Encore curse HELP!

[RemMan700]

Right now I have a Encore with a .243 15" barrel and my father is sending me his 15" .30-06 barrel. I am having a hard time deciding if I should just stick with the .30-06 barrel since it is free or if I would be better off with a 7mm-08. He told I could sell the '06 barrel to buy a 7mm-08 if I wanted. The main use will be for deer and hogs. I know 7mm-08 is a more efficient cartridge the the '06 in a 15" barrel, but ballistics are pretty close. I guess I am having a hard time figuring out if one has a bigger benefit over the other and is the recoil of the 7mm a lot less making it way easier to shoot. Then I wonder if I really need them at all and if my .243 barrel is enough for deer and hog out to 250 yards. LOL


I think the Encore comes with a curse which makes it hard to decide what to do.

[daniel2013]

When I was still deer hunting I used the 7 mm/08 and it did a very good job.  I think the 06 would also do a good job on both, but it does have a little more recoil.  The 243, all depends on how good a shot you are.  I have all three barrels and my choice would be the 7mm/08.  But then again you could just buy a 7mm/08 and keep all three as well.  It is fun to have different barrels to play with.  JMHO

[Grumulkin]

If I were you, I would shoot the 30/06 barrel.  If the accuracy from it is good and you can tolerate the recoil then keep it.  If you don't like it, you could always then go to the 7mm/08.


I do think the 30/06 would give you an advantage over the 7mm/08 on deer and hogs out to 250 yards.

[Ranger99]

i'd likely keep 'em all too, but
if circumstances dictate that you
can't, i'd keep what ever i could get the
most loading components for.
good luck

[Flynmoose]

If you handload, the 30-06 is a great round. You should be able to taylor a load that hits hard enough and has acceptable recoil. There is also a cool factor in having a 30-06 pistol!
FM

[Spokerider]

Close your eyes and pick one........they will all do the job. Other than that, it comes down to what you want.

[RemMan700]

I took a 200 yrd shot on a 80lbs hog and it lunged like I hit it but no blood was found. I either hit it and the shield/fat closed up the hole or it was a complete miss. I would like to attempt another shot on a hog before giving up on the 243 but I get few chances to go.

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[223fan]

I hunt with a  15" 30-06 and love it. The one I have is super accurate. I use a speer 130gr hp  and  50gr of H4895. I have taken several WV whitetails with this load and had no problems. Remington 150 gr core-lokts  have the same poi as my hand loads but don't keep as good a group for me ,even though it is plenty good enough for hunting. I would like to try some 165 gr loads to see how they do. They are LOUD, but then so is my brothers which is in 223. If you jump up to 180 gr bullets mine still shoots good but recoil is more than I want, the trigger guard beats my middle finger up. In short I really like my short 30-06. Get it and don't look back you will have a great deer, bear ,hog gun.

[Rog]

Both the 7-08 and the 30-06 are great rounds.  It kinda comes down to personal preference and perhaps the game you intend to hunt.
 
I like both, but if pressed to pick just one, would personally go with the 30-06.
 
Regard,
Rog