Need help deciding on a caliber from 338cal - 458cal in Encore

[persistentprogrammer]

Hi, your advise and expertise is greatly appreciated.

Here's what I'd like to get out of a new barrel:
1) Caliber for all large North American game
2) Range up to 200 yards
3) Factory ammo available
4) Easy to get reloading data
5) Not a belted case
6) Recoil not ridiculous, i.e. Muzzle Brake not needed

I was thinking 338-06, 35 Whelen, 405 Win, or 45/70, but looking for any suggestions. I have a Nikon 3-9 BDC scope that I'll be using.

[Varmint Hunter]

For an all around rifle I'd suggest one of the 30 cal magnums, possibly a WSM if you don't want a belt. Outside of that I think your suggestion of the 338-06 would be a very good choice. It would have much greater potential than the newer 338 Federal, in an Encore. It would also fill all of your criteria nicely, IMO.

[jobyjob]

I'll put my suggestion in the the 45-70. Lots of great ammo and bullets available. Factory and reloads range from very mild to very wild. Usually a very accurate round. Great one-gun hunter round, and more fun than a barrel of monkeys.

[Dixie Dude]

I suggest the .35 Whelen. I have one in a Mauser action.  Not as much factory ammo available as 45-70, but good reloading.  The Whelen  has a ton of energy at 300 yards, and only drops about 10" at 300 zeroed at 200, will be about 3" high at 100 for this though.  Not a belted magnum, based on 30-06 case.  I also have a 45-70 in a Marlin, but has less accuracy at 200 compared to 35 Whelen.  I haven't seen any factory 338-06 ammo, but more bullets available for reloading

http://www.35cal.com/

http://www.gboreloaded.com/forums/index.php/topic,100788.0.html

[Steve Pennington]

I think the 338 Federal would be perfect for you application.  Been thinkin about getting a barrell for my encore.  Reloading data is coming out for it now, it is in my new Nosler book and the 2008 Hodgon annual manual. 

[onesonek]

Of those listed, i would go for the .338-06

Dave

[35w]

In Encore, I have a 45-70 with a Williams Peep Sight and using 350gr Hornady bullets, it holds minute of whitetail at 100 yards and hold 12" high at 200, it will knock them down. For a fun gun cartridge, plinking and hunting this is the one.
I have a 35 whelen in a remington 700 and that is my long range cartridge for  200 yards and use 225 Barnes TSX bullets.
With the Encore 45-70, it is right on for whitetails

[Grumulkin]

All you would need for all North American big game is a 30/06.

[efremtags]

Of the choices you provided, only the 35 whelen fulfills all of your criteria. The others are either not suitable at further ranges or compatible with te BDC scope, or factory ammo is not readily available.

There are a bunch of other rounds in he non-belted mid power range (Winchester short magnums come to mind) that would fulfill this as well. None have the longetivity the whelen does, but a 325 has better bullet selection available. The 35 has always been a step-child caliber when it comes to bullet selection.

A 385 ruger would be a the upper end of this spectrum. If you were considering a 45/70, the 375 is comparable in recoil.

[onesonek]

Of the choices you provided, only the 35 whelen fulfills all of your criteria. The others are either not suitable at further ranges or compatible with te BDC scope, or factory ammo is not readily available.

There are a bunch of other rounds in he non-belted mid power range (Winchester short magnums come to mind) that would fulfill this as well. None have the longetivity the whelen does, but a 325 has better bullet selection available. The 35 has always been a step-child caliber when it comes to bullet selection.

A 385 ruger would be a the upper end of this spectrum. If you were considering a 45/70, the 375 is comparable in recoil.

I somewhat disagree here,,, Really the BDC scope is a non issue out to 200 yds, with the exception of the slower rounds in which he would have to figure out the calibration for them. But,,,as they have mentioned before,,,what concerns me the most, is the mention of "short mags". TC does not chamber them nor recommend them in the Encore. They can be used if loaded down, but have been known to stretch frames with factory ammo.
Factory loads for either the .35 Whelen or the .338-06 and  the rest of what was questioned, chances are wouldn't be readily available. Except the most well stocked gun shops or chain stores. More than likely, they would be special order or bought over the net through a supply house such as Graf's or Midway etc.. So for me ammo is a non issue also. The Whelen may have a better selection of commercial ammo, I'm not sure I haven't looked. But, the for the handloader if he chooses to do so, the .338 caliber has a wider selection bullets.  There are however enough quality bullets and ammo for either caliber/chambering suited for any NA game animal.
But for the most part with the question stated, I could be happy with either the .338 or .35. just I feel the .338-06 has a little, however slight versatility going for it.

