I want to get a new enchore barrel. I already have 2 44s and a 3030. I have been looking around at all the different rounds now and it's mind boggling. In a rifle I love the 7 mag but don't think I can put that in a handgun platform.

I have a 460 in a wheel gun that I like but want something else.

I don't reload so the odd ball rounds are out and I want an accurate gun that keeps a lot of energy down range, 100 to 150yards.

What have you guys been successful with given the above parameters????

I picked up one of Bushnells upper end handgun scopes with ballistic reticles that is sitting on my shelf collecting dust.

You can put a 7mm Mag in a handgun 👍🏻. I have several friends with encore pistols in 300 Win Mag, but unless you get a fairly long barrel, you'd be just as well served with a 7/08. My two suggestions would be either the 338 Federal or the 358 Winchester.

I have a 15" Bullberry 6.5/.284 Encore barrel with brake (1 in 8 ) that shoots 143 Hornady ELD-Xs and 130 Nos. ABs so well, it's scary. It's a 1/2" gun. Recoil is minimal. Barrel lift is about 2". It's an absolute death ray on deer.
I've used this round in Africa on animals up to 800#. I've taken several 500 yard deer with this barrel and a 3-12 Burris BPlex. I consider this the most versatile gun in my arsenal.

The 6.5 creedmore has become popular and good factory ammo to boot.

For the range you're talking about I would look at a .308 Win. It has mild recoil and since you don't reload ammo can be found anywhere.

I love the 30-06. I though for a while I had made a mistake but the barrel is a tack driver and delivers enough punch at 300 yards for a clean elk kill. Recoil isn't that bad. Yes it kicks but its not a plinker. If shooting at game I don't even notice recoil.

I second the 308 or 6.5 Creedmore. I have a 30-06 in an Encore and it will be braked before I shoot it again. Lots worse to me than my 308, fast and harsh.

I have a 3006 rifle and have never been happy with its performance and I don't think the 6.5 has enough readily accessible ammo, though I do like its ballistics.

I have debated the 308. Tried and true round.
I am also warming up to the 338.

Too many darn options.

I guess the only logical option is to get two!!

junebug, I have a 30-06 JDJ (basically a "hot" 30-06 improved) in an Encore and it sports an SSK Arrestor Brake and the recoil is very manageable. If you have seen my video "Handgunning Mule Deer and Pronghorn Antelope," there is a whole chapter on recoil and the muzzle brakes. If anybody is interested my video is still for sale: A check or money order for $15.00 will get a copy shipped to your door; and with it comes another disc with the story of my World Record Handgun Mule Deer (Same story that was published right here in Gary's hard copy issue of the magazine when it was in print.)

GG, I would agree with either the 6.5 Creedmoore (there is plenty of factory ammo available) or the .308. However, the fact is that they are each in a different "power" category. I sure don't want to start an argument so let me say my 2 cents worth.

The .308 can be loaded with up to a 220 grain bullet which can put it in a class for big bears, but the same can not be said for the Creedmoore round. That simple example is all I am saying. I don't care WHAT bullet you load in the 6.5, it will NOT duplicate the "big bear power" of the .308 cartridge. Period. My two cents worth.

Soooo...just what are you looking for in that "new Encore barrel" you are considering?

You asked for our experience with cartridges we have had
success with. Since I am touting the .308 and 6.5 Creedmoore, let me tell you what I know about them.

The .308 in an Encore makes a great handgun for antelope, mule deer, and elk; my son Joe has taken quite a few antelope and deer plus he killed his nice 6X6 bull at 356 yards with his .308 Encore.

And I have to admit that I am only familiar with the 6.5 JDJ in a Contender in the 6.5 diameter platform. But since the two cartridges are so close to each other in case capacity, with the Creed being a bit larger, I am sure the Creedmoore round will even out-perform the 6.5 JDJ. That is saying a LOT! It is the more suitable round for deer sized animals and smaller, IMHO.

I think you'll be pleased with the 308 and/or 7mm08. In my opinion they both work great out of a 15 inch barrel.

If for whatever reason you don?t like the .30-06 then why would you consider the .308 Winchester as they are basically the exact same thing? It?s a .30cal bullet in two different cases. Only one being slightly longer.

What about the 06 did you not like?

You have some heavies in revolver form. A 6.5 Creedmore would be different and really useful for varmints to deer and up. I don't have the knowledge the others have, but the 6.5 sounds like a handy barrel and it's just getting more popular every day.

I see creedmore ammo everywhere around here.

Both the 06 and 308 are 30 cal however I wouldn't consider them similar other than that.

I like the versatility of the 06 and that's why I have one. Don't be surprised I end up with one in the enchore. The only reason I have hesitation on it is because the one have have, and others I know, are wildly inconsistent and very bullet sensitive. I have tried maybe 7 different rounds through this rifle and can never get groups I believe are as good as any other of my rifles. I have only found one bullet that seems to shoot,"ok," enough for me to not sell the thing, still not great. I have had the gun smithed and tuned but still not great. I have heard similar from others. Now I realize this is just my experience on one gun and the 06 is a very proven round but it's just my experience and it has left a foul taste for me.

Like buying a car you didn't like. Ford is a great truck but buy one bad apple and you'll buy dodges for the rest of your life.

No i will not.....ill buy chevys. 😂

I like the 7mm-08 also.

You can do the 7mag if you really want to! Just put a good brake on it and be sure wear ear protection.....as with any shot you take. If i did 7mag, it would have to be a custom, Although you could cut a rifle length factory down. I did that with a 300mag once. I dont have it now.

