So I have decided to go down the Thompson Encore rabbit hole. I have already purchased the frame and now I am going to get MGM to make me a barrel. Right now I am struggling to decide what cartridge I want. I have the list narrowed down to 2 : 25-06 and 358 Winchester. I know the legend of the 358 as an excellent deer cartridge and I have always been a huge fan of 25/06. Anybody have any experience with these 2 from MGM?

This rifle is going to be my primary hunting rifle where most shots will be under 300 yards. My only reluctance with the 358 is ammo availability. I have reloading supplies but it sure is nice to be able to buy something off the shelf sometimes in a pinch. If I go with 25-06 I will go with a fast twist barrel so I can shoot the 131gr blackjack bullets for fun but I will likely hunt with something factory. Any advice on this topic is greatly appreciated.

25-06......
Or the 6.5x55

Yeh the Swede has crossed my mind too. I would go Swede but I have a 6.5-284 so it would be a little redundant. I’m leaning toward the 25-06 the more I think about it

killed a bunch of critters with 2506 but the 358 is so cool and you can go bigger critters with it no worries. send pictures when it is compleat please.

If whitetail is the game, stick with 25-06.Can always get a "hammer" as a second or third barrel.

Depending on how far down the rabbit hole you are.,.,you will come to the idea that you can get both!!! or better yet ALL of them!!!! these words of wisdom come from 35 yrs of buying contender stuff!!! also a lot of fun.,.,.

I have used a 25-06 a number of times and can't say a thing bad about it. I bet I have made 45-50 of them in my life and everyone seems to think of them as "perfect deer rifles".
I have made eight 358 Winchesters for customers and every one of them love the caliber, used by them to kill deer elk antelope and bears.
I now also own a 358, (AR Upper for my existing 308 AR)

I have seen a lot of deer and antelope killed with 25-06s and also 6 elk. I have seen just a few elk killed with 358s and 2 deer, but for myself, I have yet to fire a round at any game animal with a 358.
I hope to do some hunting with the 358 soon. I will use 225 grain Accubonds or 225 grain Partitions.

The 2 shells are radically different. But I doubt you can go wrong with either one for a deer rifle.
Speaking only for myself, for hunting going to a super heavy 25 cal with a fast twist barrel seems like the perfect answer to a non-existent problem. I killed a few deer and 2 antelope with my 25-06 at close to 500 yards (which to me is really not hunting, but just good shooting) and I have seen my friends in Nevada kill deer several times at a bit over 600 yards, and all these done with 117 and 120 grain bullets fired from barrels with 1-10 twist.
So I personally would not go with a custom barrel of twist faster then 1-10" because in the real world, there is no need use for the that you can't do with the standard 1-10 and good hunting bullets available now. But that's just how I see things.
Other may disagree.

Very valuable info szihn thank you. I have always had a love for 25-06 and right now that is the route that I am going to take. My plan is to primarily hunt with the 110eldx hornady or the 110 accubond. I have heard from others that the 120g speer is a bomb from the 25-06.

445guy that is definitely the plan right now!! I think the 358 will be the second barrel in the long line of barrels that I will wind up making for this rifle. Thanks for the input guys!

For deer out to 300 yards, hard to beat a 25/06. I’ve had one since 1974.

Ordered the barrel this morning. Decided to go with the 25-06 with the 1-10" twist. Did a few custom options in the spiral fluting so it should be a pretty sweet set up. I will post pictures once it arrives in 14-16 weeks

445 is correct, get them all. You might be near the rabbit hole but you aren't in it YET. Hang around here much longer and you will be asking, "how and where do you guys store your Encore and Contender barrels?"

Here is the finished product...FINALLY got it put together.

I must say that MGM was great throughout the entire process. They sent me email updates to let me know how far out they were and what processes the barrel was going through before it would be done. It was really cool I will definitely be ordering another barrel(s) soon.

Topped it off with a leupold vx-freedom 1.5-4 with the Pig plex reticle. I know that many people wont think that is enough magnification but I was trying to make this rifle as light as possible, plus I rarely ever encounter a shot at a whitetail that is further than 200 yds.

