Any advice on a good caliber to choose for a encore 15" barrel? Looking to hunt south Texas whitetails and hogs with it. How does the shorter barrel affect ballistics and performane compared to full 22 & 24 inch barrels?

At the risk of proving my ignorance, what does jdj mean?

SSK industies owned by JD Jones, it's one of his wildcats. I like his rounds very much, have had the 375JDJ sence '90 and love it, Based on the 444 marlin case.

I would give Gary Reeder a call or stop by his website http://www.reedercustomguns.com and see what he can do for you.

I have found my 7-08 Encore is a true 200 yd deer pistol .

With any of the rifle rounds in a pistol , hearing protection is a must .

Johnch

My first choice would be the 260 Rem since I had one in the Encore. I found two factory loads in 120grn and 140 grn.
I have the .260 in an XP now.
Second choice would be the 7-08 with all of the factory loads for it you can hunt most anything.
I have shot the 7-08 and the 308 and there is not much difference in recoil but the 308 seemed to be louder. Maybe the powders used.
308 is good, lots of ammo made for it.
If you reload, the 309JDJ mentioned is a bad ass round. I have two of them and with the 150grn Nosler BT you can take coyotes, hogs, deer, antelope, elk, bear and go to the 165grn and take elk, bear and other big game. Lots of horsepower and easy to load, necking down the 444 Marlin case. Good trajectory. I have taken whitetails out to 300 yds with it.
Good luck. Another note, get a good scope, 2x6, 2x7 or 3x12 and you can't go wrong.

Mike

I just got a 15" barrel in 25.06.

I got it for just that possiblity - Deer (and maybe Javelina).

Very Accurate!!

I just love it and it will take out a deer to 150 yds I'm sure.

Not to hijack the thread, but any suggestions for scopes too?

I'm using a red dot now.

What scopes do you use on your TC Encore pistols?

McClura. Where did you get your 260 barrel. I did not see it listed as a factory round. I have a rifle in 6.5x55 and this would be an excellent caliber for me in a TC.

Lost Oki,
The 260 rem. is a discontinued factory offering. I picked one up 2 years ago from Ed's Contenders
http://www.edstc.com/edstc/index.html
I also have a 14 inch 6.5X55 Virgin Valley encore barrel. I got hooked on the 264 bore because my dad has hunted with a 94 Swede carbine for many years.

In no particular order I'd go with either a 15 incher in 7mm08 or the 6.5x55 Swede, I've got both and they are extremely accurate and will certainly harvest any deer or hog you'd care to put the crosshairs on.......factory ammo is also plentiful for both rounds if you're not a reloader.

Ed Kirkpatrick of Ed's Contenders in Okla. City has both of the above chamberings in 15" Encore barrels in stock.....call 405-879-0879 and or 405-755-0393 and leave a message.

Ike

Yip..I shot a Dan Wesson 44 mag with a 2x Leupold for 20 years and it never let me down, but a 7mm-08 15" Encore with a 2-8x Weaver shoots 4" at 200 yds on a good day with 115 gr Speer hp. 2 deer last year at about 60 and 150 yds...both dead on impact. I shoot the same bullet in a 7mm TCU with the same results. I only have Swedes in rifles, but it's hard to beat too.

I got a .260 rem factory bbl when they first came out (like someone said, they are now discontinued), and I LOVE it. Shoots 120's like it was made for them. Sierras, barnes, Rem facory, doesn't matter, they are all sub MOA @200 yds. Hits hard, carries well, high sectional density bullets, what more could you ask for? It goes in my vertical shoulder holster when I bowhunt the general season, just in case.