The 308 class of guns 308, 7-08, 6.5 creed kill well and are more user friendly than the 30-06 and up in similar guns. When my son and I go to shoot we stay 4 to 5 hrs and take multiple guns from .22 on up. My braked 308 ,6.5 Rem mag, 30-30, 7-30 Waters, 35 Rem.and such I can shoot all day without undue pain. Not so with the 30-06,.358 J.D.J.,45-70,etc. They are more 3 to 5 shots and lay them down for awhile, or bad habits sneak in that are DAMN hard to get rid of. Everyone has different recoil tolerances and I know mine. If a softer recoiling gun will do what I want that is what I will use. Why do I keep the boomers? I'm dumber than a rock,like variety, and still love them, but in smaller doses.

x2

I think I am sold on a 308 but I read on MGM site that they are pushing 15 inch 460 SW 200 grain round the same muzzle velocity as a 308 but obviously with a 45 caliber 50 grain heavier bullet.

That is screaming fast at 200 grains and 45 cal. I have the 460 from an 8 inch barrel and recoil in manageable and accuracy has never let down.

Anyone have any accuracy and real life experience with a 460 from a 15 inch ported barrel?

I run a 13 inch Encore Pistol chambered in .460 S&W at 2,388 FPS with 250gr Hornady XTP bullets and it is decidedly devastating on deer.

How?s your accuracy with that set up? 100 200 yards? MGM said their test barrel was somewhat inconsistent but all I have ever heard was good things from that round.

If I get two 460s that could be a reason to reload. I have actually kept all the casing I have been shooting from the other gun in the event I start reloading. Prob have 200. I do have to say that the pressures of the 460 scare me. I did split one case in the past.

Mine is an MGM barrel as well. It shoots MOA at 100 yards and the furthest shot on game has been right at 130 yards so far.

Hey GG
Lots of good advice given here. Here are my $0.02
1) 100-150 yards is not difficult. Your 30-30 barrel should be capable of deer and moderate hogs out to that range with the right load/bullet.

2) while there are lots of great cartridges mentioned, if you want to go much past 200 yards, you will want to make sure that the combination you choose is up to the task (muzzle velocity and bullet combination in a factory load)

For example. I'm playing with a striker in 308 with a 15" barrel. Shooting the same bullet that I chronoed in a friends rifle (~26" barrel I think) I drop from 2729 fps to 2476 fps with a 150gn FMJ). If I was shooting the 150gn barns TSX in a factory load and got the same velocity (2476fps), then ballistics calculators predict that I drop below 2000 fps right about 210 yards. I'm not sure what the minimum velocity is for that bullet, but most spitzer (barnes included) have minimum recommended velocities of 1800-2000 fps). I wouldn't use that load past 200 yards to avoid poor terminal performance.

3) Now, if you hand load, You can load a lighter for caliber bullet, achieve a higher muzzle velocity and increase your range a bit. If you go too light, then the poor BC bites you in the butt. You can also choose bullets that have lower minimum velocity requirement (look at those bullets used in 300 black out or 458 socom for a start). Admittedly, this is easier if you hand load or identify an available factory loading before you settle on a cartridge/caliber.

4)My last thought on the subject is not so easy for me to articulate concisely. For a given maximum chamber pressure, the muzzle velocity of a bullet goes up with decreasing bullet weight. It also goes up with increasing bore diameter (it also goes up with barrel length, but we are on a pistol forum so won't consider that). The problem is that both of these methods of increasing muzzle velocity reduce the bullet's ballistic coefficent so it sheds energy faster. In the few situations where i've sat down to work these comparisons (exclusively with Barnes bullets and suggested minimum MV from the factory), it seems that the maximum recommended range based on terminal velocity requirements remains relatively constant until I find a bullet with an exceptionally low minimum velocity requirement (hence my comment on the 300BO and 485. Handgun loads in a break action pistol are another good solution. Some times you find your self in the situation of driving a bullet too hard so it breaks up more then you would like).

You've got a wealth of info already in this thread. For ranges under 150-200 yards, most of my thoughts above can be ignored0. If you want to go farther, do some investigation with recommended minimum velocities (email the bullet manufacturer) and a ballistic calculator and estimated achievable muzzle velocities before you make a decision.

Best of luck! Let us know what you end up with and how it shoots!

Missed this earlier
Short answer, is no, but long answer is I've got a 15" factory 45-70 barrel that I had a fish-gill break added to (effective barrel length now ~13.5") and launch 300gn bullets 1800fps and it is FUN to shoot. I could easily knock out 50 rounds at a session at the range. I have shot some of the buffalo bore +p 300gn Barnes loads and they clocked out at 2050fps. Those shot well, but not a fun to shoot. If I needed the power, I wouldn't hesitate to reach for those or develop something similar but it doesn't matter for the things I hunt.

I have a red-dot on it, but holes will still touch at 100 yards.
I think the 460 would be a winner in an encore (with a break or ports and or heavier barrel then the factory 45-70). I haven't run the numbers or know what bullet you shoot, but I would think a pointed bullet would get you a pretty good range.

Having 2 460's would be a good excuse to start reloading.

243 Winchester, 6 Creed, 260 Remington, 6.5 Creed, 7-08, 308 Winchester.
All will work way beyond the distances mentioned.
If you are recoil sensitive or just want recoil to be very little (Like me) get a good muzzle brake.

Guy tried to sell me a 16 in Gary Reeder Encore .375 H&H mag barrel with integral brake at the gun show today. $325 and it could have been mine. I declined,don't need that much fun!