Some of my friends like the paint job, some don't. I paint all of my synthetic rifles myself. personally I really like the way this rifle turned out. I am proud of it. Let me know what you think!

Nice, I think the 25-06 was a excellent choice. That will leverage the MGM accuracy and be more pleasant shooter for a deer rifle. Very appropriate.

I had an opportunity to fire a slug barrel on the encore and was a bit surprised at the recoil. We were shooting H&R single shot side by side. I dont think the ergonomics are that good for heavy recoil. I could live with it, but; nothing like firsthand shooting to sort out BS from fact.

As for the 358 win, it maybe legendary deer killer. News to me. Is should take 4 or 5 deer in a row standing broadside. The only legend I am aware of is the 35 Remington. That was a popular choice in Contender pistols. If larger game is included, oh yea, give me a big bullet.

I like the scope too. I am not much for 300 yards shots. My opinion may not be worth much for a western shooter.

Thanks! I couldnt agree more. I am on the east coast too so not many opportunities for long range shooting. I have always had a love for all of the 25 caliber stuff. I also acquired a 300wm barrel from a guy on here so ive got long range if i absolutely need it. Now I am trying to decide if I am going to buy another frame and order another barrel. Building this gun was so much fun I am afraid I may have gotten myself into some rifle looney trouble

Great rifle! The stock reminds me of spalted wood, very attractive. And your scope is exactly what I would have chosen. You are hunting deer in North Carolina, not prairie dogs in North Dakota. How long a barrel did you get?

I went with a 23" barrel. I wish I could give you a good reason why I went with 23" but the truth is I just like to be a bit of an oddball. Since I am from NC I guess I could say the 23" inch barrel is in honor of Michael Jordan

Paint job looks great!!!

That paint job looks nice!

Personally, for deer-sized game under 200 yds, I would have gone with a 257 Roberts. Nothing wrong with a 25-06 though.

Interesting that as I get older, if 60 counts as 'older', I've been drifting away from magnum or otherwise 'long-range' cartridges. I now use a 7-08 instead of a 7mag - in fact, I just got a 6.5 Grendel for deer type stuff, a 300 H&H instead of a 300 Wby, 35 whelen instead of a 338, and just picked up a 405 Win instead of a 416 Rigby. After analyzing 45 years of hunting, I discovered that I killed exactly three animals over 250 yards. That includes pronghorn, caribou, elk, deer and a pile of predators. It doesn't hurt to be prepared but I am enjoying older guns and less recoil a lot more these days.

As I have gotten old, 70, my conclusion after a lifetime arguing ballistics, I come around to believe "it really does not matter"

And the above choices illustrates that extremely well. Exactly opposite of mine, right down the line. Not that is matters.

I like 6.5x55 more than any 25 caliber options.
I like 30-06 over 300 H&H.
I like 375 H&H over any of the big 35's or 338. Big bears.
I like the 416 Rigby over the 458 mags (although the 458's hold more rounds) Africa.
405?? Really! Load up a 45/70 if that is whats needed.

I look at the old 270 win vs 280 debate and see we had a 7x64 all along, decades prior.
Americans used to hate metric? Seriously though, does it matter?

I did read the above carefully, Looks like at a fundamental level we are in 100% agreement. while we have preferences, neither are saying it is a big deal. Hi velocity barrel burners are seldom if ever needed.

I find the 6.5Grindel interesting becasue is makes the AR15 and CZ527 into proper deer hunting rifles. I do like my 527s. CZ is the new Ruger, IMHO.

Agreed fourbore. Your choices or mine, or most others for that matter, will get the job done. Most differences are in the minds of gun writers - that is their job after all.

While I have several ARs, I have yet to hunt with them. My 6.5 Grendel is a bolt gun.

I am becoming a fan of the "non magnums" myself. As John Barsness says its all just "gun gack" but thats what makes it all fun. I am a big fan of the 6.5x55 too and that very well could be what my next encore barrel is. These guns are alot of fun build and mess around with.