help picking a barrel for encore 15"

[jake]

I'm wanting to get a pistol barrel for my encore but I don't know which one to get. I'm thinking about the 243,7mm-08,and 308. I know their are more bullet choices for the 7mm-08 and 308. How about the recoil. I want something that i'll enjoy shooting and hunting with.

I want to use it for deer to a reasonable range.

Thanks

[jy951]

if you're deer hunting, i'd go with 7-08 or 308.  i like the larger boolits of those two.  i also prefer the .308 due to easier to find ammo and alot more choices in factory loadings.

[rickyp]

what to you want to do with this barrel and what are the regulations around you?

first off check to see what the regulations are not only state but county town and even hunting land they can very weirdly.

If you are just starting out or want to hunt groundhogs up to smaller deer the 243 will work well with it light recoil and factory rounds.

The 308 and 7-08 are about the same with the edge going to the 308 with a little better bullet selection and are a lot easier to find anyplace in the world.

I have a 14 and 1/4" 308 encore barrel with out a break and it is not that bad with recoil a good break will bring it down to lass then the 243.


why not just get all 3 barrels?

[xphunter]

For deer I would pick the 243, 260 or 7-08 over the 308, but that is just my preference.
Any of the cartridges based off of the 308 case will do the job well, including the 308 itself.
Not sure what distances you are interested in, but the 6, 6.5, and 7 will typically have better BC's and less recoil.

[Heavy C]

I posed the same question earlier this year.  I went with the 308 myself for the selection of bullets and I like 30 calibers.  I've been practicing with 150 grain bullets and the recoil is not bad.  I did get the 15 inch Pro Hunter and it does not have a muzzle brake.  In my opinion my Contender in 44 mag has more kick.  I'm hoping to take a deer with it this season.  The 308 Winnie is a winner in my book.

[Grumulkin]

I have a 7mm/08 barrel with a brake that I would call sweet shooting.

I've shot Encore 30/06 & 7mm/08 barrels without brakes and they're not bad.

[obxmike]

After posing the same question here a couple of years ago, I ended up with the .308. I don't re-load (yet) and as mentioned, the selection of loads is vast and availability is plentiful in even the most remote areas of the country, so my 2 cents would be to get the .308.  I scoped mine with a Leupold 2.5x8 scope and it WILL shoot the bull out at 100 yards! Recoil is not too stout even with 180gr bullets.....in fact, mine actually LIKES the heavier ones vs the 150-160gr factory loads. My only other barrel is the 12" .44 mag with a Bushnell holosight on top. Maybe it's just me, but the recoil with the .44 bbl feels harder than the .308....go figure!

[banjoman]

I have a factory 7mm-08 and it's a dream to shoot. No doubt less recoil than my 44mag. With todays choices in premium hunting bullets I don't really see one really having an edge over the other....I guess which one I found the best deal on

[kennisondan]

I decided on the 308 for my whitetail shooter barrel also... for reasons of ammo availability and variety of bullet weights... cost of ammo... and having other 308s ... any of them would do the job I would guess, but I found the 08 more impressive in rifle shooting deer than the 243... though it did the job with the right placement, I had to wait for a perfect shot or pass.. the thirty calibers will penetrate more and destroy more tissue if you need or want that, ... remember, there is no really wrong choice.
dk

[454-hunter]

KENNISONDAN ,
why dont you try a 460 now yes I know it will kill on both ends if you use full bore 460s but what I am getting at is you can shoot 45 longcolts 454 casull also through this bore and it can be very plasurable to shoot due to at least both of these calibers being able to e loaded down to reasonable levels and yet at the same time effective levels.IMHO

454-hunter

[jamie]

I'm wanting to get a pistol barrel for my encore but I don't know which one to get. I'm thinking about the 243,7mm-08,and 308. I know their are more bullet choices for the 7mm-08 and 308. How about the recoil. I want something that i'll enjoy shooting and hunting with.

I want to use it for deer to a reasonable range.

Thanks

Jake, judging by what you wrote you already own this encore and this would be your first pistol barrel for it, correct?  Was it purchased as a rifle? If your Encore frame left the factory as a rifle frame then you can't legally put a pistol barrel on it.  You will hear lots of people say it doesn't matter and no one will know, but it is still illegal. 

Now if you bought a pistol frame and you finally decided on a barrel, then all of the ones mentioned are great choices, especially the 7-08.

[irold]

KENNISONDAN ,
why dont you try a 460 now yes I know it will kill on both ends if you use full bore 460s but what I am getting at is you can shoot 45 longcolts 454 casull also through this bore and it can be very plasurable to shoot due to at least both of these calibers being able to e loaded down to reasonable levels and yet at the same time effective levels.IMHO

454-hunter
[/


454-hunter,  Good idea, don't forget though, there's an eight inch difference in impact points between the calibers , at least in my 460. I had the same thoughts when I made the 460 encore purchase.  After getting it sighted in for the 460.....too much hassle to change everything for the 45 or 454.  Maybe it you have target turrents and trust the scope........OMO   good luck