Author Topic: Buying a new encore (Read 2015 times)

californiahunter93 · « **on:** June 17, 2007, 04:37:45 PM »

Hi I am new to this forum. well I have been looking at buying a new rifle and finally decided to go with the encore. I found out which stock and frame I wanted but need help deciding on a caliber. Around here in California the main animal i will be hunting is wild boar and coyotes. I was thinking about getting a 308 or 270 can you give me your opinion on which caliber? And suggestions on a barrel pro hunter 28 inch fluted or the heavy 26 inch encore barrel.

Grumulkin · « **Reply #1 on:** June 18, 2007, 06:33:09 AM »

Of the two cartridges you mention, I would pick the 308 Winchester. I believe the bullet selection, the accuracy and powder is a bit better in the 308.

Of course, in the Encore you have so many choices. I have one in 7mm Rem. Mag. with a muzzle brake. I don't ordinarily use muzzle brakes in rifles but the price was right. It turns out that the braked barrel is very accurate with not much recoil. For more power and longer range, this would be the one I would pick.

I usually go with the heavy barrels in the Encores. These guns are fairly light to begin with and the heavy barrel doesn't add much to the weight. As far as barrel length is concerned, I think it's more a matter of personal preference than of which is better. I usually go with 24 or 26 inch rifle barrels.

HEAD0001 · « **Reply #2 on:** June 18, 2007, 09:28:52 AM »

I would go with a 30-06 instead of a .308. There is no action so length is not a consideration. The weight of the rifle will be the same. The 30-06 will be cheaper to shoot. And the 30-06 has a slight ballistic advantage. Yep the 30-06 would be a better choice. Tom.

Davemuzz · « **Reply #3 on:** June 18, 2007, 10:09:19 AM »

Kaliforniahunter93,

First off, you have made a good choice on the Encore. These are excellent guns and will provide you with many years of shooting and hunting.

If you've already "zeroed in" on either the 270 or the 308 I'm certain either will easily handle the coyote. I'm not familiar with wild boar, but from what I have read on those little pigs, either caliber should take those with no problem as well.

Barrel??? Well, if your going to buy the ProHunter frame, then the matching barrel is nice. If your going to buy the Encore frame (non-prohunter) then I would just stick with the Encore barrels. The Encore barrels are just as accurate. I agree with Grumlkin. I like the heavy "bull" barrels myself.

Back to calibers....Do you handload? If you handload I don't think you could make a bad choice. You could really load any type of bullet (Ballistic tip or expanding) in either cartridge, and there are enough different powders to speed 'em up or slow 'em down. If you don't handload, you may want to stick with the 308. You may have some more ammo choices there. Just go to any online ammo place and scan the selection.

Hope this helps.

Either way it will be tough to make a bad choice.

Dave

Buford · « **Reply #4 on:** June 18, 2007, 12:33:03 PM »

You have already been given a lot of good, sound advise - I went with the .308 because of the versatility of the caliber - however, with the '06 or the .270 you simply cannot go wrong. Let us know.

californiahunter93 · « **Reply #5 on:** June 18, 2007, 10:00:15 PM »

I do a lot of coyote hunting and hog hunt maybe 4 times a year. I just wanted a versatile caliber and some more knock down power than a 22-250. I also don't mind watching those ground squirrels blow up with the bigger calibers.

Ahab · « **Reply #6 on:** June 20, 2007, 07:41:01 AM »

Quote from: HEAD0001 on June 18, 2007, 09:28:52 AM

I would go with a 30-06 instead of a .308. There is no action so length is not a consideration. The weight of the rifle will be the same. The 30-06 will be cheaper to shoot. And the 30-06 has a slight ballistic advantage. Yep the 30-06 would be a better choice. Tom.

Huh? ballistic advantage? Don't tell that to "snipers" out there. The '06 is a fine old cartridge and so is the .45-70.

Davemuzz · « **Reply #7 on:** June 20, 2007, 07:47:07 AM »

Ahab,

I dunno....a 45-70 even with trapdoor loads might be a bit much for ground squirrels.

Keith L · « **Reply #8 on:** June 20, 2007, 10:31:16 AM »

Quote from: Davemuzz on June 20, 2007, 07:47:07 AM

Ahab,

I dunno....a 45-70 even with trapdoor loads might be a bit much for ground squirrels.

