Author Topic: Encore pistol for Deer hunting - what Caliber (Read 2000 times)

Gnarldtoad · « **on:** November 06, 2011, 04:36:07 PM »

I am looking to setup my Encore with a 15" pistol barrel for hunting deer out of tree stands. I am hunting northern Wisconsin big woods and am using a summit climbing tree stand. The property that I am on is mostly a mixture of cedar swamp low lands and Oak ridges and high lands. No where on this property can you shoot more than 75 to 100 yards. So my thought of using a Encore pistol would give me the ability to rotate about 270 degrees in my stand for better chances.
My question is what caliber should I use? I have narrowed my choices to .308, 30:06 and 7mm-08 and maybe .270 or 25:06. I am not looking for a real big boomer but something that is manageable and will not destroy alot of meat.
I might be over thinking this process but I am looking for opinions on this.
Toad

luckydawg13 · « **Reply #1 on:** November 06, 2011, 10:02:19 PM »

My question is what caliber should I use? I have narrowed my choices to .308, 30:06 and 7mm-08 and maybe .270 or 25:06. I am not looking for a real big boomer but something that is manageable and will not destroy alot of meat.
I might be over thinking this process but I am looking for opinions on this.
Toad

with the choices you have i would get the 308 win put a 4x leupold on top and call it a day

Austin from NC · « **Reply #2 on:** November 06, 2011, 10:03:21 PM »

Out of those I would go 308 but for that distance it's hard to beat a 44 or 454. 308 is what I have and if you aren't used to recoil it might be a bit much. A 260 would also be a good choice. Hard to go wrong with the 308 parent case.

luckydawg13 · « **Reply #3 on:** November 06, 2011, 10:27:13 PM »

+ one with the 454 & 44 mag in a Encore pistol that's what i use at a 100 yards or less
i own it if you reload i would get the 454 casull and load it up with a good cast boollit
and some H110
good luck

EdK · « **Reply #4 on:** November 07, 2011, 01:17:02 AM »

Using an Encore, for deer and at that range, increase the bore diameter and cut down the velocity.

It's the temporary wound channel that ruins the meat - not the fact that the hole is 35 or 45 cal vs one of the rounds you're looking at. I will not deny the versatility of something like a .308 in an Encore but you are asking a very specific question and the correct answer is that something like a bottle-necked 35 cal or the 454 that's been mentioned is the right tool for the job you're looking to do.

Ken ONeill · « **Reply #5 on:** November 07, 2011, 01:38:52 AM »

I'd go with a .308 or 7-08.

Cheesehead · « **Reply #6 on:** November 07, 2011, 02:05:01 AM »

Do you have a rifle in the listed cailibers?

If you do not reload, the 308 gives the most options.

I have an Encore hand gun in 6.5 x 55 since I have a rifle chambered in this caliber.

Cheese

Gnarldtoad · « **Reply #7 on:** November 07, 2011, 04:31:53 AM »

Cheesehead-
I currently have three barrels for my encore. I have a -
25:06 24 inch barrel
7mm Remington Mag in the 26" heavy barrel
50 cal muzzleloader.
and thanks to everyone, so far, for their comments. It's all good stuff!

Toad

Iowa Fox · « **Reply #8 on:** November 07, 2011, 05:20:25 AM »

For that range 44 mag.

ChrisK · « **Reply #9 on:** November 07, 2011, 07:30:32 AM »

I had a .243 that was real pleasant to shoot but traded it for my .460 S&W(still happy!) and I plan to use my .308 with a 2.5x8 weaver set on 2.5x. I was going to try and use my .460 this year but I don't think that it is going to happen this year.

Ladobe · « **Reply #10 on:** November 07, 2011, 08:48:07 AM »

Will probably seem off base from a stricken handcannon shooter who preferred the biggest/badest on his TC's, but...

