too many barrels...I need help choosing one

[ENCOREROOKIE]

I'm a rookie here and need some advice..I, like im sure everyone else wants all the barrels but the pocketbook can only settle for one at a time.I am ordering a stainless encore frame but don't know what barrell to get.I want something thats flat for longer ranges 250-350  plus yards.I thought about a 7mm mag or even a 300 mag but I think the 300 might kick a little too much to be fun to shoot.A buddy told me i should consider a 25-06.Not as much recoil and about the same flatness but I will lose a little knockdown.does anyone have any of the three barrels and how do they perform and if they had it to do over again , would you chose the same caliber...i know this could go on for days and im sure it will be the first of many barrels.I want an encore so that i can get the 209X50 ML .I hear there tackdrivers. thanks all in advance..i'm glad I found this board...seems like lots of good people and info.   The EncoreRookie

[Hi-Wall]

Welcome to the club! I have been shooting contenders since the early 70's and bought one of the first encores sold here. You are correct about the .300. The 7 isn't too bad. I shoot a .30-06 and hve used it to 350. 150 nosler ballistic tips. But my all time favorite is a 26" .280 ackley imp. I got from fox ridge. The .25-06 is good if you can find one. Also consider the .270. I like the fox ridge barrels becuase I can get a tapered 26" barrel.

[KN]

I think you would love the 25/06. I don't have one in an Encore "yet" but its on my list. I shoot one in a 110 Savage and it's a hard round to beat.  KN

[Gregory]

I can't hunt with a rifle for deer in my current home state of Illinois so I have a 20 ga. rifled slug barrel for my Encore.  In my previous live(s) I lived in upstate NY and PA and still own bolt rifles in 25/06 and 300 Win Mag acquired during my years hunting in those states.  
If I were to add a rifle barrel to my Encore, I'd probably pick a .270 or a 30/06.   I had a Savage 110 in 270 and a Rem 760 in 30/06 and I could be happy for the rest of my life with either one of those calibers.  
If I were to pick a caliber for varmints with occasional deer hunting a 25/06 would get the nod; for deer/ black bear, occasional varmints pick a .270;  for deer, bear, and occasional moose/elk a 30/06 would be a top choice.
A .223 or 22/250 combined with a 30/06 would be the only two barrels you would ever need for an Encore battery.  But that takes the fun out of buying barrels doesn't it?

[Rich Jimbo]

I totally agree with HI-WALL! I also have an Ackly Improoved 280 Rem. and it is the best shooter I have in the Encore. I also have a 300 Win. Mag and It does smack you! My 270 Win. is a pleasent shooter, but after getting the 280 AI, the other ones just don't get a chance to come out of the safe. I ordered my barrel from T/C Custom Shop.You'll pay a little more and have to wait longer for it, but it'll fill the need you mentioned. :-)

[Crayfish]

I had a Rem 700 in 300 WinMag, and finally, after 10yrs, decided that the abuse at the bench just wasn't worth the marginal gains in performance over many standard calibers.   If I were in your shoes, I'd look seriously at the 280 Rem or 280 AI.  The 280 AI is right on the heels of the 7RemMag with less recoil and noise.  Out past 300yds, it's all the gun you'll need.  I actually went slightly smaller and got a 7mm-08 in a lightweight short action bolt gun.  This is still a viable 300yd deer gun with less recoil than any of the others mentioned here.

As has been mentioned, the 25-06, 270 and 30-06 will all work, also.   The 25-06 won't carry as much energy as far as the other long action rounds will due to the lighter weight bullets.  Will the deer notice??  Probably wouldn't be able to tell the difference between anything from the 7mm-08 up to the 300WinMag at anything less than 300yds.

Good luck ... Crayfish

[ENCOREROOKIE]

yes deer is going to be as big as I shoot.I am interested in the .280 considering it is another caliber you guys reccomend.I don't know much about that caliber as to how flat it shoots and what is a good shooting weight bullet or max grain hunting bullet.I do reload .im confused about the ackley improved.How do you make those cartridges and does anyone know where i can get a chart with the balistics of a particular calibur to see how flat they shoot...any Info would be appreciated...thanks to all that has replied already

[Rich Jimbo]

Encorerookie,  I just shoot standard [Remington brand] 280 Rem. ammo in a barrel chambered for 280 Rem. Ackley Improved. You can order a barrel form T/C Custom Shop, Bullberry, Virgin Valley, or SSK. I believe they all run ads on this site. After you fire factory ammo through your improved barrel, the brass is then fireformed into the improved configuration. With 280 Rem. AI dies you reload just like other handloads. You can load this round almost as hot as a 7MM Mag or if your out of 280 AI reloads....you can use factory 280 ammo and still have a pretty good shooter! My favorite load listed in P.O.Ackleys Handbook Vol. 1, is 63 gr. of 4350 with a 140 gr. bullet at 3320 fps.

[Leon Garfield]

I would have to say the 270 is the way to. Jack O'Connor made the 270 what it is today by shooting everything that walks with the 270 with a 130gr. spitzer in it. I have taken many deer with mine and will always have one in my cabinet. As far as the recoil in an Encore it is not bad at all. Some will argue that the 30'06 is a better gun. If you are looking for a wide range of bullet weight for different game then I would say you may be right. As far as the 50 cal. you will like it once you find the right load ......Happy shootin.....

[AAAJohn]

In these hill or if I lived in the swampland of the south, I would go with at least a 30 cal. for the blood trail. I have shot many deer with 25-06 and 243 and even a lung shot in the brush is hard to track a running deer. In farm land or open land where a blood trail in not necessary then I like a flat shooting rifle. I just got a model 7 in 7mm08 that I'm going to try this year and if I don't like it I will go back to my 660 308. I have a contender in 30-30 and with factory 150 gr. bullets the kick is wicked. I ordered some 110 gr bullets to load some milder loads, maybe I'll like it better then. Good luck with what u decide to buy. The Contender is a handgun.

[Old One Shot]

This is my opinion, I have the 7mm mag. in a 26 in. barrel. This rifle is my all around gun. It can be used for anything from Coyotes to Griz., and probably more.... Long range is def. not a problem... I have a wittnessed kill of a whitetail at 515 yds. (I shoot alot at long distances). To some this isnt ethical but it was a clear shot and I was comfortable with it. I am sure there has been longer shots than that some will not admit though. Good luck with whatever you choose and practice,practice,practice......