Please share your favorite handloads for the 15" 308 Encore

[lastchanc54]

Hello, I just ordered a 308 barrel for my Encore pistol. I have some test loads made up using H335 and 150 grain ballistic tip Nosler bullets. I have a 4X scope to go on it and plan to shoot out to 200 yards. I am looking for some loads for long range coyote hunting, silhouette shooting and big game hunting (elk). Please share your favorite bullet and powder combination. I am looking forward to hearing from you. Thanks

[Rog]

Nosler 150 BT and Nosler 165 BT bullets were my favorite when I owned a 308 Encore.  I had excellent luck using Hodgdon's Varget, combined with a Federal 210 Gold Medal Match primer.

[Dezynco]

My favorite for getting in lots of trigger time is a 115grain cast lead bullet from a Lee mold, on top of 12 grains of UNIQUE.  Very accurate, and does'nt kick much.

For hunting, Remington CoreLockt 150grain SP's with Reloader 7 (I don't remember the charge weight, I try NOT to memorize that stuff).

[lastchanc54]

Thanks guys! This is a great start. I am really looking forward to hearing from more of you. Has anyone shot some 110 or 130 spire point bullets? How about this, I have 200 Hornaday 170 grain flat nose bullets. These might make a good bear load with the proper powder? I know these were made for a 30/30 tube feed rifle buy why not use them to plan some big game on the ground with a 308 pistol?
Please keep em coming 

[Dezynco]

I've used both 110 grain and 130 grain SP's in mine.  They both shoot really well.  I've also used some 100 grain Hornandy "half jackets" that are a lot of fun.

The ONLY bullet that I have run accross that didn't perform well is a 180 grain cast lead bullet.  I just can not get it to group, no matter what I try.  Seems that the Encore barrel preffers the lighter lead bullets, but seems to shoot almost any jacketed bullet well.

I see no reason why you shouldn't have excellent results with the 170 grain Flat Points, but keep in mind that you might want to keep the velocities down.  I think that most of the flat nosed bullets are designed to expand at lower velocites.  If you push them too fast, they might disintegrate when they hit a target.  Other than that, I would use them if I had them!

[lastchanc54]

Dezynco, you are correct about keeping the speed down. The reason I have these is because my dad loaded some in his 30-06 and called them "super 30-30's. When he shot them, the jackets came off in the plywood backstop!! Those bullets were not made to travel that fast. My thought is that in the 15 inch Encore barrel, it will be hard for me to exceed the velocity of a 30-30 rifle. I will start light and see what happens. Thank you for your input. I do want to get some lighter bullets and try them at 200 yards to see if the shoot flatter than the 150's I am loading now.

Keep em coming!!