Author Topic: What Caliber and Blue or SS for a New TC Encore  (Read 500 times)

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Offline Seakayaknc

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What Caliber and Blue or SS for a New TC Encore
« on: February 09, 2006, 04:24:14 PM »
I am going to order a new T/C rifle. I am torn as to caliber. I have a 308 TC encore pistol. I have a TC  Omega 209x50.

Where I deer hunt  the longest range is probably 200 yards and mostly between 30 and 100 is more the norm. I do  some short range (200 yrd or less) Varmint/Coyote hunting also. This is a wooded area mostly and there are a couple of long 4 wheeler paths that make for shooting lanes too.

I know one advantage of the Encore is the ease in adding a new barrel. I however can only afford one for now so I want to get something that is most closely aligned with my needs. I was originally torn between 30-06, .308 and perhaps 243. A friend suggested a 25-06 or a 7mm-08. I am not  familiar with those 2 at all. My research on the internet gives me too much info to process with any good feeling.

I do NOT handload nor do I intend to at all. I am limited to factory ammo only and thus want a rifle that is ultra accurate with factory ammo.

So chime in here people and give me some push one way or the other.

One other question the TC guru's: Should I consider the added expense of the SS models? I am wondering how the SS models stack up in accuracy. I know the durability is better. Your thoughts on this?

Thanks

Offline Cheesehead

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great 308
« Reply #1 on: February 09, 2006, 05:01:26 PM »
Since you are not reloading the 308 is a very good choice. Countless factory hunting ammo available for this caliber, premium to cheap options. Military surplus rounds are available, millions and millions of rounds.
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Offline southern utah

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308
« Reply #2 on: February 09, 2006, 05:47:58 PM »
308 would be great and you  allready have a pistol in the same .

Offline Grumulkin

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Which Barrel
« Reply #3 on: February 10, 2006, 12:14:06 AM »
For what you want; factory ammo, ultra accuracy and good for deer or varmints to 200 yards, I'd go with the 243 Win.  The .308 Win. & 7mm/08 would also work fine.

Offline Redhawk1

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What Caliber and Blue or SS for a New TC En
« Reply #4 on: February 10, 2006, 02:23:37 AM »
I prefer the stainless over the blue, but I do have both. The 243, 7mm08 and 308 are all great choices.  :D
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Offline Seakayaknc

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What Caliber and Blue or SS for a New TC En
« Reply #5 on: February 10, 2006, 02:42:39 AM »
Thanks for the input. I am seeing no recommendations for the 25-06 although my research leads me to believe that is a good caliber although not a brush buster as someone described it. I would think a 30-06/308 would do well in open woods as I would classify where I hunt. On the topic of SS vs Blue no one seems to have gone one way or the other so I will probably go with SS although I like the looks and asthetics of a blue rifle on a walnut stock...just my old eyes I guess...

Thanks for the input....if anyone has a good reason why I should get a 25-06 I'd like to hear it. I found a used bbl in good shape but dont want to jump on a blind pig.

Thanks again

Offline Crashnrondo

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What Caliber and Blue or SS for a New TC En
« Reply #6 on: February 10, 2006, 05:10:53 AM »
I'll give my vote for the 25-06, it is an excellent deer and coyote caliber.  I prefer shooting the 25-06 over my 308 from a recoil comparison, and I like the fact that the 25-06 is so much flatter shooting than the 308 or 7-08, it's always easier to hold dead on at an unknown range in the heat of the moment than having to think, "should I hold high?"

But after all that, the 25-06 is going to cost more to shoot using factory ammo than any of the others you mentioned, also at times the ammo is harder to find than the others.  You can walk into most placed and pick up 308 or 243 ammo, 25-06 and 7-08 is a roll of the dice.

On the SS vs blued front I like a blued frame with black stocks, and SS barrels topped of with black scope mounts, rings and a black scope.
Thanks-Ron

Offline Crashnrondo

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What Caliber and Blue or SS for a New TC En
« Reply #7 on: February 10, 2006, 05:13:34 AM »
I'll give my vote for the 25-06, it is an excellent deer and coyote caliber.  I prefer shooting the 25-06 over my 308 from a recoil comparison, and I like the fact that the 25-06 is so much flatter shooting than the 308 or 7-08, it's always easier to hold dead on at an unknown range in the heat of the moment than having to think, "should I hold high?"

But after all that, the 25-06 is going to cost more to shoot using factory ammo than any of the others you mentioned, also at times the ammo is harder to find than the others.  You can walk into most placed and pick up 308 or 243 ammo, 25-06 and 7-08 is a roll of the dice.

On the SS vs blued front I like a blued frame with black stocks, and SS barrels topped of with black scope mounts, rings and a black scope.
Thanks-Ron