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Author Topic: what round for encore pistol on deer?  (Read 1681 times)

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Offline fatcat240

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what round for encore pistol on deer?
« on: November 08, 2004, 02:34:33 PM »
Hello,

I plan to by an Encore in the next couple of weeks. I'll probally start with a 22-250 or 223 barrel in the rifle config for varmits, but Id like to buy a pistol barrel for  next years deer season. Question is, What caliber?  First off I dont reload so it needs to be something I can buy ammo for relatively easy. Second I dont mind some recoil but I dont want something that rattles my teeth every time I shoot it.  third I'd like something that isnt deafing out of a pistol. I use hearing protection during practice sessions, but in the field I dont usually have a chance to put in ear plugs, and after being a Marine Corps Machine gunner for 4 years Ive already lost my fair share of hearing.  Last It needs to be effective out to 200yrds. after a little research I thought the 300 whisper looked to be a pretty Ideal round, but Im not to comfortable with the fact that only one or two companys sell ammo for it.  Any suggestions would be greatly apreciated.
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Offline Lone Star

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what round for encore pistol on deer?
« Reply #1 on: November 08, 2004, 02:51:12 PM »
The .300 Whisper meets most of your specs except it is a bit overmatched on deer at 200 yards.  Even in a 15" barrel it's bullets lose too much velocity for reliable expansion that far, although with the right hit it will work.  The .243/7-08/.308 all work, but report will be  high as they burn a lot of powder and their chamber pressures are high.  My choice would be the 7-08; the .25-06,.30-06, and .270 are too much IMO and their report is greater.

Another choice if you don't mind going with custom barrels is the .250 Savage/.300 Savage pair.  These, particularly the latter, are enough for 200 yards and because they are loaded to lower pressures they are quieter than the .308-based cartridges too.  I've used the .300 on several dozen handguned deer and it worked wonderfully.  I handloaded it with 150 BTIps, but the factory ammo is fast enough and factory 150s are soft enough to work.  There are other choices of course, but these are a few to ponder.
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Offline poncaguy

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Encore
« Reply #2 on: November 08, 2004, 03:21:33 PM »
I would go with 7mm-08.... :grin:
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Offline oldhunter

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what round for encore pistol on deer?
« Reply #3 on: November 08, 2004, 03:46:51 PM »
Two years ago, after a considerable of of research, I bought an Encore in 7mm-08 and  believe this to be an ideal caliber for whitetail.  Plenty of power and accuracy with a good selection of ammo available if you do not reload.  With the 15" barrel, recoil is not bad and with a long barrel, muzzle blast is acceptable if you do not get a compensated barrel.
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Offline Fred McIntire

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what round for encore pistol on deer?
« Reply #4 on: November 08, 2004, 04:18:10 PM »
I would also suggest you go with the 7mm-08. It could be used for deer as well as other game, both larger and smaller.

You got to get into reloading! You just don't know what you are missing.

Good luck,

Fred
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Offline TCShooter

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what round for encore pistol on deer?
« Reply #5 on: November 08, 2004, 04:53:55 PM »
7mm-08!  I have one in a 15 incher and I don't think the recoil is bad at all.
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Offline IKE

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what round for encore pistol on deer?
« Reply #6 on: November 09, 2004, 12:26:23 AM »
I also would go with the 7mm-08.


Ike
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Offline palgeno

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caliber?
« Reply #7 on: November 09, 2004, 04:31:50 AM »
OK---Ford vs Chevy-----.708 vs .308-----If you don't reload or may need to find factory ammo somewhere in the middle of nowhere, I would and did choose .308. What tripped the switch for me was stopping at a gas station in the hinterlands of Nebraska and finding ammo in the shelf---3 types---12ga shotgun shells, .22lr, and .308!!!!  Found .308 at many other gas station in other states,too. I load all my own, but in a pinch, availability could be important. I think in a 15 inch barrel, a .308 will do everything that a .7-08 or .30-06 will do---with light or heavy bullets. I have not regretted my choice---accuracy is great and recoil is not bad. Just another rationalization from another t/c addict!!! :lol:  pg
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Offline jlk

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what round for encore pistol on deer?
« Reply #8 on: November 09, 2004, 05:03:02 AM »
I use both the 7-08 and the .308. In the 7-08 I use the Federal 140gr. BT factory rounds as I have not worked up a load for it as of yet. In the .308 I use my handloads.
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Offline LAREDOBOB

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what round for encore pistol on deer?
« Reply #9 on: November 09, 2004, 06:12:55 AM »
I have been using .308 in a 15" barrell for years and it has always performed well. Good luck with your decision. :D
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Offline fatcat240

