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T/C Encore
scotsterner
Member Posts: 3 ✭✭
A friend and I each bough new Encore barrels in .300 Winchester Magnum. We both put Burris Euro Diamond scopes on them, with the Burris double dovetail mounts. Neither rifle will hold a 4" group. We've tried every brand of 180 grain bullets possible. And NO, we do not want to shoot 165 grain bullets. We specifically bought the rifles to shoot a heavier grained bullet for big game, but after seeiing the groups, can not trust the rifles what so ever. Has anyone experienced the same problems with a LARGE caliber T/C? This is quite dissapointing considering the rifle were not really that inexpensive. If I knew they were going to do this, I would have just bought 2 Remington 700's. We have the exact same problem with our muzzleloader barrels. They will not hold good groups at 100 yards. Now I'm hearing of all kinds of people having problems with groups using a T/C. Can anyone tell me if they've had similar problems. I may have to return the barrels to the manufacturer. I have many rifles that can hold sub 1/2" groups, and bought the rifle for the purpose of breaking it down to go on hunts. This is totally unexceptable to me.
Comments
Don't give up yet. Do a search on this forum for "Encore" and see what comes up...Good luck ....Bull
A Bullberry barrel in 6MMBR was shooting under .250 quite often. My Factory 22 hornet barrel is re-chambered to 22BR and will shoot .750 groups.
Now for your problem. Check or change the scope to make sure it is not the issue, 4" is a huge group to be caused by a new barrel. Is it factory ammo? If you are using hand loads make sure the case is head-spacing on the shoulder and not the belt. If you are attempting to shoot bullets too heavy for the twist the groups will suffer badly, double check the twist with a tight patch and cleaning rod. Did you clean the new barrel and break it in a bit? Seating depth might be some of it, but 4" is a HUGE group to be minor tuning.
Watch the scope base too..... I got hit and badly cut when the screws stripped out of the barrel using a weaver base and the short screws, the scope, rings and base assembly hit me right between the eyes. It was a 375 H&H barrel. it also bent the front, unsupported area of the aluminum base down from recoil. Then I put a solid steel base on with each screw filed to the exact depth of the hole and properly torqued to prevent movement. It stays put now! The 300 has a lot of recoil and things moving are bad.
Is it POSSIBLE That you are jerking the trigger, anticipating recoil? Is your rest solid under the forearm, not touching the barrel? Do you have the forearm screws snug but not over tight?
These rifles are not that hard to get shooting good. I have even had good luck with used barrels performing well after a good cleaning and careful load selection
Use iron sights initially if you suspect the scope. Otherwise, have your buddy load the rifle and hand it to you. Fire a couple of rounds, and at a random moment, have him put in a snap-cap or fired brass - you will be able to see if you are flinching. The key here - check ONE thing at a time. Otherwise, if you fix the problem, you won't know what fixed it. Try the simple stuff first. Check to see if you are flinching (costs nothing); Buy a box of different ammo, maybe the reduced-recoil stuff (see if it is the ammo). Use iron sights if you have them (checks the scope and base).
If you are flinching, get yourself a good shoulder pad, and consider adding a muzzle brake to your barrel. Any good gunsmith should be able to do that. I know so many guys that think it is manly to get beat up by their rifle, but I would rather hit what I aim at...
Now for your problem. Check or change the scope to make sure it is not the issue, 4" is a huge group to be caused by a new barrel. Is it factory ammo? If you are using hand loads make sure the case is head-spacing on the shoulder and not the belt. If you are attempting to shoot bullets too heavy for the twist the groups will suffer badly, double check the twist with a tight patch and cleaning rod. Did you clean the new barrel and break it in a bit? Seating depth might be some of it, but 4" is a HUGE group to be minor tuning.
Watch the scope base too..... I got hit and badly cut when the screws stripped out of the barrel using a weaver base and the short screws, the scope, rings and base assembly hit me right between the eyes. It was a 375 H&H barrel. it also bent the front, unsupported area of the aluminum base down from recoil. Then I put a solid steel base on with each screw filed to the exact depth of the hole and properly torqued to prevent movement. It stays put now! The 300 has a lot of recoil and things moving are bad.
Is it POSSIBLE That you are jerking the trigger, anticipating recoil? Is your rest solid under the forearm, not touching the barrel? Do you have the forearm screws snug but not over tight?
These rifles are not that hard to get shooting good. I have even had good luck with used barrels performing well after a good cleaning and careful load selection
I agree....
I never had a bit of trouble out of the 50+ barrels I have..
This what I get out of my 209x50..