New Thompson Center Encore 308

[x101airborne]

So, just got back from the gunstore with a Thompson Center super 14 Contender in 308 Winchester and a Weaver 2.5-8x38. Anyone shooting one? What can I expect for, say, the lyman 31141? I would like to use this pistol to suppliment my medium range hog hunting needs. If I get around 2 - 3 inch groups at 100 yards, I would be good with that. I have fired 12 grains of unique, and it was, lets say..... lite. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

[subsonic]

125gr Nosler BT over a book load of Varget or H4198 is a good start.

[x101airborne]

Funny you should mention that, my favorite rifle load for the 308...... EVER.... is a 125 sierra pro hunter or a nosler BT over 49.0 gr. H-4895. Believe it or not, that load has shot well in over 5 different 308 rifles. And that is a conservative number. I got that load from a fellow who owned 27 different 308's. No kidding. That's all he loaded and shot. From the Savage 99 to the Winchester 70 and the Remington semi auto.

But.... I was really wanting to shoot that 170 - 180 cast with this one.

[stubshaft]

My favorite load for that barrel is 27.0 4759 behind an old RCBS 30-150 Custom mold. I have shot alot of LBT 180SP's out of it for sillywett but prefer the 150 for hunting.

http://i557.photobucket.com/albums/ss20/stubshaft123/308.jpg

[LUCKYDAWG13]

[QUOTE=x101airborne;1397553]So, just got back from the gunstore with a Thompson Center super 14 Contender in 308 Winchester

contender in 308 ?

[x101airborne]

WHOOPS!! Caught me slipping. It is an encore. Thanks for the catch!

[leadman]

There were some 308 in a Contender made. Usually were rechambered factory barrels. This was before the Encore.
A 22-250 Contender barrel just sold on Gunbroker.

You should be able to attain your goal with cast in your 308.

[LUCKYDAWG13]

my plinking load for 308 win
lyman 311041
IMR 4227 27gr OAL 2.617
CCI primer

[jh45gun]

I got rid of my 308 barrel I found a Uberti 45 colt I had to have and I traded the 308 barrel in on the Uberti. Only barrel I have on my Encore at the moment is a 45 colt/410 barrel. The 45 colt part of it is accurate enough at deer pistol ranges and I love shooting the 410 for grouse. But I think the Uberti will get the nod at pistol ranges. Anyway back to your thread I when I did have the 308 barrel I shot 5 deer with it. Three with jacketed bullets factory ammo and two with cast bullet loads. The cast bullet loads was 180 grain cast I do not know the bullet they were given to me already cast. I loaded them with 20 grains of 2400 pushing them. I shot a large doe and a 5 point buck and both did not go over 30 yards. These bullets were pointed so I filed them flat at the tips the same size as my 311407 mold. I had them already loaded for plinking and since I decided to hunt with cast I just altered the nose to a flat point. They worked good. I find 20 grains of 2400 and any cast bullet from 150 to 180 grains in 30 caliber a good load in the 308 and 3006 family of cartridges.

[**oneshot**]

My encore 308 shot great with IMR 4759 and 150gr bullets and boolits.

[x101airborne]

Thanks for the help, guys. I am really excited to get this weapon up and runnin. I can't wait to go to the range!!

[inkedbylee]

looks like you really got lucky. but i will still put my 30-30 ackly up to a good test with you i like it way more. Here's to you and look forward to shooting with you good luck with it kill some hogs!!!!

[x101airborne]

Well come on, Cleatus!! Yeah, that Ackly is SWEET...... As much as I am starting to shake, you wont have much trouble whoopin me but I can still talk smack!!

[cbrick]

My favorite load for that barrel is 27.0 4759 behind an old RCBS 30-150 Custom mold. I have shot alot of LBT 180SP's out of it for sillywett but prefer the 150 for hunting.

Really? I'm currently working on loads for a 15" XP-100 in 308 with a 1 in 12 twist with 4759, so far I've only used NOE 311365 and NOE 311284. Both right at 200 Gr.

27.0 Gr.? My 308 (1 in 10 twist) rifle is a tack driver with 18-19 Gr 4759 at 1900 fps. I tried 18.0 Gr in the XP and accuracy was about 2" on the silhouette 1/2 size 150m turkey but with the 15" barrel velocity was 1600 fps. I went to 21.0 Gr 4759 in the XP and accuracy was on a par with Obummers speaches, couldn't even hit the full size turkey.

I dropped back to 19.0 Gr. and accuracy was nearly that of the 18.0 Gr. load. I shot up that ammo yesterday and the next range trip will be with 18.5 Gr.

The short barrel cost 300 fps over the same load in the rifle but the two 200 Gr bullets muzzle velocity were the same in the XP. As a side note sighting in (Bo-Mar iron sights) on the 200m ram with the 311365 and what has to be an incredible BC and switching to the 311284 it took 6 clicks elevation (roughly 13-15 inches @ 200m) to return to point of aim/point of impact. (both bullets used 19.0 Gr 4759)

So the point of all this, while your using a 150 Gr bullet and I'm using 200 Gr, 27.0 Gr? What velocity are you getting? Any pressure signs? True, 25% less bullet weight but 8 grains more powder is quite a jump. Curious minds want to know.

This will not be a hunting load, it's only critters will be steel and in keeping with J.D. Jones theory on heavy slow bullets both of these bullets flatten the 55 pound 200m ram.

NOE 311284 on the left, NOE 311365 on the right.

Rick