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what round for encore pistol on deer?
« Reply #10 on: November 09, 2004, 02:38:27 PM »
First off I just want to say thanks for all the advice. I guess now its between the 308 and 708.... being a former active duty marine Machine gunner I am somewhat fond of the 308... and I do like the fact that factory Ammo for it is very availible. I guess the only reason Id go 708 over the 308 would be if you guys said the recoil in the 308 was alot heavier out of the 15 inch tube, or if you said the 708 performed alot better out of a 15" barrel. OK so if you guys can answer those last two questions I think Ill be able to make my decision...   Thanks again
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Offline rickyp

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what round for encore pistol on deer?
« Reply #11 on: November 09, 2004, 03:52:21 PM »
before you go out and buy a barrel check with the state, county and town laws about what handgun and rounds one can use to hunt big game.
many states will only let one use straight walled cases some states county and even towns will not let one use any handguns.
In my part of MD I can only use a muzzle loading handgun now if i go to western MD I can use any round that has 700 or more foot pounds at the end of a 6 inch barrel.

If you can go with a bottlenecked round and you do not want to start reloading I would opt for the 308 as you can find a supply any place in the world. if you start to hand load or can find a good supply I would look at the 7x57 Mauser it will be in between the 308 and 30-06 in terms of power and will shoot a bit flatter then the 30 cal bullets.
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Offline poncaguy

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7mm-08
« Reply #12 on: November 09, 2004, 03:58:18 PM »
.........WalMart carrys 7mm-08....as well as most local gun shops here in Oklahoma...I never have been a 30 caliber fan, always preferred 7's on down to 243's........................270 WSM is my favorite rifle cal, with the 7mm-08 next.......
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Offline KYODE

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what round for encore pistol on deer?
« Reply #13 on: November 09, 2004, 04:39:03 PM »
love my 15" 7-08 in ss, and i think it's perfect 8) ...........but.......i'd like to have a .308 also. i think it would have more recoil, as i'd likely shoot 150-165gr bullets, where i'll use 120-140gr in 7mm.
the 7-08 is not bad in recoil after you get used to it. it bucks a little, but nothing abusive. :wink:
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Offline Ranger413

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what round for encore pistol on deer?
« Reply #14 on: November 09, 2004, 04:45:38 PM »
fatcat240,

I'll put a plug in here for the .308.  I have an Encore with the 15" tube in that caliber sporting a Bushnell Elite 3200 2-7X scope in Warne Maxima bases and rings.  I went with the .308 simply because that is what I grew up with.  I have never lost a deer that I've hit with it and most, if not all, have expired with only one shot.  

The .308 is a great round.  There are plenty of factory loads out there to choose from.  And, if you reload, you're well set with ample supplies of components.  I reload for mine and you can see from the attached image below that it is a very capable round out of a 15" barrel.  The "X" marked shots were my first three at 100 yards.  I did a sight adjustment and shot the "O" marked rounds next.  The first group measures 1 3/8" and the second 1 3/4".  Umm, last I checked that's minute of deer.

The round I'm shooting is a handload with a Hornady 130 gr. PSP at about 2,825 fps (that is out of a rifle length barrel).  This loading was used in a lever action rifle that gave similar groupings and this is what I had on hand to test the accuracy of my barrel.

As far as recoil goes it is stout.  But, I have no problem shooting the gun accurately as the target can attest to.  I would consider myself somewhere in the middle on recoil tollerance.  Before going with the .308 handgun I shot a fair amount of .44 Mag.  I would equate the .308 Encore to a heavy .44 Mag.  I would limit my shooting of the .308 to about 20 rounds at the range at any one sitting.  Any more than that and the web of my hand starts to ache a little bit.  

Concerning the 7-08 I think that it probably is a great round as well.  I've heard a lot of good things about it.  It is supposedly inherently accurate and also lighter on recoil than the .308.  How much I don't know.  I've never shot it.  The only drawback I could see is the lack a variety of ammo in my area.  I don't think that you will go wrong with either.

Ranger413

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Offline IKE

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what round for encore pistol on deer?
« Reply #15 on: November 10, 2004, 12:56:02 AM »
As Ranger413 stated I also feel the recoil from a 15" 308 is fairly stout.

Having fired both the 7-08 and 308 in 15" Encore barrels I found the 308 to have substantially more recoil and muzzle flip than the 7-08 when firing loads where the bullet weights were as close as possible, weight wise, to each other.......within 9grs.

Accuracy wise both the 308 and the 7-08 were accurate but after several shooting sessions the 7-08 did give me tighter 100yd groups time after time.

As far the availability of 7-08 factory ammo goes I really don't see where that is a major factor in caliber choice. If your local gun shop and Wal-Mart is out of 7-08 you can always get it mail ordred in from places like Graf & Sons, Midway, Midsouth Shooters Supply, etc. etc.

