Hi all my wife is getting me a new encore frame , for x-mas

Ive been doing allot of reading here . I'm trying to decide what caliber barrel to get 270 maybe a 308 7/30 waters

. I'm planning on 300 yard shots max for whitetail. i hunt now with a Ruger Red Hawk in 44 mag , I'm trying to keep the recoil on par with the 44 if that is possible , maybe a muzzle brake will be needed. i plan on reloading my shells . thanks for the info. Rick

welcome rick if you are going to reload any of the ones you said
would work but i think the 308 would be better a little more
range and knockdown power just my 2cents.
larry

Although I don't presently own one,the 308 is tough to beat in a 15" tube.Reloading gives you the advantage of loading any of the multitude of bullets available in .308 diameter.
Jim

284 Win/280 Rem, or the 270 Win. would be my call.

I have Encore barrels in 45-70, 243 and 6.5x284.
I would like to have a 7-08 barrel but I just can't get over the pull towards a 308 barrel. I think that I'll get a heavey MGM barrel in 308 very soon!!!!

I'd very highly recommend the .308. A muzzle break has not been necessary in my XP-100, Savage Striker or Encore .308's.

If you are hunting mostly deer sized game I'd go with a 7. The 284, 7-08 or even 280 will carry nicely well beyond 300 with the proper bullet.

Welcome to the site Nighttrain! Either the 7-80 or the .308 would work for deer at 300 yds. Let us know what you decide on and enjoy your new toy!

Under 300, I would go with the 308. I am a huge 7mm fan but the 308 will outperform the 7mm08 by +/-100 fps. Honestly, the 7mm08 would work just as well.

I'd go with the .308.

i would go with the 280. i currently have a 280AI barrel for my Encore and i love it, i took a doe at a measured 316yrds last season and she went no where. but i love the 7mm and will never be with out one ever.

Either the 7-08 or .308. I have shot my sons .308 Encore on Antelope and just for fun. He left it with me to work up a hunting load before our WY hunt. I put several hundred rounds through it. I liked it so much that I ordered one and it will be in this week. If you don't like the Encore a .309 JDJ in a Contender would give you "almost" the same performance in a little easier to carry package (some say with a nicer trigger).

Bill in OR

Welcome to HHM nightrain!!

My vote is for the 7mm-08.

Hi thank-you all for the worm welcome and the advice , I'm thinking I'm prob. going to get the .308 , but the 7-08 looks like a great choice also , do any of you also use your .308 or 7-08 for varmint hunting ? i ride atv allot and will be taking the encore as i see allot of chucks while I'm riding . thanks again Rick..

now that is another story you could do that for more shooting
time i have a 223 for varmints. you use lite loads in both
for that to.
larry

Since you're going to be reloading try Hornady's 110gr V-Max's in your .308 for varmints.

Welcome Nighttrain,
Something to consider when using the 308 you can use Military brass versus commercial brass. a little more time in prep but might be cheaper. All the rounds mention previously will do you fine.

I don’t think a chuck will know the difference inbetween a 100gr 7mm and a 140gr 7mm. Dead is dead.

I have used my 14" 7mm-08 to take pd's past 400 yards.
For deer, antelope, mule deer, whitetail, coyote and bobcat I used the 140 NBT.

I own a 15" TC Pro-Hunter in 308 and love it. It shoots everything from 165 grain barnes X to 110 grain A-max and does so with great accuracy. I have a SSK break on the gun and recoil is very manageable. The muzzle blast is a little fierce but its not that bad. I recommend the .308 for the ammo availability if you want to shoot factory loads too.

If you want the perfect combination of varmints to deer, look no further than a 260 Remington. It will have to come from the Custom Shop, but it will do everything you ask for and more. You can load light bullets for varmints and then switch to the fine Nosler BT 120 grain for deer hunting to 300+ yards.

Before anyone starts looking, I meant 110 grain V-max!!! i don't think their is a 110 A-max in .308. For those who reload, the 110 V-max impacts are a thing of beauty. We hit a small coyote with a 110 out of a 300 win mag last year and damn near split him in half. Try it, you'll love it.