Best TC Barrel/Caliber for Long Range Shooting

[Zerstoerer]

I would like to add a new barrel/caliber to my TC Pro Hunter.
The idea is to go to maximum range possible and still hit a 8" target
with about at least 600 ft/lbs energy. Hoping for about 700 yards.
Here are all the possible barrels available, they are all 28" long.
Thanks for your thoughts.

17 HMR
22 LR
204 RUGER
22-250 REM
223 REM
243 WIN
25-06 REM
270 WIN
280 REM
7MM REM MAG
7MM-O8 REM
308 WIN
30 TC
308 MARLIN EXP
30-06 SPRG
300 WIN MAG
338 FEDERAL
338 WIN MAG
375 H&H MAG
416 RIGBY

 

[Zerstoerer]

...and do the Encore Barrels fit the Pro-Hunter Frame?

 

[TCman]

yes they do

 

[EShell]

1) 300 WinMag
2) 7mm REmMag
3) .30-06
4) .270/.280

 

[skinewmexico]

I'd say a 243 with 115g DTACs. Better ballistics than a 300WM, without the beating.

 

[Dr. Tad Hussein Winslow]

None of the above:

1. 6.5-284 Norma
2. 6.5-'06

But of those, I'd go with .270 win since now Berger has a good selection of .277 bullets. Honorable mention to 7mm Rem Mag and .280 Rem.

 

[tapout08]

Check out this site, they have more calibers available in custom accuracy encore barrels. It comes highly recommended http://www.eabco.com/barels01.html

 

[Dr. Tad Hussein Winslow]

also check out SSK Industries and Bulberry, for heavy barrels up to 30" in length.

 

[db_tanker]

hmm...

I would take a look at a few of the wildcats...especially the rimmed versions.

309 JDJ, 6.5 Mini Dreadnought or even the 6.5 Grendel might also be worth looking at...as well as a 7mm International rimmed (30-30 case necked to 7mm)


The .284 based cartridges would be a possible issue due to them having a rebated rim...a possible issue with a break action pistol even with the "swing out" extractors.

Check out places like SSK, or Match Grade Machine works, Bellm TC's...there are a few others out there...SSK will be the most expensive, to be sure...but you can't do much worse by their quality.

 

[EShell]

LOL, I picked from his list, as instructed. . .

If you want to deviate from that, simply go to a 7 STW, shoot 180 Bergers and call it a day. . .

skinewmexico, my daughter runs a fast twist .243 with 105 to 115s right around 2,950 to 3,000 fps. While it does extremely well for a .243, and it *almost* equals my 6.5-284 in trajectory, it drifts more in the wind than the 6.5-284 and comes nowhere close to a .300 WinMag and 210 Bergers in any aspect, especially energy on target.

PremiumSauces, I run a 6.5-284 and while it *almost* equals a .300 WinMag, it still doesn't. In fact, I shot 4th of 20 at an F-class match Sunday with the 6.5-284, 2nd and 3rd also shot 6.5-284s, but a dang .300 Winnie won . . . there light, variable breezes and he took it by X count. Go figure.

My shooting partner runs a .300 WinMag and shoots 210 Bergers at 2,950, using H-1000. It shoots slightly flatter than my 6.5-284, which shoots slightly flatter than Laura's .243, but where it really shines is in wind resistance and impact effect. Yes, it does have some recoil, but, you don't usually get something for nothing anyway, right?

 

[Zerstoerer]

Thanks for the replies.
Part of the reason I got the TC was that I wanted to be able to add different calibers without having to buy an entirely new rifle.
So, in order to keep the cost down let's stick to the factory TC barrels.

Also, we are not talking paper punching here. The energy at target needs to be at least 600ft/lbs.

Has anyone compared factory barrel accuracy to those custom barrels offered by EABCO? Are they worth the extra money?
Here is a quote from EABC about magnums. Does a medium velocity make more sense in a 28" barrel?

"It stands to reason that cartridges which operate on the outer edge of a gun's capability will have less accuracy potential than cartridges that operate closer to the gun's sweet spot. The TC Encore has superb potential for accuracy with the cartridges we chamber. We don't do any heavy magnums."

A factory barrel can be had for around $260 - seems hard to beat.

 

[R.W.Dale]

Most of the calibers you list could work fine...Provided you're shooting them in something other than an Encore. I went through my encore phase and I learned rather quickly that the accuracy of these rifles is grossly overrated. I got into encores after being so disappointed by the accuracy of my Handi rifles only to learn that if anything your average encore barrel is even less accurate. The break action rifle simply doesn't lend itself to knife edge accuracy

After my experiance with close to a dozen different barrels I'm gonna say that the max range you'll reialibly keep hits on an 8" target with an Encore will be 300yds regardless of what the chambering is

 

[db_tanker]

thinking about your post more makes me think that perhaps the 338 Win Mag would be your best bet as my first choices were made without reading your full post. sorry.


As for what has been said about break actions and their accuracy issues...I tend to not agree. this is my opinion and take it for what you wish. my experiences with the Contender and Encore line have always lent accuracy that is fully capable of keeping 1-2 moa which is plenty for hunting accuracy if the shooter is capable. A single shot rifle shooter HAS to be a bit more pragmatic than someone using a self-loader, lever or bolt rifle. You have, to use TC's phrase, one good shot. This means you better have it dead on otherwise you will either miss, or worse, wound your game.

Factory barrels have shown many issues...chambers not centered with the actual rifling, scope base threads not aligned, etc. What with the new ownership that they have now, I am even MORE leery of their workmanship on the barrels. Encore triggers are not the greatest in the world but they can be tweaked to give excellent results.

Bottom line is this...everyone who asks for opinions will get them. you have some that have had horrible experience with things and some that think that the sun rises and sets on that particular product.

My honest opinion on single shot rifles? If I were going to go long range game shooting I would get me a high-wall winchester or browning and use a 7 Mag or 300 Mag chambering and tailor some loads to that particular rifle. The Encore would be a second choice but I wouldn't feel undergunned.

D

 

[EShell]

. . .I went through my encore phase and I learned rather quickly that the accuracy of these rifles is grossly overrated. I got into encores after being so disappointed by the accuracy of my Handi rifles only to learn that if anything your average encore barrel is even less accurate. The break action rifle simply doesn't lend itself to knife edge accuracy.

I wasn't going to go there . . . but after struggling with a TCR'83 when they first came out and having a T/C Contender since '71 with a bunch of barrels, including three custom shop barrels, I have to agree. For the time and money I wasted in single-shot break action load development and "fixes", I could have probably had a custom rifle and shot 3/8 MOA in any caliber they make a reamer for from the first group forward.