Author Topic: Encore barrel-Woods hunting-Suggestions?? (Read 1311 times)

smoky · « **on:** April 24, 2004, 05:37:52 PM »

I currently have a 7 mag set up for long range hunting and a 7-08 ackley for general hunting (both Rem 700's).

I have been thinking all along that I would purchase a .308 barrel as my first encore rifle barrel (right now its only a pistol set up). I still in fact may, but over the last couple of days, I have been thinking that there would be no real benefit of having both the 7-08 and the .308 in a 20-22" barrel.

The only real "need" (I use that term loosely) I have right now is a deep woods, tight cover caliber.

So... How about some suggestions. I have been thinking about something in the 18-20" length and maybe something like .358 Winchester.

Thanks for all comments.

Smoky

New Hampshire · « **Reply #1 on:** April 25, 2004, 01:49:44 AM »

If you can deal with the problems a muzzel break has then the 18" Katahdin bbls are real tight handling and still pack punch. If you dont want a muzzle break then there is the option of a custom 18" bbl in the either of the three calibers (.444 Marlin, 45/70, 450 Marlin.) If it were me I would go with the 45/70 first and then consider the .444. Both are classic woods calibers, have great punch even from the short 18" bbl, and should keep deflection down as much as it is possible.
Brian M.

onesonek · « **Reply #2 on:** April 25, 2004, 02:28:15 AM »

Hi Smoky,
I believe you are right with the 308 / 7-08 thought. And for a woods round, the 358 win should a dandy. If you want a little bit more the 350 rem mag would also be a good one. I don't think I would go shorter than 20"s on the length, but that's me. I tend to like longer barrels for balance reasons. But again that's me, and everbody has their own feelings on this issue. In the Encore, a 20" has an over all length about 34 1/2 inches. For me shorter, would just compound recoil and muzzle blast, but the choice is yours.
The 358 should also be good to about 200 yd clearing shot, should the situation arise (pending on bullet design). Yep, an Encore in a 358, with a low powered variable scope, would be a cool set-up. Sounds fun!!
:roll: there you go,,, got me too thinkin again. I said, I only need one more barrel, a couple barrels back :wink:

New Hampshire · « **Reply #3 on:** April 25, 2004, 03:42:54 PM »

onesonek mentioned another great caliber, the 350 Mag. Being the typical Encore owner I have a list of bbls that are on the "must have" list. Once the time and funding comes along I want to have a custom .350 Mag bbl made for close to intermidiate range, woodsy Moose hunting.

Going off on a bit of a tangent, the factory .375 H7H bbl could be a possibility assuming you do or plan to handload. The .375 is versatile in that in its full power form it will kill anything on this continent you can shake a stick at (or this case an Encore at :-D .) But in handloading you can cut back the power factor to the .358 levels. It might not be exactly what your thinking of, but like I said, this was a tangent :grin: .
Brian M.

Sean · « **Reply #4 on:** April 26, 2004, 01:35:15 AM »

The thing to remember is that super-high velocity is not needed for a "woods" rifle. I have 2 barrels that I consider woods guns although they will reach out with authority when needed. Both came from Fox Ridge. They are a 16 1/4" 250 Savage barrel and a 20" .350 Rem mag. That .250 Sav barel was ordered as a compromise to use as a pistol barrel and a rifle barrel. I have never shot it as a pistol though. Both barrels are what Fox Ridge calls heavy taper. I like a barrel that is thick and short. It makes the Encore balance and swing real well. Also, if you have to sling the rifle on your shoulder to get up a bank or through some brush the barrels don't poke up over your head. The 16 1/4" barrel rests right at the base of my neck.

I think when you start talking shorter barrels and woods cartridges, start looking at bigger bore diameters (or smaller cases like the .250). Look for efficiency in the case. A 20" .358 Win, 35 Whelen, or .350 Rem is handy, and efficient. And with the right bullet (like a 180 or 220 Speer Flat Point) you can knock that deer senseless and put him down right now.

One last thing to think on when using an Encore as a stalking rifle (still hunting), is that you really need to practice reloading that gun and not admiring your first shot. I made that mistake with the .250 Savage barrel the first season I had it. I shot the deer as he ran by in front of me. Man, he dropped, I mean clean out of sight. I lowered the gun and watched him try to stand up. Listening t his hind legs thrashing, and watching him get up on his front legs. Finally it dawned on me that I better shoot him again. By the time I got another round in the gun (wish the Encore ejected) he was gone. I never found that deer, although by all signs I hit him high and back and shocked the spine but didn't hit any vitals. Anyway, if you've read this far just remeber that you need to practice reloading the Encore as much as you need to practice shooting it. Sean

Sean · « **Reply #5 on:** April 26, 2004, 03:52:16 AM »

I won't argue against the 45-70. I have a Guide Gun and I throw 400 gr Speers at 1850 from it. But it lacks the sheer versatility of a .35 cal rifle. If you step out of the woods and see your deer on the faaar side of a field all but the most anemic of 35 cal loads will do much better than a 45-70. That's why my choice was the .350 Rem Mag. And the .35's give a lot less back to the shooter than the 45-70 does. Sean

smoky · « **Reply #6 on:** April 26, 2004, 06:35:26 AM »

O.K.- After reading these posts and posts from another topic on the Med. Bore Rifles forum, I am now leaning towards a .35 Whelen barrel. My thinking is... more versitle in the event I go elk or moose hunting one day. And since there is no action to consider (short vs long) it should do what the .358 would do and more.

