Encore pro hunter build

[huntinggunns]

I am thinking this is the build I am going to get started on and here are my reasons. I know there is a lot of debate over a bolt rifle vs a hinged rifle. However, for what we intend to use the rifle for, I think it will work well. We have never shot a deer over 300 yards. Usually, the deer the wife and I have taken, and that has been a bunch, have been between 20 to 150 yards. We hunt our own property and have been running food plots and free range feeders for years, so patterning the deer for close, ethical shots, are pretty easy. I say ethical because my eyes are not what they used to be so the closer the better lol. And since I have a bare encore frame in the gun safe already, it just makes sense to me to go this route. I have read a bunch of information about the smokeless barrels offered for the Encore. I have decided to go with the .45 cal MGM Brux 26" barrel from Luke at Arrowhead with his LRMP plug and no ram rod thimble. With that said I am hoping someone can tell me which fore end I need for that set up so there is no ram rod hanging under the rifle. I like the idea of the 3 piece ram rod with belt pouch for field use. I am leaning towards the .40 cal 200 grain SST with the HLB sabot with VV N 110 at about 32 + grains. Also, what range rod and loading jags do you guys feel are the best for that set up. Any other advice for this build and accessories will be appreciated. Thanks in advance

[oked]

Sounds like a good plan to me since u already have a frame. One thing I would consider Is a load I shoot in my Apex and cva hunter is 58 to 60 grins of H4198 with a 200 sst. Another thing with sabots I always knurl my bullets ,it never hurts and usually always helps groups. It's a simple thing to do with two files.

[rvaughan]

Encore builds are nice light and accurate . I got my forearm from Tony’s Forends and Grips. www.tonysforendsandgrips.net/. Custom made with pillars or hanger bar system. I use 58 grains of 4198 with 200 grain SSTs/HBS and get sub MOA groops when I do my part. Also so do well with 33 grains V110 and 195 Barnes/HBS. Most deer drop when shot within 200 yards. Some have run a bit but parish quick with both these loads. You can dial the V110 back for lighter recoil loads. Good luck.

[billyboy]

Yes on the Tony’s Forends & Grips, they work great. You might also consider going with a .40 Caliber & do away with the Sabots if your State allows it. The Smokeless TCs have quite a bit of Recoil with top loads.

[rpcw]

Put together two last year. Both are very accurate and we shoot full form bullets.

We did boyd’s Stocks on both and they look sharp and are a pleasure too shoot.

I haven’t found a .458 bullet they don’t shoot well.

Good luck!

[mk111]

I build up a factory 45-70 TC barrel on the Encore. Had the chamber threaded for a savage SML breach plug and it shoots smokeless very well with sabots.
I also bought a factory 45-70 barrel that was converted to SML off the sales adds on this forum. So I bought another Encore frame and stock so the grandsons have a SML rifle to use.
Only taken 2 deer with the Encore SML rifles have I've been limited out during bow and gun seasons the last few years.
Next year I'm going to get a smooth sided sizing die to get rid of the sabots to play with.

[mimath314]

Nov 5, 2018 16:08:06 GMT -5 mk111 said:

I build up a factory 45-70 TC barrel on the Encore. Had the chamber threaded for a savage SML breach plug and it shoots smokeless very well with sabots.
I also bought a factory 45-70 barrel that was converted to SML off the sales adds on this forum. So I bought another Encore frame and stock so the grandsons have a SML rifle to use.
Only taken 2 deer with the Encore SML rifles have I've been limited out during bow and gun seasons the last few years.
Next year I'm going to get a smooth sided sizing die to get rid of the sabots to play with.

I equate going sabotless as big of step as going from ML to SML. My accuracy and confidence increased exponentially. My next steps will be custom trigger and upgraded optics in order to be in the 300-500 yd club. (700 ML Rempac - but I have the necessary components for a TC mountain SML which will of course be sabotless.)

[pposey]

For me a break action is the way to go for hunting under 300 yards, I use harvester light blue sabots, 195 barnes if going fast, and 200 xtp if going slow. I could not get the 200sst to shoot as well as either, I think the base of the bullet was a little more rounded. I have an encore with a SMI plug and it shoots very well indeed, and is a pleasure to carry. I put a heavy knurl on every bullet. It really tightened up groups and eliminated fliers. The link at the bottom of my post has some info

[pposey]

And I use a folding ramrod in the field and a dedicated to this gun solid rod at the range. Both with very bold witness marks! Always use witness marks and check before you load/shoot,,, read my other link in my sig about double loading my savage ML2, NOT something you want to do believe me.

[huntinggunns]

Thanks for all of the valuable information everyone, I am probably going to start out with the 45/40 sabot/bullet combination for simplicity. I might move up to sabotless later on. Also,I think the spin jag set up looks like what I am looking for as far as rods and seaters go.

[bowhunter020]

Just wondering if any new advice has come about on this topic. My encore barrel is getting pretty rough and looking to switch it over to smokeless. 300-350 yards if the goal, don't plan on stretching it pass that for hunting. Was looking at arrowhead but... not ready to drop that much so the 45/70 conversion maybe the way I go. Just wondering what else people have been doing and seeing good results with.

Thanks