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Range report ... with pics
elkoholic
Member Posts: 5,130
I've been shooting the Encore 209x50 Prohunter all summer but today I finally put it all together in an organized range session. I've settled into a load of 100 grains of 777 pushing a 338 grain platinum Power Belt. I switched from the Winchester 777 primer to a standard CCI 209 after a misfire last week.
First, I'm amazed with the accuracy. It is as accurate as any hunting rifle I've ever shot. Even with open sights I was able to print some great groups (2 and 3 inches center to center)even at 100 yds. The fiber optic sights that come on this barrel sure don't look like anything special but they work just fine.
I had heard so many rumors about Power Belts especially about how they do (or don't) mushroom. Although not a scientific test, the slugs I recovered mushroomed very well and very consistently. I have to find a scale and figure the weight retention but I bet it is at least 80%. Very similar to the center fire hunting bullets I have shot into this particular dirt bank over the years.
I am also very excited about the flat trajectory. Point of impact difference between 50 and 100 yards is right at 4 inches.
The CCI primers did create a heavier "crud" ring compared to the Winchester 777 primers. Nothing that an extra stroke or two between shots couldn't take care of.
Recoil with this load is mild. I do have an after market recoil pad but this is a load I could shoot all day without developing a flinch.
I'll see if I can get some pics up later.
First, I'm amazed with the accuracy. It is as accurate as any hunting rifle I've ever shot. Even with open sights I was able to print some great groups (2 and 3 inches center to center)even at 100 yds. The fiber optic sights that come on this barrel sure don't look like anything special but they work just fine.
I had heard so many rumors about Power Belts especially about how they do (or don't) mushroom. Although not a scientific test, the slugs I recovered mushroomed very well and very consistently. I have to find a scale and figure the weight retention but I bet it is at least 80%. Very similar to the center fire hunting bullets I have shot into this particular dirt bank over the years.
I am also very excited about the flat trajectory. Point of impact difference between 50 and 100 yards is right at 4 inches.
The CCI primers did create a heavier "crud" ring compared to the Winchester 777 primers. Nothing that an extra stroke or two between shots couldn't take care of.
Recoil with this load is mild. I do have an after market recoil pad but this is a load I could shoot all day without developing a flinch.
I'll see if I can get some pics up later.
Comments
quote:Originally posted by Odawgp
Did switching primers change point of impact any?
50 yard target
100 yard target
1.10" diameter top view
back view
side view
quote:Given the accuracy I've seen I think I'm going to put a scope on it just so I can experiment with components a little more.
I had a plain old $50 red dot, that i used on mine prior to moving to CO. it was hard to go back to open sights after I saw the groups that my gun was capable of with even the simplest of optics.
You have mail.
those sure are good looking groups.
quote:Given the accuracy I've seen I think I'm going to put a scope on it just so I can experiment with components a little more.
I had a plain old $50 red dot, that i used on mine prior to moving to CO. it was hard to go back to open sights after I saw the groups that my gun was capable of with even the simplest of optics.
You have mail.
I was thinking about putting a peep on it but with these results I'm not going to worry about it. I hope to chase a TX white tail with it in December. I might move a 2-7 Burris onto this just for grins.
Replied.
You'll love it with a set of lenses on it. I shoot with a 3-9x40 Nikon on top of a CVA Optima. I love it. Prints 1.5" groups all day witih 300gr SST's. Switching to Barnes MZ's this year, shooting those along with a new rest(used to shoot off a box), hopefully I'll be able to bring it down to an inch!
Nice report. Super nice gun.
You'll love it with a set of lenses on it. I shoot with a 3-9x40 Nikon on top of a CVA Optima. I love it. Prints 1.5" groups all day witih 300gr SST's. Switching to Barnes MZ's this year, shooting those along with a new rest(used to shoot off a box), hopefully I'll be able to bring it down to an inch!
Thanks cubs...I've been thinking about switching to the Encore for all of my hunting. It needs a little work on the trigger but I might have to bite the bullet and pick up a few more barrels.
quote:Originally posted by cubslover
Nice report. Super nice gun.
You'll love it with a set of lenses on it. I shoot with a 3-9x40 Nikon on top of a CVA Optima. I love it. Prints 1.5" groups all day witih 300gr SST's. Switching to Barnes MZ's this year, shooting those along with a new rest(used to shoot off a box), hopefully I'll be able to bring it down to an inch!
Thanks cubs...I've been thinking about switching to the Encore for all of my hunting. It needs a little work on the trigger but I might have to bite the bullet and pick up a few more barrels.
shhhh!!! don't say that aloud, then people will have to have one and the prices will sky rocket[;)]
quote:Originally posted by elkoholic
quote:Originally posted by cubslover
Nice report. Super nice gun.
