TC Encore

utahvarminter · 07-05-2006, 02:01 PM

Been thinking over my options for a 22-250 Varmint Rifle for Coyote, Prarie Dogs, Badgers (WE DON'T NEED NO STINKING BADGERS!), and Really big Jackrabbits(there's a long story there...).

Anyway, I was at Cabelas (only 20 minutes away from my house!!!!) in the Gun Library, and in the used section there was a TC Encore, I HAD to pick it up. Astonishingly enough to me, I LOVED it. So now, instead of a Remington VS SF II, I want a TC Encore. Plus, I can get a second barrel in .308 for Deer, and one in 7mm Rem Mag for bigger game.

Anything bad that I should know?

Also, the story behind Really Big Jack Rabbits... it's long. If you want it told, I will.

Ach Du Liebe · 07-05-2006, 02:31 PM

tell us

utahvarminter · 07-05-2006, 05:24 PM

This begins with my Dad, and two of his friends. He works as an RN in the ER. One of the Techs there has a cabin in Eastern Utah, his name's Danny, and his aunt has a farm near there, that's filled with prairie dogs, and other wildlife. On one particular trip, my dad went with him, and his other Tech friend, Christian. The whole way there Danny was telling them about how there's a badger that has been tearing up the Prairie Dog towns, and causing general mayhem. They went out the next day to go blast P-Dogs, Danny told them that the place they were going to was right near the Badger den. Now this can only be told in my dad's words. “We got out of the Truck, and were walking along, when I saw a flash of Huge Brown Fur. I screamed ‘BADGER!’ and unloaded all 10 rounds in my 10/22. Then, Danny and Christian unloaded, while I reloaded. When I got my mag in, I got steady, and shot it clean in the head. It turned out to be a Gigantic Jack Rabbit. All in all, there were 31 shots fired, 15 of which hit it.” That night they skinned it out and laid out the pelt on the next to dry out. During the night a coyote ate it.

lefty o · 07-06-2006, 12:14 AM

my only thought with the encore is that it might get to be a pain in the rear if you get into a big dog town and have to crack it open 500-1000 times in a day.if you do all of your shooting inside of 4-500 yds, the .223 would be more economical. but if your like me, the next time i go i will be doing some 800-1000yd shooting, and the .223 just dont get it done out there. especially in a breeze.

utahvarminter · 07-06-2006, 02:08 PM

For one thing, I will never get a .223 rifle, other than one that has a 5.56NATO chambering, so I will never have anything other than Ar-15's and other assault rifles. The only reason I ever thought of one, was for ammo-enterchangablility. But, I shoot XM193 and XM855 military stuff (X means factory seconds - blemishes on the cartridge, aesthetic stuff) and 5.56 is hotter than .223 Rem. So, you CAN shoot .223 in a 5.56chamber, but not vice versa without barrel corosion. BTW the new .223 Wylde in RockRiverArms FULL sized, and the new chamber in the Bushmaster Predator are basically in between - why? 5.56 in a 5.56chamber is more accurate, than .223 in a 5.56chamber. They did it so people could shoot both without AS much barrel corosion with 5.56, and not AS much accuracy loss with a .223. Another reason I don't want to shoot .223, is that with Military stuff, it's too heavy to be a good Varmint Bullet, they're FMJ, and I want Ballistic Tip.
So I don't want a .223.
Another thing, I won't be shooting out to 800yds. I doubt with a benchrest, a high-powered compition scope, clean bore, and perfect ammo, I could make a 1" group at 800yds. Well, maybe if there wasn't any wind or noise,

Any other objections?

utahvarminter · 07-10-2006, 03:05 PM

Anyone?

myarmor · 07-11-2006, 02:22 PM

I have not heard many things bad about TC Encores at all. Only thing I can recall is the tendancy of cracked buttstocks. I guess its the curvature of the pistol grip and the way it's attached to the action. But thats not to say your will do this.
22-250, good cartridge and for your needs it sounds like it would serve you well. Only problem with single shots and rests is after you break open to action to reload you also have to readjust your entire rest again to the exact way it was last shot. Kinda hard if you have to pick up and place in bags over and over again. Don't get me wrong, I love my single shots. But Bolt actions are easier to bench shoot.
They are good rifles, and have a very strong following. Not to mention the abundance of caliber choices offered.

utahvarminter · 07-11-2006, 04:53 PM

This wouldn't be a bench rifle.

myarmor · 07-11-2006, 06:08 PM

I assumed that.
But if your sighting in different factory ammo to see what performs best, or hand loading and trying to work a load up, it can be a challenge. It's difficult getting everything exactly the same as it was the last shot...for at least 3 times with single shots. But not impossibile.
I like the challenge

lefty o · 07-12-2006, 01:12 AM

the 22-250 will definately get 'er done when speaking of varmints. my next varmint rifle will be a 22-250. it does however not offer any real advantage inside of about 450yds. if you want a 22-250, i think the encore is a decent choice, though a bolt gun would be a better choice for a P dog gun.

