Function Testing T/C’s Encore Pistol in 6.8mm Rem. SPC
by Larry Sterett,
Contributing Editor
The first time this shooter shot the new Remington 6.8mm SPC cartridge was in early 2005, in a Remington bolt-action rifle. Other rifles were available and waiting, but ammunition was not being fed into the pipeline. By the time ammunition did become available, loading dies, components and a variety of rifles were available, as was Thompson/Center’s (T/C) single-shot Encore pistol.
Weighing it at 4 pounds, 6 ounces, the T/C 6.8mm Encore tested had a barrel length of 15 inches, an overall length of 19-7/16 inches, and a height of 6-5/16 inches. The steel barrel, trigger guard assembly, hammer and receiver sculptures featured a polished blue/black finish, while the sight assemblies and lower portion of the frame had a non-glare matte finish.
The forearm and grip on the test pistol were American black walnut. The Encore grip is the slim, three-finger groove design, with a flared base having a black synthetic cap. Attached with three screws, the cap features the T/C logo and the word “ENCORE.”
Sights on the Encore consisted of a ramp-mounted 0.100-inch blade and a square-notch rear, screw-adjustable for windage and elevation. Sight radius on the test pistol measured 13-3/4 inches. (The rear sight could be removed and a scope mount base installed, as the barrel is drilled and tapped.)
The Encore is an improved and beefed-up Contender design, having no provisions for switching from centerfire to rimfire ignition. The hammer spur has no lever on top, and there’s only a single firing pin in the frame. (The hardened steel plate in the face of the breech contains no rimfire firing pin hole. Operation of the Encore is the same as on the Contender. Pulling rearward on the trigger guard spur causes the barrel to pivot to an open position, permitting a cartridge to be dropped into the chamber. (Be sure the extractor slips into the extraction groove of the cartridge prior to closing the barrel.) The hammer cannot be cocked when the barrel is open, nor can the trigger guard spur be pulled rearward when the hammer is cocked.
When ready to fire the hammer is cocked by thumbing the hammer spur down and back. (Be sure the barrel muzzle is pointed downrange in a safe direction.) The trigger on the Encore was relatively straight with a forward sweep at the tip. It featured a smooth, slightly convex face, and the test pistol had a let-off of 5˘ pounds. A small screw in the rear of the guard is adjustable to prevent over-travel.
Firing of the Encore 6.8mm was done from 50 yards using the open sights, and the forearm resting on a sandbag. However, the pistol is drilled and tapped for mounting a scope (The rear sight has to be removed first), and a good variable 2x-7x scope, or a 4x fixed power scope would definitely be advantageous. Three-shot groups were fired, using an assortment of Hornady, Remington, and Silver State ammunition. Using a six o’clock hold, with the front blade resting even with the top of the rear sight, the groups were a bit low and slightly to the right of the point-of-aim. However, the rear sight on the Encore is adjustable for both windage and elevation.
The majority of the three-shot groups measured in the two to three-inch range, center-to-center, but not all. The smallest group measured 1-3/8 inches, center-to-center, and was obtained using Remington’s 115-grain MC round. Right behind, was the Silver State Armory 115-grain X-Treme load with repeating groups measuring 1-11/16 inches, center-to-center. (A number of groups had two holes touching, but the third shot was a pull, which opened the group. Of the seven different loads used, all but two were loaded with 115-grain bullets, either full metal case, open tip, or soft point. Hornady’s load featured a 110-grain BTHP/WC bullet, and one of the Silver State loads featured a 110-grain Pro Hunter softpoint.
A round of the Remington 115-grain MC load was tested on 5/16-inch thick cold-rolled steel boiler plate. From 50 yards, the 115-grain MC bullet punched a neat 0.440-inch hole through the plate, although with a bit of back-splatter. Impressive, and a surprise!
The 6.8mm Remington SPC cartridge somewhat resembles the wildcat .270 Titus cartridge of 60-70 years ago, but with a smaller powder capacity. The Titus was designed for use in the lever-action Savage M99 rifle and carbine. It was a good whitetail cartridge, but was never intended for use in a handgun. (Handguns of that era were mainly revolvers, with the major autoloaders being the M1911, P’08, and the M96 Mauser. Single-shot centerfire pistols were often based on the Remington rolling block action, and were barreled and chambered for handgun cartridges such as the .357 Magnum, although at least a few wildcats did exist. The Thompson/Center Contender and Encore, and other modern single shot pistols were still in the future.)
With 115-grain bullets exiting the muzzle in the 2,500 feet-per-second (fps) range, the 6.8mm SPC cartridge should be capable of anchoring any game animal on which cartridges such as the .250 Savage, .257 Roberts and even the .30-30 Winchester with lighter weight bullets might be used. Recoil is not excessive, at least in this shooter’s opinion, and accuracy is more than satisfactory. The T/C 6.8mm does rise off the bag a bit, and muzzle flash with some loads is noticeable, but it’s not a fireworks display.
For handgun hunters with a preference for a single-shot pistol to use on whitetails and similar size game, the Thompson/Center Encore with a 6.8mm Remington SPC barrel would be tough to beat. It’s accurate and reliable, and a variety of factory loads are available. Handloading the 6.8mm SPC expands the number of loads, and dies are currently being produced by Hornady, RCBS, Forster, Lee, Redding, and others. Plus, the necessary reloading components—primers, powder, bullets—are obtainable at dealers handling reloading supplies.
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