So what if 7-08 ammo can't be found at every mom and pop store in the boondocks ? If you pet load factory ammo (as you should) in either 308 or 7-08 to your barrel by buying several different name brands and afterwards going back to the store and buying several boxes of the one it liked you don't have a problem.

Besides the odds of you walking into a store in the middle of nowhere and them having the "Exact" ammo your barrel ended up liking (in either caliber) is pretty slim anyway.......but then why would a person be headed hunting or to the range and not already have his ammo with him to begin with ?

I'd still go with the 7mm-08.

Ike
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Offline Duffy

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what round for encore pistol on deer?
« Reply #16 on: November 10, 2004, 04:35:29 AM »
I really like my 708 and was stuck between it and the 308 also. Have tried the Hornady light Mags in it and they shoot great and if I didn't reload that's what I'd use. To me the recoil is less than a 44 mag, not as sharp. I've let others shoot it that have never shot a large hangun and they all reply, that's not too bad or not as bad as I thought. The 308 is a great round also, I think if you wanted to push heavier bullets eg 150 on up a little faster it would be the one to choose. I've been using 140's in my 708 and get one shot kills on muleys and it will shoot under an inch @ 100 yards.
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Offline Lone Star

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what round for encore pistol on deer?
« Reply #17 on: November 10, 2004, 04:49:48 AM »
Quote
I've been using 140's in my 708 and get one shot kills on muleys and it will shoot under an inch @ 100 yards.
My god, does anyone own a T/C barrel which doesn't shoot groups under an inch at 100 yards?  Must be a miracle.....    :roll:
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Offline rickyp

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what round for encore pistol on deer?
« Reply #18 on: November 10, 2004, 06:26:15 AM »
most of mine shoot about 2-4" at 100 yards. this may jsut be me :D  but I am a hunter not a traget shooter so 4 " at 100 yards is not real bad, not real good but it will work well
"
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Offline poncaguy

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what round for encore pistol on deer?
« Reply #19 on: November 10, 2004, 07:07:37 AM »
My 410 barrel groups very poorly at 100 yards................ :-D
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Offline TCShooter

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what round for encore pistol on deer?
« Reply #20 on: November 10, 2004, 12:59:01 PM »
Quote from: Lone Star
My god, does anyone own a T/C barrel which doesn't shoot groups under an inch at 100 yards?  Must be a miracle.....    :roll:


I've got a .223 barrel that hasn't shot real good so far.  Haven't had a chance to play around with any loads yet though so I still have hope.
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Offline Possum

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1"
« Reply #21 on: November 10, 2004, 02:11:51 PM »
Out of the six that I have in Encore & Contender, the only ones that I have that won't go under an inch are the ones that I haven't put the time and money into finding out what powders/bullets/loads they like. The three I have put the time into are a dream to shoot.  The others are for this coming year.

However, with that statement I will concede someone might have a horrible barrel that might not shoot anything due to manufacturer error.
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Offline Duffy

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what round for encore pistol on deer?
« Reply #22 on: November 10, 2004, 06:08:59 PM »
My first factory bbl was horrible, 4 inches was about the best it would do. Chamber was not centered with the bore. Sent it back and the new one is better. Still have to work at it but best group to date is .70
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Offline toecutter

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what round for encore pistol on deer?
« Reply #23 on: November 12, 2004, 09:16:28 AM »
Lone Star: I'm sure if we were firing from the hip, into a stiff cross breeze,  and shaking from hypothermia, one of us might break out of MOA :roll:  :-D  :D
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Offline Trickyasafox

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what round for encore pistol on deer?
« Reply #24 on: December 12, 2004, 05:24:57 PM »
everygun i've ever owned groups sub moa at 100 yards. trick is to limit your group size to one round :-D  :wink:
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Offline jh45gun

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what round for encore pistol on deer?
« Reply #25 on: December 12, 2004, 06:17:52 PM »
Don't waste your money on a 223 barrel or a 22/250 for varmints when the 308 barrel will do it all. The 308 cartridge can be used with light bullets for a great varmint cartridge. Load it heavier and it will kill deer and larger all day long! I sold my 223 barrel and bought a 308 barrel and never looked back. I have killed 2 deer with it using factory Remington CoreLoct 150 grainers and 2 using cast bullets.  4 deer in the last 3 years and I would not hesitate to use it for varmint shooting either with lighter bullets. Recoil is not bad at all with factory loads and real easy using 125 grain hollow points for varmints. I suppose even lighter could be used. The Encore Grip really tames the recoil nicely. For a Varmint/ Deer/ and Larger cartridge the 308 fits the bill nicely. One more perk! Do not reload? I do, but  the cheap milsurp  NATO 762/308 ammo available and yea most of it is non corrosive shoots great  in my ENcore and is really cheap for target/plinking/and critter control. Jim
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