No that I'm playing with Encores I'm thinking about a thumper barrel for the bigger critters around my part of Alaska.
I prefer standard calibers like those I listed, but I'll listen to anything.
Specifically, I'd like to know what you guys are getting for velocities with heavier bullets in the above calibers in your Encore pitols.

There ya go Vance! Now you're talking! You failed to mention the .500 S&W. That would be my choice. You can get a blue barrel for $265.00 with a tamer at Midway. The only drawback is that the bullets are rather expensive for the .500. . You might also think about the 450 Marlin if you really want a thumper with less expensive (not cheap) bullets. You could down one of those big teddy bears with one of these two.

You could go .458 Win Mag in an Encore.

I think my local pawn shop has a factory 15" w/muzzle tamer in 450 marlin only been shot a couple of times will check it out for you if you're interested.

Big John, by all means please check it out for me. I would be interested.
Recoil, the cost of bullets is one of the main things that keeps me from the .50.
Has anyone got any velocity data on the .450 Marlin, the .460, or the 45=70 in 15" Encore barrels?

Can't say as I blame you there Vance. The cost of .500 bullets seems quite unreasonable. Don't think you could go wrong with the .450 Marlin. It would be a serious thumper for sure. I don't have any info on velocity data for the cartridges that you are interested in out of a 15" barrel. I think that the Magnum Research website has data for the .450 in a 10" BFR but I'm not positive. I hope someone has some data as I'd be interested in seeing it.

The cartridges you listed can be chambered for Contenders. What about the 416 Taylor in that Encore for Alaskan critters?? Gary??

In point of fact the Contender CANNOT safely be chambered in the .500 ,460, or 450 Marlin. Someone else correct me if I'm wrong.

So Shawn, any idea of velocities that can be achieved with the .450 Marlin in a handgun?
Also Shawn, as I ecall it was you I helped get lined up with a SSK Contender barrel up here wasn't it? .416 as I recall? How's that working out?

That's an easy one for me, .45-70 Encore barrel, stainless, with an SSK T'SOB mount, Burris 2X w/ Posi-Lock, and an Arrestor muzzle break. Stoked with Buffalo Bore 440 gr. hard cast flat nose slugs and kicking out of my 12 7/8" barrel at a hair over 1950 FPS, it's my "Buffler Barrel". (There are ranches here in the Lower 48 with free range bison herds). Wouldn't hesitate to drop my hammer on an Alaskan Brown Bear either! Just have to save up enough for that particular hunt before my Medi-Care kicks in and my wrist bones get too brittle.......

D'Keyman

If you want thumper performance in an Encore handgun with a "standard" cartridge there's one that stands head and shoulders above the rest.

500S&W

The TC Custom Shop is crankin' hunter barrels out with muzzle brakes... I see 'em on ebay all the time.

... 500S&W... When you care enough to send the very best...

$bob$

What about the 460, 444, & 45-70 that Vance mentioned? I don't know much at all about TC's but I do remember seeing them in 45-70.

Quote:

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In point of fact the Contender CANNOT safely be chambered in the .500 ,460, or 450 Marlin. Someone else correct me if I'm wrong.

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I did not mention the .444 or the 45-70 in my post

45-70 is chambered by TC in a Contender
.444 Marlin will work but not a factory Contender barrel.
.460 ahhhhhh.....NO! Not for a Contender.

I suspect this is one of Vance's I got nothing to do today posts but here goes.
I have a 500 S&W barrel 10 inch custom that is a good barrel. 400 gr Sierra at 1800 440 Cast Performance at 1700.
Yes it has a brake that Gas Checked bullets can be shot in.
But my favorite over it is an Encore factory barrel in 45/70. 350 speer at 2000 fps all the way to a 550 cast at 1500. No brake but needs one bad. The 45/70 has some nostalgia appeal too and a lot of good components plus we have Buffalo Bore ammo and Garretts too. Easy to load for and and plenty of proven loads. Brass is readily available.
Factory 300 grainers are great although not up to potential. Factory 405's are easy to shoot.
Hornady 500 gr FMJ's are available too that will do at least 1500 fps for that big brownie for a skull shot. Plenty of powder choices RL7 H322 H4895 H&IMR 4198 3031 and even H4350 will do well in it too.
I for one like the 45/70 a big lot.

Thanks Meplat, but it is a serious post
I have a specific .460 Encore barrel I have been looking at, but I think I'm coming to the conclusion the 460 is not what I'm looking for (hence the reason for the post, so I can pick the brain of guys like you & make wise decisions).
It's claim to fame seems to be high velocity with light (for caliber) bullets. In my neck of the woods in a big bore 300 gr is near the botton of my interest. Even at 2800fps the 200 gr is of very limited use here.

That said, I'm narrowing it down a bit. It seems that .444 would work OK in the Encore where it can be loaded to max with out worry of beating the gun (not so in my Contender), & the 45-70 or 450 Marlin would possibly be even better choices.
So, it will probably just depend on what I can find a good buy on.
I have .444 dies & brass already, & I have 45-70 brass.
But if the right .450 Marlin came along dies & brass aren't bad on the long term ivestment scale ....
We'll see what Big John finds at the pawn shop

VANCE: How are you thought processes going? Why don't you tell US about the 450 Marlin, 444 Marlin, 460 S&W and the 45/70 OR your perceptions of them.
Tell us what one could expect of each one and what each one has over the other.
How would you go about picking a canidate for the Encore?
How would you choose the powder, bullet, and primers for the cartridges?
What levels would you load each to to fufill you desires as to power levels that you need?
How much do you think each barrel would recoil and could you handle it braked or unbraked?
Would you put a brake on the barrel if it didn't have one already on it?
If you didn't brake an unbraked barrel how would you deal with the recoil levels?
What are the parameters in your decision making lets say on choosing the 45/70 or the 450 Marlin? On the choosing of the 444 Marlin over the 45/70 or the 450 Marlin?

Vance, I had a 26" Heavy barrel in 416 Rigby and had it cut to 16" and added a Holland brake. It is not for the timid shooters though. If you don't hold on to it, it'll hit you! I shoots a 350 Speer or Barnes at 2350fps and I'm not a max load yet. The brass is initially expensive, and at 105gr/load or 65/lb of powder, you won't shoot it tons. I've only shot mine about 250 rounds. I don't know if the 2 extra grains will get me any thing more than extra recoil! It is a handfull, but I'm pretty sure it'll stop a big bear. The Speer grand slam punched clean through a telephone pole at 100 yards! (maybe it was just an old dry pole, but it's a lot of wood)! Any of the rounds you metion can loaded for Alaska. The 444 and 45-70 are two of my favorites and can be loaded dopwn or down-right nasty!

I have a 15" 45-70 (no compensator) Encore that I bought to extend my range beyond that of a 44 mag (must use straight wall cartridges where I hunt). I recently went to shooting the Hornady ballistic tip they made for use in lever action rifles and greatly improved the 100 yard group size (50% better). These standard class rounds are fairly reasonable (recoil)to shoot thought some would say they're brutal. I did try some Buffalo Boar rounds and realized significant increase in muzzle jump, so I've now settled on the Hornady rounds. I've only had this barrel one season and hadn't taken an animal yet, but I will say I plan this to be my lower Michigan deer gun for unforeseen future. Sure beats a shotgun.