Experience With Thompson Center Encore 12 Guage Turkey Shotgun

Adventurer 2 · January 13, 2009, 09:31 PM

and or opinions.
http://www.tcarms.com/firearms/encoreShotguns.php
I've been thinking about getting a dedicated turkey shotgun.
I was wondering if anyone knows how this shotgun patterns?
I own more than one shotgun so I don't need it to do anything other than shoot turkey, but, I was wondering if there are replacement chokes available. I couldn't find any on the TC site. Thinking a more open choke would make it possible to shoot smoothbore slugs. I'm good with the single shot aspect - I've never taken more than one shot on a Turkey anyhow (can't say the same for other birds though).

Adventurer 2 · February 8, 2009, 09:41 PM

I called TC Customer Service about other chokes for the shotgun - was given a list of brands that would work with the TC Encore.

I couldn't find much information on this shotgun but decided to buy it anyway.
I also bought a cylinder choke (buckshot and slugs).
Short, light, already camouflaged, sling swivels, sights -
Took it to the shotgun range in order to pattern. The break open single shot brought back good memories of my first shotgun - a single shot, break open, 410.
I hunt turkey sitting up against a tree and place the barrel on my knee - sat down, loaded a 3", 2oz, #4 shotshell, fiber optic sights were glowing, exhaled, squeezed the trigger
Oh Mama - thumped me good, rattled my teeth - shot was tight but high and left. Adjusted sight, loaded another round, mentally prepared for that recoil, pulled the trigger - that kind of hurts, tight shot still high and left. Repeat adjustments.
7 shots later - shot is centered but still high - no more elevation adjustment left - I am going to have to put the taller front sight (came with the shotgun) on.
Changed choke, loaded up 1oz slug - pulled the trigger - slug is centered but low, repeat 2 more times, tight group but all low.

Put turkey choke back in - move target out to 45 yards, last shot - pattern should be a kill at 45 yards. I have never shot a turkey this far out and probably never will but it is good to know.

I think I can shoot just as well with my 870 bead sight but the TC makes me smile (past memories something about a single shot). I plan on getting a muzzleloader barrel before deer season.

Adventurer 2 · May 3, 2009, 10:21 AM

I need to update the above post. Finally replaced the front sight for a taller one. Went back out to zero the shotgun (brought a laser rangefinder). What I had been told was 45 yards was a lasered 39 1/2 yards. 5 1/2 yards at that range is a big difference.
I zeroed at 30 yards. Zeroing this light shotgun has been the most unpleasant zero I have ever done. Glad to be done with it. Standing the recoil is not bad, but I can't zero anything standing. Sitting or prone hurts after a couple of turkey loads. I can't see me ever spending the money for a lead sled but if I knew someone that had one I would beg to borrow it.
Turkey season has been going on for awhile where I live and I am finally going to participate this week.

zippy13 · May 3, 2009, 02:53 PM

For a dedicated turkey gun, you can't get something small and cute and expect not to experience heavy recoil. Can you add some mass to that little puppy (a barrel clamp-on or in-the-stock mercury filled unit) ?

Adventurer 2 · May 3, 2009, 05:44 PM

I don't know what options are available to reduce that recoil other than what I have already done - replaced the stock pad with a limbsaver. In the past, I have never had to zero a shotgun as all of my shotguns have had bead sights. Prior to buying this shotgun, I had only ever fired a total of two, 2 oz, turkey loads in a day to fill two tags. Live and learn - as it is, I can suck up one or two, 2 oz, shots during turkey season without becoming a flinchopotamus. If I had to sight it in again I would get one of those shotgun pads for my shoulder. I am going to keep the TC because there are other barrels I want to get for it. If I did it over, I think my ideal turkey only shotgun would be a sighted, heavier, semi-auto.

SumToy Custom Barrel · May 3, 2009, 07:59 PM

We have did some test work with them. They work just will hit you about as hard as it hits the target. LOL Now I think that you will find that the Rem will do a better job and so will some of the other ones that are on the market. That said the gun is a good gun just kick you so hard that you cant take much of it. LOL

zippy13 · May 3, 2009, 09:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Adventurer 2

I think my ideal turkey only shotgun would be a sighted, heavier, semi-auto.

Good thinking. But, you don't have to dedicate the gun. Just get a turkey barrel and a camo sock. If you plan to go with an optical sight, choose a barrel with an integral cantilever scope mount.

buymore · May 7, 2009, 03:46 PM

If you thought that smarted, buy the rifled 12 g barrel and try it! I wish I would have bought my rifled slug barrel in 20 gauge! I would gladly trade someone my barely used 12 gauge slug barrel for a 20 gauge!

4570 ruger#1 · May 7, 2009, 04:02 PM

the 12ga. encore rifled slug barrel has the worst muzzle rise of any gun i own.

Adventurer 2 · May 8, 2009, 08:19 PM

"They" will tell you that you won't feel the recoil when it counts - I tend to agree with "They".

SumToy Custom Barrel · May 9, 2009, 08:05 AM

Nice. But As for the kick the one we had sent in had a soft check rap on it. That would help some what with the gun hitting the side of your pace. I think everybody should have to shoot one of them at least one time.

buymore · May 9, 2009, 10:06 AM

I have one of those Neoprene wrap shotgun shell holders on mine. I leave it on and use it to hold speedloaders for the muzzleloader. You are absolutely correct in that it DOES help! I leave it on whether I'm using it or not!

