Encore Hunters: 308 vs. 44

[teamnelson]

Let me state up front, I am comparing apples and oranges, and I know it.
But I'm curious ... so humor me.

I've got a 10" .44, that I figure is a great deer gun out to 100yds (depending on me and the ammo). I've read around here that the recoil of a 15" .308 is comparable to a .44, I like the .308 in a rifle. So, what would the 15" .308 do for me? I admit, I don't hunt big game over 100 yds.

[ratgunner]

Personly I can only say things about 44mag recoil as I haven't shot a 308 pistol but a co worker has and told me one shot was enough for him. So I guess it's pretty wicked, he said it was way more than a 44mag. Hope this helps.

[palgeno]

Two seasons ago, I used only a 15 inch .308 Encore for deer and took four  at different distances, the farthest being 225 yds----using 150 gr Nosler BT's over 47 gr of Varget, muzzle velocity was 2550 fps, sight in was 2" high at 100 yds and zero at 180 yds and 2" low at 215 yds----so no need to alter hold for the shot. A .44 mag by comparison--- no matter what load or barrel length--- has a rainbow trajectory. I sold my Contender .44 mag barrel because it was just not fun like the same in a revolver. The .308 Encore has a less violent  recoil character in my not so humble opinion!!!! :shock:

[southern utah]

Put together a 308 with a 16 1/4 inch barrel for the deer hunt last year.
Got a nice 3x4 at 250+ yards and can't wait to use it again next year. I had a 3x T/C scope that has been replaced by a 2X7 . Easy packing and use a walking stick made from a small tree as a rest.

[Catfish]

If you don`t shoot over 100 yrds. the .308 will do nothing for you. In fact I would give the edge to the .44 mag. out to at least 135 yrds., and the .308 would not gain you much till your past 150 yrds. From there on it would be all .308.

[teamnelson]

So some big differences would obviously be that the 308 has a flatter trajectory, and longer range. But mixed affirmation on the recoil?

I'm leaning towards swapping the .44 towards a 15" .308 and putting rubber grips on it. Anyone want to talk me out of it?

[Questor]

The only account of recoil of the 308 I have is from a championship silhouette shooter that is highly accomplished with a variety of arms. He told me that the 308 "is all the recoil you'd want in a handgun". I use a Contender in 6.5JDJ and the recoil isn't bad at all. Those are 120 grain bullets at 2350fps. Barrel is 14" and Pachmayr foreend and grip are on the gun to add weight.  The 10" 44 magnum barrel on the same gun recoils much harder, especially when using 300 grain bullets.

I think the longer and heavier barrel is easier to steady than the 10" 44 barrel, which is quite light.

[teamnelson]

Thanks all for the dialogue; I wound up putting it to the ultimate test. I got the Encore out, put the .44 barrel on it, and just held it for awhile. I can't let it go. Of course its not up there with the wife, kids, dog ... well sometimes the dog ...

Thanks again!