At those short ranges its not a matter of enough gun or how flat it'll shoot as much as what you can comfortably shoot with the most confidence to make a good first shot with a handgun IMO. While your bottleneck coices have way more than enough power and flat trajectory even in a short tube, they are just not needed for this scenerio. So why deal with their issues if you don't need to? A 44MAG is more than enough and flat enough at 100 yards, will bust brush better and is more pleasant to shoot than a 454 Casull.

As for the "I" stuff... I killed more than my fair share of big western mulies out to well past those ranges with 44MAG in my open sighted single actions (and a few at least as far as up to your short range with 357MAG, 41MAG, 45 Colt SA's). By design an Encore will do more than the SA's in all of these cartridges. An 8"-10" 44MAG would be my choice in your shoes, easier to carry and use in a tree stand than a 15", and I'd put a bright 1X, 2X or 1-4X scope on it if not just using open sights. The weight of the Encore and scope will have a taming effect on even hot 44MAG loads over the SA's as well, making it a pussy cat to shoot and so easier to master.

FWIW-YMMV

gunoil · « **Reply #11 on:** November 07, 2011, 09:29:11 AM »

if you can find one the 35 rem sounds good a 44mag will work to WORM WORM

Cheesehead · « **Reply #12 on:** November 07, 2011, 10:05:05 AM »

Since you have a 25.06 rifle, go with the 25.06 hand gun. Same POI at 25 yards and 225 yards and everything in between and use the same ammo as the rifle. A very efficient choice.

Cheese

poncaguy · « **Reply #13 on:** November 08, 2011, 04:45:54 AM »

I've had real good luck with my 15" 7-08, very good accuracy, recoil not bad, drops deer in their tracks..............

Win 1917 · « **Reply #14 on:** November 08, 2011, 06:33:59 AM »

I'll second Ladobe's recommendation. I recently picked up a 10" 7mmBR barrel for my Encore for portability reasons and reeeeally like the way the gun feels compared to the 15" barrels. The 12" 44mag is still a factory offering and I would think fairly easy to find used.

Gnarldtoad · « **Reply #15 on:** November 08, 2011, 11:35:12 AM »

Again, thanks to everyone who commented on the question posed. It really gave me some food for thought and I like the idea of the 44 mag. Great stopping power for my situation. But keep the comments coming I think they are all great.

Toad

wallacem · « **Reply #16 on:** November 10, 2011, 12:41:21 PM »

You should have recognized by these different ideas that there is no right answer. Everyone has a favorite for different reasons. Just pick your favorite and shoot deer with it. It will work great. You will never be real happy shooting someone else's favorite. It has to be yours. My favorite is the lowly 357 mag. Other's might throw rocks at it, but it works for me. Good shooting, Wallacem in Ga

Gnarldtoad · « **Reply #17 on:** November 10, 2011, 01:27:30 PM »

I do realize that Wallace. I have a few thoughts and have narrowed to the following - .308- 7mm-08- 25:06 and the 44 mag. Around memorial day I will start looking for one in 15" in blue with the right price and go from there. I will also need a grip set and if I really get lucky a reciever or a whole gun. Then assemble the package and start shooting.
but thanks again. I don't believe that I would have added the 44 mag until this week. So it is all good!

Toad

Austin from NC · « **Reply #18 on:** November 10, 2011, 08:40:38 PM »

Now you need to make a pro's and con's list for each. Might be able to narrow it down a bit. Have you handle an encore with a 15inch barrel. If not then I would reccomend comparing it and a contender/g2. You might be surprized by the difference. A contender might be a better choice but only one of your caliber choices would be available but there are plenty of good options for it too.

gunoil · « **Reply #19 on:** November 11, 2011, 12:41:36 PM »

gunbroker has a lot of t/c barrels fore sale thanks WORM WORM

johnnyb · « **Reply #20 on:** November 13, 2011, 09:07:15 AM »

I shoot a 12 inch 44 mag and a 15 inch 45/70 that I hand load black powder rounds for. Both barrels are Bang Flop accurate