[kinger]

Hi,

I live in central NY and hunt deer mostly from stands. The majority of time I'm limited to 100yd or less ranges, occasionally a bit longer. I've got an Encore .308. I've had back/neck surgery this summer, and I'm not sure I'm going to be able to handle the recoil of the .308 this fall. What would you recommend as an "easy going" round for the encore that will get the job done?

Thanks,

Pete

 

[MS Hitman]

This is one is a bit tough to consider. I presume you do not reload. If you do or have a friend who does, 150 grain Nosler Ballistic Tips loaded down to around 2100-2300 fps should not recoil much at all in an Encore. If this is too much recoil, I would also suggest going the route of a scoped revolver. Either the .44 mag or .45 Colt using a 300 grain bullet loaded between 1000 to 1100 fps. Recoil is very manageable and penetration is excellent. Expansion is a none issue as the bullets are starting out at nearly one-half inch in diameter.

 

[timothy]

Try a 41 mag. You should get exellent ballistics from a 10-12 inch contender

 

[Redhawk1]

I would try the 41 MAG or the 44MAG, nothing smaller though.

 

[Larry Gibson]

"I'm limited to 100yd or less ranges, occasionally a bit longer. I've got an Encore .308."

No need for another cartridge, get some 130 or 150 gr Speer FPs for the 30-30 and load them down to 21-2200 fps. I suggest 4198, 4227 4759 or 5744 powder. Zero 3" high at 100 yatds and you're good to 150-175 yards. what you will have is essentially a 30-30 cartridge. Lord knows how many deer have fallen to that.

Larry Gibson

 

[myronman3]

30-30. loaded with spitzer bullets, ballistics improve dramatically. i had one that i loved to shoot, it would recoil a tad more than my 223 barrel (not much). that way, you could still you your 308 dia. bullets in it. and brass is everywhere for free.

at 200 yards, i could shoot a 1 1/2 group if i was having a good day. the gun could do it anyday, i was the weak link.

 

[longwalker]

what to shoot

I can only tell you what I am going to do. I had open heart surgery about a month ago. The doctors all seem to think high power rifle is out so. I'm taking my SRH in 44 magnum instead. One handed or two it won't bother me one bit.

240 grain JHP Federal, American Eagle brand

longwalker

 

[rickyp]

how about a 243 winchester? it is milder then a 308.

 

[Badnews Bob]

.357 maximum. 8)

 

[Elwood]

I agree with what LMG said.
You are not going to like the recoil of the 308, especially not the recoil the 44 or 41 magnums. Just load your 308 down to 30-30 peeerfect.
Elwood

 

[poncaguy]

I have a bad shoulder and "arthur" wrists, but I still shoot my Contender 45-70 and 357 Max. Also have a new Encore 15" 7mm-08 that I will use this year for deer. You should be able to handle a 357 Max or 44 mag with ease. You ought to try my Handi 45-70 rifle with 300 grain Remingtons, really whacks my bum shoulder....

 

[NE Hunter]

Rem offers their reduced recoil ammo in 308 now. If you don't reload that might help. OR if this is a I need a new gun story for your "significant other" .... .243, 7mm-08, .41 mag, .44 mag or .45 colt ( maybe a .454 Casull) you can shoot the milder .45 colt with it and when yo heal up you can then shoot the .454

I forgot to mention .30-30 in the line up

 

[Old Griz]

:cb2: Yet another .30-30 vote. There's a reason it's been going strong since 1895—it works great!

Cartridge ([email protected]) Rifle Recoil Recoil
Weight energy velocity
.30-30 Win. (150 at 2400) 7.5 10.6 9.5
.30-30 Win. (170 at 2200) 7.5 11.0 9.7

Oh, and ammo is real cheap at Wally World if ya don't reload.

 

[Catfish]

I would recomand the .357 max. in a Super 14 barrel topped with a 2 1/2 to 8 Leupold. I have a 15 in. Bullberry barrel in .357 max. that will shoot sub-moa if you want to spend alittle more money. Also I love Serria bullets, but the Serrias are to soft for the .357 max.`s velosities. I recomand the Hornady XTP bullets for this round. This year I`ll be useing a .500 S&W when setting a stand and will carry a Red Hawk in .454 when still hunting or driveing. They will not kill a deer any deader than the .357 max., but I just like to shoot big bore handguns.

 

[.358buddy]

Here is another vote for the 30-30 or the 308 loaded down to 30-30
ballistics.

Several years ago I was crushed under a 4x4 truck and broke my shooting shoulder. It took me a couple years to work back up to enjoying the handcannons again. I loaded down the 35 Remington to .357 max
and below and satisfied the need to burn powder during the healing time. All of the above are great deer calibers to 200 yards if you need it. If
these are still a problem I would go with the 7mm tcu. and a 120 grain bullet. At the range you indicate it will put everything down just fine.
I have taken 22 deer with this super accurate cartridge and only one required more than one shot and that was because I was shooting to far away. It did not go very far, just did not have the juice for a one shot drop.

be careful and check twice.

 

[Cuz]

another vote for the 30-30.

 

[Dusty Miller]

If you are shooting from a stand and have a rest for your rifle then you can most likely make head/neck shots given the range you described. Heck, a .243 with a light bullet would do the trick under those circumstances unless you've got some unusually large white tails there in New York.

 

[Varminter]

If you don't reload the 41 mag. or 44 mag.

If you do reload the 445 supermag.

 

[pastorp]

Kinger, I too had bypass surgery a few years ago, and recoil is the last thing you want. I settled for hog hunting with a 22lr that fall (legal in Florida) and waited until next year to deer hunt.

I think in a handgun a 256 win mag up to a 7 tcu might work for you. Just don't overdo it. Better to wait another year to hunt and let yourself heal up completely. Regards, Byron

 

[kinger]

Hi, I'd like to thank everyone for their help. I was looking at the local classified ads yesterday morning...lo and behold, there was an RCBS RC Supreme reloading kit plus dies, casings, etc. for the .308, brand new, for a great price. So I'm on my way to being a reloader. I'm going to take the advice of Larry and others, and load my .308 down to 30-30. I'd love to get your recommendations on bullets, powder, etc, as I am brand new to this side of the hobby!

Thanks again, all of you, for your help.

Pete