this is my first attempt to post pics
Bullberry stock 25" custom .340 weatherby MGM barrel and scope base
Warne Maxima rings and topped off with a 3x9 Kahles scope
It weighs 8Lbs 5 oz and is really well balanced.
I have not got to the range yet

http://i527.photobucket.com/albums/cc358/cowkiller-photos/encorecustom4.jpg
http://i527.photobucket.com/albums/cc358/cowkiller-photos/encorecustom3.jpg
http://i527.photobucket.com/albums/cc358/cowkiller-photos/encorecustom6.jpg

Very nice barrel and wood!!! Me thinks you'll be wearing a PAST before the day is done.
Fred and co. sure do a nice job, you'll be guaranteed some nice groups.

A custom job very well done.

Doc

Thanks guys

You will eventually have that hammer spur break off due to your installation of a hammer extension unless the hammer has been reinforced by adding metal. Both of my frames did it. I was warned about it but did it anyway and paid the price. T/C will replace that hammer with the new style rotating hammer for $100. IF the spur comes off during a hunt you can still cock the hammer with your finger.

No more hammer extensions for me. They can alos cause misfires by the added weight causing the hammer momentum to be disrupted.

Aside from that I dearly love my Encores. They are very fun to hunt with. I have one in 280 Remington, 7mm Wby & 300 Wby. The 280 is the workhorse.

That is one fine looking rifle - and the best looking Encore I've ever seen! Wow...

Quite a cartridge too... Ground squirrels? Moose!

So, I'm Encore-deprived... On a custom rig like this, can barrels still be swapped around? Big deal or easy? Drawbacks?

Do you have the info for MGM ? Would like to have them build me a barrel in 356 Win Stainless. Thanks.

Awesome looking rifle. That wood is beautiful.

Ken

Here.

Tom,

Thank you for the info.

Ken

No prob, thats what we are all here for.

Switching barrels is no problem but swicthing forends is. Bullberry set this up for a Hanger bar system. I cannot use this forend on any other barrel unless I have a hanger bar installed. It is a method of free floating the forend.
I am really wanting this thing to shoot and I do not know what would be stopping it.
For Fun I put a pro hunter buttstock on it and weighed it and got it down to 7Lbs 7 oz. ready to go.
It sure makes a difference in handling and I betcha that's the way I will hunt it. Those limbsavers stocks soak up alot of recoil. I have one on my .375 as well.
I had MGM rechamber a .338 federal barrel to 338 win mag for me and that is a tack driver. Those boys do nice work.

Reloader, I am now worried about that so I have removed it and can still cock the rifle with not too much trouble. Thanks for the tip.
I have not had much luck with the swing hammers I have stripped the little screw with every one I have had (2). If I have to I will have the swap done and let them install it right handed for me. Thanks again

Cowkiller,
I am ready to have MGM make me a 338-8mm Rem Mag barrel because I am not a fan of the Weatherby radial necks and the runout. I was wondering what kind of groups you are getting and what you are shooting if you are a reloader. I may just have to change my mind if you are getting good groups.

You mean radius shoulders and free bore correct? How many 340 weatherby's have you owned?

No 340's but I have shot, hated, and sold a 300 Weatherby. And yes that is what I meant. If I could get an Encore made in a 338 Jarrett I would but they are pretty stingy with their reamer specs. MGM can do the 338-8mm Rem Mag for me and brass is a lot cheaper. Even considered a 338-358 STA but same issue of brass unless I want to do a lot of fire forming in a new barrel. It is nothing to neck up the 8mm Rem Mag cases to 338 and will have the same ballistics as the 340 with a conventional neck. Basically a 338 STW even though Layne Simpson never made it because of the 340 Weatherby.

He must like his 340 Weatherby then. Here is a question about these type cartridges on an Encore frame. I thought most encore smiths frowned on using Ultra Mag and Large Weatherby cases in that action . Considering how little meat is on either side of that chamber I am pretty sure I would think twice. BTW I own a pro hunter and love that rifle to death.

I love my prohunter too, shoots great. MGM will not make anything in a RUM, or anything with a shoulder larger than .500, which makes the 8mm mag case, 340 weahterby, 300 H&H mag the largest case they use for certain diameter bullets. They will not make anything smaller than a 7mm STW in that case size either. I would make do with a 340 but I think $150 for 100 cases is not as good as $44 to $70 for 100 cases depending on the sale or location. Granted the cases would be Remington cases instead of Norma.

There is that factor. The cases aren't exactly being given away. A lotof manufacturers loaded premium ammo is closing in and in some cases surpassing Weatherby ammo. I would just neck up a 7stw and call it good .

I have another 340 in an older G.Mcmillan bolt rifle. This is the 4th 340 I have owned. I have at least 400 pcs of brass most of it new I picked up when I bought the Mcmillan. The rifle weighs about a pound less when I installed a pro-hunter buttstock and recoil is not too bad.The limsaver designed stock really soaks up the recoil.
I talked to MGM and they wanted to leave the freebore as it helps relive pressure. I could not talk Kerry out of the freebore.
I shot it for the first time today. It was cool and raining here so all the other summer stuff was out of the question. I was concerned about high pressure and cooler weather helps out somewhat.I have wanting to get to the range since it arrived.

I was cleaning between every shot and still shooting around an inch to 1 1/4" The range I shoot at does not allow you to go downrange except when they change targets.
I was shooting 225 accubonds 2 gr.under max with r-22. per the nosler manual.
I am confident this is only going to get better as the barrel breaks in.
The 340 is about as far as you can go(pressure) because they do not like to use a case diameter larger than the 375 H&H based rounds. Although I had and sold a .416 rigby barrel. the 416 is a low pressure round.

Like this round or not I have over the years found it to be excellent. Elk WILL react when hit with this round. Every Bull I have shot with a 340 (4 so far) has been slammed and dead right there. I do not have the usual concern about expensive componets.
Now I have my dream gun. Short,light,Fast and very accurate.
Perfect for the type of hunting I do.

That is a very fine rig! congrats

nut

Thanks Nut

My 300 Wby Encore Shilen built by SSK tucks 180's into 1/2" at 100 yds running 3200+ fps.

I can tell you that the integral muzzle brake on that barrel is the most effective brake I have ever used & I think brakes are a necessary evil at best. That said, were I going to the range for a fun shooting session, the 300 Wby gets the nod. Due to its brake it is fun to shoot.