Author Topic: Encore pistol - What caliber should I get? (Read 3254 times)

Heavy C · « **on:** October 23, 2006, 06:48:33 AM »

I want to add an Encore pistol barrel to my collection. I'd like a cartridge that offers some flexibility in terms of the game I could take. I don't handload yet so it would also have to be readily available at the store. I don't see myself shooting anything larger than elk with this, and nothing smaller than hogs. I'm not particularly averse to recoil, but don't want to punish myself either.

Here is what I am considering:

460 S&W Mag.
25-06 Rem.
270 Win.
7mm-08 Rem.
308 Win.

If you currently have one of these, what are your experiences with performance and recoil? The barrel length will be 14 to 15 inches.

As always, thanks for your help.

Chuck

jhalcott · « **Reply #1 on:** October 23, 2006, 07:09:47 AM »

of the calibers you list I'd go with the 308. ammo is every where .it doesn't beat you to death and is generally quite accurate. The 25-06 is a bit light for elk the 270 works best in a longer barrel the 7-08 would be my 2nd choice I have NO experience with the 460 but from what I've read it should make a good short/medium range elk round

Graybeard · « **Reply #2 on:** October 23, 2006, 07:12:08 AM »

308 Win.

rickyp · « **Reply #3 on:** October 23, 2006, 10:27:24 AM »

how about a 15 inch 209x50
This is a fun barrel and well suited for hunting

poncaguy · « **Reply #4 on:** October 23, 2006, 11:44:08 AM »

I have a 460 and 7-08............I really like the 7-08!

xphunter · « **Reply #5 on:** October 23, 2006, 11:49:53 AM »

7mm-08 depending on the availability of factory ammo.
I never buy factory and don't know what is out there.
270 would also be a great one if elk were more in the picture, but recoil, depending on how sensitive you are may require a brake.

Heavy C · « **Reply #6 on:** October 23, 2006, 11:54:26 AM »

What is it about the 7mm-08 that you all like? Factory ammo is readily available although the selection is not anywhere near what the 308 has.

Cheesehead · « **Reply #7 on:** October 23, 2006, 01:22:38 PM »

My brother has a 308 encore pistol and loves it. I have shot it and it is easy to handle and shoot accurately. Many ammo choices. I have a 6.5x55 encore pistol and also love that. For some reason the 6.5 handgun is more accurate than the 308. A 2x scope is what both these guns wear and works well out to 200 yards. Go with the 308 because the barrels are usually in stock, my 6.5 was a custom order and took several months.

Cheese

Yel95 · « **Reply #8 on:** October 24, 2006, 05:50:06 AM »

I have a 270win barrel and love it. Its very accurate at 100 yards, less that 1" no matter what ammo I use. This round is also very versitle, 90grn bullets to 150grn.

manofthe45 · « **Reply #9 on:** October 24, 2006, 06:04:45 AM »

the 308 is the most versitile. the 460 will be hard to find ammo for. the 7mm08 maybe everyones favorite barrel, but it also the one that seems to give everyone the most fits with accuracy.

lvt01 · « **Reply #10 on:** October 24, 2006, 06:07:58 AM »

I really like the 308 in the pistol. Ammo is easily gotten, recoil doesn't kill you and it shoots pretty flat and accurate. I've got a 30-06 pistol barrel with a muzzle brake that I've shot quite a bit, but I still like the 308 the best.

Heavy C · « **Reply #11 on:** October 24, 2006, 11:53:12 AM »

I have read about the issues folks have with the 7-08. It sounds like the 308 is the caliber of choice.

Let's see: easy recoil, plentiful ammo selection, maybe less expensive, and has the knock-down power required.

I'll be sure to let Santa know. Thanks gentlemen for the help. I appreciate you taking the time to contribute to the discussion.

Chuck

Buford · « **Reply #12 on:** October 24, 2006, 12:25:32 PM »

Ramos1212, I have a .308 and have excellent results with about everything including military surplus (a real plus in my book) and would recommend it.......

Keith L · « **Reply #13 on:** October 24, 2006, 01:55:14 PM »

"I have read about the issues folks have with the 7-08. "

What issues with 7-08? I don't have it in a pistol, but the family has four of them in bolt action rifles and they work great.

