Author Topic: Encore or SBH Bisley Hunter (Read 1256 times)

Bearman · « **on:** March 26, 2004, 03:55:22 PM »

I need help choosing a handgun for this falls hunting season. I have shot 44mag. in the past and want to buy either a SBH Bisley Hunter or and Encore (not sure what caliber yet for the single shot). I will be bearhunting over baits in sept. and using it for whitetails in november. I know it has to be a personal preference thing sometimes, but would appreciate some input. With the Encore what would be a good starting caliber. In the past i have never hunted with a handgun and just want to give it a shot. (no pun intended).

rickyp · « **Reply #1 on:** March 26, 2004, 04:47:39 PM »

lets start off saying: you do not just give handgun hunting a shot. It takes a lot of practice and work. handguns are not as forgiving as rifles are.

Now, I personally would go for the Encore. You can get an unlimited number of barrels so carry you trough every season. get it as a handgun and then if you find you do not like handgun hunting you can sell off the handgun barrels and make it in to a rifle, shotgun and even a muzzle loader just by buying a shoulder stock and longer barrels. With the SBH Bisley Hunter you are stuck with one caliber and handgun.

For close in bear and deer hunting I would get a 308 in the 15 inch barrel.

myronman3 · « **Reply #2 on:** March 26, 2004, 06:05:03 PM »

well encores are fine guns and if you decide to go that route you will undoubtedly be happy. but for hunting bear over bait and deer hunting i would go with the blackhawk. i think that as a beginner the encore takes more practice and is less forgiving than the revolver. a 308 encore is a handful even for an experinced handgunner. the blackhawk also allows for a quick follow up should a fellow need it. and you have experince with the 44. both rigs have their benefits; i think that the blackhawk would be better for a guy getting into handgun hunting. and i hunt with both a blackhawk and a contender so i am partial to both.

palgeno · « **Reply #3 on:** March 27, 2004, 03:02:12 AM »

I know it's easy to say get both when it is someone else's money---but I have both the .44 mag SBH Hunter and Encore in .308 and I can tell you they are different as night and day for hunting purposes. The .44 mag is a 75 and maybe 100 yd gun max. Probably best at 50 to 75 yd.( I know you can push a little farther under perfect conditions---I made a perfect one shot deer harvest with a doe literally dropping where she stood at 125yd----maybe a lucky shot--but made under absolutely perfect conditions with a 2X scope and a rock solid rest in a stand.) The .308 Encore is better suited to the kind of hunting I just described. 250yd under the same conditions is a piece of cake with no holdover with any decent .308 load. But if you are hunting on the ground for an animal with big claws and teeth, the SBH-H .44 mag. is a better choice than the Encore. pg

Catfish · « **Reply #4 on:** April 02, 2004, 03:09:12 AM »

If I were limited to one or the other I would go with the SBH. I`m an old guy though and have been collecting gun for years and have both and hunt with both. No matter which you chose to start with you will need to do alot of practiceing befor you go to the field. Factors for your choice should be 1. Will you be hunting from a stand or will you be stalking or driveing. When shooting off hand the SHB is far better in my oppenion. It`s easier to aim and you have a back-up shot. When setting a stand I like my Encore. I like the 14 in. barrels and have a 25 in. Harris by-pod on it. When setting on the ground the by-pod makes it just right for resting the pistol grip on my knee and you can get about the same accuracy as if you were useing a bench. I would recomand a 2X scope, NO HIGHER POWDER unless you go with a 1 x 4X scope. For the SBH I would recomand open sights. With any scope on a handgun it take alot of practice to ever see through the scope and with their small field of vesion it is extremly hard to find your target. I have killed several deer on the run at yardages over 75 yrds. and afew over 100 yrds. The longest was a nice 10 point buck at about 135 yrds. That was several years ago and at that time I was averageing over 200 rounds a week through the SBH year round. The other thing you will want to consider is how bad will you want to switch calibers. With the Encore you will be able to get so long range varment cal`s. , but if you are walking with an Encore I would recomand a 10 in. barrel with open sights and you can get a SBH for not a hole lot more than the price of the barrels for the Encore and they are alot better walk around gun. They are both nice gun and you should be happy with eather.

Don Dick · « **Reply #5 on:** October 26, 2004, 03:18:42 PM »

Do not buy the Encore. I am warning you about the fever that comes with it that infects your wallet with I need another barrell and scope and frame and on and on............................................well you get the picture.

btracker1 · « **Reply #6 on:** October 27, 2004, 03:36:45 AM »

Don is RIGHT!!!! I got the fever BAD...I went to the Doc and he said I am a goner and the only thing that might help is to go hunting with one of those guns and just maybe the fever will go away for a while and if not just bite the bullet

and buy just a few things for the Encore :agree:

Camel 23 · « **Reply #7 on:** October 27, 2004, 08:22:57 AM »

I had the fever, I got through it okay. I also have a SBH Hunter. The T/C is staying home this season.

These are 25 yard groups with the Hunter. Smack 'em hard and stomp on 'em.

Camel 23 · « **Reply #8 on:** October 27, 2004, 08:25:04 AM »

Almost forgot. This is from a 45lc Hunter. My gun, my loads, don't try it.

TScottO · « **Reply #9 on:** October 27, 2004, 01:53:35 PM »

Everyone has their own taste I suppose. I would choose the revolver. They are easier to tote and have many more options for holsters and they are also easier to shoot for me. I look at T/C as kind of a specialty thing but I consider a good revolver a more useful tool. You can scope if for deer season if you like and take the scope off for general woods rambling. The revolver is a much better well rounded piece of equipment in my opinion.

Be Safe,
Scott

jlk · « **Reply #10 on:** November 12, 2004, 09:47:45 AM »

I would go with the Encore in 7-08 or .308 with the 15" barrel. I have both and love them. I have also had a couple of 44 SBH's and they are good also.

Flash · « **Reply #11 on:** November 12, 2004, 01:35:01 PM »

All jokes aside, you should really have a follow-up shot for bear. If you can quickly reload an Encore after you just gut shot a 500 lb. snarling bear, then go for it. If you can guarantee that it will run the other way after you thoroughly pissed him off again, buy an Encore. Personally, I am an advocate of everything T/C makes and love their products. However, regardless of how much testosterone and adrenalin you produce, a bear is still dangerous game and I would certainly want more than a single shot for hunting them.