I am currently interested in putting together a TC Encore pistol with a 15" .243 Win. bbl. Can anyone with some experience give me some feedback? Accuracy, recoil, that sort of thing. Thanks!

I have been shooting a 243 Win XP-100 recently and it is extremely accurate. I have taken deer with 243 win power and less also.

I have a 14.5" heavy tapper MGM in .243 Win I am shooting 55 & 58 Gr bullets out of it. It shoots pretty darn good I have shot sevral sub 1" groups and 4 or 5 in the .75" range. The gun most likely shoots better than I can shoot it. Using Varget and H4895 as powders. Recoil is not bad at all. The muzzle flash is pretty good though.

Recoil is very mild. The muzzle blast/flash is decent. I have been using Varget powder with the 70gr Blitz Kings and the 75gr V-Max. Great results.

tigger nailed it there.

the .243 is a very nice round, but if given a choice, i prefer the 6BR in a custom tube. of course ya gotta be reloading your own ammo to make that selection.

I am using 105 Berger VLD's

Thanks for all the input! Looks like I'll be ordering a barrel. Any thoughts on a retailer?

I like MGM for the money
JMHO

X2
Blued 14in for 250
SS 14in for 275

Keep an eye on the clasifieds and the auction sites aslo. A good used barrel can usually be had for around the $175-200.00 mark.

I find this an interesting set of posts. I have long admired the .243 and used it in rifles and killed antelope, deer and coyotes with it. I have been very seriously considering getting an Encore barrel in this caliber.

Thanks to all of you guys for the info.

If you buy a blue 14in form MGM it is only 250 and a SS is only 275! Not to say anything bad about TC, but I would much rather have a Shilen barrel for the money.

http://www.matchgrademachine.com/t_c_prices_public.php

Duane

Try using the factory Federal 85 gr. load with the Barnes triple shock and I think yopu will be pleasantly surprized. I shoot this load in my rifle and I spoke with the people at Barnes yesterday and they think it will be a shooter in my Encore that I am going to purchase. I got into handgunning this past year as a new challenge and found myself loving it. Thanks to all for welcoming me to the site.

Kennon,
we are glad to have you and look forward to your your continued involvement in the field and here on the forum.

I just received my Thompson Encore 243 cal with a 15 inch barrel equipped with a High Contrast Bushnell scope. I cannot wait to try it out......but this weekend is family reunion and priorites must come first. Thanks to Ernie and all the guys for the welcome and I am looking forward to being on the site with everyone so I can learn as much as I can.

You are welcome.
If you continue using the factory load with the Barnes bullets, make sure you do not shoot at distances where the impact velocity would be below what they suggest. You are going to lose around 250-300 fps when going from a rifle barrel to a specialty handgun length.
I do not know what their minimum impact velocity is, but I would check and find out. in fact I try to find that info with every bullet I intend to hunt with.

We look forward to seeing pictures Mr. Brown!

Ernie that is sound advice and I agree with what you are telling me. I will get the minimum impact velocity and post it for everyone. I will definitely post the pictuyres if I can make the shot. Have a great evening everyone.

Ernie, I took your advice and received some information from Barnes Bullets concerning the impact velocity of the 85 gr TSX. Ty informed me that the round would have about 2015 fps of impact velocity at 300 yds but beyond that the round will start to lose proper expansion. I also sent him an email asking about the new 80 gr. tipped TSX.

You'll like it,heres my .243 barrel.