The OP mentioned Encore's shooting consistently (or Contender's for that matter). Due to the design of the Encore/Contender action to reload the rifle it must be removed from the sandbags and/or forend rest to reload. Getting it back on the rest consistently is one factor in shooting consistently.
Another factor is how you close the action. I have a 20 BR built by Virgin Valley CG that will shoot five shot groups as small as 3/8 of an inch. The same rifle with the same load also can be made to shoot groups that are three inches tall and 3/8 wide simply by closing the action in a non-consistent manner. If I "snap" the action closed I get the 3/8 inch groups. If I simply just close it and not paying attention at the force applied to close the action; I can produce the three inch tall group.
Bottom line, it takes (at least for me) a lot more attention to detail to shoot great groups with the T/C's than with a good bolt gun.
Hope this helps the OP.
