Encore 7mm-08 or 308 ????

[lak]

I’ve been searching through this site and others for info on an Encore 7mm-08 . I’m trying to make a decision between the 7mm or the 30 cal, is the 7mm cast friendly as the 30 cal. Found several statement from 7mm-08 owner that have had problems with this caliber. One individual stated that Thompson did have a run of bad barrels several years ago due to a bad reamer, no info on how many barrel were produced. I’ve started getting stuff ( molds, gas checks, size and dies) but now wondering if I should go with the 308 instead. I’m a lead shooter but wanted something that could be used for varmint with jacket bullet if the occasion warranted. As always any comments are welcome….. Lak

[Tonto]

This may be the ultimate toss up. Both are great calibers and easy to load. I always lean towards the 308 if only because the ammo is everywhere, components, etc. I have a bolt action 708 and an Encore 308. All my 708 is reformed 308 brass. Both digest cast well bit the 308 gets the edge here too just with selection of styles available. You can't go wrong either way. Get 'em both.....

[Doc_Stihl]

There are ALOT more mold options with 30 caliber.

That's the only reason I haven't made my 7-08 as a cast shooter.

btw, my custom shop 7mm-08 is one of the best chambered Encores I've ever had.

[LUCKYDAWG13]

There are ALOT more mold options with 30 caliber.


btw, my custom shop 7mm-08 is one of the best chambered Encores I've ever had.

i have a custom shop 308 its shoots great right next to my custom shop
30/06 243 454
its hard to go wrong with a T/C a lot of boolits for the 30cal

[jhalcott]

Like Tonto said"It's a toss up!" I've got both in different guns and use cast and jacketed in both. I've taken deer and ground hogs with them. Yes there are more molds availble in .30 cal, but you only need one good one in each caliber.

[shotman]

have a barrel if you want to try I found a 788 so dont need the barrel now $125 shipped
blue no sights
about 10 rounds fired

[Ed in North Texas]

have a barrel if you want to try I found a 788 so dont need the barrel now $125 shipped
blue no sights
about 10 rounds fired

I guess that is a .308, since I don't recollect the 788 in 7mm-08 (but I wasn't paying real close attention when the 788 was on the market - dang it). If the barrel is .308, and lak doesn't take it, PM me as I'd be interested.

Ed

[cdet69]

TC is not making any barrels at the present until their move to the Smith and Wesson plant is complete. The only ones that are available are already on dealers shelves. As will the quality be the same who knows. I just bought a 30-30 barrel for my Contender carbine. I was surprised at how acccurate it was.

[leadman]

I think the 788s had some made in 7-08 IIRC.

[stubshaft]

Either one is great, I chose the 308 because it is slightly less overbore than the 7mm-08.

[lak]

Thanks guy for chiming in. One minute I'm convinced the 7mm is right, and them I'll talk my self out of it. One concern it the twist ratio, which may seem strange for some. Winchester makes their 308 with 1-12 twist, I understand is more friendly for lead than the 1-10. The 7mm is 1-9.5. From what I'm gathering, the 30 cals can be driven faster than the 7mm with the same amount of accuracy. So do I sacrifice some velocity shooting lead that can be made up with jacketed bullets (lead for target, jacket for hunting). Or move up to the 30 cal and possibly have one load for both. What's the correct powder and bullet mixture before going through the trial and error of every mold and powder combination. Went though that issue with the 357 Max. Mine has 1-14 twist and seems to like the RCBS 200 bullet with 24 grains of 1680. The whole twist issue has me scratching my head. Several years ago I bought a 44 lever that I was very disappointed in, found out it had the 1-38 twist. Research the 44 issue for quite some time and about a year ago ordered an Encore 445 with 1-16 twist, the recommended twist was 1-20. Bullberry NOW recommends 1-16 in their 44 now. My 445 likes 37 grains of 1680 and that's not a target load. The 44 twist issue is a long story of all the info I found on the net. So now the question is 308 with a 1-12 twist or the 7mm-08 with a 1-9..... Lak

[Aunegl]

I have an encore .308. The 15" barrel is a 1-10 twist.

[jhalcott]

I HAVE and shoot a 788 factory chambered in 7-08! So they do exist! I have a Lone Eagle and an XP100 in .308. There is little difference in the 7-08 and the .308. A few dozen FPS will NOT let a deer escape no matter what round you shoot it with! I have TC's and bolt guns in several 7mm calibers. I also have a couple 30 caliber barrels . I shoot deer with them and occassionally Silly wets. I'm more likely to be using them on Ground hogs though. YOU have to decide WHAT you are going to use the gun for, targets ,meat or bragging rights! OR you can buy both and REALLY see if there is a major difference.

[largom]

I have both Encore barrels and they shoot good with the .308 being the most accurate with cast boolits. I have taken one deer with the .308

Larry

[lak]

"WHAT you are going to use the gun for, targets ,meat or bragging rights" Mainly target, second would be the ability to reach the 300 yd mark and beyond to eliminate the coyote population, plus the deer and hogs. Ahhhhhhh! A trip to the shooting range is the most relaxing outlet I have found! If I were retired, that's where you'd probably find me.

[calkar]

If you would like to shoot cast well at long range, look closely at ballistic charts. I have been trying to reach rams at 500 meters with cast 7mm and .308 with the factory (1:10) twist for several years. I am now in the process of selling all and going with the 45-70 (1:20). If you want good cast performance from a cartridge that was designed for jacketed bullets you must have a slower twist(1:14-16), If you dont believe what I say look at the rifles used for cast bullet silhouette records (500m). One of those slower twist custom barrels means $.

[lak]

I love a good discussion, :coffeecom From several comment, I'm leaning toward the 308 due to availability of off the shelf ammo, mold selection and loading data. Plus I believe the 308 would be more attractive in the event I wanted to sell. The whole twist issue gives me a head ache, from what I've read, the 1-12 twist is better for lead. NOW someone throws me a new curve, 45-70 something I hadn't considered. Have very little knowledge and no experience of this caliber other than what I've about it. Seems to me that it kills on both end although it is a low pressure round. Not to disagree with calkar, In doing some research for the 44, came across a site that stated that 1-20 was used for 45-70 for years with great results, then there were some that started using 1-16 due to shooting such long bullets. I'm NO expert by no means. Thanks guys for all the discussion, keep it coming

[calkar]

Yep, 1-16 to stablilize the 500+ gr. But you wont find 1-16 cheap. Im shooting and haveing fun on a tight budget, because its just a hobbie. If I only shot jacketed I would never be able to afford this much fun. I shoot all three cowboy silhouette games, High power hunter, Smallbore hunter, when I get a chance, and 28' indoor dureing the winter to keep from getting too lazy.

[Four Fingers of Death]

1 turn in 12" is pretty much the standard for 308 Rifles, 1 in 10 for 3006. 9 out of 10 factory 308s have a 1 in 12 it seems. We used to use a 1 in 14 1/2" twist for stablising the 144Gn NATO ammo that we were obliged to use for long range target work. I have an old Sportco/Omark44 from the 70s which has that twist. I must scrub out the bore and try cast in it.

My Encore has a standard 308W barrel, works fine. Probably a better choice for maould, ammo availability and re sale value, but performance wise, not much in it.

The silhouette guys used to wax lyrical about the 7/08 with jacketed bullets, stating that it had much better downrange performance. I think you would have to stretching the envelope to really notice any difference.