What is the most potent TC caliber? Most of my TC barrels are varmint calibers. I want to step up for deer and black bear. Any opinions??

Alan I have a TC Encore In 375 JDJ and a Coyote barrel built by paul in 338-06 both are 16.5" heavy barrel that are not ported. They both shoot great, they are not the most powerful barrels you can get for a encore but they will kill any deer or black bear I have ever came across.

if you want a t/c factory bbl how bout a 450 marlin.i shot a big doe with mine this year.

Go to reedercustomguns.com and you will find a lot of powerful cartridges in both contender and encore. I myself have encores in 7mm Remington Mag. (13"+2" brake) and 378GNR(12"+2" brake) and am quite satisfied. My next barrels are a 416GNR and a 310GNR, both will be 13"+2" brake and full bull contour.

You asked about the "most potent" cartridge. The biggest I've heard of chambered in an Encore is the 600 NE (I never want to shoot one).

Factory offerings for the Encore include the 375 H&H Magnum and 416 Rigby both of which are suitable for Elephant. If you want to take Elephant with a Contender, go with the 375 JDJ for which factory ammo is available.

Of course, for deer and black bear, common offerings like the 30/06, 7mm Remington Magnum and many others would be suitable.

Contender? 45/70 (Type I) or 375 JDJ I suppose

Encore? 50 Alaskan, 500 S&W, 45/70 (Type II, or III depending on who you talk to), 450 Marlin, 460 S&W, 416 Rigby, or 375 H&H

Of course deer and black bear will fall to milder cartridges than these.

For the Contender, I have had a lot of fun with the 300 Savage improved. 309JDJ performance, and the ability to use 300 Savage factory ammunition safely out of a Contender.

I did some testing of the concept for Mike Bellm, which can be seen here: 300 Savage Imrpoved Test

quote:

Originally posted by Sean VHA #60013:
For the Contender, I have had a lot of fun with the 300 Savage improved. 309JDJ performance, and the ability to use 300 Savage factory ammunition safely out of a Contender.

I did some testing of the concept for Mike Bellm, which can be seen here: 300 Savage Imrpoved Test

Nice write up. Very, very interesting alternative for the Contender. Have you done any work with heavier bullets that the factory 150s? Good work.

Thanks for all the input, but I have gone with the 6.5 JDJ. Flat trajectory, accurate, and the perfect gun for deer and black bear. Can't wait to stretch it out!

I have a new contender barrel in 6.8rem.spc I havent hunted with it yet but have shot it some.Very little recoil or muzzle lift ballisticly it is compareable to Remingtons managed recoil .270,go to thir web site for detailed comparisons.w/regards

Sean,
Enjoyed the article! Man, as far as cartridges go, the 300 Savage AI has a rather "sexy" shape, don't 'ya think?! I know the round was developed to more safely shoot factory 300 Savage rounds in the Contender, but I'm curious if you've had a chance to do any handloading work w/ the round? Gary T.

Gary, not yet. I had to put those projects on the back burner for awhile to finish up my degree in registered nursing, which I did back in May, and in addition to the family farm and other work, I have been working as an RN in the Emergency room since. Just this month I have been able to clear time to do some serious work on a few other review projects for mike and Jim Hendershot. I am putting the finishing touches on an NcStar pistol scope review, a 14" 22Short barrel re-liner review, and a 12" 357Maximum rechamber review. Should have those posted by next week

I am looking forward to more work with the 300 Savage Improved, but in a Carbine Length barrel say 18-20 inches once I can twist Mike's arm hard enough to make me one. Now that will be extremely fun [the shooting, not the twisting of the arm]

Sean, I understand entirely the challenges you've faced with soooo many interests pulling at you for much needed attention.... Congratulations on becoming an RN! As a physician who does some ER work, I can especially sympathize w/ you.

I was VERY impressed w/ the factory vel of the 300 Savage Imp --2420 fps is not much less than what I get w/ some brands of factory 308 Win in my Striker, and is encroaching very closely on the grounds of the 309 JDJ. I'm looking forward to reading your results once you get a chance to do further testing w/ the 300 Savage Imp. Gary T.

quote:

Originally posted by Sean VHA #60013:
I am looking forward to more work with the 300 Savage Improved, but in a Carbine Length barrel say 18-20 inches

Say, would this approach work to tame the 250 Savage for the Contender?

in the late '80's i had jimmy mitchell from breckenridge tx run a .225 Win reamer thru a perfectly good .256 win mag 10" bull bbl... it really does a job on jackrabbits out to 200 yds... if you miss, they just hunker down... and give you another shot.... rcbs makes the dies, btw...

It's fun to imagine punching big holes in paper & in critters, but realistically, ... 2 of the most potent calibers that you can actually shoot accurately, without flinching, without damaging your wrist & nervous system, and convert to for a few $ are: 358 JDJ rechambered from a .35 Rem bbl., a 308 bellm rechambered from a 30-30 bbl, or a 375 JDJ factory bbl. .. All with "ssk type brakes". D. White does superb rechambering jobs. The 358 is flatter than the 375, either will take anything that walks the earth. The 308 can be loaded to 80++% of 308 Win velocities, and is an absolute pleasure to put 200 rounds thru with a relaxed target style grip on the bench. Enough said, 20 years of experience with both.

Alan,

I have an Encore and several barrels. The most powerful one being my 50 Alaskan. I also have a 375 H&H, 338-06 A2, 405 Win, 500 S&W and 454 Casull. All are powerful enough for any North American game. I plan on ordering a 416 Rigby and a 458 Win Mag next.

They're a real blast to shoot. I shot some 700 grain WFNGC at 850 fps a few weeks ago from my 15" 500 S&W Mag. There are a few custom barrel makers that will chamber barrels for some really big stuff, 470 nitro, 500 nitro, 470 Capstick, etc.

The Encore is a lot of fun!!

Alan,

All my TC's are for the Encore pistol, 375-06 JDJ, 375 H&H, 416 Talor, 416 remington, 458 Winchester Magnum and my new barrel from SSK is a 470 Capstick have not shoot the Capstick yet waiting on the Hawk bullets. Out of all those I
would pick one of the 375's or the 416 Taylor.

Good Luck,

BTH

Dont think its the most powerfull,but I have shot quite a few Deer and Bear with my Super 14 35 Rem.Its pleasant to shoot.I use a 7-30 Waters in Montana on Mule Deer and Antelope.It does a credible job to about 200-250 Yds with 120 Gr.Nozler B.T.I guess it boils down to what you can shoot the most accurate with!!!!OB

Hey Wisconsin

I have been working lately with a 416 Taylor and .350 grain loads. A 376 Steyer with 235 grain bullets and a 35 Newton and 225gr Accubonds. All from 16.5 inch Handgun barrels.

Neal

You da Man!!!