thompson center pro hunter as a long range rifle ?

[bob nailer]

hi guys
just having a look at the pro hunter rifle , so many to choose from lots of cals ,ack, 28 barrels , bull barrels , does any body know much about them ,looking to set up a mid range rifle for the boy to start with .. any first hand info would be great ,, and any ideas on how to trick them up .. apart from a trigger job

cheers lads
bob

 

[Ernie]

Probably one of the critical issues with Contenders and Encores is the relationship between the forend and the barrel. Getting a pillar bedded forend would help a lot.
Also being very aware when field shooting to keep you forend pressure from shot to shot.
Practice with typical bench set-up then change to field shooting and check to see if POI changes or not.

 

[Down Under Hunter]

They look like a very nice rifle. What calibre were you thinking of ? Do they offer that gun in the CHEY-TAC offerings ? I believe that might work at medium ranges.. and beyond. You may want to look at a DE 338 edge and I'll just come and carry it for you. Those SE fallow would be in a world of hurt !

 

[Ernie]

The encore couldn't handle the Chey-Tac or the Edge.

 

[eddybo]

I like em, but have a hard time shooting them. If anyone shoots one of the prohunters at long range they have a better delivery than myself. I do not know why I have such a hard time shooting these guns, but I wouldnt shoot an animal past 500 with one, but I am sure the problem is with the shooter not the gun.

 

[scsims]

I agree, I just sent my 300WM ProHunter barrel back due to in consistent accuracy. I couldn't get groups under 2" everytime, the best group was .7" but that was out 20 three shot groups. The avg was 1.5". It was driving me crazy. Then I looked into the bore and noticed horrible tool marks near the crown. So I sent it back today.

 

[bob nailer]

thanks guys ,i think i will give it a miss . more research needed
cheers
bob

 

[Ernie]

Factory barrels can be bad sometimes as mentioned, but the forend/barrel relationship is a big issue sone one can't free float that area. Many things are tried but probably a pillar-bedded system works best for field shooting.

 

[James Jones]

TC's quality control has seemingly slipped a good bit since these guns came out , I certainly don't see what the cost is at , their barrels seem to be ok for a factroy barrel but their frame to barrel ift genraly sucks and the triggers are very inconsistant and all the ones I've worked over took alot more time and effort to get to a good trigger than the old Encores.

You can get factoy barrels from TC in the regulay size in several differant calibers with heavy barrels like 22-250 , 25-06 , 7mm mag ,308 , 300 win and all of these I have owned and shot a good bit and all will shoot well after a little load tuning.
The Encore will benifit from a forend bedding job , a trigger job and good hand loads like any other rifle. I have a 300 win barrel that I woulden't hesitate to shoot a deer at 1000yds with , it will consistanly shoot 3" groups at 500yds with good hand loads.
For a new shooter I'd reccomend a 25-06 , you can get the 115gr Ballistic tips out at 3100fps pretty easly and with a .450'ish BC that will be more than any deer can stand out to 500yds and the recoil woulden't leave any marks , or the 7 mag or 300 mag with a good break and that would make it a 1000yd deer rifle if the shooter is up to it.

 

[bob nailer]

i will keep at it ,nice idea with the 25-06 ,
thanks for the input
cheers
bob

 

[starchild69]

Long Range T/c

Hi Bob, I Am Currently Looking Into A T/c Also, Actually Have Been For A Few Years Since I Played Around With One In Texas. There Is A Company In The States Called Robert W. Hart And Sons That Offer Custom Accurizing Work On The T/c Models. I Am Considering Having One Sent To Them And Then Sent Out To Me Here In Australia. For A Small Cost They Will Get It Ready For You, And Also Fit Brakes Etc. Hope This Helps
Starchild69

 

[James Jones]

Are you sure its RW Hart? or was it EA Brown. Hart boys generaly cater to the benchrest crowd and EA Brown is a single shot specialist but the Hart's will probably work on anything.

 

[starchild69]

Yeah the Hart guys will do the work, Ea brown is another possibility, just the T/C I saw in Texas was a Hart job, and the guy was really happy with it

 

[mdewitt71]

I know it's an older thread but, I am all for one to learn as much as I can absorb about the Encore.

I have a ML barrel and a 22-250 ProHunter for mine right now and am looking at something a lil bigger like a 7mm or .300 Win for my next purchase.

Can someone explain to me just how much better a TC Custom Shop barrel is than the regular TC barrel or a ProHunter hunter?

I want a good barrel but, am really wondering if theses Other "Custom Barrels" are really $300- $500 better than the T.C. Custom Shop versions are....