May 3, 2009, 07:59 PM	#6
SumToy Custom Barrel Member Join Date: October 26, 2008 Location: GA Posts: 63	We have did some test work with them. They work just will hit you about as hard as it hits the target. LOL Now I think that you will find that the Rem will do a better job and so will some of the other ones that are on the market. That said the gun is a good gun just kick you so hard that you cant take much of it. LOL Last edited by SumToy Custom Barrel; May 3, 2009 at 10:07 PM. Reason: wording

May 7, 2009, 04:02 PM	#9
4570 ruger#1 Member Join Date: October 23, 2008 Location: n.e.ohio Posts: 41	buymore is right the 12ga. encore rifled slug barrel has the worst muzzle rise of any gun i own.

May 9, 2009, 08:05 AM	#11
SumToy Custom Barrel Member Join Date: October 26, 2008 Location: GA Posts: 63	Nice. But As for the kick the one we had sent in had a soft check rap on it. That would help some what with the gun hitting the side of your pace. I think everybody should have to shoot one of them at least one time. Last edited by SumToy Custom Barrel; May 10, 2009 at 11:47 AM.

January 13, 2009, 09:31 PM	#1
Adventurer 2 Senior Member Join Date: September 5, 2006 Posts: 663	Experience With Thompson Center Encore 12 Guage Turkey Shotgun and or opinions. http://www.tcarms.com/firearms/encoreShotguns.php I've been thinking about getting a dedicated turkey shotgun. I was wondering if anyone knows how this shotgun patterns? I own more than one shotgun so I don't need it to do anything other than shoot turkey, but, I was wondering if there are replacement chokes available. I couldn't find any on the TC site. Thinking a more open choke would make it possible to shoot smoothbore slugs. I'm good with the single shot aspect - I've never taken more than one shot on a Turkey anyhow (can't say the same for other birds though).

February 8, 2009, 09:41 PM	#2
Adventurer 2 Senior Member Join Date: September 5, 2006 Posts: 663	I called TC Customer Service about other chokes for the shotgun - was given a list of brands that would work with the TC Encore. I couldn't find much information on this shotgun but decided to buy it anyway. I also bought a cylinder choke (buckshot and slugs). Short, light, already camouflaged, sling swivels, sights - Took it to the shotgun range in order to pattern. The break open single shot brought back good memories of my first shotgun - a single shot, break open, 410. I hunt turkey sitting up against a tree and place the barrel on my knee - sat down, loaded a 3", 2oz, #4 shotshell, fiber optic sights were glowing, exhaled, squeezed the trigger Oh Mama - thumped me good, rattled my teeth - shot was tight but high and left. Adjusted sight, loaded another round, mentally prepared for that recoil, pulled the trigger - that kind of hurts, tight shot still high and left. Repeat adjustments. 7 shots later - shot is centered but still high - no more elevation adjustment left - I am going to have to put the taller front sight (came with the shotgun) on. Changed choke, loaded up 1oz slug - pulled the trigger - slug is centered but low, repeat 2 more times, tight group but all low. Put turkey choke back in - move target out to 45 yards, last shot - pattern should be a kill at 45 yards. I have never shot a turkey this far out and probably never will but it is good to know. I think I can shoot just as well with my 870 bead sight but the TC makes me smile (past memories something about a single shot). I plan on getting a muzzleloader barrel before deer season.

May 3, 2009, 10:21 AM	#3
Adventurer 2 Senior Member Join Date: September 5, 2006 Posts: 663	I need to update the above post. Finally replaced the front sight for a taller one. Went back out to zero the shotgun (brought a laser rangefinder). What I had been told was 45 yards was a lasered 39 1/2 yards. 5 1/2 yards at that range is a big difference. I zeroed at 30 yards. Zeroing this light shotgun has been the most unpleasant zero I have ever done. Glad to be done with it. Standing the recoil is not bad, but I can't zero anything standing. Sitting or prone hurts after a couple of turkey loads. I can't see me ever spending the money for a lead sled but if I knew someone that had one I would beg to borrow it. Turkey season has been going on for awhile where I live and I am finally going to participate this week.

May 3, 2009, 02:53 PM	#4
zippy13 Senior Member Join Date: August 23, 2008 Location: SoCal Posts: 6,442	For a dedicated turkey gun, you can't get something small and cute and expect not to experience heavy recoil. Can you add some mass to that little puppy (a barrel clamp-on or in-the-stock mercury filled unit) ?

May 3, 2009, 05:44 PM	#5
Adventurer 2 Senior Member Join Date: September 5, 2006 Posts: 663	I don't know what options are available to reduce that recoil other than what I have already done - replaced the stock pad with a limbsaver. In the past, I have never had to zero a shotgun as all of my shotguns have had bead sights. Prior to buying this shotgun, I had only ever fired a total of two, 2 oz, turkey loads in a day to fill two tags. Live and learn - as it is, I can suck up one or two, 2 oz, shots during turkey season without becoming a flinchopotamus. If I had to sight it in again I would get one of those shotgun pads for my shoulder. I am going to keep the TC because there are other barrels I want to get for it. If I did it over, I think my ideal turkey only shotgun would be a sighted, heavier, semi-auto.

May 7, 2009, 03:46 PM	#8
buymore Senior Member Join Date: February 3, 2007 Location: NE Ohio Posts: 257	If you thought that smarted, buy the rifled 12 g barrel and try it! I wish I would have bought my rifled slug barrel in 20 gauge! I would gladly trade someone my barely used 12 gauge slug barrel for a 20 gauge!

May 8, 2009, 08:19 PM	#10
Adventurer 2 Senior Member Join Date: September 5, 2006 Posts: 663	"They" will tell you that you won't feel the recoil when it counts - I tend to agree with "They".

May 9, 2009, 10:06 AM	#12
buymore Senior Member Join Date: February 3, 2007 Location: NE Ohio Posts: 257	I have one of those Neoprene wrap shotgun shell holders on mine. I leave it on and use it to hold speedloaders for the muzzleloader. You are absolutely correct in that it DOES help! I leave it on whether I'm using it or not!