TC Encore Prohunter 35 Whelen

[cwink]

I had one, and I liked it.. but it started misfiring after about 3 boxes of shells.. I had the heavy hammer spring put in and that seemed to fix the problem.. By chance I found a 358 Win barrel on Midway USA on sale for $250.00 and bought it. And I like it better than the 35 W.. Less recoil and with handloads I can put 3 180 grain touching at 100 yards.

[BR549]

I dont own one but have heard a lot of mixed reviews with them. One person has a tack driver, the next has one that sprays. Some had problems with headspacing. How much cheaper is the Apex?

The problem lies in the fact that a .35 whelen was never designed to be shot in a single shot break open type rifle in the first place. Its taken nearly 6 years and wholesale revamping of how not only the barrels are made but the load combinations bullet weights even down to changing the SAMI specs for the cartridge itself. The problems were industry wide. The encores were the easiest to modify but a lot of those mods created less accuracy. Most everything built either last year or this year pretty much is ok now. Shorter barrels, combined with slower twist rates, coupled with new powders and changing brass specs have all contributed to this. There was no "one" fix for any of em that had a problem. This is why you hear such variences in performance. Originaly the only way to get an encore barrel for them was thru the custom shop and most of them were ok. But when everyone ramped up in regular production was when the problems started.

You ask about the price difference in the apex vs encore? Usually less than 50 bucks. I personaly like the feel of the apex better, but there are not nealy as many barrel options plus its cosiderably heavier.

[cwink]

I dont own one but have heard a lot of mixed reviews with them. One person has a tack driver, the next has one that sprays. Some had problems with headspacing. How much cheaper is the Apex?

The problem lies in the fact that a .35 whelen was never designed to be shot in a single shot break open type rifle in the first place. Its taken nearly 6 years and wholesale revamping of how not only the barrels are made but the load combinations bullet weights even down to changing the SAMI specs for the cartridge itself. The problems were industry wide. The encores were the easiest to modify but a lot of those mods created less accuracy. Most everything built either last year or this year pretty much is ok now. Shorter barrels, combined with slower twist rates, coupled with new powders and changing brass specs have all contributed to this. There was no "one" fix for any of em that had a problem. This is why you hear such variences in performance. Originaly the only way to get an encore barrel for them was thru the custom shop and most of them were ok. But when everyone ramped up in regular production was when the problems started.

And that is why I switched to the 358 Win.. Just too many if/when/why even though I had a TC Custom barrel, just didn't want that click to happen when old Rocking Chair head stepped out..

[BR549]

I dont own one but have heard a lot of mixed reviews with them. One person has a tack driver, the next has one that sprays. Some had problems with headspacing. How much cheaper is the Apex?

The problem lies in the fact that a .35 whelen was never designed to be shot in a single shot break open type rifle in the first place. Its taken nearly 6 years and wholesale revamping of how not only the barrels are made but the load combinations bullet weights even down to changing the SAMI specs for the cartridge itself. The problems were industry wide. The encores were the easiest to modify but a lot of those mods created less accuracy. Most everything built either last year or this year pretty much is ok now. Shorter barrels, combined with slower twist rates, coupled with new powders and changing brass specs have all contributed to this. There was no "one" fix for any of em that had a problem. This is why you hear such variences in performance. Originaly the only way to get an encore barrel for them was thru the custom shop and most of them were ok. But when everyone ramped up in regular production was when the problems started.

And that is why I switched to the 358 Win.. Just too many if/when/why even though I had a TC Custom barrel, just didn't want that click to happen when old Rocking Chair head stepped out..

Yea I remember that. You and I had barrels being done at the same time. That particular one I had shot great. But nothing like the new ones do!