so i will be getting a 26" heavy 300 win mag on trade shortly.
how would you guys set it up scopewise, how high a power?
whats fav bullet for distance

Have the same barrel, invest in head gear!!! With the way the scope mounts on mine I couldn't get the scope far enough away to not hit me. Mines light plastic stocks, may have something to do with it.
1st time I shot it, it hit me in the eye, thought it was the way I was gripping it. I'm used to shooting it with a 25-06 mounted. Gripped it like it was tt eying to escape, and it hit me again, I'm convinced if I didn't have a scope with a little rubber around the edge I would have gotten cut, most likely both times. I'm a little taller and have a hard time fitting this or any standard stock, and that may have something to do with it.
I ended up buying my wife a encore at a good price, and ended up with a 26" and a 28" the 28" only has the 2 shots thru it. Next gun show I end up going to they are both going to be traded. Talked to a guy at work, his 300 also got him, same way. Their May be a mount that can get it away far enough, but I don't have it. Good luck, and let us know how it works out for you,

Just get a good solid bottomed muzzle brake and all will be good.
Used to own a 338 WM Encore handgun barrel-No problems set-up that way.

Lamina, i'll reserve comment on the scope as i don't own an Encore. I will however throw my two cents in on the bullets. Without question my choice would be Bergers. I shoot the 155gr, but my brother prefers the 190gr. I've shoot lots of different bullet and i still have other brands on hand but when it comes to hunting everything from Couses to Elk I shoot Bergers.

I just re-read your thread. I thought you were looking for mounting advise, but i see that you were asking about power. I'm always fighting my budget but in the case of my goto hunting rifle i went with a Leupold vx2 in 6-18. Hunting out west sometimes offers limited access and long shots. I set my personal limit at 500 to 600 yards so a standard 1" tube gives me plenty of elevation. If you plan to shoot further than that you may want to look at a 30mm tube. If you opt for the 30mm take a look at the vortex viper. My brother just put his to use on an aoudad hunt on TX and i got a look at it before he flew home. It has a lighted reticle and a MRAD reticle. Both scopes have great warrantees and i dont think you'll be disappointed in either.

My dad uses a Leupold 6.5-20 power scope on his 300 Weatherby Magnum. I don't know which specific model it is, but I think it's a VX-3.