nef .223 for p'dogs??

[Encoreman]

Hi Help me with a dilema. I am going p'dog hunting next May. I have a encore pistol/rifle combo in .308. Should I buy a .223 rifle barrel at $240 ish or buy a NEF thumbhole heavy barrel varmint for $300? I like my encore, but I am unsure about the NEF. I will probably varmint hunt infrequently. Put your 2 cents in. Or should I opt for a used Rem 700 with a 6-18 scope for $600?
Thanks Mac

 

[Aaryq]

Do you reoad? If you do, I'd suggest something in .22-250. If you don't, then by all means, the NEF is perfect. I'm actually intending on buying one (in .223 because I don't reload) after I move for P Dogs, Yotes and and Deer.

 

[Whitman31]

I've had chances to shoot both a 223 encore and a NEF in 223. I would never go to the the plains with either, but if I had to choose one it would be the encore all the way.

Every NEF rifle I've picked up has had a terrible trigger...

 

[Dr. Tad Hussein Winslow]

Encore, definitely. You already have the lower, so it's cheaper for a better product with a good trigger, and drops in without modification, and you can keep the scope with the barrel, and just store it since it won't be all too often that you use it. I like Handis, but that's an easy one.

 

[ziggy222]

their both fine for big game.the tc is better.neither are conciddered tack driver varmint guns from any of the reviews of varmint guns i've read.

 

[Jason M]

Just buy a Stevens (Savage, basically) bolt action in .22-250 and never look back. If you want to spend a couple hundred more, get a Tikka T3 Hunter.

I have a single shot .243 (CVA Optima Elite) and she will shoot sub-1" at 100 yards with a 70gr Nosler ballistic tip over about 40.5gr of Varget. But past 250 yards my confidense is shaken somewhat.

 

[24kshooter]

If you own an AR buy a 24" hb upper in 223 REM or 204 Ruger and you will be happy.

 

[SimpleIsGood229]

Encore barrel in .22-250.

 

[benzy2]

Of those two options I would take the Encore barrel. If I could go other ways I would seriously consider something the Stevens 200 or the newer Marlin XL7 in .25-06.

 

[mosinmadness]

encore is an overpriced pos, but the nef isnt really precision either go for a new savage there in that price range

 

[George Hill]

"encore is an overpriced pos"

LOL. That's the funniest post I've read all week. Your talking about one the best rifles ever made...
What you ment to say was that the Encore has a crappy trigger. Great rifle, hamstrung by a craptastic trigger.
Luckily this is easily fixed.
If I had to pick just one rifle - It would be a TC Encore Pro-Hunter. No question.

 

[mosinmadness]

i love the consept of the encore, but in reality its not a sub moa shooting tack driver as advertised
dont get me wrong a a muzzle loader its great but there are alot of rifles out there in its price range that will shoot circlrs around it

 

[dakotasin]

for prairie dogs you will find single shot rifles are a nuisance if for no other reason than completely upsetting the rest and sight picture after every shot.

after 2 or 3 hundred repetitions on a dog town on morning 1, you will be in a local gun store trying to figure out if they can sell a rifle to a non-resident from a non-neighboring state...

you have until may - put a few pennies away and look for something else.

 

[Whitman31]

+1 to dakotasin, using any single shot on a prairie dog down is downright frustrating. With average shots at 200+ yards, targets the size of a 20oz soda bottle, typically brisk winds, and conditions that make even the best rangfinders prone to errors, how many 1-shot kills do you plan on making?

If your serious and want to kill some numbers, get an AR. If you want to have a good time a decent bolt gun is adequate. Don't take a single shot to the prairie, you'll end up with regrets.

 

[MCgunner]

I, too, have seen some AWFUL triggers on NEFs. I'd get the Encore barrel, personally, and I do like the .22-250 over any .223, much flatter shooting out at range.

ARs are for battle. The Encore has the accuracy. I don't own a single AR15 and never will. I'm not a mall ninja, just a hunter, and I ain't gonna spend that kind of money on a range toy. My SKS is adequate for range fun. ARs can be accurate, but I just don't like 'em at all. Ergos are all messed up and you don't need firepower in the field. I can't see hunting prairie dogs in full auto.... I guess you could use suppressive fire for fire and maneuver? Gotta keep their heads down, ya know.

Now, if I did a lot of varmint hunting, I'd buy me an accurate .22-250 bolt gun, probably a Remington. I own a Savage, my Remingtons are better, more accurate guns with better trigger adjustability. A Savage will work if you can't afford better. There are many better rifles, though, from America and Europe.

 

[Pulsar]

Hello
thought i throw my 2 cents into the mix

well i have a bushmaster varmint special which is more accurate
i still use my NEF handi rifle in .223 more
while it will not shoot one ragged hole it is accurate

i use it for hunting basically everything

its not fancy but it works

 

[Art Eatman]

It takes a little wind-figuring, but once that's done a .223 to 200 yards oughta pretty much be one-shot DRTs. 300 is a tad more iffy.

Me, if what I had was the Encore, I'd just get the .223 barrel. It's a good plinker, anyhow. Paired with a .308 gives full coverage to most any hunting a guy's likely to find...

, Art

 

[benzy2]

I, too, have seen some AWFUL triggers on NEFs. I'd get the Encore barrel, personally, and I do like the .22-250 over any .223, much flatter shooting out at range.

ARs are for battle. The Encore has the accuracy. I don't own a single AR15 and never will. I'm not a mall ninja, just a hunter, and I ain't gonna spend that kind of money on a range toy. My SKS is adequate for range fun. ARs can be accurate, but I just don't like 'em at all. Ergos are all messed up and you don't need firepower in the field. I can't see hunting prairie dogs in full auto.... I guess you could use suppressive fire for fire and maneuver? Gotta keep their heads down, ya know.

Now, if I did a lot of varmint hunting, I'd buy me an accurate .22-250 bolt gun, probably a Remington. I own a Savage, my Remingtons are better, more accurate guns with better trigger adjustability. A Savage will work if you can't afford better. There are many better rifles, though, from America and Europe.

I'm sorry but I disagree 100% with this statement, other than the .22-250 over .223 comment. A good AR will shoot well bellow 1 MOA with good ammo. I would assume an Encore with a good trigger and a good barrel will do the same. Ive seen a few totally worked over Encores that will hold 1/4 MOA and a few top end ARs do the same. I think the potential is there for both and to get the most out of either rifle is going to cost a lot. Still there are economical options for both that price with bolt actions with similar features such as barrel weight and trigger quality. Other than spending a little bit to get the scope properly mounted on an AR I don't have any complaints about the ergonomics. Anyone who has hunted prairie dogs will admit that firepower is important. When you have 500 targets to hit speed counts. It may not be overly important when hunting a single animal but certain hunting situations are maximized with a faster cycling rifle. Its not about aimlessly launching bullets. Its about moving from one to the next without coming out of your hold to cycle a bolt. Its about being able to hit one, move 5 feet over and hit his buddy before the buddy hears the crack. If they aren't a rifle you want to own thats more than fine. Saying they have no place in the field is ignorant and saying they are just mall ninja toys is a real slap in the face to anyone who enjoys them.

 

[woof]

I'd shop gunbroker for a good used bolt action in .223 or .22-250 for under 300 or go with the Stevens 200 as said. With the latter you can change barrels in the future.