SMI ? Encore

[nugbuk]

TC Encore 50 Cal ML barrel with ramrod and scope base ? 4 LB.
SMI Encore 50 Cal ML barrel with ramrod and scope base ? 5 LB.

 

[Doohan]

Nug,

I am drooooling!

what twist was your barrel and did you have to send the frame away to get your barrel?

 

[nugbuk]

JJ,
1/36 and yes I had to send frame to SMI.
Did you get yours back?

 

[Doohan]

nope... not yet,

I think Pat told him no hurry cuz he doesnt shoot much in the summer...

I will call Ron and see what is up. I may switch to an Encore barrel if I can get that faster... Either way it will be here some day. :wink: :lol: 8)

 

[Doohan]

Looks like end of July.. I cant wait! :mrgreen:

 

[nugbuk]

Finally, I had a chance to shoot SMI today.

First I shoot Barnes 285GR Spit-Fires with N120 (57,58,59,60 GR). Nothing but disappointment. Here is a target:

Then I shoot 250GR SST?s with Accurate 2015 (69,69,70GR). Better, but nothing spectacular. On the 70GR group chrony start reading strange velocities (2740 and up) and I decided to stop.

 

[VENISONEATR]

Nug did you utilize the OCW load testing procedure? How much cooling time between shots?

 

[nugbuk]

Nug did you utilize the OCW load testing procedure? How much cooling time between shots?

Not with Encore. I was rotating two guns and was not shooting if barrel temperature was greater then 86F.

 

[Joe Name]

What sabot was you using?

 

[big6x6]

Except for shot number 3 of that one 4-shot group 69gr load, the 250gr/2015 didn't do too bad at all. 1 to 1.5 inch groups looks to me. Those velocities look a little anemic though...

 

[nugbuk]

What sabot was you using?

Joe. I was using sabots supplied with the bullets. Yellow with the Barnes.

 

[nugbuk]

Except for shot number 3 of that one 4-shot group 69gr load, the 250gr/2015 didn't do too bad at all. 1 to 1.5 inch groups looks to me. Those velocities look a little anemic though...

Chuck, I agree. That group looks promising. I tend to blame those velocities on ?chrony?. I did not feel increase of 600ft/sec on the recoil. That is why I stopped. I was using Jim?s ?chrony? in the ?grouse box?. My box did not come in yet by this time. I think Jim also experienced jump of velocities one time. I will retest it again and probably will go higher with the powder weight.

 

[nugbuk]

N120 and TM range report.
TMZ 290GR and N120:

Group in the center with 57GR N120. One in the left with 59GR N120.

This is TMZ 290GR and 57 GR N120 without wait between shoots.

Sabots looks normal:

This is MZ 285GR and 57GR N120:

 

[Joe Name]

57 grains of n120 looks good . What was the weather like when you shot ?

 

[Doohan]

:applause:

Nice shooting Nug...

 

[big6x6]

Nug..Looks like things are coming together for you with the SMI Encore. The TMZ/N-120 looks good to ME!

 

[IndianaHunter]

57 grains has shot well in mine as well.

 

[nugbuk]

57 grains of n120 looks good . What was the weather like when you shot ?

Joe, weather was perfect 68F and no wind.

:applause:

Nice shooting Nug...

Thanks JJ. I need to try your load 62GR N120 and 285GR MZ. What MV are you getting?

57 grains has shot well in mine as well.

Nug..Looks like things are coming together for you with the SMI Encore. The TMZ/N-120 looks good to ME!

It is a little slow. I'd like to see MV around 2300FT/sec for 290-300 GR bullets, but seams like TMZ?s like slower velocities.

 

[Doohan]

I dont remember exactly but out of my HB it is around 2400 fps..

I have shot several 1.5" groups at 200 yds with that combo..

 

[encoreguy]

Wow, If it does that good with boat tail bullets, I wonder how it will shoot non-boat tail bullets like the 300 grain SST, 275 grain barnes and 300 grain barnes originals with N120.