Hunting Forum

I'm thinking about having a custom barrel built for my Thompson Encore in .357 Magnum... I don't know why, but TC doesn't make one in this caliber...    So I'll be using this for deer huntin'... Most shots will be in the 20-50yd range, but may be out to about 80yds at the max...I'll be handloading 180gr. XTP's,  or dipping into my well-proven stash of Winchester Black Talons...(Which I've already taken several deer with)    My question for you all is,   On the Thompson Encore,  what would your preferred barrel length be?   Somewhere between 8" and 12",  and qualify that with a reason... Thanks in advance to you all...

I don't have the Encore but I have the Contender.I prefer barrel lengths of 10-14" myself.14" being the 1 I use the most.I don't have a peticular reason why,I just like longer barrels on my hunting rig .

I'd stick with 8".  You won't get much if anything out of the extra inches and will find it front-heavy any longer than that making it more difficult to steady off-hand.  Plus, why carry the added weight and length if you don't have to?  I have a couple of 8+" handguns and find them cool but have had the extra length bump twigs or hang on vines.  Thought about having it chambered in .357 Maximum?  Get that with a 10"-12" barrel and you have something even cooler that can also shoot weak little .357 Mags and .38s for plinking.

Bill, When I read your post the first thing that came to mind was that if you are having a barrel custom made for .357 that you should go with the .357 maximum. I see that Shiloh had the same idea. This make a great deal of sense, especially if you load your own. The maximum cartridge with increase the effectiveness of your new barrel greatly. As for barrel length, that is a decision only you can make. While a 14" gives you a better sight radius if you are using iron sight it can be a bit more cumbersome with hunting, especially in areas with heavy cover. The best advise in this area is for you to handle each barrel length and find the one that suits you.

Well, thanks for your advice... Here's my thoughts... I've been rollin' and smokin' my own in .44 Mag. for about 10 years,  so I didn't really want to start a new caliber with very limited access to factory loads and brass, and something I'd have to also buy new dies for.  Especially since a pumped up Maximum is not going to accomplish anything I can't already do with my .44 loads in my custom Super Blackhawk,  or my 1894 Marlin... As I said, I've already taken several deer with my S&W 586 with a 6" barrel, and my Colt Trooper with a 6" barrel, both in .357... I'm confident with these two pistols out to 60 yards with iron sights... I use my RSB in .44 out to 100 yards, and at that distance can keep them all in a paper plate with no problem... What I was wondering was what I can do with a .357 Magnum single shot, designed just for that cartridge, with an 8-12" barrel and a red dot on it?  I use an EOTech on my RSB, and just love this sight, although it is just a might large... I've had it a long time, and the technology just wasn't there at the time that would allow me one of the smaller red dots that are out there today that can maintain their quality with the pounding of the .44 Mag...
            I also didn't want to put a .357 in a chamber for the Maximum... However slight, (and isn't that what accuracy is all about?) I feel I'd be better off with the barrel chambered specifically for the Magnum... Also, I'm already set up with all I need for the .357...I'd just have to do all that work finding the right load to maximize the potential of my barrel...
   So I appreciate all your thoughts, and welcome more...especially on the optimum barrel length for a .357 Magnum from between 8"-12"... Thanx

I would go with a 12" barrel for the extra velocity, you should see a lot better ballistics out of the Encore with it's closed Breech system than with the wheel guns. check out the velocity differences in some reloading manuals that have a T/C section vs. regular pistol data and you will see what I mean.

I shoot a T/C Contender with a 12" barrel and it carries well, even with a scope mounted on it. I put 30 rounds into a 4" circle at 100yds shooting from a rest, the scope I had on it was a fixed 4x Simmons at the time.

I've since replaced it with a Bushnell 2-6x pistol scope and rechambered it to 357 Maximum to increase the distance I can reliably shoot out to.

Quite the contrary to your first posting, Thompson Center does in fact list the 357 Magnum for both rifle and pistol barrel Encore configurations on their site. Click on their Custom Shop Icon. Good Luck.

Melissa, Quite the contrary to your contrary, if you re-read my original statement, I open with, "I am thinking of having a custom barrel made...".  This implies that an "off the rack" model is not available. If you search the T/C site again, you will see that unless you "Go to the custom shop",  you in fact, CAN NOT purchase a barrel for the Encore in .357 Mag. Therefore, the original premise to which my statement was made, is in fact, correct, and the argument posed by you being contrary to my statement of situation within the parameters set forth by the company in question, referred to herewithin and known as "T/C", and the necessity of having a custom barrel built, for the caliber put forth in the previous reference, henceforth written simply as ".357", is, in fact, an obligitory purchase from T/C or a similar custom barrel shop as a custom item only, and therefore, can in fact, NOT be construed in any manner, fashion, nor means, to imply that a barrel in .357 may be bartered, traded, purchased, or sold, without in fact, being of a unique or "Custom" conditon referring to the origination of said barrel, with the unspoken and unwritten implication that the hertofore mentioned barrel is, in fact specific to the specified brand and model previously aforemention in the post above as "T/C",  and in the previous post as "Encore" .

                       Hope that clears up what I meant...

Now I'M confused .

LOL! Sounds like Bill took one of those online attorney classes!

Just a little to much double talk for me .Must be a lawyer .

I personally don't like the .357 magnum as a deer cartridge but that's personal preference. Not that it will not get the job done. But you limit your range. That being said, and since this is a custom barrel you're talking I personally would go with a 12 inch barrel. I have shot Contenders with a 14 inch barrel (I think it was) off a handgun tri pod rest with some impressive results. It sounds like an interesting project.

I handgun hunt occasionally with a Ruger Redhawk with the 7-1/2 inch barrel in .44 magnum. I agree with you, that is a great hunting caliber. My friend hunts with a .41 magnum and he swears its more accurate then any .44 caliber cartridge. Do you know of a low cost handgun scope that will stand up to a .44 magnum? I currently have a red dot on mine. But a stroke victim likes to shoot mine, and he said a scope would be better. I want to get him hunting again.

Posted By cayugad on 09 Jul 2012 09:48 AM
Do you know of a low cost handgun scope that will stand up to a .44 magnum? I currently have a red dot on mine. But a stroke victim likes to shoot mine, and he said a scope would be better. I want to get him hunting again.

I've been using a Bushnell Trophy for over 20 years with no problem. 1st I had it on my Super Blackhawk 44 magnum but the last 10 years or so it's been on my Contender 35 Remington. It's not real cheap but it's lower than a lot of them.  http://www.midwayusa.com/product/61...icle-matte