The time has come for barrel number one but im still stuck on which one to get for starters. I have hunting revolvers so for my first encore barrel i was thinking of more of a plinker to make it fun and learn the platform. I have been leaning toward a 223 or 243. Id love some suggestions or any ideas. Thanks

LOL......I gotta say it.

Must be the difference in location, Dave!

A "plinker" or "fun" gun = CHEAP AMMO here in my neck of the woods.

AKA 22 Rimfire

A 223 = a fairly serious varmint cartridge and
A 243 = a fairly serious Antelopec cartridge.

More dies, more (maybe) powders, more time reloading...eh

A fun gun to me is something to grab a box of ammo and go blast away not worrying so much about cost.

I'm AWARE many here are not that concerned about cost (obviously) but a fun gun, plinker to get used to a trigger and practice all kinds of shooting positions is and will always be a 22 rimfire to me.

But I'm a tightwad *grin*.

maybe I missed the entire point of your "fun" but just my take from several hundred miles away.

I agree, a 22 is a plinker, not centerfires. But, for centerfire plinking the 223 is by far the cheaper of the two. The 243 is kind of a tweener, not great for big game or varmints but adequate for both. If you are looking for something long range, with deer on the menu, I would suggest to look at the 7-08 or 260.

I would go with a military surplus round. .223 ammo can be found at reasonable prices for plinking and you could get quality
ammo for varmiting. MGM has stub barrels for $200. I have one ordered in 7.62X25 just for plinking. At $113 for 1260 rounds, I couldn't reload that cheap.

In the plinker, fun, learning stage, is there anything else you would like to do with an Encore handgun in the future?
Varmints, deer, etc...?

Id like to try big game hunting with an encore but not till im very comfortable with the platform. I shoot jackrabbits and yotes often so i still like the 223 but i could load the 243 for a legal deer or varmint round.

Whats a stub barrel? and i hadnt thought about the russian 7.62x39. hows the recoil? dose it need a brake?

TheDave,

I have several handguns and long guns in the 7.62x39 round. I built an XP-100 with a 14" barrel, Encore in 15" and 20" barrels. A Ruger 77 compact, 16 1/2" barrel that I built for my daughters. The guns are "tack" drivers with the Hornady 123 gr. ILSP and WW 123 PSP bullets, WW brass, WLR primers, AA1680 powder. About 26 grains of powder a pound goes a loooong way!. Mild recoil and blast, velocities are moderate; but, extremely effective with the chosen bullets. . One hole, 5 shots, 100 yards with every gun (not the AK or SKS variants). It is a great and very "under rated" cartridge. Practice ammo (milsurp) is cheap and available, still. My family has numerous "one shot" kills on antelope, deer, and a large cow elk (WW 150 gr PSP bullet). In fact, there have not been any kills requiring more than a single shot! Ranges from 20 to 250 yards. Please note EdP was talking about the 7.62x25 Tokarov round, not the 7.62x39 round. The pressures are a "bit" on the high side for a Contender; however, the Encore eats them up in stride.

Doc