I used to love everything TC. Dad and I both shot contenders in 35 rem,223, and 22lr. I have an original blued steel and wood encore 243 rifle. I put together a pro hunter for my friends son in 243 that will shoot my hand loads into one whole at 134 yards. Never even adjusted the scope. The turrent caps have never been off of that rifle in 5 years. Life was good in Tc land.
Then I listened to dad talk about getting him an encore in 308 for 2 or 3 years. So last year I told the wife that I was going spend 2k on a rifle for him and she gave me ghe usual, whatever, just don't buy junk.
Well, i bought junk. TC encore pro hunter 26in barrel because we like the compact style. 308 shoots 3 inch groups. Fireformed brass neck sized only. 2 inch groups, free float the hand guard.1 1/4 inch groups, extracts every other case, adjust extractor, 1 in 5 cases stuck in chamber, file the extractor tips, seems to work so far. He now carries a jointed cleaning rod to extract stuck cases in the field. Sort of a muzzle loader/ center fire. The love affair is over, we will send this barrel to Bellm after deer season and have the barrel machined to expose the case head or buy a new barrel. Another 150 to 400 dollars to have one that works. Still love the concept but the wuality is way down. Seems to be hit and miss according to the web.
You can do the same thing with a savage long action. Shoot anything you want with a set of headspace guages and bolt head for the case size. Accuracy should be outstanding with good barrels.
Good luck.