I currently have a Pro hunter Encore with a 243 barrel. I am thinking about purchasing a new barrel. I have a couple in mind, but I thought that I would see what other owners are using.
My question is what barrels do you like to use & how do you have them set up? What is your primary use for your favorite barrel?

quote:

Originally posted by hvy barrel:
My question is what barrels do you like to use & how do you have them set up? What is your primary use for your favorite barrel?

I like to use them all.

The rifle barrels are set up with Warne bases and Warne QD rings so I can easily switch scopes around. The handgun barrels are all scoped with Leupold 2.5-8X handgun scopes in SSK Industries 4 ring T'SOB mounts.

As far as favorites go; that's real hard to say. If I had to choose it would probably be the 30/06 or the 300 Win. Mag. Barrel for the rifle barrels and it would be an easy win in the handgun category for the 460 S&W Mag. barrel though that may change when my 375 H&H Mag. handgun barrel arrives.

I mostly use my Encore as a muzzleloader anymore but have a 223 barrel and 280 barrel that I haved used in the past with good success depending on whether I was critter hunting or deer hunting. I also have the 20" custom Katahdin barrel in 500 S&W which is pretty cool and also a 16.5" 284 barrel which makes a sweet little carbine. My favorite handgun version is my custom shop 35 whelen with 4x Leupold scope, 9" barrel which is magnaported. That thing is sweet.

I shoot a 223Rem. and a 308 win.Should take care of most animals in North America and Plains Game in Africa.

My Encore started as a 454 10 inch, then served as a 209x50 for a while, but was a 270 24 inch when a nephew convinced me he needed it more than I did. The longer Prohunter barrels are interesting. A 223 might fill a gap at the low end of dial and a 30'06 is never a bad choice for general big game hunting. Likewise the 22LR would make a nice off season trainer. At one time I thought it would be interesting to have an Encore or Contender barrel for every cartridge I used in my other firearms, but that would be a little spendy.

I have been considering a muzzle loader barrel or a 280 barrel.

I recently acquired a Stainless-Steel Encore Rifle Frame. It is set up with the Synthetic Buttstock and Forend. Presently I have a 24" Stainless-Steel .30-06 Barrel set up with a Bushnell Elite 3200 3x9x40mm Firefly Rifle Scope. I am handloading 150gr. Nosler Ballistic Tips to 3038 FPS. Hopefully later towards the end of the month I can try it out on a Whitetail or two.

After the first of the year I am planning on adding another barrel. IT will be a Stainless-Steel Barrel, more than likely a 26" Heavy .22-250. That barrel will eventually be topped with a Weaver V-16 4x16x42mm AO Rifle Scope.

After that I am not sure what I will add in the future.

Larry

quote:

Originally posted by hvy barrel:
I have been considering a muzzle loader barrel or a 280 barrel.

PM sent

I have a couple of Encore frames upon which I have placed different calibers. I will sell my .204 Ruger barrel as I am expecting delivery of a bolt rifle in the same caliber but I do love the Encore for its simplicity.
I am testing .257 Roberts, .260 Rem and will add another caliber to the stable this fall. Its makes looking at a new caliber very easy and somewhat inexpensive, when compared to the cost of a bolt rifle. And if you choose to sell a barrel, it is easy and your losses are minimized.
Just my 2 cents...