New huntin pistol

[375hh1973]

Finally got a day off without monsoon rains or 60mph wind. Decided it was a good time to see what my TC Encore in .243 would do. Don't have components or dies yet so am shooting some factory stuff I ordered online. The first load is Federal gray box 100gr soft point. The other load I got from Cheaper Than Dirt. It is Colorado Buck brand ammo. The only reasons I took a chance on it was the fact that it is loaded with 90gr Accubond and it was in stock.

Wind was negligible, range nice and un-crowded. I like having my days off on Tuesday and Wednesday for that reason! Bore sighted and started at 25 yards with Federal and Colorado. I have shot a lot of big bore revolvers, 44 mag, hot 45 colt, 454, etc and also a few encores in straight walled calibers. This is my first bottle necked chambered pistol so I didn't really know what to expect. This gun is fun! Not much muzzle flip, not much in the way of recoil at all. My Ruger Super Blackhawk hunter in .45 colt has much more recoil than this gun.

I shot a few groups at 25 yards to get zeroed and get used to the B&L Elite 2-6 scope. Right away I could see the difference in ammo. Even at 25 yards the Colorado Buck was tighter.
Finally got an all clear for a target check and moved to 100 yards. Cranked the scope up to 6 and did some dry firing to warm up. Again, noticeable difference in accuracy. Colorado Buck much tighter groups. I am attaching a picture of a group with each ammo. My final 3 shots were with the Colorado Buck after my last scope adjustment. Dead on at 100. I think that this will be suitable for Michigan deer.

Does anyone have any experience with how the 90gr accubond performs on whitetails?

Encore 243.jpg

90gr accubond.jpg

100gr federal gray box.jpg

Colorado Buck 90gr.jpg

[octagon]

375, that nice group with that Colorado ammo does not surprise me. I watched my brother (who can shoot) use a contender in .223 and hand loads, shoot a five shot group at 100 on a concrete bench/sandbags, that you could cover with a dime, no foolin. Having never shot a contender or a pistol with a scope before, I posted a group you could cover with a quarter. This gun had a bull barrel I think was 14", it was ten years ago. It was a combination I think of a short, heavy, barrel, and hand loads, and a fella that can really shoot. The gun had as I recall, a Burris scope.

[Pete44ru]

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Nice shootin' ! !

I think the Accubonds will do OK on MI deer, as long as it doesn't hit a large bone.


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[375hh1973]

Thanks, Pete.

I have heard others talking about how accurate their Encores or Contenders are. Now I am a believer as well. I am looking forward to shooting some deer with the .243, ¼ bore. I was poking around the internet and there are a couple of places where I can order a custom barrel. In keeping with the 308 case theme I think it would be cool to get a .358 win barrel and maybe a 7mm-08 as well.

This could get expensive!

[3leggedturtle]

You do realize there is no cure after you own a Contender or Encore? You can never have enough barrels. How was the muzzle blast and flash?

[Bill in Oregon]

Not much recoil, but loud ain't it?



Had a Striker in .243 ages ago. Accurate pistola!

[375hh1973]

Not much in the way of recoil at all. Had plugs AND muffs on so wasnt too loud either. Im sure that I will feel differently when I drop the hammer on a coyote or deer when I dont have ears on.