.308 Encore Barrel Length

[kynardsj]

I'm about to put another Encore rifle together. It'll be a stainless .308. Short of going to a custom length I have three options from TC. 24 inch, 26 inch and 28 inch. Lookimg for opinions on which barrel length and why. I usually shoot 168 gr bullets over IMR3031 but that could be adjusted to suit the barrel. Appreciate all imput.

[DEACONLLB]

I like the 24 inch standard taper with sights but I use it with a scope, looks more like a rifle and easy to handle in a blind or brush. My big mistake when I bought my first Encore was the pro hunter 28 inch barrel, like to have never got rid of the thing and and if you look back on older post on this same subject you will find others saying the same thing.

Deaconllb

[Ranger413]

Unlike deaconllb I actually went after a ProHunter barrel.  I realize that it may just be some marketing hype, which I do succumb to ocassionally, but I read an article on cutting down the ProHunter to 23" for the ideal length for accuracy.  I purchased the barrel on an auction website and am currently in the process of having it cut and re-crowned.  I'll be able to tell you first hand, hopefully in a week or two, if its a shooter.  I'll be into the barrel for just over $300 with the work and all.  Starting to approach a custom tube.  I've got a standard taper barrel forend that I'm going to try and hog out to match the profile of the ProHunter.  I think this should look pretty good instead of using the larger forend. 

After more thought I'm not sure the 26" .223 barrel that I have is ideal either.  I've tossed around the idea of having it trimmed and re-crowned too.  It shoots well as is, but I wonder if it would do better at maybe 20" or 22". 

[Grumulkin]

I have various versions of Encore rifle barrels; 24 inch tapered with iron sights, 26 inch heavy and 28 inch Pro Hunter.  I don't think I'll be much help because I like them all.

1.  The 24 inch tapered barrels are a little lighter and obviously the gun is a bit shorter but 4 inches of difference between it and a Pro Hunter barrels really isn't that much.  I have Warne QD rings on them so if I wish to use the iron sights the scope can be easily removed.

2.  The 26 inch heavy barrels are what most would think of as target or varmint barrels.  I like them because the absence of iron sights gives them a sleeker appearance.  If I were getting a barrel with the intent of shortening it, this is probably the one I would choose.

3.  The 28 inch fluted Pro Hunter barrels may, depending on the cartridge, give one an extra 50 to 75 fps in velocity and they look cool; not very good reasons I know.  The downside is, that if you want to shorten it, cutting through the flutes ends up making it look a bid dumb in my opinion (sorry).  I like the barrels as they are and have gotten a number of barely used ones at very good prices because others apparently didn't like them.

Barrels of any of the above lengths can shoot very well.  I wouldn't pick a length because I thought one length would give a more accurate barrel than another length.

[Cheesehead]

I bought a 24" Encore in 308. I had it shortened to 20". It is not expensive to cut 4" off a standard barrel.

Cheese

[Ranger413]

This is a picture that I found of a ProHunter barrel cut and re-crowned.  I think it looks pretty sweet and is what my .308 barrel should look like. 

[stubshaft]

I think the optimal length is between 23" and 24" for this cartridge.  Gives more than enough velocity and balances great.

[nomosendero]

I think the optimal length is between 23" and 24" for this cartridge.  Gives more than enough velocity and balances great.

I think in an Encore that is a nice length, good balance of velocity, balance & not the muzzle flash close to the face that especially an Encore tube of 18" or shorter would produce. In a bolt rifle I like a 20", which of course works out to be about the same length as a 24" Encore.

[Forest Gump]

I have 2 custon Encore stainless barrels, both heavy factory contour and 24" long.  I read a article by a specific gun maker, who did an experiment with the 28" barrels and the long barrel will flex, sometimes even act like a whip.  He cut the barrels down to 22" and accuracy improved.  I like the looks of the 24" .  If Your gona go custom why not go heavy contour ans still have it drill and tapped for open sights....

[encore58]

Getting ready to order a 20 inch custom barrel in heavy contour. 

[Four Fingers of Death]

I have the standard tapered 24" T/C Bbl. I think I will end up shortening mine to 22" I was thinking 20" but that looks a bit stumpy, although witht the lighter profiled T/C Bbl, it might not look too bad.

[encore58]

short and fat for accuracy   

[southernutah]

have 2
16 1/4"   Virgin Valley  barrel hanger bar and forearm, can use either as pistol or short carbine -
21 1/2"  heavy contour Bullberry with Bullberry  hanger bar and forearm

[kynardsj]

Ended up with a 15" for my pistol and a standard taper 24" for my rifle. Both will shoot nickle size groups at 100 yards but the 15" favors the 125's while the 24" favors the 168's.

[encore58]

Ordered  20" MGM heavy a few days ago. Only bad thing is probably be a month at least until it is shipped due to backlog.