I'm going to be having a .338win mag barrel made for my encore. Just wondering what I should make the barrel length. This gun will be an all around big game rifle (deer, elk, moose, bear). Was thinking 26in, but do I really need all that barrel to get good 338 performance? Will be most likely shooting 210 partitions for deer, elk, Blk bear, moose and 250's for BIG bears. Also whats a good place to have one built? Havent herd to good about the custome shop so maybe I'll stay away form them. Thanx in advance

Ryan

Unless you need a carbine-like overall length I'd go at least 26 inches. You don't need the length for performance but I thinks the Encore handles better with some weight out front. $0.02 Good hunting!

I have a Bullberry 22" 270 med varmint stainless bbl that handles beautifuly. I wouldn't go too long except with a magnum cal to keep the resonant vibrations to a minimum. A short stiff bbl is a good one to have in a standard caliber. Just my two cents.

I wouldn't go with the "custom shop" from T/C.

My 338 has a 26" bbl and requires about 1 1/2 grains of powder less than the manuals for similar vel. Bbl length supposedly will give 25-50 fps per inch, but there are many other factors involved here. My 275 Rigby Improved has a 28" bbl., done mostly 'cause it's a #1.

Unless you need short, It hurts me to cut off bbl and throw it away.

IMHO

I have BB 24" in 6.5-06 AI and 25.06 and they shoot wonderfully. My BB 18" 7TCU in a Contender is also a wonderful shooter and my new FAVORITE gun...6 doe this year so far!!

Personal opinion...ya don't need a 338 WM in an Encore. It will beat you up a lot unless you add weight in a heavy barrel. A .30-06, 270/280/7x57/6.5x55 will kill anything you want to hunt just fine and you'll be more inclined to practice with a gun that doesn't hurt you when you squeeze the trigger. JMHO.

I can't comment on Encores, but most of my SS high power hunting rifles - Brits, HiWalls, 44 1/2, Borchardt,have 26". This seems to give the best offhand balance and overall length is about the same as a bolt action with a 22" barrel. The exception is a 30" .25'06 Browning Wyoming Commemorative which is just plain weird but I like it.

338 will load from 160 to 300 grain bullets , I call mine the super gun barrels less than 26 will be brutal with this caliber . Stay away from T/C Store clerks calling themselves Gunsmiths .

I just picked up a 338 Win Mag from Match Grade Machine a few weeks ago, and it is 26". If you want to save some time, they have another 26" in their inventory barrels section. I have been very happy with all the barrels that I have purchased from MGM since they started up.

I would also recommend 26" for the 338 in the Encore.

redneck7mm, r campbell is rite on MGM is the way too go!!!! the beauty of a single shot is the short action that way you can use a much longer pipe, get more velocity flater shooting down range,MGM uses SHILEN barrels sorry if i mispelled the barrel makers name, i shoot a 338 mag my self on a mark 10 mauser action with a number 5 stainless steel douglas barrel contour.. i''m super happy with mine.shilen makes a super barrel also ive got one on my 25-06 26 inch also, you''ll be so much HAPPIER infn you go MGM ...best of luck keep us posted .jjmp...