I received a new Encore frame yesterday. Had Jerry go through it & put new springs in it. It had a 5.5# trigger pull but now it has zero creep & 2.3# trigger --- very nice. I put the 223 bbl on it, since there has been a coyote hanging around down at Clarendon. But then I got to thinking (bad plan for me and my pocketbook) --- I only have two encore bbls -- 223 & 7-08. I might need something bigger.

I first considered a 338. But I have a contender in 338 JDJ#2 and a FA in 338 Federal (and a custom M70 Win in 338-06). I would have dies for the various 338's & lots of components. But I do not need another 338 --- (like I need another anything????) Then I thought about a 35 --- maybe a 358 win (if I want to stay with the 308 case) or a 35 Whelen??? But J. D. (Jones) tells me the 375 kills a lot better than the 338 or 35. Maybe a 375??? Another 375 JDJ --- I have a couple. Or maybe a 376 Steyr?? I am really interested in hearing from anyone who has experience with this cartridge in an Encore.

Realistically, I have narrowed my choices to 338-06, 35 Whelen or a 375 of some type. I have shot the bigger ones -- 500 S&W, 50 Alaskan, etc. but I seldom encounter a T-Rex here in the Texas Panhandle. If I do, I will be willing to face him with whatever you convince me that I need to get.

Let me hear from you. I understand that the folks in the sciences think that they can clone one (T-Rex)--- maybe.

I love my 356 Win in the Encore I shoot the 180 SSPB in it and it does great.

I also like the rimed brass.

The other + is with the 308 Extractor you can use 358 brass or necked up 308.

wtroper,

you need to start by getting rid of some of those FA's. You've got to make room for those T-Rex barrels. They're easier to get rid of when you sell'em cheap. So, let me know how much room you need.

sorry, that's the only suggestion I have. I don't have any T-Rex calibers in the TC's.

I have a 376 Steyr. It's not in an Enccore, it's in a Competitor and I love it. The 376 Steyr can push heavy (300 gr.) bullets faster than the 375 JDJ and it's trajectory is almost identical to the 168 gr. 308. But, with more power does come more recoil and muzzle blast. In my opinion it's not enough to matter. I also just got a Competitor in 416 Barnes. This will allow me to shoot heavier bullets with a larger diameter and still not be in the recoil department of the 416 Taylor. Good luck on your choice.

DAVID

I think you already have the best you can get in the 7-08. I dont own one, but I sure do want one real bad.

I'm looking at the 375 ruger as my thumper, but have trouble (as you do) with overlapping rounds... 375jdj would do the same job, just not as far :p

For the Encore, It is MHO that the 06 case is the way to go... The 338-06 will out perform the 35 Whelen, but that is a personal preference thing. When I buy another Encore barrel it will be a MGM 338-06 AI...

If I didn't own an awesome 270, I would look at a 280 AI...

350 Remington Magnum!

What about a 375/350 Rem Mag!

I looked a J D's website. Need to call & talk to him. His 375-06 JDJ pushes the 270 gr at 2400+. The 338-06 JDJ does that with a 250. He also chambers the 376 Styer. I am curious how much better, if any, the 376 is compared to the 375-06 JDJ.

Probably need to put into perspective my personal situation & differentiate it from many of yours'. I am older (than I like to admit), my children are grown & educated, my grandchildren have finished college, I have no wife to keep me in line, and I own my business. I still work almost every day & have a little extra $$$$ to use for the things that I like. I no longer am into competitive horse activities, but handguns are my current passion. Thus, I tend to accumulate more than I need. I would have even more, except that I tend to give some to family members that have an interest in handgunning. I enjoy seeing others become involved in handgun hunting & if I can help them make the transition, it pleases me to do so.

However, I understand that not everyone is in the favorable (or maybe unfavorable --- depending upon one's point of view) situation that I enjoy. Neither would everyone who was in that position choose to do the things that I do. But that is what makes the world go round --- differences more than commonalities.

Will keep you posted on my conversation with J D.

Just finished a telephone conversation with J D. For those of you who know him, you will appreciate the fact that we just "shot the bull" for about 20 minutes or more. However, when I posed the question to him, he answered with a question, "What do you want to do with it?" My answer was "play, shoot metal targets, maybe a T-Rex, etc." Quickly, he stated that the most "fun gun" right now for him was the 50 Alaskan. It can be loaded with 50 MBG projectiles (ball, tracers, etc.) cast, or hunting bullets. When downloaded to about 1200 fps with a 600 gr bullet, the recoil is about like a M29 full house 44 mag. However, when you get it up to about 1700 fps, the recoil is material.

He advised against the 376 Styer due to the potential scarcity of brass. The 375-06 JDJ would be a good hunting round, but the 338-06 JDJ would likely be a better long-range target round. Thus, from this conversation a couple of alternatives were eliminated --- 35 Whelen & 376.

Now your choices are 375-06 JDJ, 338-06 JDJ, or 50 Alaskan.

Go with the 50 AK. Recoil is very managable with 600 grain bullets. Mine was built by MGM then sent to SSK for the brake.

That thing looks like it would knock a squirrel clean off the limb...LOL

I always make sure they are calm and looking away from me when I shoot them.

Hey wTroper, I have the ones you mention in 338 and love them. I have a 35 Whelen, and 375JDJ. To trump them all, I had a Encore rifle barrel in 375H&H cut down to 16" and had a brake put on it. It shoots Sierra 300gr BTHP's to 2300+ fps. I havent shot anything other than factory 270's. It is accurate and a hammer on paper. Pa Whitetail doe just don't stand up to it. Have fun!! My other project was cutting down a 416 Rigby-the ultimate T-Rex thumprer with 350 grain Sperr African Grand Slams!! Now this is different!!

And the limb off the trunk of the tree, and the tree off of it's roots...

LOL!

Out a' sight gun, 7STDU!!

I've been in love with the 50AK for a while now... And this is NOT helping me keep it out of my head!!!!!

I shot 45nuts 50AK Encore when he came to PA. It was an OTT barrel with the OTT Sharkgill brake. It was a real hammer, but recoil was not all that bad because of the brake. I could shoot it one handed from the bench with a firm grip. You had to find 348 Win brass to make cases, but Starline now offers 50AK brass.

Tigger & Dwarvenchef,

You are tempting me. I also have fired the 50 AK. My friend in Ohio has one & we shot it one his range there. There he can use tracers & incindiary rounds. Here, I would set the world afire.

He brought it down & we used in on my little range. It hammered some of my targets (that were designed with revolvers in mind). However, I ordered some new targets from Fowler. Might need to test them with a "big boy" like that one.

I am very frankly surprised that none of you have suggested the obvious. As I consider the 338-06 JDJ or 375-06 JDJ and maybe even a 50 AK, the thought has come to mind that the correct answer is not one bbl, but two. A 338-06 for long range targets and a 50 AK for fun. I have not yet talked myself into it, but the thought has crossed my mind.

wtroper, after reading your last post this appears to be the answer you are looking for.....