Need help with caliber and barrel length

I live in western Nebraska and I need help figuring out barrel length and caliber choice for an Encore. I am looking to hunt mostly mule deer, antelope and whitetails with the occasional opportunity for elk. I would also like to know what rings, bases and scope I should get. Thanks for the help guys.

Distances and other uses for this barrel?
280 Rem or the 280AI comes to my mind first of all.

No other uses other than big game out to 300 yards, maybe 350 on a good day.

Do you load? Hard to beat the .308 winny for all around uses.

Forgot to mention I don't hand load. What barrel length?

I'd suggest a 15" barrel if you are going to go with a 308 or 30-06 variant as you'd lose a lot of velocity with a 12"er.

If your going to build it, I would suggest 17". Out to 350 for fairly good size game, maybe a 308 Win with at elast 175 grain bullets, 7 WSM, 300 WSM, maybe a 338 federal. Use enough gun. Get a decent scope and practice.

Larry
Tinkerer

X2

Don't even have to reload for this one; plenty of factory offerings will work, even for 15" barrels.

X3, on the 308.

Count me in on .308.

If yo go with a 308, Hornady Tap (168 grain) works great!

Sounds like 308 it is. Thanks for all the help guys. Any suggestions on a good scope, base and rings? Looks like a lot of guys run three and even four rings.

T/C Maxima steel base:
http://www.midsouthshooterssupply.com/item.asp?sku=00223M987M

Warne rings:
http://www.midsouthshooterssupply.com/item.asp?sku=00223201M

Two of these heavy duty steel rings on the steel base will probably be enough for the .308. If you want to err on the conservative side, as I like, go with three rings.

Bushnell Elite 3200 2X6 scope:
http://www.midsouthshooterssupply.com/se...&GO.x=7&GO.y=12

May find better prices at other places; just using MSSS for display and relative info purposes.

These are my choices; yours may vary.

I would just get a picatinny rail/base (Weaver type) and then use a set of Burris Signture Zee rings

15" .308 Win.

It soumds like a 15" .308 is the favorite, I have one and it is a great shooter and with factory ammo you can do a lot with it.I hand load mine to what I want. I would use the Warne Maxima base and 2 rings with a 2.5x8 leupold scope and you got a nice set-up! BTW: you you don't like recoil you might want to think about a break on it, JMO...I dont shoot a break.

I would definitely recommend a brake if one wants to shoot the heavier slugs.