new encore coming.

[highwayman]

just ordered a encore pistol frame and trying to decide which caliber to get. i have been shooting a 30-30 and a 44mag. for years. i am looking at a 308 or 7-08 but have not ruled  out a 243 yet. any help is needed. thank you.

[Davemuzz]

The .308 and 7-08 are both good choices. I don't know how far your normal shots are for hunting....if in fact you do hunt, but I shoot a 14" 7-30 Waters barrel from the Contender frame. I tell ya, the recoil is like a small puppy and the accuracy is nothing short of fantastic. Since your already shooting the 30-30, you have the brass to fire form for the 7-30. You just need the dies.

Once you have the 7-30 brass fire formed, it will no longer chamber in the 30-30. However, I honestly can't answer if a 30-30 cartridge will chamber in a 7-30 barrel. My guess is no...but I would need to check the OAL of the 30-30. But I'm sure someone will jump in here with that info.

Anyway, my longest kill shot with the 7-30 was 130 yards.....on a groundhog!!! Right through the shoulders....right where I aimed......scoped barrel of course.....and resting off a tripod. But....one dead groundhog. And one smiling hunter!!!

Dave

[highwayman]

is there a web site i can go to that will tell me the mv i can expect from the pistol?

[Davemuzz]

You could probably do a Google on the 7-30 Waters. But I would try a search of the Greybeards post first. I'm sure there have been some post of crony's from other people posted here. I've loaded my 7-30 Waters with 38.8gr. of H-414 shootin a Nosler 120 grain. The average velocity over my chrony from a 4 shot group is 2333fps with a standard deviation of 101 and a group size at 100 yards of 2". That is from a bench.

I'm certain with a set of 20 year old hands it would be one ragged hole. But with my 53 year old hands, and my disability....I'll still take it!! 

Dave

[Davemuzz]

BTW...the Nosler reloading book calls for the 120gr. H-414 min of 36.0 Vel 2132 and max of 40.0 Vel of 2362.

Just an FYI

Dave

[chucky52]

Love my Rem 7-08 for deer. Considered the perfect Texas deer rifle. I also love my .243 which has become a varmit/turkey rifle with 80 gr. bullets. Currently fighting with my son over the Rem 788 .243. I should have never let him leave with it! He's using 100 gr. for deer, hogs, and javelina. Also nice to get the ammo at any Walmart, if it's in stock.