You'll love it with a set of lenses on it. I shoot with a 3-9x40 Nikon on top of a CVA Optima. I love it. Prints 1.5" groups all day witih 300gr SST's. Switching to Barnes MZ's this year, shooting those along with a new rest(used to shoot off a box), hopefully I'll be able to bring it down to an inch!
Thanks cubs...I've been thinking about switching to the Encore for all of my hunting. It needs a little work on the trigger but I might have to bite the bullet and pick up a few more barrels.
shhhh!!! don't say that aloud, then people will have to have one and the prices will sky rocket[;)]
They sure are pretty proud of these things already.
That is a very powerful load. I have heard bad news about the smaller Powerbelts but you should do ok with one that large. I haven't heard of the Platinum series.
Good luck!
Good deal, elkoholic.
That is a very powerful load. I have heard bad news about the smaller Powerbelts but you should do ok with one that large. I haven't heard of the Platinum series.
Good luck!
Thanks Allen...This is certainly not the average whitetail load. I've got an elk hunt in a limited draw "trophy" unit here in CO in September. With any luck the terminal performance will be in the same class as the on paper accuracy.
I guarantee he is responding to the many complaints, and I have read some real horror stories, about the poor performance of the smaller Powerbelts, on big deer, and on elk. Well, that is the mark of a good company, if you realize that there is a problem you correct it.
Over on greybeardoutdoors.com a couple guys have four or five nightmare stories about lost deer and elk with those 295 Powerbelts.
Anyway, unless the President of Powerbelt is an utter bullshi**er, or else insane, you ought to have a great elk load there. Good luck and let us know how it works.
However, I believe you have a winner, and if I were in your shoes, I would use the Powerbelt Platinum. The President of Powerbelt specifically said that the big Platinum slug, what is it, 335?, is designed for elk.
Good luck I bet you knock 'em dead.
he was about 75 yards out standing all most broad side to me when i shot him , he turned and went back the way he came and maybe went 30 yars before dropping
I was using 2 pellets of 777 and the winchester primers
worked great for me
scope was a Nikon 1x20
here is WI all we can use are open sights , 1x scope or a reddot
oh all most forgot , if you want a big bore barrel for your Encore i have a stainless steel 375H&H mag barrel that i want to sale , still new in box, that would put the hurt on a elk
Thanks for the offer but the 375 is the only other barrel I have. I can't wait to shoot an elk with it.
nice looking outfit , whats the recoil like in it ? how does she shoot?
Thanks for the offer but the 375 is the only other barrel I have. I can't wait to shoot an elk with it.
nice looking outfit , whats the recoil like in it ? how does she shoot?
The 375 kicks like a donkey. Rifle is not much more than 7 lbs. The Limb Saver recoil pad helps a bunch but I'm thinking about cutting a few inches off the barrel and adding a break. It shoots very well, sub 2" at 100 yards.
find your bull yet??
i started scouting for one, this last weekend but didnt see anything. it was hot i figure they are still hold up high in the pines I still have 3 months to find one so no hurry.
find your bull yet??
I put on 3 miles on Saturday and about 10 miles on Sunday hitting some spots I've already been into. The good news is there were elk within 50 yards of both hot spots on Sunday but I didn't see any big bulls. One 6x6 in the 280 class, 2 rag horn 5x5s, and 4 spikes. I was a little surprised to see that all of the bulls were still 100% velvet. No rut activity yet. Bulls and cows are still in separate bunches.
What is the elevation where you have been seening them at?
I might have been to high @ 11,600 last yr i didn't start scouting until sept 1st
I don't ussually see much rutin until the 2nd week of september.
Here the antlers dropped really late this spring, maybe there too, might be why all the fuzz
Good Luck
What is the elevation where you have been seening them at?
Good Luck
This one was at 8800 ft. I was wondering if the abundance of good grass might be leading to a longer antler growth period. The grass is knee high in most places.
When is elk season, elkoholic?
9/8-9/16 Not much longer to wait.
contractor just came into the office said he was @ 12,500 and saw 40 head of cows w/ what he thought was a 350 bull, 3-4 rags and a few spike's all herded up. they too where still in velvet. he didn't seem to think it was strange that they where in velvet. so maybe they are just slow around here.
8,800 heck i live at almost 8 you'd think they would be eating the grass in the back yd. I have seen a small buck wandering town and have caught him eating the wifes flowers[8D]
contractor just came into the office said he was @ 12,500 and saw 40 head of cows w/ what he thought was a 350 bull, 3-4 rags and a few spike's all herded up. they too where still in velvet. he didn't seem to think it was strange that they where in velvet. so maybe they are just slow around here.
The highest elevation in the unit isn't much over 10K. I'm so used to hunting timberline that this feels very odd but the elk are everywhere. I ran into a good bull a couple of weeks ago at about 7600 ft.