The little suckers would be gone!

californiahunter93 · « **Reply #9 on:** June 20, 2007, 04:02:47 PM »

If you like watching little things blow up go to dogbegone.com. They have alot of short videos of prairie dogs getting blown up.

30-06man · « **Reply #10 on:** July 18, 2007, 05:17:14 PM »

The Encore is the most verstial gun on the market. I would Choose to have the .308win over the .270win. the 308 in my opion is that the 308 is more flat shooting and its a bigger round to knock down some larger game.

"don't point and click aim and fire"

californiahunter93 · « **Reply #11 on:** July 20, 2007, 01:18:47 PM »

I don't want to be mean but when it comes to ballistic trajectories you are a noob. The 270 is a much flatter shooting cartridge. And the 308 is not a more powerful cartridge either. Read ballistics charts and test your ammo. I would rather have a 270.

30-06man · « **Reply #12 on:** July 20, 2007, 03:06:19 PM »

.308 is more powerful and has about the same balistics as the .270. the 30.06, .243, 22-250, .204' .223 are the rounds that would work for what he needs

oneshotonekill · « **Reply #13 on:** July 21, 2007, 04:05:43 PM »

Well you have it narrowed down to 2 fine choices and either would suit your needs, but if I were in your shoes I'd split the difference and get a 7-08.

If you are set on the 2 calibers you listed I'd opt for the 308 just for the ability to shoot inexpensive ammo (I'm not going to say "cheap" ammo because none of it is cheap any more). You can find some good deals on 308 ammo if you shop around.

Heavy C · « **Reply #14 on:** July 21, 2007, 06:15:24 PM »

Another vote for the 308. Much better selection of bullets for different applications. While it's not as flat shooting as the 270 there has been plenty done with the 308 that you can load up some sweet rounds.

poncaguy · « **Reply #15 on:** July 22, 2007, 07:00:24 AM »

270 is about perfect in my opinion............accurate, very flat shooting, and drops deer instantly. I have 2 308's also, but my favorites are 270WSM,270, 7-08,260,and 25-06.

Cheesehead · « **Reply #16 on:** July 22, 2007, 07:13:43 AM »

If you reload, the availability of brass and bullets, for the 308 Winchester exceeds all other cartridges, the same holds true if you do not reload.

Cheese

myronman3 · « **Reply #17 on:** July 23, 2007, 10:07:45 AM »

hold on now. considering you can make 270 brass from 30/06 brass, and both are every bit as popular if not more so than the 308, i would argue that point. unless you have someone you know that you can gaffle 308 brass from, that is...lol

30-06man · « **Reply #18 on:** July 23, 2007, 10:23:48 AM »

.308 brass is easier to find and the ammo is cheaper and just as good. plus you can buy military surplus

Cheesehead · « **Reply #19 on:** July 23, 2007, 10:28:53 AM »

Myronman3,

Time for a reality check. The 308 is currently a NATO round. The 30-06 was a NATO round. Soooooo many 308 components and loaded rounds, both commercial and military. Get real.

Cheese

Davemuzz · « **Reply #20 on:** July 23, 2007, 12:36:18 PM »

Quote from: myronman3 on July 23, 2007, 10:07:45 AM

hold on now. considering you can make 270 brass from 30/06 brass, and both are every bit as popular if not more so than the 308, i would argue that point. unless you have someone you know that you can gaffle 308 brass from, that is...lol

Fireforming brass is not the most inexpensive route to take to obtain brass. It cost powder and a bullet to obtain one good piece of brass. The '06 may be more popular than the 308, but I don't think the 270 alone can hold a candle alone to either one.

Dave

myronman3 · « **Reply #21 on:** July 24, 2007, 10:43:47 AM »

fact- the 270 is one of the most efficient rounds ever made. show me a critter a 308 will kill that a 270 wont kill just as fast. btw, it doesnt matter anyway, as i DO have someone i can gaffle308 brass from....anyone want a deal on once fired starline 308s? lol.....

myronman3 · « **Reply #22 on:** July 24, 2007, 10:47:42 AM »

Quote from: Davemuzz on July 23, 2007, 12:36:18 PM

Fireforming brass is not the most inexpensive route to take to obtain brass. It cost powder and a bullet to obtain one good piece of brass. The '06 may be more popular than the 308, but I don't think the 270 alone can hold a candle alone to either one.

