100 votes.
First, I'm sincerely interested in the % of problems and where they occur.
Right now, 40% (68 voters) of Encore owners are having some sort of trouble with their guns.
My second reason is that I want to send the final results to someone high up the ladder at T/C and share their response with the group.

mbp708 · « **Reply #14 on:** March 21, 2004, 03:40:57 PM »

Don't know about you folks but my biggest problem area with the Encore is freezer space.

kb5szo · « **Reply #15 on:** March 23, 2004, 11:42:59 AM »

no problems at all it will out shoot me

vhunter · « **Reply #16 on:** March 26, 2004, 03:15:54 PM »

Have a new New Encore in 375 H&H that seems to shoot great! Have put a limb saver recoil pad on it and put 180 rounds threw it so far but all have been reloads. The loads are reduced to some degree but accuracy is great at 50yds so far. I have not shot 100 yds with it yet. I have the 26" heavy barrel with synthedic stock because of recoil but like the wood better! I think the barrels need to be broke in unless there is a real problem with it. Loads/bullets need to be matched to the rifle barrel. I expect my accuracy to improve after 500+ rounds but this is my opinion! The action, stock & forhand seem tight so far and the trigger breaks before I expect it to, so I am very happy with this Encore!

So far no problems!!

sgt299 · « **Reply #17 on:** March 27, 2004, 02:19:47 AM »

Got a factory 22-250 ss varmint barrel. Would put three under an inch, so what's the problem? Clean it and the next shot was a foot high, next 8", next 6" and then back to original point of impact. Called the factory. they wanted it back. Six weeks later, new barrel. Problem, no locking lugs or extractor. This is a long story but three weeks later and four calls to the plant the barrel now has all of it's parts. How does it shoot now? Five under an inch

Questor · « **Reply #18 on:** March 29, 2004, 08:06:31 AM »

Accuracy problem: 4" groups at 100 yards with any 50 grain 223 remington ammo.

hyltoto · « **Reply #19 on:** March 30, 2004, 05:12:56 PM »

Unfortunately for TC, if the results of this poll are unbiased, they can expect 48-68% of their customers to have issues with Encores. Yikes... Sounds like the firearm version of the Yugo.

Bullseye · « **Reply #20 on:** March 31, 2004, 03:18:03 AM »

And here is another thought Chris. I know you and I have been hanging around this place for over a year. In that time I have seen many posters come and go. There are time periods when the majority of the posters are having problems with their Encores and praising custom barrels. There are other time periods where everone is having great luck with the factory stuff and only recommending it. And yes, there has been times where the crowd was evenly split. Right now you can tell from the posts that we are in a period with high complaints against the factory. However, take a look at the negative posts, most are from the same few posters.

Now I am not on a T/C support badwagon, nor am I saying you folks are not having troubles with your guns. I am just saying that Chris is correct and that the poll in this forum does not mean that much. If it did, a couple of friends of mine and myself would have a pile of junk factory barrels based on the results of this poll that you all quote. Guess what, it is not a pile of junk barrels, it is a pile of shooters. Go figure.

vhunter · « **Reply #21 on:** March 31, 2004, 04:01:18 AM »

This is my second Encore, The first one I had was a 223 which I sold and the second one that I own now is a 375 H&H. So far with reloads the 375 seems like a great shooter. I have not had time to shoot the 100 yd range yet nor have I figured out which load/bullet I want to use yet either. I do know that the 223 that I owned would not group good at all with factory ammo and I was dissapointed and sold it. I'm not sure what the problem was and the scope and mount where leuapoled and the rifle was tight. I used a variety of different bullet weights and nothing grouped good!? Anyway, I have the same scope and mount on my new Encore so I know it wasn't that. I believe that I didn't shoot my first encore enough for break-in and feel if I reloaded the 223, I could of made it a better shooter. I think most of us feel that when we take a new rifle out of the box, we should get 1" or 1 1/2" groups as soon as we squeeze the trigger and thats not the case with every rifle, they are all different. I read alot of post regarding the Marlin 882ssv 22 mag and how accurate they are and when I bought mine, it would shoot 3" groups at 50yds. I was really angry and thought I got a Bad one!! I was told to shoot a couple hundred rounds threw it and after about 500rnds, I can shoot dimes at 100yds, my daughter shot a pencil into at 50yds. I guess some rifle shoot great out of the box and others need time! I really like the Encore and feel it is a great product! Rather than Poll what problems we have with our Encores, I would like to know what calibers are problems in the Encore! Sorry to ramble on.

Runs with Scissors · « **Reply #22 on:** March 31, 2004, 05:33:22 AM »

I don't know guys.
The Poll "How accurate is your factory 26" barrel?" clearly indicates that better than 80% of the respondents shoot 1" or less groups.
That was enough to prompt me to purchase another T/C factory barrel. The new one is the 26" heavy barrel in 223 Remington.
On the other hand, the Poll "How accurate is your factory 24" barrel?" clearly indicates that the groups I'm getting with my .270 are within the average size established by the respondents.
These two polls also indicate that the 26" barrel is more accurate than the 24" barrrels.
I know the numbers represented don't even touch the vast amount of barrels out there, but they do serve the purpose of establishing averages based upon the number of respondants.
The results were enough for me to make a buying decision in favor of T/C and not an aftermarket barrel.
And, when I finally get my new barrel to the range and maybe encounter problems, I will remember the poll results as I sort them out.
The numbers provide me comfort that I'll likely get a very accurate shooting barrel.

Bill

mikemayberry · « **Reply #23 on:** April 02, 2004, 11:35:26 PM »

I have two barrels and am heading toward number 3 and 4. My 209X50 shoots very well and looks to be tight at 100 yards. I have no frame/fit problems and am learning to shoot it with different bullets and 777.

My other barrel is the 12 guage turkey and it will shoot for its purpose. Does kick though and will enjoy the new Sims recoil pad I am sure.

Headed toward a 24 inch .270 and probably the .44 mag for pistol unless I learn from you guys there is something better.

Most of all, I am having fun assembling all the combinations. I am a gizmo guy and this is too fun!

I will therefore vote my happiness with the Encore system.

Mike