Wanting a new rifle....
 

I am wanting to purchase a new rifle for deer season. I am currently looking at the TC Encore but I do not know what caliber I want. I currently shoot a Ruger .243 and have had very good luck. I would like to have more knock down power but I do not like a lot of recoil. Just looking for some opinions on both the Encore and suggested caliber.
Thanks.

RE: Wanting a new rifle....
 

T/C Encore is a awsome rifle. I just don't like the one shot deal. If you dont want much recoil maybe try the 270 or the 25-06. Me personally I would go with the 300 WSM, 7mm Mag or the ol trust 30-06...

RE: Wanting a new rifle....
 

I really love my 25-06 for deer. Recoil is pretty mild and it's a good round in 120 grains for deer. You can use lighter weight bullets for varmint and predator hunting.

RE: Wanting a new rifle....
 

7mm-08

RE: Wanting a new rifle....
 

I'll second TREEDOG, 7-08

RE: Wanting a new rifle....
 

I would get a 270-Winchester barrel for that TC Encore. The 270 is just enough of a step up in calibers to fill the Medium/large game gap. The 243 IMHO is a great varmit/small/medium game rifle.
With the 270 you will have a gun that you can hunt Whitetail, Mule deer & Antelope with confidence. The recoil is mild & the knock down power is plenty.
IMHO I think the 25-06 is too close to the 243? I think a person should space out there calibers. I am saying this because I wish I would have spaced out my calibers. If I could do it again? I would own a 243, 270 & 300-win mag.

RE: Wanting a new rifle....
 

Not sure what T/C offers, but 7-08, 308, 7x57, etc. etc. are all good, and a good step up from the 243. Of those I'd get the 308. If you load your own, you could do a lot with it. I load some milder rounds for the wife in a Savage youth model. If you're only looking for a little step up, 260 Rem. Not much recoil at all.

RE: Wanting a new rifle....
 

I would go with the 25-06 rem with 115 to 120 grain bullets.This a very good deer/black bear, varmit combo.I have been shooting deer with one for 11 years and have never lost a deer I have shot with it.
As for the 243 and 25-06 being to close together,I have had a 243 and IMHO it can't hold a candle to the 25-06.
It is plenty of gun for deer out to 350-400 yds and then some and antelope as far as you can shoot them.
BBJ

RE: Wanting a new rifle....
 

Well since you already have a 243, i would seriously recommend you looking at a 270, 280, 30-06, 300 win mag, 7-08, or 308 win to handle larger bullet weights, i think the encore is a great rifle if you really like a single shot.

RE: Wanting a new rifle....
 

i would go with the 270 they'er a great gun the 300 win mag kicks preaty good unless you get boss for it, that mean gettigna browning. the 7mm mag kicks too. a 30 06 and a 270 are that much different. so go with what you feel like

RE: Wanting a new rifle....
 

I third what treedog and Highpower have to say. I have a 30-06, and it DEFINITLY does the job. I shot five does last year (management program, DMAP), and all dropped except one because I hit it behind the shoulder not in the shoulder, but thats another story. A TON of people at my deer hunting camp shoot 7-08. In my opinion, it is the best deer rifle, PERIOD! It has plenty of knock-down, no matter where you want to hit them. Plus, it doesnt kick nearly as hard as my Remington 700 ADL 30-06 (but the kick doesn't affect me, and i'm only 15.) With a 2x-7x at a about 100 yards I can keep the shots within .5 of an inch. But, the 7-08 is plenty enough gun for whitetails. Plus, if you ever have kids it is small enough for younger boys to shoot, and for all girls to shoot. I agree that the 25-?? is not a large enough boost from a .243. But if you still think the 7-08 would kick too much I would go with a .270 or .280

Good Hunting and Straight Shooting

RE: Wanting a new rifle....
 

.270, .280 or a 30-06 are all great choices.

GO CANADA

RE: Wanting a new rifle....
 

I choice is a SBG 300 Weatherby Mag. Out of the box I have consistently shot 3/8 group at 100 yards and 1" groups at 200 yards. With the muzzle brake it barely kicks and it has a very crisp, low drag, adjustable trigger.

RE: Wanting a new rifle....
 

t/c encores are available with muzzlebrakes so , the recoil would be managable in almost any caliber that is normally associated with deer and black bear hunting , as for cartriudge availability , just go to www.tcarms.com and they have a link to the available chamberings , from them and thier custom shop at foxridge outfitters .

i'de say something from a .260 rem. , or a 7mm-08 , or even better yet ,how about a .358 winchester. they're all available from tc or foxridge , and from foxridge you have the availability of choosing different barrel contours . :)


just my 2 cents worth , whelen36

RE: Wanting a new rifle....
 

What do you want the new cartridge to be able to do.

Sticking with deer only or would you use it for larger game such as elk in the future?

The .243 will kill any deer that walks this earth and do it with authority. If you want to step up a bit or will possibly hunt larger game with it I would suggest a .277 caliber cartridge or larger. .270, 7mm mag, or personally I would opt for the 30-06 or a 300 mag.

Or you could chamber it in something really unique like the 30 whisper or 375 JDJ.

RE: Wanting a new rifle....
 

257 roberts, 25-06, 260, 270win, 270WSM, 7-30 waters, 7mm-08, 7mm mauser, 280, 308, 30-06, etc. etc.