Learned handgunners.

I have a couple of questions that you might help me with.

1. I have been searching for a comprehensive list of off-the-shelf T/C barrels-calibres. Cant find it on the net or website anywhere. Does anyone have it?

2. If you were to fire 308W factory rifle ammo in a T/c encore handgun - what is the outcome? Is the recoil significantly more. Any other problems? Are you much better off using handloads for hunting?

Matt,
Recoil from a .308 Win. in a scoped Encore is substantial, but not severe. It can easily be mastered by an experienced handgunner. Mine will easily run a 150 gr. bullet at about 2500 fps, which is quite adequate for deer, pigs, etc. out to about 200 yds. or better, once again, in the hands of an experienced shooter.
Do a search for Fox Ridge Outfitters, which is T/C's custom shop. They will have a complete listing of barrels and chamberings. The regular factory offerings change from time to time, but both the .375 JDJ and .308 are regular offerings through regular factory channels, as well as the Custom Shop @ FRO.

There is a little catalog that comes with T/C barrels when you buy them that lists the standard factory offerings. You could also go to www.midwayusa.com and do a search on T/C barrels a get a good idea of what is available.

At www.foxridgeoutfitters.com you can get lists of all the Custom Shop offerings for both rifles and handguns.

To date, in all guns I've reloaded for, I have always been able to get as good and in the majority of the time better accuracy with handloads than with with factory ammunition so I think there are advantages to handloading. That said, ammunition that is accurate in a rifle will be accurate in a handgun as well. It's a fallacy to think you need to use a different powder, bullet, etc.

As far as recoil is concerned, I don't think 308 Winchester recoil is that bad in an Encore. It's definitely less than a 454 Casull, 460 S&W Mag. & a lot less than a 500 S&W Mag. Accuracy is quite good as well; certainly good enough to justify a scope. I also think that the 308 Win. in an Encore is definitely more comfortable to shoot than a snub nosed 357 Mag., a Ruger Redhawk in 44 Rem. Mag. and a Contender in 44 Rem. Mag.

I am with Grumulkin on this. I had a 308 Encore and the recoil was that of about a 44 mag in a 4 1/5 barrel. I do handload and have put 100 rounds through it at one sitting. Factory 150's do hit 2500 fps in the 15" barrel and I was able to shoot between 1.25" and 1.5" at 200 yrds. Shooting clay pigeons at that distance was no problem. Something I noticed with the 308 is that the Speer 110 .30 cal varmint bullets hit close to the same spot as my 150's at 200, real close. The 100's offer reduced recoil for practice and then required 2-3 rounds to sight the hunting loads. The 110's were $12/100, pretty cheap shooting.