Help on selecting a Caliber

[weber]

Hello , Would like to get a few opinons . I would like to get a centerfire pistol barrel for my prohunter . I have no real experience with deer calibers in a pistol platform . I am considering calibers like 7mm08 , 270 , 25-06 , 7/30 . I can and will handload for whatever caliber I eventually choose . Do any of these calibers excel in the short 15inch barrels ?  Also would like to know if any of these are particulary nasty when it comes to recoil . I would be using it to possibly hunt deer with.  Any thoughts on this will help me to decide and is greatly appreciated .

[mcwoodduck]

I have a contender.  only had it for a couple years.
like it.
Have only used the 223 barrel for hunting so far.
I have three Deer barrels.
10" 30-30 (have not shot it yet)
14" 30-30 Recoil is stout but not un managable (shooting the 170 grain Spoft points)
14" 44 Mag. Recoil is more than My revolver.  The play loads even give a little bit more.
I have a friend that Has an Encore that now has a 250 Savage barrel and it is neat.
Before this he had a 308 Win Barrel and said the recoil was not pleasant and he down graded (or Up graded depending on your view)  This was before the 125 grain rediced recoil loads came out but even then they recoil like a 243 and that may not be pleasant in a hand cannon.
Of your choices I would look at the 7-30.
Personally I would look at 250 Savage, 7mm TCU, 30-30, or 44 Mag.
All are known as good deer and big game ctgs and will reach out to 100 yards out of the T/C.

[securitysix]

I have a 14" 7-30 Waters barrel for my Contender.  Recoil is quite manageable for me.  The Contender is lighter than the Encore, so the 7-30 should kick less in an Encore, especially with a little longer barrel like the 15" you're looking at.  The 7-30 Waters has an excellent reputation as a deer hunting cartridge for the Contender out of 14" barrels.

I have no experience with an Encore pistol, so I'll make a recommendation based on basic physics.  Lean toward the short action cartridges (.308 Winchester, 7mm-08, .257 Roberts) over the long action cartridges (like .30-06, .270 Winchester, .25-06) out of the pistol barrel.  The longer cartridges use more powder, belch more flame, and have more recoil (because of the more powder thing) than the shorter cartridges, for what is likely to be a negligible improvement in performance out of a pistol barrel. 

[kynardsj]

In a Contender I would recommend a 30-30, 7mm Waters or 44 Magnum in a 14 inch. In an Encore I would say go with a 7mm-08 or 308 in a 15 inch. A friend of mine has shot a 15 inch 308 Encore for years. He loads 125 gr Nosler BT's over a load of IMR 3031 and the recoil isn't bad at all. I too would stay away from the longer rounds, 30-06, 270, 25-06 etc in a pistol barrel as it's just not going to burn all that powder.

[Darrell H]

In an Encore I would say go with a 7mm-08 or 308 in a 15 inch.

X2

I have taken 2 elk with the .308 in an Encore handgun.  One dropped in its tracks, the other ran 30-40 yards and fell over.  I plan to use the .308 Win in an XP-100 later this year on a Wyoming mule deer hunt .  The round is boring as all get out but it just plain works.  Good luck with whatever you decide!  

[shot1]

Since you hand load I would take a looooooog look toward the 260 Remington in an Encore. The bullets are perfect for the velocities you will be getting in a 15" barrel to do their thing. They really show their stuff at long range by bucking wind and flatness of trajectory. With a 120 Nosler ballistic tip recoil will not be all that much and it will kill a deer waaaaay out there with authority. My second pick would be the 308 Win. Like has been said it just plain works but it will have more recoil than the 260. If you go with the 308 use the 125 ballistic tip for deer it is awesome.

[Win 1917]

+1 on the 260. I've been very happy with mine. Since you're reloading I've also had very good success with Speer's reduced load data.

[Grumulkin]

I've shot Contender and Encore handguns in chamberings from 22 LR up to 375 H&H Magnum and 500 S&W Magnum.  For your purpose, I would go with either the 7mm/08 or the 308 Winchester.  Recoil in both is quite manageable and, if you're concerned, get one with a muzzle brake.  My handgun barrels are from 10 to 15 inches; the length I like the best is in the 10 to 13 inch range including the brake.  For the 7mm/08 & 308, I would probably go with a 13 or 14 inch barrel.  I also like the tapered barrels with an integral muzzle brake.

[weber]

Hello , Thanks for the insight . I would like to find a 260 barrel , but probably not alot available without ordering one . Whic might become a possiblity . As of now lam leaning heavily towards the 7mm/08 . I am going to look around for a little while and see if I can get a deal on any used barrels , but Im not holding my breath for that .  Saw one on gunbroker for 185$ . Thanks Again . Happy Shooting .

[Hopalong7]

      TC sold quite a few 260's for 3-4 years, then decided to stop .  You almost never see one for sale(what does that tell ya).  I've been watching for a rifle barrel forever and haven't found one.  I don't use my Encore as a pistol but very little(simply because I prefer using my Contenders), but have or have had a 243, 260, 7-08 & 308.  All shot very good and I've had no problems with any of them, but the one that's definately NOT going anywhere is the 260.
Walt

[shot1]

If you want a 260 Rem barrel or any barrel for that matter go to MGM, Match Grade Machines, and order you one. When you get right down to it they are really not any more expensive than a Factory T/C barrel and they are MUCH better. The T/C barrels are kind of a crap shoot when it comes to accuracy but the MGM barrels are very accurate. You will NOT BE disappointed with a MGM. And no I do not work for MGM. 

[Cheesehead]

I have a 6.5x55 in a 12" Encore. It is accurate and recoil is managable. I like it.

Cheese

[mcwoodduck]

Do you have a deer hunting rifle?
What caliber(s) is it?
Get a handgun in that.

[Cheesehead]

Do you have a deer hunting rifle?
What caliber(s) is it?
Get a handgun in that.

Thats what I did.

Cheese

[kynardsj]

I love pistols and rifles chambered for the same round. Already had the 22 rifle and Single Six combo. Then bought a 454 Casull Puma that shoots 45 LC's well too and had to have a 45 LC Blackhawk to go with it. Then just had to have a 460 S&W mag barrel for my Encore. Don't even own any 460's but it shoots the 45's and 454's very well. Then bought a 500 S&W mag pistol and just had to have a 500 rifle barrel for my Encore. Oh yeah, then the 45LC/410 American Derringer came along. It's an expensive but wonderful addiction. When I leave this world someone will get a lot of nice toys.

[Win 1917]

I would like to find a 260 barrel , but probably not alot available without ordering one .

I bought both my 15" and 24" 260's used. They pop up now and again but if you see one and the price is fair you gotta jump immediately. Often they sell in an hour or two. Otherwise I think going with an MGM is the way to go too.   

[flipajig]

I have a encor rifle and a contender pistol with 5 barresl 22 LR,223,44mag,30-30,and 7-30 waters.
all have turnd out to be good shootersl. I had prblems with the 44mag but got that worked out.
I load for the 7-30 and have two laods that work verry well for me one is a 120grn Vmax and the other is a 140grn Nosler BT and when I do my part 1/2" at 100. the 30-30 with factry win 150grn right at a inch, the 22 LR 1/2" at 50 the 44mag 1/2" at 50yds. the 223 ive just got it set up and when time and weather alows we will see what it will do. now all this is when i do my part so it dosent happen all the time. all that I have worked with the recoil is verry controlable the 30-30 with factry ammo is the worst with recoil and when i start to load for it with some 125 grn BT it should get better. I hope that this helps.