Dave

i aint that hard up that i care about a bullet, a touch of powder, or a primer. and if you dont think a 270 can "hold a candle", then you havent shot many animals with one.

Davemuzz · « **Reply #23 on:** July 24, 2007, 11:33:26 AM »

Quote from: myronman3 on July 24, 2007, 10:47:42 AM

i aint that hard up that i care about a bullet, a touch of powder, or a primer. and if you dont think a 270 can "hold a candle", then you havent shot many animals with one.

I probably should clarify....When you consider buying brass for what ever round you are looking at, when you now have to factor in the price of a bullet and the time it takes to load it and shoot it just to fireform the brass, it is a "bigger" deal than you are making it. Just ask the 7-30 Waters owners (Like myself) who buy new 30-30 brass and go thru this. So....send me a few boxes of 7mm bullets please....I mean.... after all it's no big deal....right?

And, when I said the 270 could not hold a candle to the 30-30 or the 308, what I ment was in terms of popularity, not the ability to kill. However, I don't need the 270 to kill anything thank you. I have two 308's that do me just fine.

Dave

ms · « **Reply #24 on:** July 24, 2007, 12:00:00 PM »

Buy a bolt action if you were looking for a ml then a encore is the way to go.

Cheesehead · « **Reply #25 on:** July 24, 2007, 12:30:42 PM »

MM3,,

"STARLINE 308" ?

Reality check again. No such thing. Have you been dipping into the duck butter again?

Cheese

Davemuzz · « **Reply #26 on:** July 24, 2007, 03:24:31 PM »

Cheesehead,

I dunno....I keep lookin at the Starline web site http://www.starlinebrass.com/ and I don't see any bottle neck brass. Maybe what you have to do is buy the handgun brass, then anneal it, then work it....then fireform it....then trim it....then anneal it again....then you will have Starline 308 brass.

Hey, sounds easy. Just a few hundred bullets, some powder, a few days at the bench and the range. What could be easier?

Dave

Cheesehead · « **Reply #27 on:** July 24, 2007, 05:14:35 PM »

Maybe 38-55 brass, if you grind off the rim, maybe.

Cheese

myronman3 · « **Reply #28 on:** July 25, 2007, 05:06:33 AM »

hey, dont knock the duck butter until you have tried it.

you are right, my bad about the "starline" brand. next time, instead of getting it back to it's rightful owner in a timely fashion, i will be sure to check the headstamp to get the right brand as it is important to list things properly when you are selling them on ebay.

lol

Quote from: Davemuzz on July 24, 2007, 03:24:31 PM

Cheesehead,

I dunno....I keep lookin at the Starline web site http://www.starlinebrass.com/ and I don't see any bottle neck brass. Maybe what you have to do is buy the handgun brass, then anneal it, then work it....then fireform it....then trim it....then anneal it again....then you will have Starline 308 brass.

Hey, sounds easy. Just a few hundred bullets, some powder, a few days at the bench and the range. What could be easier?

Dave

or, you could just take a handful of said brass, mix it with sand, and... well you get the idea. hardy har har!!!

myronman3 · « **Reply #29 on:** July 25, 2007, 05:14:53 AM »

Quote from: Davemuzz on July 24, 2007, 11:33:26 AM

I probably should clarify....When you consider buying brass for what ever round you are looking at, when you now have to factor in the price of a bullet and the time it takes to load it and shoot it just to fireform the brass, it is a "bigger" deal than you are making it. Just ask the 7-30 Waters owners (Like myself) who buy new 30-30 brass and go thru this. So....send me a few boxes of 7mm bullets please....I mean.... after all it's no big deal....right?

no problem dave. sure, i will send you a few boxes of bullets, matter of fact, i will even load them up for ya. just send me your address, and i will load up some very special ones just for you. lol.

Quote

And, when I said the 270 could not hold a candle to the 30-30 or the 308, what I ment was in terms of popularity, not the ability to kill. However, I don't need the 270 to kill anything thank you. I have two 308's that do me just fine.

Dave

which is it dave? you who likes to hang people over slight oversights. first it is a 308 and '06, then magically it becomes the 308 and the 30/30? dont change the arguement half way through. yes the 308 and the 06 is very popular, but so is the 270. all three probably would tie in a popularity contest. but dont try to change what you said and bring the 30/30 into the argument after the fact.