Encore in 30 TC??

[retfed]

I have read all the gun rags sales pitch and internet info on the new 30 TC round. I am getting ready to buy my first Encore Pistol to hunt Black tail deer on Kodiak Island, AK and eastern White tails next fall. It's going to be a 7mm-08, .308 or the new 30TC.  I like the idea of the 30 TC because of the heavier 165 grain bullet option, short action and .30-06 wannabe velocity. A 150 grain is the heaviest I have seen in factory load in 7mm-08. I like the sounds of the 7mm-08 for recoil.

No speculations. I am looking for fact. Has anyone shot the 30 TC in a 15” Bbl Encore Pistol?

[rickyp]

I have an encore 308  handgun barrel and recoil is not that bad with 165 gr bullets. I can not say how well it shoots because I haven't done a lot of shooting with it yet
it was sent off and cut back some and recorwned right between the front screw holes.
I would be leery of the 30 T/C for right now. ammo and reloading componets will be hard to find. you can go almost anyplace in the world and pick up some 308 rounds

[Heavy C]

I went for the 308 for the variety of bullet weights and availability of ammo.  So far my barrel has shot well, but I still need to do more work on my end.  You mentioned the short action which in single shots is a non-factor.  You have the option to shoot 165 grainers with the 308.  I seriously doubt that you will get the 30-06 performance they are touting out of a 15" barrel.

The 308 is the way to go.  JMTCW

[Grumulkin]

I have read all the gun rags sales pitch and internet info on the new 30 TC round. I am getting ready to buy my first Encore Pistol to hunt Black tail deer on Kodiak Island, AK and eastern White tails next fall. It's going to be a 7mm-08, .308 or the new 30TC.  I like the idea of the 30 TC because of the heavier 165 grain bullet option, short action and .30-06 wannabe velocity.

I would be interested to know why the 30 TC has a 165 grain bullet option implying that the others don't???  I would nominate the 30 TC as one of the most worthless and unneeded cartridges to come out in the last 50 years.  The only way it will favorably compete with the 308 or 30/06 is if you use factory loads with their proprietary powder.  Of course, if you are not going to handload, you may (I say may because factory numbers are frequently overly optimistic) get a marginal velocity advantage that will make no difference in your quest for Sitka Blacktail deer.

No speculations. I am looking for fact. Has anyone shot the 30 TC in a 15” Bbl Encore Pistol?

OK; no speculation.  I've not shot the 30 TC at all.  In my list of life goals, this is WAY down on my list.

[palgeno]

5 years ago there was no 30TC only 30-06 and .308. I went with .308 and still would today because of versatility and ease of loading. There are many hand loads which give great performance with selected bullets from 110 to 180 gr. If you drop your ammo overboard in a swamp, you can usually get .308 factory loads in nearly any gas station out in hunting country. One could argue the same with 30-06, but the velocity increases are minimal with more recoil and more muzzle flash out of a 15 inch barrel. Even rifle length barrels shoot bullets which drop. It's still a matter of trajectory, terminal velocity, terminal performance, accuracy, and bullet placement. Gene

[retfed]

Thanks for all the input.
At first I was heading for the Encore .308 hunter package, for every reason you listed. Then I remembered the Rem. XP-100 unlimited gun I shot at a silhouette match 15 years ago. It was the .308 x 1.5. I keep telling myself it was the fact that the small thumb hole stock didn't fit my big hands. 20 rounds into the 40 round match it felt like someone was hitting my thumb joint with a hammer with each shot.
I am not really recoil shy because as a LEO I used to shot back to back 50 round qualification courses with my carry gun, a 3" S&W model 13 using 125 gr. .357 Mag Silvertips. (wanted to brass for reloading)
The whole... get ammo anywhere has been in my mind also. I walked the floor of a a gun show on Saturday looking for 7mm-08 ammo (my second choice for the Encore) and saw very little. Like you said .308 and .243 was every where.
My son and I are looking into a Black tail deer hunt next fall on Kodiak Island. He's Army stationed at Fort Rich. The lighter .308 bullets (lighter recoil) would do just fine for them. He also wants to try Alaskan goats and rams so for the longer ranges the .308 selection of bullets would work there also.
I really like what I read about the 7-30 Waters 120grain round for deer size animal. But we are back to the minimum factory ammo selection and the fact that it is a flat nose round to lever actions, and at this time I don't reload.
I saw one TC Icon on Sat. Guess what....  It was in .308

.308 it is....

JC

[rickyp]

you won't be sorry.

it does have more recoil then the 357 magnum but with a good set of grips on the encore it will not be bad.

[retfed]

That 15" of bbl. out front has to make a big difference???

retfed