Heavy C · « **Reply #14 on:** October 24, 2006, 03:33:57 PM »

Mostly it has been issues with accuracy and I believe some folks had problems with the barrels locking up tight enough. I've always heard it was a sweet shooting round in rifles so it peaked my curiosity for this latest project.

rem700 · « **Reply #15 on:** October 26, 2006, 03:08:10 AM »

I must be a lucky sob just bought my first T/C a SS Encore pistol in 7mm/08
New Win brass
AA 2015 powder
Nosler 140 ballistic tip
Fed match primers
Standard 4 screw base, Bushnell 2-6, 2 Warne rings
While brakeing in the barrel with shoot 1 clean 1 clean 1 clean, shoot 3 clean, shoot 5 clean to get sighted in. Dont remember where I read this.
I then fired 3 strings of 3 which all could be covered with a quarter, I never measured the actual groups other then noteing that they could be covered with said quarter. Just measured a quarter at .953 and subtracting bullet diameter .284
that should give appx .669 calling it a sub 3/4" for arguments sake. I'm satisfied

manofthe45 · « **Reply #16 on:** October 26, 2006, 04:15:15 AM »

Nobody is saying that the 7mm08 in inaccurate in any platform. Bolt rifles almost never have a problem. but if you look at every page you will see more problems with the round than any other listed.

xphunter · « **Reply #17 on:** October 26, 2006, 05:26:20 AM »

Most 7-08's I'm familiar with have shot great.

Keith L · « **Reply #18 on:** October 26, 2006, 06:16:22 AM »

I guess I asked because I have seen very few problems with 7-08 on any board. There are bound to be occasional problems with anything I guess.

Heavy C · « **Reply #19 on:** October 26, 2006, 06:53:52 AM »

Rem700 I think it's awesome you have a good shooting setup. I don't know enough about the 7-08 to argue any accuracy or performance deficiencies just passing along what I've read. Heck, despite what I've read it was still on my list of considerations.

rem700 · « **Reply #20 on:** October 26, 2006, 04:50:29 PM »

Like I said lucky, This is my first T/C and I wanted a pistol to hunt whitetail with. I just picked this amongst the other calibers as I wanted something capable of 250yds with out to much recoil like say .270 30/06. I have only had this gun for about 2 weeks no load development just picked a load out of a book and this was the result.

IKE · « **Reply #21 on:** October 26, 2006, 11:07:59 PM »

I'd go with a 7mm-08.

I've owned several handguns chambered in 7mm-08; two XP-100's, a Savage Striker and three or four 15" Encore barrels.....every one was very accurate and not at all finicky to load for.

Ike

oldhunter · « **Reply #22 on:** October 29, 2006, 03:36:30 PM »

Ditto on the 7mm-08. Have had mine for several years and it will shoot with most rifles. Never a problem and because I do not reload, have had much success with Hornady light magnums.

oldhunter

jpred1 · « **Reply #23 on:** October 29, 2006, 05:01:14 PM »

Ditto on the 7mm-08.Ive never even heard of one until I bought my encore.Groups well at 150yds, and usually drops deer in their tracks,I like the 7mm-08 bullet better than my 15 year old 270 that I used to believe in.

Heavy C · « **Reply #24 on:** October 30, 2006, 07:51:33 AM »

I took a closer look at the ballistics on the 7-08 with a 140 gr. bullet. Pretty impressive. Of course I realize those numbers are out of a rifle barrel and will be less for a pistol.

jpred1 · « **Reply #25 on:** October 30, 2006, 03:55:51 PM »

Ive had shorter tracking distances and more drop dead shots with the pistol than I ever had with my long 270.

?I like it.

Heavy C · « **Reply #26 on:** October 31, 2006, 06:50:48 AM »

Are you using the standard 15" barrel or a different length on your pistol?

jpred1 · « **Reply #27 on:** October 31, 2006, 04:37:58 PM »

Yes,standard barrel.Youll need some good shooting stix for the walk to and from stand.Heres a before and after pic ,I ggot last year.I got him @ a month after the live pic.It is a trophy for a pistol kill to me.

Heavy C · « **Reply #28 on:** October 31, 2006, 04:54:31 PM »

Nice! I'm going out to one of my leases weekend after next. We have to thin out some doe's so I'm taking my 7-30 Waters pistol. Well I'm keeping my eyes open for a good deal on the 7mm-08 or the 308 barrel for my Encore.

Good luck this season!

Heavy C · « **Reply #29 on:** December 22, 2006, 06:12:27 PM »

Well I went with the 308 after all. I came across a good deal on 15" Pro Hunter barrel. Now I just need to put a good scope on it. Thank you all for your opinions and insight.