can a encore barrel be rechamberd by hand say a 7/08 to 7mm mag.since it head space's on the belt can you head space it to to the gap between the barrel and frame for less stretch? would like the here you comments. thanks jason

Jason,

Belted magnums headspace on the forward edge of the belt and the bolt face. In the Encore, you "have to include" the gap in the measurement.

Opening a chamber from 7mm/08 to 7mm Rem Mag will require quite a bit of material be removed. While it IS NOT impossible to do by hand, it might well be the last one you do this way. The results won't be near as precise or concentric as it would by the use of a lathe. Have fun...

Malm

BigBore as GM says while it's not impossible to do what you want by hand you will end up with a sloppy, oversize, out of round, off axis chamber.
Thats just too much metal that has to be removed.