heavy barrel or standard barrel

[Rudy]

I'm thinking of buy a new barrel for my Encore, maybe a 308 or 7mm-o8. The 308 is avalible in the standard or heavy barrel. What is the advantage of the heavy barrel or disadvantage? I will be hunting whitetail deer in Michigan which of these calibers do you guys suggest or any other caliber. I have a 7mm mag now but I don't like how it beats me up when I shoot.

[kudzu]

I have 4 Prohunter barrels and 3 of the 4 are very accurate.(don't Know about #4, I have not shot it. If looking to down size from 7mag the 308 or the 7-08 are grrat choices, however don't rule out the 25-06.
As for heavy vs. sporter. To each his own. Mainlly I would look at uses. How much walking, box stands, climbers, etc.
good luck ,DM

[Heavy C]

Rudy,

Both are great calibers and will serve you well.  Keep in mind that the ammo for the 308 is more readily available with a variety of bullet weights and not to mention cheaper.

As for the contour it just depends.  I ordered a heavy barrel for a 30-06 Encore.  It is very accurate at the range and since I mainly hunt from blinds the added weight is no big deal.  If you do a lot of walking the standard taper will suit you very well.  I have a 6mm with the standard barrel and it handles extremely well and will out-shoot me on my best day.

Good luck.

[Davemuzz]

Rudy,

Just to throw you another curve....and this may be something you want to consider even if you go with "downsizing" on the caliber, but if you dont have a quality recoil pad on your stock, consider installing a Limbsaver recoil pad. These are excellent recoil pads for about $25 and they will take a whole bunch of the shock out of your rifle.

Just a thought. You may want to do this and try your 7mm Mag before you change. (It's not gonna be a .22, but you may like it)

Dave.

[upnorth]

Rudy, I too was tired of getting beaten up by my 7mm rem mag, so I bought a 7-08 barrel for the encore. I assume you reload for the 7mm. I chose the 7-08 because it uses the .284 bullet, and I had almost every weight and brand of bullet for my 7mm anyways, so it's a cost savings thing as well. same bronze brushes, etc. and what a tack driver! the best of both worlds.... the very efficent .308 case, and the great ballistics of the .284 bullet. and an absolute pleasure to shoot all day!

[Rudy]

I  hunt from a ground blind about 1/4 mile walk to the blind. I've heard a lot of good about the 25-06 and the 7mm-08. It looks like the ballistics are about the same on both.Which will do a better job knocking down the deer? Which will have more recoil? What is the heavy barrel for? Is it more accurate? I think I can buy a factory 25-06 in the heavy barrel but the 7mm-08 is in the standard barrel. Thanks for all the input.

[Cowboybart]

Another option is to get a JDJ caliber.  Most of them duplicate or come close to magnum performance w/o the magnum recoil or consumption of powder.  You need to be a reloader to give these a go.   I have a 26" S/S heavy in 270 JDJ #2 that I am selling,  let me know if your interested.

[upnorth]

I looked at both the h-bar and the standard barrel, and weight came down to being the only difference I could find. I think if you are going to get a competion barrel, go with an h-bar. I like the fact that I can use the same forend with all my standard rifle calibers. I would give the edge on knockdown to the 7-08. I too hunt from a ground blind, and you don't always get a good broadside shot. I just took 2 deer last week at 238 yds with the 7-08. Neither went more that 5 feet. the landowner whose property I hunt on won a tikka in 25-06 from the local game and fish assc., And he told me he prefers to take only broadside shots with it. I guess if loaded with a accubond or similar bullet, you would be ok. as for accuracy, I lazered off 300yds down a fenceline, set up a target, and from a good rest on a calm day, kept 3 rds under an inch, just at the bottom of the bull. I just love the 7-08!

[Rudy]

Upnorth Thanks for the reply, I think right now I an leaning twards the 7-08. Thanks for your help