Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Handguns Looking for some quick help!!

I am purchasing a Thompson center Encore pistol and was thinking of getting the .25-06 or the 7mm-08, they will be used a both deer and varmint rigs. Also where do you get reloading info for these pistols. Which would be a better choice. I have the 06 dies already so this is why the 06 seems to be better for me. Any help would be great. Thanks. HAPPY HUNTING

I think I�d lean a bit toward the .25-06 because you mention varmints. Varmint shooting tends to involve quantities of ammo and If I were spending a few hours at a dog town, I think it would be more enjoyable with a .25-06 than the 7-08. Either way, you can�t really go wrong with either cartridge.

As for data, I don�t know. Generally when loading for Contenders and Encores, I use the same manuals as for rifle but I tend to lean towards the faster burning powders for the caliber in question. I do this to try to reduce the very considerable muzzle blast and flash when working with pocket rifles. I have had mixed results with this.

Sometimes I get lucky and find a load that�s accurate and has a reduced muzzle blast. But just as often, I only get the latter and accuracy is mediocre at best. The reality is rifle cartridges are rifle cartridges.

Some reloading manuals have special sections or at least specific loading data for rifle cartridges that T/C chambers for. Hodgdon has loads for the 7/08 out of a 15" barrel on their website in the pistol section and other mfrs may as well. I'd think the '06 case would have a hard time burning the powder out of a Contender/Encore barrel, but the bullet selection would be better for your varminting purposes and the 7/08 is more widely used in a pistol and better for deer, particularly mule deer or larger northern whitetails.

How about accuracy? Would there be a better choice for an accurate caiber. I have also looked into the .243 but I don't know alot about the encore. Thanks HAPPY HUNTING

The factory t/c barrels are a bit hit and miss accuracy wise, but that depends on your standards. Most in rifling chamberings will have a load that'll put 3 shots into 1" at 100 yds, some will do 1/2 that. The real key is becoming proficient shooting a scoped single shot handgun and making your groups represent what the gun can do vs what you can do.

IMHO, the 25-06 will loose way too much velocity in a pistol length barrel. It will also be hellaciously loud, and massive muzzle blast doesn't do anything to aid one's accuracy.

I think the -08 based chamberins, ie 260 rem, 7-08 and .308 are about ideal in a 15" barrel. You dont' loose that much velocity, you aren't burning that much powder, and recoil is managable though still signifigant. I'd think the 30-06 is moving towards too much powder in a pistol length barrel, and really no noticable gain over the .308 in velocity.

The 7-08 will push a 120 gr about 2700 fps from a 15" barrel that makes it an honest 300 yd deer round if your shooting is up to the task.

As far as load data, just use published rifle data. Figure you'll loose about 300 fps compared to a rifle length barrel. Don't worry about trying to use faster powders, go with the powders known to produce the best accuracy.

Do a web search for Mike Bellm, he has a good treatise on how to set up dies for sizing cases for encores and contenders, I believe it's called the experiment every t/c owner should do, or something like that.

I Have a T.C. in 243 14In Barrell 50Yds 1/4 In Groups 100yds 3/4In to 1in Hard to see with the 4 Power Scope. Love It. Use Factory Ammo
also have in 204 Ruger and 222 Rem and 44 Rem Mag and 30-30.
the 204 for Varmits etc is Outstanding.
Steve
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Thanks a bunch I think it will be the .243 or the 08 not sure but I am going to have to hurry as tomorrow will be the day. thanks to all HAPPY HUNTING