azhuntnut Report post Posted September 26, 2008 I acquired this TC Encore ealier in the year on a trade. It came with several barrels, and one of them was a 15 inch pistol barrel chambered in 7mm-08. I thought this would make a great caliber for my son who just turned ten. So I decided to build a lightweight rifle that would be great for hiking long distances. I took the barrel to Magnum Precision Gunsmithing and had him add one of his custom muzzlebrakes to help with recoil, and make the barrel the legal 16.25 inch length for a rifle. He also recrowns the barrel during the installation. I then added the new ProHunter FlexTech stock and forearm. I had the smith drill and tap the barrel so I could use a rifle length forearm. The stock is supposed to help reduce felt recoil by 43%. I figured the this stock and muzzlebreak it should be a low recoil rifle. I checked the trigger and it breaks clean at 3.8 pounds, so I didn't mess with it at all. I used a Nikon Monarch 4-16x42 Mil-dot scope mounted with Talley one piece base. I figured since Casey and Jimmy can add engraving to there guns, then I should have the same pleasure. This is laser engraved, so hopefully it will hold up for a while. I am heading out next week to shoot it and see how it does with some Federal premuim 140 grain nosler ballistic tips. I know I will lose some velocity with the shorter barrel, but it will have less vibration than the longer barrels. I will most likely end up using this gun during my November WT hunt if its a shooter. Final weight with scope came in at 6.8 pounds. David Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
GameHauler Report post Posted September 26, 2008 Very Nice Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
coues7 Report post Posted September 26, 2008 I would assume with that short a barrel to get the velocities/ballistics you want you'll have to have a pretty hot load....which could damage the action. Looks cool though. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
azhuntnut Report post Posted September 26, 2008 I would assume with that short a barrel to get the velocities/ballistics you want you'll have to have a pretty hot load....which could damage the action. Looks cool though. Factory ammo puts this caliber right at 2800 fps, so I figured this rifle will shoot close to 2300-2400fps. I plan on trying the Federal ammo first, but will also try the factory Hornady light magnum loads which add about 200 fps over regular loads. If that doesn't work for me than I will work up some loads using the new Reloader 17 powder, which has gotten very good reviews so far. David http://www.6mmbr.com/reloder17.html Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
coues7 Report post Posted September 26, 2008 I hope the factory ammo works for you......that's a sweet lookin' rig. Post some targets to show us the results. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Buckhunter Report post Posted September 27, 2008 If you relaod. I found that the speer 130 grn sp with 43 grn varget shoots like a laser in my kimber Montana. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bucks_N_Yotes Report post Posted September 27, 2008 David, I must say it turned out great, we should try it on some yotes! Ben Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Hooked_on_Coues Report post Posted September 27, 2008 plug your ears! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
COOSEFAN Report post Posted October 2, 2008 Very cool gun there David! I guarantee there won't be anybody "whisperin'" after that thing goes off though! I do like the name, very cool! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
azhuntnut Report post Posted October 2, 2008 I had a chance to go out to Ben Avery yesterday and break in the barrel a little. On the very first shot, I managed to blow a 44oz. drink off of the table from the muzzle blast. It was sitting about a foot to the left of the gun. I will be wearing some hearing protection for sure during my coues hunt when I take a shot. I still need to do a little more work on the inside of the forearm to tighten up the grouping. David Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
firstcoueswas80 Report post Posted October 2, 2008 I picked up a set of banded ear plugs made by Peltor. At the range, if I get a little spit on them, they go so far into my ears I swear they start to touch brain matter! Shooting with Scout'm and his muzzle braked guns is no big deal with these things in. I love them and they will stay in my backpack from now on! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Buckhunter Report post Posted October 2, 2008 what kinda groups were you grtting to start of with? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
azhuntnut Report post Posted October 3, 2008 It was about an inch in a half towards the end, and then the barrel started getting hot and giving me some stringers. I also think the forearm was making a little contact on the right side of the barrel and frame. These TC's can be finicky until you get them figured out. David Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
firstcoueswas80 Report post Posted October 4, 2008 Did you let the barrel cool between groups? Im sure you know this, but too much heat eats the throat away like nothing else! I can only shoot El Chupacabra twice before it gets too hot to touch. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
catclaw Report post Posted October 5, 2008 I can't think of anything I would rather NOT shoot than a 16" barrel with a muzzle brake- OUCH! 6.8 lbs all up. You could get a rifle with a 22-24" barrel at that weight if you tried. It better shoot bug holes! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
