does t/c encore rifle issues

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does anyone have the answer to the issue of not being able to close the action and cocking the hammer. i don't have this problem with factory loads; however with some (not all) reloads i am not able to close the action and cock the hammer.
 
I had a TC Contender in 30 Herret that would do that sometimes.. It was the shoulder not being sized far enough back.. FWIW that round headspaced on the shoulder, so I was always trying to get the die set perfectly..
 
Left,
You will need to set the shoulder back to get proper headspacing. A good way to get everything right is to measure the barrel to breech face gap with a feeler gauge.
Once that is determined, use a fired cartridge and measure the amount of case head that is sticking out the end of the barrel with a dial indicator. My rifle has a gap of .004", and once fired brass were protruding .005-.010" due to slop in the hinge pin and frame stretch.

Setting the shoulder back with a regular resizing die will work, but you can get some stretching when you pull the expanding ball back through the neck. What I did was to purchase a body die made by Redding. It will set back the shoulder without touching the neck.
I neck size my brass first, then I set the body die to set back the shoulder until I get .003"-.0035" of the case protrusion. This gives me a headspace of .001" or less. My gun now closes perfectly everytime, and my accuracy has improved tremendously....
Check out bellmtcs.com for more info on headspace issues.

I hope this helps!
 
BedfordQDM.

Thanks,

I was on the right path, I just needed to confirm here. I am a newbie with the reloading and don't want to take only one theory without asking the experts.
 
No problem...
The break open guns take a slightly different approach than bolt guns. My Encore is a sweet shooter when everything is right.

Good luck!
 
What caliber's are your favorites? I am working with 22-250 and I have a 25-06 and a .270 that are still in the box.

I am also using a Dillon 550 B to roll my own with. Any tips on the process are always appreciated.
 
I have a 257 Roberts barrel on it now from the Custom Shop.
I really like that caliber. I have a 22 Hornet barrel on order from the C/S as well.

Just shot the Roberts today. My varmit load uses a 75g. Sierra HP over H380. My smallest 3 shot group has been .420" Today was a 4 shot group at 5/8".

I have been working on a load using the 100g. TSX bullets.
Last week, I shot a 3 shot group at 1/4", but today it opened up. Seating depth seems to be very critical with this bullet.

I have a Dillon 550B as well, but use it only to load 9mm,45acp, and 223 for my AR. My Encore stuff is done one at a time, but I would think you could use a body die in the third station and that would work.
 
I have an encore in 204Ruger and getting the shoulder pushed back just right is worth the extra work. Keep at it and you'll have one ragged hole in no time. And do check out BellmTC. Mike Bellm did some great work on my encore, a ovesized hing pin took care of 99% my head spacing problem and the trigger job was perfect. Better yet he let me watch him work!! Wack-um and rack-um I say!! Jeff
 
This is great I was starting to think that i had a mistake with the t/c. I really like it when all is well but really frustrating when it isn't. Really great groups when head space is right;however I didn't realize the effort needed to maintain correct headspace from lot to lot.
 
I hear ya Jeff...
I did the trigger hone job myself using Mike's lapping tool and stone. MUCH better! New trigger spring, new hammer spring, and new locking lug springs in each of my barrels. (I have a 209x50 as well)
Also floated the forend.(synthetic stock)It's a shooter!
 
Left,
Once you get the body die set up for your barrel, it is done. It only takes a few moments to run your brass through the die to correct the headspace issue.
 


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