Encore pistol...which caliber do I get?
#1
Fork Horn
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2008
Posts: 124

I recently picked up and Encore pistol frame, and I am looking forward to using it for hunting, to add a new element to the challenge. I don't know which caliber to get for deer hunting. I've narrowed the search down some, but not much. I'm looking at 25-06, 270, and 308. I can't find ballistics for a 15" barrel on these anywhere, so I'm not sure what to do. I know the 308 has been proven in the Encore pistol, but for some reason I like the 25-06. Any help or info would be great!
#3

Stick with a short action cartridge. Such as the .308, 7mm-08, .260, .243, etc... etc...
Out of a 15" pistol barrel you aren't going to gain squat with more powder, aside from muzzle blast and a big ball of flame. A 7mm-08 will fire a 140 grain bullet equally as fast as the 25-06 will fire a 117 grain bullet out of a 15" barrel. Which should be about 2500 - 2600 fps.
Out of a 15" pistol barrel you aren't going to gain squat with more powder, aside from muzzle blast and a big ball of flame. A 7mm-08 will fire a 140 grain bullet equally as fast as the 25-06 will fire a 117 grain bullet out of a 15" barrel. Which should be about 2500 - 2600 fps.
#4

I agree that short action calibers are in order. I don't think you will get a complete burn on your long action caliber's powder with such a short barrel. So you wasting powder, recoil, and muzzle flash for no reason.
One thing to consider, though it may not be an issue, is that if you intend to use the gun in areas where rifles are not allowed, like a shotgun/handgun/muzzleloader only type of area common in more urban environments, most Department of Natural Resources (or whatever it is where you are) classify handgun rounds as straight walled cartridges, thus the rifle cartridges would NOT be legal there. You might look at some of the larger pistol calibers like .454 casull and such. It is just a thought and may not apply to what you want, I just want to make you aware of some of the laws.
One thing to consider, though it may not be an issue, is that if you intend to use the gun in areas where rifles are not allowed, like a shotgun/handgun/muzzleloader only type of area common in more urban environments, most Department of Natural Resources (or whatever it is where you are) classify handgun rounds as straight walled cartridges, thus the rifle cartridges would NOT be legal there. You might look at some of the larger pistol calibers like .454 casull and such. It is just a thought and may not apply to what you want, I just want to make you aware of some of the laws.
#5
Typical Buck
Join Date: Feb 2004
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Posts: 809
#6
Fork Horn
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2008
Posts: 124

I'm in MO so we can use any caliber. I was thinking that with the 15" faster burning powders could be used to get a little better powder burn, but I have not found any handgun load data for a 25-06. I have found some for the 308 however, which I am leaning heavily towards now. It's just a good all around caliber. Thanks for your input guys. One other question, a guy told me he had a 7mm bench rest barrel he'd sell me. This is a short little case, and I didn't know how well it would work on deer, or what ranges. Any info on that would be good too.
#7

I'm in MO so we can use any caliber. I was thinking that with the 15" faster burning powders could be used to get a little better powder burn, but I have not found any handgun load data for a 25-06. I have found some for the 308 however, which I am leaning heavily towards now. It's just a good all around caliber. Thanks for your input guys. One other question, a guy told me he had a 7mm bench rest barrel he'd sell me. This is a short little case, and I didn't know how well it would work on deer, or what ranges. Any info on that would be good too.
Either that, or just get a barrel in .454 Casull or .460 S&W Mag and have yourself a real train-stopper!

Mike
#9
Fork Horn
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2008
Posts: 124

I'm well aware I can't just use any powder in the 25-06, but looking through some different manuals and websites I've found handgun loads for the 308 and some other rifle calibers, but not the 25-06. In the 308 handgun load data, faster burning powders were used. I was trying to find similar data on the 25-06. I did a lot more research last night and the 7mm-08 and 308 seem to be the favorite deer calibers in the Encore pistols. I think I'm going to go with the 308, just because I have all the reloading stuff for it already. Thanks for the info guys!