T/C Encore Accuracy compared to bolt actions

[WhiteKnight]

How does a T/C Encore's out-of-the-box accuracy compare to your typical megastore bolt action (Remington 700 ADL, Weatherby Vanguard, Savage 110, etc.)? Would the Encore be more accurate than most of these guns? How does an Encore's accuracy compare to a rifle dedicated to accuracy (heavy barreled bolt, like a Remington 700PSS)?

To me, it seems like the Encore would be less accurate because you're always swapping barrels with it, and a bolt action with a barrel mated to it full-time would be capable of much better precision because less parts move on it. Right?

I'm considering purchasing a .308 Encore, but don't want to lock myself into single-shot "scattergun" if I should just wait and buy a Remington 700 PSS/LTR or Savage 10FP down the road.

 

[jbech123]

I've owned both. On the whole, I'd take the PSS for sure. Overall the PSS is going to be more accurate, Individual guns can always vary, but if you sampled 10 of each, the PSS would have better out of the box accuracy. Plus I think it would be less problematic to take it to the next level of accuracy. I'm not a gunsmith or rifle builder, but there is a reason people shoot tactical matches with PSS or custom bolt rifles as opposed to an Encore. Just depends on what you really want to do with it in the end. My encore was no "scattergun", but groups were right around an inch. The only mod I had done to it was trigger work. Same thing with the PSS I had, and it would shoot .6" when I did my part. For hunting that difference would not be huge. Plus if it is just the regular encore, those are a few hundred bucks cheaper than a PSS, although the pro-hunter version is nearly the same.
Can't comment on the Savage, never owned one, but word on the street is they are fantastically accurate for the price point.

 

[R.W.Dale]

I've owned encores in the past. As a whole I will say they are NOT as accurate as a contemporary bolt action. Largely this is the nature of the beast with break action firearms you simply don't get the concentricy in chambering rounds that a bolt action provides. On a modern bolt action the locking lugs are spaced evenly around the axis of the bore. On an Encore the locking mechanism is offset from the centerline of the bore by almost an inch.

 

[mr.trooper]

How many people can ACTUALLY tell the difference in accuracy between action types. honestly.

 

[jbech123]

How many people can ACTUALLY tell the difference in accuracy between action types. honestly.

It is all relative. To a hardcore benchrest guy, hundredths of an inch determine match winners more often than not. But even leaving out that special group, most people that consistently shoot a rifle to maintain even above average hunting proficiency would notice I think. My results on the 2 are fairly typical from others I know with those rifles. So for me, the difference between a rifle that will shoot around 1moa and one that shoots .6 is significant enough to have me take notice. If you do woods hunting in the Eastern U.S., a 30-30 that can keep 3 rounds on a paper plate at 75 yards may be all the accuracy you need. And like I said there are always exceptions to the rule....I'm sure there are remington PSS rifles out there that shoot 3" groups, but those are statistical outliers. Really, comparing an encore to a PSS is apples to oranges, but the fact is that the accuracy of the 2 are significantly different to anyone but the very casual shooter(the type that shoots once a year and maybe hunts the first day or 2 of deer season.)

 

[Coltdriver]

I have both Bolt and Encore actions.

I have had phenomenal out of the box accuracy with my Encore in a couple of different barrels.

But the key to the Encore is knowing your barrel/frame combination. And unless you reload you may never get perfect accuracy from one. With a shouldered cartridge the shoulder to base dimension becomes critical in establishing your head space correctly for the combination you are using. Sometimes getting the exact right headspace involves shimming your breech face. Thats a lot of hassle for some folks.

On the other hand I have a .223, a .204, a 45 70 and a muzzle loader for the price of maybe 1 1/2 nice rifles. All of mine shoot very well with me just paying attention to the case dimensions.

All that said I believe that with factory ammo you are going to get better out of the box results with a good bolt action more often than not. So it really depends what your cup of tea is and how much you like to tinker.