New Encore owner - Wow! Also, 7mm Rem. Mag questions

[firtree]

I just bought a used (barely) encore last weekend with a 300 win mag and 209x50 barrels.
The ML barrel I promptly sold on ebay for an amazingly high price, since hinge action
muzzleloaders are not legal for hunting in MA and I already have a Knight that's a tack driver.

For the heck of it I mounted the Burris Signature Safari scope from my knight onto the .300WM
barrel using some QD rings, and holy molly, am I impressed. The balance and shape of this rifle
must have been designed for me alone. I could pick out a target in the distance, bring up the rifle to
my shoulder, and the cross hairs were lined up perfectly. It just feels great! And I got such a great
deal on it that the 209x50 sale  pretty much makes the rest of it free.

I had not planned on keeping the .300 win mag barrel, thinking a 7mm mag would be less punishing
and maybe a bit more fun, but now I have to try. I have shot some heavy .50 muzzleloader loads, and some
stout 30-06, so I hope all goes well. This weekend I'll try some 150gr. and see if it is worth keeping.

So after this rambling, I wonder if anyone has recommendations for a 7mm Rem. mag. The 26" stainless heavy
300 WM balances really well. Would the same in 7mm mag be the way to go? Are the flutes in the
Pro Hunters enough to keep the balance similar with the 28" barrel? Should I pass on T/C and look for
a custom barrel? I'm looking for an accurate barrel for range use and Moose in NH or Elk in WY if I
ever get drawn.

Thanks for any advice in advance.

F

[Grumulkin]

So after this rambling, I wonder if anyone has recommendations for a 7mm Rem. mag. The 26" stainless heavy
300 WM balances really well. Would the same in 7mm mag be the way to go? Are the flutes in the
Pro Hunters enough to keep the balance similar with the 28" barrel? Should I pass on T/C and look for
a custom barrel? I'm looking for an accurate barrel for range use and Moose in NH or Elk in WY if I
ever get drawn.

A few months ago I got an Encore 7mm Rem. Mag. with a factory muzzel tamer that I'm quite pleased with.  It does 1 MOA or less with about anything I've put through it and the recoil isn't punishing at all.  I don't usually get muzzel brakes but I got this barrel for an amazingly low price and that's how it came and now I'm glad it came that way.  As for the flutes and balance question with a 28 inch barrel, I doubt the flutes change the balance much so a 28 inch barrel would probably have just a little more weight at the muzzel though I doubt you'd notice it much.

If I were in your position, I would probably see how the 300 Win. Mag. barrel shot.  You might be pleased and want to keep it.  If the recoil is excessive, it could be sent back to the factory for a muzzel tamer for, if my memory serves me correctly, about $80.

As for the custom barrel question; it depends on what type of accuracy you'll be satisfied with.  Thus far, I only have had factory Encore and Contender barrels and I've had a bunch of them.  All of the scoped rifle barrels would do anywhere from 0.5 to 1.5 MOA off the bench with good handloads.  If that is good enough for you, stick with factory barrels.  I have heard that the barrels from some custom barrel makers will do quite a bit better than that (in the 0.25 to 0.75 range) but I have no personal experience with them.  I am probably going to get an Encore barrel from a custom barrel maker when I decide just what cartridge I want it chambered for just to see how good they really are.

[poncaguy]

I shoot a 300WSM in a Winchester bolt action, recoil milder to me than a Ruger 77 7mm I had. I have a 7-08 Encore rifle that is pure joy to shoot.