Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles thompson center pro hunter

I need to pick ya'lls brain. A buddy bought this gun and we have been trying to get it sighted in. We have tried Hornady 165 gr. SST and IMR 4895 powder and get a great shotgun pattern. So then we try the same bullet and IMR 4350 powder same results. This weekend we are going to try 150 gr. Sierra bullets and same powders and see what happens. But even with some factory rounds we still get shotgun patterns. And YES the scope rings and bases are tight and they are Leupolds The scope is a Bushnell 3x9. The gun and scope were both purchased new.

I think a lot of us here would say try a proven scope and see what your results are. At least that would be my first suggestion if you've already checked the rings/bases.

What 30 are you shooting? a 308? 30/06?

Good luck.

30-06. and trying a proven scope was in the back of my mind.

COuld be a few things. If there is too much play in the barrel when the action is opened it might require a tighter pin. There could be a problem with the throat and that SST bullet. The scope could be hosed. The buttstock and foreend should be properly tightened. I would buy Hornady interlock 165 grain ammuniton and shoot it with that for a basis. I have not heard of too many people having those things shoot well and extremely well at that.

Dude spends $800 on a rifle and $40 on a scope....I'd look at the scope first.

You said factory ammo gave the same results? Don't know...I have a friend that had that trouble with a 7-08 TC barrel, they replaced it, and it worked great after that.

Use a differnet scope and see what you get if it is still shooting terrible you should contact TC and try getting a replacement.

I would try a different scope first. I had the same problem with a Ruger 77 .257 Bob and brand new Millett scope. I was about a hundred dollar scope. I tried everything I could think of then got disgusted and put an old used scope off my storage shelf on and it perked up and shot great. I was about to sell the whole thing cheap! Some scopes are just bad. I have a few good cheap scopes too but I have found that the scope is usually the key. I try to stay with Leupold and Burris. They are not the most expensive but not cheap either and they have not failed me. Just my 2 cents. Good Luck! BT

I am beginning to wonder about the TC encores, seems like a lot of them are like this.

I have owned a few contenders and now own a Pro hunter I don't know of anyone that had one that didn't shoot. My guess is this is a scope issue or ammo