need help what caliber

[reloadxx]

ok i am fixen to start on me a custom encore as soon as the frame gets here {should be this week}.but i am stuck on what caliber barrel i want it is driving me crazy tying to make up my mind. it will be used for deer hunting lomgest shot it will probably see is 300yrds at the max. so what would you all buy if it was you?
oh yea i am not a reloader yet but hope that will change in the next couple months.

 

[KPH]

I have a 357 maximum rifle not a mag but a max it is about a 200 yrd gun very easy to reload for and will drop deer. You can shoot 38's 357 mags, 360 DW's and 357 maximums.

 

[Model70Man]

A 243 will do just fine. Ammo is cheap and easy to find. My .243 Encore barrel will embarrass many bolt action rifles in the accuracy dept. 95 gr Fusion is all you need for deer.

 

[Buck Assassin]

If I were building one it would be a .243

 

[mr.big]

if your gonna reload I would have a 260,,I think the next rifle I will get is gonna be the CZ 550 Mannlicher in 6.5x55 but the 260 is an awesome round,,

I have been shooting daddy`s Sako 75 Varmint 260 and it seems to me to leave all the other short action calibers in the dirt,,5 shot groups at 300 yards with that rifle are always right at 1 inch,,sometimes smaller,,all the newer 120-123 gr bullets are really good to 6-700 yards where the 140-142 gr bullets take over and do real well passed 1,000.

 

[Kimberman]

Something in 6.5. If you handload there is no good reason not to. I have a 264 Win Mag now, and my next rifle is going to be a 260. 6.5-06, 6.5-284, or 6.5 Creedmore are interesting as well. The 6.5 may be the most versatile caliber out there. They make some good varmint sized bullets all the way up to heavy constructed big game bullets, and every thing in between. They also make a bunch of different target bullets for punching paper or for long range work. With the right 6.5 bullet, I would feel comfortable taking anything in North America except the big bears.

 

[Plateau Hunter]

6.5x55 or .280 would be my choice- however any of the common calibers will work for your requirements. PH

 

[rdl65]

A .243 will serve you well. The recoil is very light, a ton of factory loads for it and if you start reloading it will be even better and the .243 will cleanly kill anything TN has to offer with a well placed shot.

 

[reloadxx]

A 243 will do just fine. Ammo is cheap and easy to find. My .243 Encore barrel will embarrass many bolt action rifles in the accuracy dept. 95 gr Fusion is all you need for deer.

What length barrel do u have?

 

[Model70Man]

24"

 

[muddyboots]

I did a 7mm/08. Its pretty nice.

 

[Gravey]

A 243 will do just fine. Ammo is cheap and easy to find. My .243 Encore barrel will embarrass many bolt action rifles in the accuracy dept. 95 gr Fusion is all you need for deer.

what he said. I used to have the same set-up until I decided I wanted to start coyote hunting and sold it to someone on here to get a bolt action. I do miss it sometimes.

 

[reloadxx]

I did a 7mm/08. Its pretty nice.

What ammo do u run threw the 7mm08? And what kind of groups are u getting? I have thought about a 7mm08 just because i have 2 243 bolt guns and was wanting something new .

 

[jakeway]

I agree with Kimberman...get something in a 6.5mm. I've been shooting a 260 REM for a few years, and it has shot great with 85 gr, 120 gr, and 140 gr. I don;t want to get two rifles in the same caliber, because I like to neck-size my reloads, so my next one will be either a 6.5X55, a 6.5 Creedmore, or a 6.5-284. If not a 6.5 caliber, I'm leaning toward a 257 Roberts or a 25-06.

Having said that, the .243 WIN is a very good round. I wasn't that keen on them until I bought one a few years ago and it has performed well for myself and for my granddaughters. No qualms about using one.

 

[250savage]

any of the 6.5s i have 6.5 credmoor in a savage. i have a vx 3 with the cds dial one dial is calibrated for varmints with the 90 gr vmax. the other is for the 120 barnes tsx.very accurate and light recoil

 

[7mminatree]

I think a 7mm08 or .308 would be perfect considering yardage and game hunted. But just about anything mentioned will work.

 

[W.Seay]

270

 

[thejetman]

Simple. Either a 308 or an 06
Very versatile calibers, knock down power and long reaching too.

 

[Rackseeker]

7mm-08 is the only way to go.

 

[jakeway]

All of these are effective rounds, but when making a "custom" rifle, wouldn't you want it in a less common round? What would make an Encore in 30-06, 308, 270, or 7mm-08 any different from another encore in the same thing?

Just sayin'.

(No offense to any lovers of the above cartridges. I own/shoot two of those right now, had owned another, and darn near bought the fourth option.)

 

[reloadxx]

well for me not reloading yet a less common round where the ammo is hard to get and have to reload to keep from spending a arm and leg in shipping. i am looking for a common round for that factor. now when i say custom encore i am thinking of more on the lines trigger job, having the hanger bar added to barrel, bedded the forearm,differant hing pin, a nice thumb hole wood stock. now for me thats a custom rifle that differant from a factory encore even if they have the same barrel
just my 2cents

 

[Hillbilly Hunter]

7mm-08 without question.

 

[Mr.Bro]

Well if you really want to go custom.Go something different.
The 375JDJ in a 20 in barrel.This would make a sweet "anything" gun.Perfect for up close whitetails or grizzlies at 300 yards.
The Encore pistol i had in this caliber was the most accurate gun i have ever owned.Yes more accurate than any rifle.3/4 in groups at 100 yards through 58 year old eyes.
The recoil in a pistol was brutal though.Index finger hitting the squared off frame above the trigger would draw blood after 5 rounds.
With a break would make a nice outfit.

 

[W.Seay]

All of these are effective rounds, but when making a "custom" rifle, wouldn't you want it in a less common round? What would make an Encore in 30-06, 308, 270, or 7mm-08 any different from another encore in the same thing?

Just sayin'.

(No offense to any lovers of the above cartridges. I own/shoot two of those right now, had owned another, and darn near bought the fourth option.)

If it ain't broke don't fix it

 

[jakeway]

well for me not reloading yet a less common round where the ammo is hard to get and have to reload to keep from spending a arm and leg in shipping. i am looking for a common round for that factor. now when i say custom encore i am thinking of more on the lines trigger job, having the hanger bar added to barrel, bedded the forearm,differant hing pin, a nice thumb hole wood stock. now for me thats a custom rifle that differant from a factory encore even if they have the same barrel
just my 2cents

Ah, now we know what you mean by "custom". You are making a custom rifle, but using a standard frame and barrel. I don't have the list of available barrels in front of me, but if availability and cost of ammo is a consideration I'd go with either .243 or .308. These common rounds are around $20 per box. Less common rounds, even the excellent 7mm-08, can cost up to $36 for basic Remington ammo.

 

[statelineRUT]

A 243 will do just fine. Ammo is cheap and easy to find. My .243 Encore barrel will embarrass many bolt action rifles in the accuracy dept. 95 gr Fusion is all you need for deer.

DITTO!

 

[Asaltwpn1]

If you want something "different" but still accurate out to 300 yds, go with a 35 Whelen.

 

[Deer Assassin]

7mm-08 without question.

id have to agree

hands down

 

[muddyboots]

I did a 7mm/08. Its pretty nice.

What ammo do u run threw the 7mm08? And what kind of groups are u getting? I have thought about a 7mm08 just because i have 2 243 bolt guns and was wanting something new .

I use federal premium with 140 grain barnes. It groups right at 3/4 inch at 100 yards.

 

[WGK]

I would have to consider 25-06