07-05-2006, 02:01 PM	#1
utahvarminter Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Utah Posts: 487	TC Encore Been thinking over my options for a 22-250 Varmint Rifle for Coyote, Prarie Dogs, Badgers (WE DON'T NEED NO STINKING BADGERS!), and Really big Jackrabbits(there's a long story there...). Anyway, I was at Cabelas (only 20 minutes away from my house!!!!) in the Gun Library, and in the used section there was a TC Encore, I HAD to pick it up. Astonishingly enough to me, I LOVED it. So now, instead of a Remington VS SF II, I want a TC Encore. Plus, I can get a second barrel in .308 for Deer, and one in 7mm Rem Mag for bigger game. Anything bad that I should know? Also, the story behind Really Big Jack Rabbits... it's long. If you want it told, I will. __________________ My Photo Album

07-05-2006, 02:31 PM	#2
Ach Du Liebe Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Pasco, Washington Posts: 166	tell us __________________ tic tac sir?

07-05-2006, 05:24 PM	#3
utahvarminter Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Utah Posts: 487	This begins with my Dad, and two of his friends. He works as an RN in the ER. One of the Techs there has a cabin in Eastern Utah, his name's Danny, and his aunt has a farm near there, that's filled with prairie dogs, and other wildlife. On one particular trip, my dad went with him, and his other Tech friend, Christian. The whole way there Danny was telling them about how there's a badger that has been tearing up the Prairie Dog towns, and causing general mayhem. They went out the next day to go blast P-Dogs, Danny told them that the place they were going to was right near the Badger den. Now this can only be told in my dad's words. “We got out of the Truck, and were walking along, when I saw a flash of Huge Brown Fur. I screamed ‘BADGER!’ and unloaded all 10 rounds in my 10/22. Then, Danny and Christian unloaded, while I reloaded. When I got my mag in, I got steady, and shot it clean in the head. It turned out to be a Gigantic Jack Rabbit. All in all, there were 31 shots fired, 15 of which hit it.” That night they skinned it out and laid out the pelt on the next to dry out. During the night a coyote ate it. __________________ My Photo Album

07-06-2006, 12:14 AM	#4
lefty o Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: mn Posts: 5,110	my only thought with the encore is that it might get to be a pain in the rear if you get into a big dog town and have to crack it open 500-1000 times in a day.if you do all of your shooting inside of 4-500 yds, the .223 would be more economical. but if your like me, the next time i go i will be doing some 800-1000yd shooting, and the .223 just dont get it done out there. especially in a breeze. Last edited by lefty o; 07-12-2006 at 01:14 AM.

07-06-2006, 02:08 PM	#5
utahvarminter Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Utah Posts: 487	For one thing, I will never get a .223 rifle, other than one that has a 5.56NATO chambering, so I will never have anything other than Ar-15's and other assault rifles. The only reason I ever thought of one, was for ammo-enterchangablility. But, I shoot XM193 and XM855 military stuff (X means factory seconds - blemishes on the cartridge, aesthetic stuff) and 5.56 is hotter than .223 Rem. So, you CAN shoot .223 in a 5.56chamber, but not vice versa without barrel corosion. BTW the new .223 Wylde in RockRiverArms FULL sized, and the new chamber in the Bushmaster Predator are basically in between - why? 5.56 in a 5.56chamber is more accurate, than .223 in a 5.56chamber. They did it so people could shoot both without AS much barrel corosion with 5.56, and not AS much accuracy loss with a .223. Another reason I don't want to shoot .223, is that with Military stuff, it's too heavy to be a good Varmint Bullet, they're FMJ, and I want Ballistic Tip. So I don't want a .223. Another thing, I won't be shooting out to 800yds. I doubt with a benchrest, a high-powered compition scope, clean bore, and perfect ammo, I could make a 1" group at 800yds. Well, maybe if there wasn't any wind or noise, Any other objections? __________________ My Photo Album

07-10-2006, 03:05 PM	#6
utahvarminter Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Utah Posts: 487	Anyone? __________________ My Photo Album

07-11-2006, 02:22 PM	#7
myarmor Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Southwest ,VA Posts: 1,147	I have not heard many things bad about TC Encores at all. Only thing I can recall is the tendancy of cracked buttstocks. I guess its the curvature of the pistol grip and the way it's attached to the action. But thats not to say your will do this. 22-250, good cartridge and for your needs it sounds like it would serve you well. Only problem with single shots and rests is after you break open to action to reload you also have to readjust your entire rest again to the exact way it was last shot. Kinda hard if you have to pick up and place in bags over and over again. Don't get me wrong, I love my single shots. But Bolt actions are easier to bench shoot. They are good rifles, and have a very strong following. Not to mention the abundance of caliber choices offered.

07-11-2006, 04:53 PM	#8
utahvarminter Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Utah Posts: 487	This wouldn't be a bench rifle. __________________ My Photo Album

07-11-2006, 06:08 PM	#9
myarmor Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Southwest ,VA Posts: 1,147	I assumed that. But if your sighting in different factory ammo to see what performs best, or hand loading and trying to work a load up, it can be a challenge. It's difficult getting everything exactly the same as it was the last shot...for at least 3 times with single shots. But not impossibile. I like the challenge

07-12-2006, 01:12 AM	#10
lefty o Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: mn Posts: 5,110	the 22-250 will definately get 'er done when speaking of varmints. my next varmint rifle will be a 22-250. it does however not offer any real advantage inside of about 450yds. if you want a 22-250, i think the encore is a decent choice, though a bolt gun would be a better choice for a P dog gun.