348 Winchester encore safe?

EdC
[subject]
Tuesday, April 07, 2020, 09:15 (1451 days ago)

Gary: can the encore take the standard 348 Winchester? I know the short mags are a no no and have about the same base diameter so I was a little confused if the 348 was safe. If it is about what would be the cost and time (know the barrel blanks are probably special order) for a 15" braked barrel? Thanks in advance for any information.

Not GNR, but that’s a huge case head area

WB
[subject]
Tuesday, April 07, 2020, 10:53 (1451 days ago) @ EdC

To impart lots of force to the breechface. Lots of I for the psi. You’d really need to keep the load pressures limited. I know it would be better served in the bigger Encore. I’d like one in .33 Winchester but it’s on the smaller .45-70 case compared to that huge .348. I make many Encore GNR rounds from .348 and have even formed .510 GNR from damaged .348 cases.

I will have to differ with WB. We have built a lot of 470

Gary Reeder
[subject]
Tuesday, April 07, 2020, 12:14 (1451 days ago) @ WB

Nitro and 500 Nitro on the Encore and no problems. The problem is not really the size of the base as it is more related to the power of the load. A light load 45-70 has no more back thrust than a 30-30, whereas a top end 45-70 like a Garrett load or a Cor Bon load will have probably 2 to 3 times the back thrust of a 30-30. The 348 is a fairly light load compared to a hot 45-70 even though the base is slightly larger than the 45-70. Our 510 GNR which has the same size base as the 348 but a top end load in the 510 GNR is fine in the Encore, as is the 500 Linebaugh, 475 Linebaugh and the 50 Alaskan. The 50 ALASKAN which is based on the 348 case has probably 3 times the back thrust as the 348 but because it is a straight wall cartridge the pressures are not as bad as one would think. TC themselves makes Encore barrels in 416 Rigby and 300 Win Mag and the base on the 416 Rigby is a little smaller than the 348 but much higher pressure than the 348. We have even built the 348 in a Contender with no problems along with cartridges like the 358 Winchester, 303 British, 30-40 Krag, 250 Savage, 300 Savage, and 308. I don't recommend the 308 in the Contender but in the new G-2 as long as you don't firewall the loads it will work. There are a lot of rules concerning the back thrust and pressure levels on the Contender and Encore but none are written in stone. The main thing is use some common sense.

It's like the 50-70 Contender...

Huey
[subject]
Tuesday, April 07, 2020, 12:22 (1451 days ago) @ Gary Reeder

I've had one 25 years and never had an issue. Loads of fun too...

I have seen Contenders in 348 Win back in the day...

Huey
[subject]
Tuesday, April 07, 2020, 12:15 (1451 days ago) @ WB

But, never thought a great idea. It should be nothing near stressing to an Encore. If anyone wanted to try finding bullets. There are a few out there..

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