Need help308 Encore pistol loads

[lastchanc54]

Hi, I am new to this site. As a former Contender shooter (20 yrs ago), I am familiar with the huge muzzle flashes from shooting factory rifle ammo in a 14 inch barrel pistol. I just bought my first Encore and it is in 308 Win. with a 15 inch barrel, no muzzle brake.
I am putting a scope on it as soon as it arrives. Due to a shoulder injury, I cannot carry my rifle on the upcoming elk hunt so I plan to use a shooting stick and the Encore.
Please share your favorite bullet and powder combination. I want to do some predator hunting and other things too. I would like it if some of you could share your varmit/predator loads as well as deer and elk size game loads. I am an experienced handloader but not for the short gun. I have a very long drive to the range to try out new loads and work up one. Some shared info on loading date would be appreciated.
I look forward to your input. 

[lastchanc54]

No help yet on this thread. I did list a similar one by mistake on another page and got a few results. I am a serious handloader and just bought my first Encore. I have a 15 inch 223 barrel and I figure I can work that load out on my own since I am in no hurry and I have a lot of experience with this cartridge. However the 308 is something I have only loaded for the long guns.
Since I have not yet heard from anyone here, I plan to start with 150 grain Nosler bullets on top of H335 ball power. My goal is to burn some of it in the barrel instead of in front of it. The slower the powder the more muzzle flash in the shorter barrel. I am interested to see what others have learned and try some of their ideas. I am going elk hunting soon and I need a load for the 308. I have lots of 170 and 180 grain bullets sitting around but I think they may be a bit heavy for the pistol in regards to getting them up to speed and stabilized for accuracy.
I also want to work up some accurate lighter bullets in the 110 to 130 grain areas. For bench shooting and Coyotes, I would like a lighter recoil ammo that has good speed and accuracy. I don't have any handloading books that cover the Encore. I tried to find some pages online for the Encore but I didn't find much, surprisingly. Since the nearest gun shop is nearly a two hundred mile round trip and my truck is a one ton diesel dually, I thought I might save myself a lot of money by asking a question here. Your advice will be taken seriously and is greatly appreciated. Nothing beats experience. Thanks & happy shooting

[OR-E-Gun Bill]

Welcome lastchanc54.

I don't have any info for you in regards to your .308 Encore but can at least tell you that the Lyman 48th Edition Reloading Handbook does have an extensive section just for the T/C Encore & Contender. Both jacketed and cast bullets included in their load data.
I'm assuming the new 49th Edition is similar.

Good luck and happy shooting!

Bill

[lastchanc54]

OR-E-Gun Bill
Thank you!!!! That is the information that I need. I will buy one asap so I can get some loads worked up. There are so many books and manuals out there to choose from, I just needed to know which one had some T/C loading information. Thanks for the help 

[R.W.Dale]

The hodgon online reloading data center has a plethora of 308 encore handgun data.

 Just select pistol and then 308

http://data.hodgdon.com/main_menu.asp

best of all IT'S FREE

[jhalcott]

  I think you will find the same loads for a rifle will work quite well in your 15" barrel. It's when you drop below 14"'s that you run into problems. A good 165 grain bullet is fine deer medicine.

[lastchanc54]

Thanks guys, I got my Encore shooting 150 grain loads at 100 yds and my best group was 5/8 of an inch with an average of around 1 & 1/2 . She is getting a trigger job next. I had some decent 200 groups around 3 plus inches, worst was 3 & 3/4 but with a 5 lb trigger, not too bad. The Lyman manual is a pretty good starting point.
I got Encore fever!