......and ended up with a Thompson-Center Encore rifle in .300 Win. Mag with a Bushnell 4200 Elite 6-24x50 scope. I haven’t had a .300 Win. Mag. In quite a few years, and I’m a bit concerned about the recoil. The barrel is really stout, 26” long, and the rifle seems to have a decent weight, but I’m unsure about the way the stock is shaped. Some rifles just aren’t designed for heavy recoil.

I also got a 28” long, fluted barrel, in .270 Winchester. I’m hoping that extra length will see some interesting returns velocity wise. I know that it will be more comfortable to shoot!

I think I have a 26” .30-06 barrel coming, we will see if it was really in stock or not. I’m looking at a .308 barrel too. This is about as addictive as all the Contenders I owned in the past. I can see another one or two barrels down the road, whew.

First range time scheduled for two weeks from now. I can hardly wait!

Otony

Otony -

Glad you're keeping busy!

A close buddy got an Encore and a 22-250 barrel just before getting deployed. While eating dinner at his place a day or two later I offered to see that it was sighted in, suitable targets kept for it's favorite loads in various bullet weights, etc while he was deployed. He replied " I already put it in your truck". I had fun getting it ready for him. He lucked out. It prefers inexpensive Winchester white box!

--
AKA zzr7ky

Those rifles are a nice set up.

I am excited about it, that is certain. Not so much the .300 Winchester Magnum barre, although it could certainly be useful.

I did manage to find a 26” barrel in .30-06, and that will undoubtedly get used much more than the .300. But I’m fascinated at the opportunity to work up loads for a .270 with a 28” barrel. It may not turn Jack’s old favorite into a MAGNUM cartridge, but I am fairly sure it can’t hurt it either. That long a barrel should do well with the .270 and bring out the best of its capabilities.

All these barrels are pretty stout, much larger diameter than your typical hunting bolt action, which gives you some desired weight and should add stiffness for accuracy. The .270 in particular is both large in diameter and fluted to reduce weight a bit. I really have high hopes for it.

After all these years, you and the others here surely realize that I can be a bit compulsive when I’m chasing a project. I sold an air rifle (or three) recently and went ahead and bought a lighter weight barrel in .308 Winchester. It is 24” long and has iron sight. I’m going to put on a NOS Bausch & Lomb 4x Elite, which will make for a nice little stalking rifle. Once all four of these barrels are sighted in and have loads worked up, theoretically I should be able to mount anyone of them up to use for the immediate perceived task.

I’m strongly considering getting a custom 24” sporter weight barrel from EABCO in .30-30 to use with cast bullets. I have the correct peep sight for such an endeavor and think that would be loads of fun. If I get that, I will be set up for five of the most common calibers used in the United States, which just seems like an awfully good idea to me.

My wife is a professional seamstress, and I have prevailed upon her to start making barrel cases for me, canvas lined with fleece. Fitted to each barrel and scope, you should have seen the eye rolling THAT request resulted in, lol!

Otony

That is good information indeed. I am already sagging under the weight of four barrels, with a fifth under consideration down the road, but I have to admit that a .22-250 has been on my mind.

And a .223 barrel.

Oh heck, and a .243 barrel too

It’s like heroin I tell ya!

Otony

I have 2, recoil is very brisk in my boat paddle stocked Ruger, not so bad in my 12lb 700. I will say that My Ruger shoots powder coated Lee bullets very well over H4895.

Dave