Author Topic: factory barrels OK? (Read 837 times)

redawg · « **on:** March 08, 2004, 06:16:00 PM »

I'm looking for a heavy barrel for my encore. I'll use it for paper and varmints, mainly prarie dogs. I was just wondering if most of you guys have had good luck with the factory t/c barrels. Priced having a custom barrel made and :shock: wow! My budget won't allow $350+ right now. Hope to someday though. Thanks!

KN · « **Reply #1 on:** March 08, 2004, 06:35:47 PM »

Factory barrels are just fine. I have a heavy barrel 22/250 that will print 3/8" on a good day. Just remember that TC is no different than any one else, they put out a lemon once in a while too. I have only had to send back one barrel out of about 2 dozen that I bought over the years. KN

MINNESOTA DICK · « **Reply #2 on:** March 08, 2004, 11:04:36 PM »

redawg

I posted this on the Sticky: [ Poll ] Encore Problem Areas and will repost it here for ya.

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.
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redawg · « **Reply #3 on:** March 09, 2004, 05:40:13 PM »

Thanks for the responses guys

! I did notice Cabelas offers 220 Swift barrels, but I already load for a 22-250 and a 223 would be cheaper to shoot. So it'll probably one of those two.

Minnesota Dick- I appreciate the work you did getting yours to shoot the way you thought it should. Is this a difficult trigger to work with? Is it awkward using a break-open on prarie dogs?

Thanks again!

KN · « **Reply #4 on:** March 09, 2004, 06:00:16 PM »

I got my trigger down under 2lbs pretty easily. Stoned the sear nice and smooth. and did the trigger spring trick,( Remove the trigger guard and you can see the end of the trigger spring. Take a screwdriver or some thing similar and push the spring down until it contacts the frame, ONE TIME ONLY. This will give you a much improved trigger. Push it down more than once and you will probably end up taking it out and rebending it.) I use my encore for prairie dogs but not as my main gun. It's kind of a pain having to require the target between shots. Wen't with a 700 rem instead. KN

MINNESOTA DICK · « **Reply #5 on:** March 10, 2004, 03:10:30 AM »

redawg

I didn't do the trigger work my self. I had a gun smith down in NE Iowa do it. He did a great job, but was really slooooow getting it done for me. If I remember right it cost me $50.00 to get it done.

When it comes to shooting P-dogs, I just take my time and make 1 shot count. I not out there to see how fast I can shoot them. It is easier on my barrel (heat), and my shoulder just taking my time shooting. I generally shoot from a portable shooting bench that I made. Also I find that take my time shooting I get more hits and don;t chase the dogs down their holes as fast.

I went one time with a guy that was a bang, bang, bang, bang ( I got 1) type of shooter. This was before I even got set up and fired a shot. I told him that this isn't no contest and if is I don't plan to play in it. He looked at me kind of funny :twisted: and never said any thing, but he slowed down and the real fun begain, some real fine shooting.

So to answer you question ( Is it awkward using a break-open on prarie dogs? ) I dont find it to be a problem for me, but some people might.

Hope that this info helps ya.

MINNESOTA DICK · « **Reply #6 on:** March 10, 2004, 03:18:28 AM »

I forgot to include, I save my brass for reloading, so the break action helps me out collecting the brass.

I have been to some places that shooters just leave their brass lay on tha ground and it looks like a shooting range site that is never cleaned up. I like to leave that area clean so that I can get invited back for more shooting.

redawg · « **Reply #7 on:** March 10, 2004, 04:59:39 PM »

KN- Thanks for the info on lightening the trigger pull. I'll have to give that spring trick a try.

Minnesota Dick- I hear ya about taking your time and making the shot count. I just enjoy being outdoors and soaking up the sunshine. My main p-dog gun last year was my 17HMR and I picked up my empties as well. It wasn't a large area, and I didn't want to trash the place and be asked not to come back. Besides, I'm used to retrieving my centerfire brass anyway. I think I'll enjoy using my Encore for p-dogs.

Thanks again!

MINNESOTA DICK · « **Reply #8 on:** March 11, 2004, 01:16:46 AM »

redawg: I took my 17hmr along last year and it was fun shooting it a them thar p-dogs. My best shot with it was hit at 197 yds. Used a range finder to check out the hit range. While the 17hrm wasfun to shoot I missed the splat factor that the 223 gives ya when ya hit them. :grin:

Had so much fun using the 17hmr it pushed me into getting a 17 rem 22" bull barrel for my Contender. I am just getting started working up some loads for it using the 20gr v-max's.

This years plan is: :grin:

1) Work horse gun: Encore 223 rem shooting 50gr Tnt's.
2) Extended range gun: H&R Ultra 243 win shooting 70gr TNT's.
3) New gun testing: Contender 17 rem shooting 20ga v-max's.
4) Horsing around gun: Remington 597 shooting 17hmr V-max's.

I hope that I can keep it all straight.

rpseven · « **Reply #9 on:** March 11, 2004, 02:23:42 AM »

Well I guess that is true about a lemon every now and then. It's like a used car. When I first bought my encore with a factory barrel (300 win mag) the barrel wasn't worth using for club. But T/C stood behind it. I ended with a new 7mm Rem. Mag barrel which I sold to buddy and we floated the forend with some small metal washers and just the other day he got friend to load up some 150 gr. sierra match grain bullets for it and he was shooting two liter coke bottles filled with water out at 400 yds with this same barrel so I guess they will do. I myself went with bullberry and got a 24' 7mm RM which shoots great and I also got a trigger job done (2.5lb)which ran over $400 for the whole package. That cost me my turkey shotgun that I had but we all have to sacirfice something wright.

I think if it was me I would check with Fox Ridge and see what their prices are. Good luck.

HogFan · « **Reply #10 on:** March 11, 2004, 12:03:47 PM »

I have a 7mm-08 24" Encore barrel, and it stays under 1" usually 3/4" all day with 140 gr. BT. I bought a box of the 150 gr. Federals in the blue box, and it won't shoot for any thing. But it is awesome with the 140 gr. BT. I plan on buying some 140 gr. Partitions to see how they shot as well.

HogFan