Dave

[Lone Star]

Excellent point on the safety of the WSM/RUSM cartridges in the Encore.  They have significantly more breech thrust than "normal" magnum cartridges and exceed the design limits of the Encore when loaded hot. 

If it was my choice, I'd get the .338-06 or .338 Federal barrel.   I own the former in a different rifle, and often load it to equal the Federal loadings.  A fine choice up to moose anyway.  I long ago gave up on the legend that a cartridge needed to have loaded ammo available at the average gun shop.  In 40+ years of hunting with handloaded ammo I have never purchased factory ammo in any emergency.  I very occasionally bought some to compare my handloads against, but I certainly did not need to have factory ammo available.  To me this is just more gunwriter BS perpetuated because it helps to sell ammo.

.

[persistentprogrammer]

Thanks for all the suggestions, they're greatly appreciated. I'm only concerned with factory ammo being available in the event that a guide, or law requires it. Under normal circumstances, that's not an issue, I consider myself a good reloader. I'm just looking to the future and I've read in the past that certain outfitters and Countries/Provinces do not allow custom loaded ammo.

That 35 Whelen sure looks like a good candidate, as well as the 338's, I'll do some more research on the 375 Ruger. I have a 45/70 handi with iron sights, a Benelli SuperNova rifled slug barrel with a 4x fixed power Nikon, and a .308 Rem VS that shoots 1/2" at 200 yards. So a great mid range caliber [50-200 yards] would be an ideal addition. I retired/cashed-in my 350 Rem Mag and vowed never to go back, terrible factory ammo, and hard to find quality brass for reloading.

[efremtags]

Good point on the WSM. I just looked up case diameter for Encore, These wide cases can be loaded in lower pressure like 470NE.

I'm surprised as the 460SW is very high pressure, but I guess case diameter is narrow enough not to be n issue.

I stand by my statement on the BDC, factory recommendation is for 2800fps or 3000fps depending on version. A 45/70 or similar velocity cartridge would not offer practical ranging ability.
Also besides A-square I am not aware of anyone who offers factory loaded 338-06 ammo.

[Couger]

If you were going to be a committed reloader more concerned about making great handloads, I'd also say get the .338-06.

This is a round that really needs to be better promoted and sold by the more-prominent gun makers!

But until that time, to me its still a semi-wildcat, and factory ammo when you can find it is atrociously expensive.

However, Norma brass is available to the reloader!.

Otherwise I'd pick the .35 Whelen and then .45/70 in that order.



Of course a plain old vanilla .30/06 is a proven stand-by, too.

[LaOtto222]

Another vote for the 35 Whelen. It is very versatile; you can load it down with 180 grain bullets for deer and such and load it up with tough 250 grain bullets for big bears or any thing between. You can even load it with pistol bullets for plinking. Double Tap, Nosler, Federal and Remington all presently offer ammo for the 35 Whelen. You may not be able to walk into the local Walmart to get it, but you can order on line if you going to get into a situation where you must have factory loaded ammunition. If you want a popular round that will handle every thing on the North American Continent with the exception of the biggest bears, get a 30-06. But then you would have what everybody else has, but you can walk into the local Walmart and get ammo for it, heck you can walk into any gun shop in the world and get ammo for it.

[yooper77]

I would select any cartridge made from 308 Winchester or 30-06 Springfield parent cases.

I have a Encore 24 inch standard taper rifle barrel in 30-06 Springfield, but the 338-06 A-square or 35 Whelen will give you excellent results.  I am thinking about have a custom Encore rifle barrel in 30-06 Springfield Ackley Improved, but I want a standard taper and 26 inch length.

yooper77