Question... The longest barrel I would want for this encore rifle is 22 inches, but may prefer 20 inches. Is that enough barrel for the .35 Whelen? BTW I do handload.

Thanks,

Smoky

Sean · « **Reply #7 on:** April 26, 2004, 08:05:19 AM »

Sure it is. Like I said my .350 Rem Mag is a 20" barrel. I don't remember where but I think it was Handloader mag about 6 or 7 years ago the writer took a Whelen starting at 26" and chrony'ed and cut until he reached 20". I don't remember exact figures but total velocity loss was not enough to worry about with in 300 yds. In Wolfe Publishing's "Big Bores" book when discussing the .358 Norma Mag the author lost 35 fps when he chopped his barrel from 24" to 22".

When I ordered my .350 Rem Mag barrel I couldn't decide whether I wanted 18 or 20", so I ordered it at 20" figuring I could always cut it if I wanted but could never make it longer. The Whelen and 350 have about the same capacities and load data is almost interchangeable so if you can find load data for the .350 from one of the original 660s with 20" barrel you'll be able to see approx. what you'll get with the Whelen. I have not chrono'd my .350 yet though hope to this summer. Good Luck, Sean

Bob C · « **Reply #8 on:** April 26, 2004, 02:49:42 PM »

I'm hopeful that my 22" Bull Barrel .338/06 will arrive soon from Fox Ridge.

I believe it will make up into a very versatile rifle.

intuldt · « **Reply #9 on:** April 29, 2004, 05:25:06 AM »

I have a 20" Virgin Valley in .348WCF for my Encore as a woods rifle. I really prefer rimmed cases in a single shot rifle. Anyway, I wanted something different. I'm using the pointed Hawk bullets as well as the traditional round nose bullet with good success.

C A Plater · « **Reply #10 on:** April 30, 2004, 08:07:43 AM »

:wink: For woods hunting I prefer this baby.

Normally the timber goes down with 1 shot but ones over 18" diameter may take 2 rounds of .500 S&W :lol:

Rscout6945 · « **Reply #11 on:** May 16, 2004, 09:26:21 PM »

How long is the barrel on that 500 S&W and is it a bull profile barrel?

Ranger413 · « **Reply #12 on:** May 17, 2004, 04:11:31 AM »

Bob C.,

Let us know how the 338/06 turns out. I'm really interested in that caliber as an "all-around-gun" and 22" sounds handy.

Ranger413

LaSouthpaw · « **Reply #13 on:** May 17, 2004, 01:45:41 PM »

C A Plater,
that is one awesome looking set up!! How is the recoil?

SLAVAGE · « **Reply #14 on:** May 17, 2004, 04:56:51 PM »

i tell ya were do i order one lol that is if the boss would let me, ive been thinking of geting one like that with out sights an the magaported bull
being a skinny sob sucks when it comes to recoil lol

vhunter · « **Reply #15 on:** May 20, 2004, 03:54:13 PM »

I have an Encore 375 H&H and luv it!! It shoots 200 all the way up to 350 grain bullets and will take just about anything at close range or far away!! I gathered all the infomation I could about the 375 H&H and it really is an amazing round!! Expecially if you handload! IF you don't hand load and like to shoot alot than the 375 will be very costly! ammo is mid $20 to $50+ a box!! I really like the 444 and 45-70 and they were on my list before I bought the 375. I recommend the 375 H&H it's awsome!! Good luck!!

Rscout6945 · « **Reply #16 on:** May 21, 2004, 09:49:37 PM »

I too am considering a woods rifle setup for my encore. I believe mine will end up being a custom heavy profile in 45-70 Govt but I can't decide between a 20 or 22 inch barrel. I am thinking a 300 grain bullet at about 2000fps with a 1-4 power scope should be perfect to 150 yards. anybody know if those two inches will really make that much of a difference?

Bob C · « **Reply #17 on:** May 22, 2004, 11:17:25 AM »

I took my new .338-06 Encore to the range. With the 22" bull barrel, and a 2x7 Leupold it weighs 9.5 lbs. OAL is 37.5".

The barrel is from Fox Ridge, and the foreend and hanger bar are from Virgin Valley.

I tried 225 Hornady Spire Points and Sierra 250 btsp, and RE-19 and IMR 4350.

With that weight, recoil was similar to a .308 light sporter.

Of ten groups, I had three around 2", and three were under 1". Average for the day was 1.33". Groups were three shots, at 100 yards, off of a bag.

I very pleased with this for a new barrel and unfired brass.

James B · « **Reply #18 on:** June 02, 2004, 05:16:34 AM »

Don't overlook the old 35 Remington. I had that in a 14 inch Contender and its a game stopper. I could safely get 2100 fps with the Hornady 180 grain Spire Point.

vhunter · « **Reply #19 on:** June 10, 2004, 12:54:34 PM »

The 35 remington is great for the woods!! I recommend that as well!!