Author Topic: Advice on handgun caliber for hunting (Read 3126 times)

punisher · « **on:** May 23, 2005, 05:13:46 AM »

Hi all,
Just purchased a new TC Encore frame, still debating on what
caliber to get - will be used mostly for deer hunting.
Any advice - thinking of either .243 or .30-30 ?

stimpylu32 · « **Reply #1 on:** May 23, 2005, 06:28:54 AM »

I have an older contender in 30/30 and just love it . that said ,it depends on the type of country you will be shooting in , for open shots id say 243 , for woods like we have here in ohio id go with the 30/30, the nice thing about the30 cal. is that there are so many choices as far as bullet weight and design to choose from . you can load down for varmets or up to deer and hogs

palgeno · « **Reply #2 on:** May 23, 2005, 07:22:44 AM »

For deer---.308 for me---7-08 also popular. :grin: pg

punisher · « **Reply #3 on:** May 24, 2005, 05:30:19 AM »

Stimpylu32,
How is the recoil with the 30-30 ?
On par with a factory 44 Mag load ??

rickyp · « **Reply #4 on:** May 24, 2005, 08:59:10 AM »

before you pick a caliber you need to check the state, county, town and even hunting land, laws and regs. do not just go by the state laws, many small towns have there own laws. even land owners may have have rules all you must consider.

What will you be hunting

How much recoil can you take and still shoot good.

then you will have to consider how and where you will be hunting.

then do you reload or not

will you be using open sights or a scope

all this information is needed to help come up with a good choice.

For me my choice was simple, In The part of MD I live in I can only use a muzzle loading handgun for deer hunting. so my choice was made for me by the state. I hunt from a tree stand in hardwoods so my 15" 209x50 will work well for me. it is a good thing since I can't use anything else

Redhawk1 · « **Reply #5 on:** May 24, 2005, 10:27:14 AM »

rickyp make's a great point. But if you are ok with any round in your State, I would pick the 243 or even consider the 308.

Sourdough · « **Reply #6 on:** May 25, 2005, 10:43:05 AM »

I would consider the .308 or 30-06 over the 30-30. The 30-30 just don't have the range often needed. No you don't want to shoot either round with a full factory load in it, not till you have some experience with Contenders. But by downloading and working your way up slowly you can find a load that you are comfortable with and shoots well. I have a 30-30 and am a bit disappointed with the range and stopping power of this cartridge. I have taken a nice Caribou, but had to let many nicer ones go due to range. I also did not want to meet a Grizzly when carrying this gun, it could have been disasterous, and a bit unhealthy for me.

longwalker · « **Reply #7 on:** May 25, 2005, 10:50:51 AM »

You are hunting SE, Michigan, right? Go with the 30-30, if you predominantly hunt woods. If you are setting up in a tree line and hunting a bean field try the .243. I am sure there are extra long shots to be had in SE. Michigan but I bet most are under 100 yards.

I hunt with a 44 magnum in South Dakota, range is not a problem.

longwalker.

punisher · « **Reply #8 on:** May 26, 2005, 12:10:15 AM »

Apparently,
Southern Michigan (no rifle zone) allows only straight walled
cartridges when hunting with a pistol.
Have to re-think this.

45-70, 44, 454, 460

??

C A Plater · « **Reply #9 on:** May 26, 2005, 01:38:02 AM »

Being limited to straight walled, I'd pick .357 Maximum. Plenty of power, range and more modest recoil. Uses .357 magnum dies and will definitely do the job on MI whitetails.

Following that there is also .38-55 and .375 Win in the straight walled category in addition to the ones listed above.

jro45 · « **Reply #10 on:** May 26, 2005, 02:10:39 AM »

I'd go with the 30-30 shooting a 150gr bullet and or the 357 Maximun if streight walled cartridges are required.

longwalker · « **Reply #11 on:** May 26, 2005, 04:38:39 AM »

May I suggest 44 magnum. Plenty of bullet choices, modest recoil and universal availability. Loaded with hollow points you can take any deer you see. If you need better penetration try softpoints or even cast bullets.

I would not hesitate to hunt any ( non pointed tooth ) game with one.

longwalker

southern utah · « **Reply #12 on:** May 26, 2005, 08:05:03 AM »

In straight wall don't forget the 41 mag and the 444 marlin.

rickyp · « **Reply #13 on:** May 26, 2005, 12:42:12 PM »

then I would go for the 454. plunty of power and you can shoot 45 colt out of them

punisher · « **Reply #14 on:** June 01, 2005, 02:31:12 AM »

Well,
Think i have narrowed my choices to 45-70 or 454.
Which one ?
Believe the "recoil" with these two is similar ?
What about bullet options, price, etc. ?

DakotaElkSlayer · « **Reply #15 on:** June 01, 2005, 10:38:32 AM »

I think the .45-70 would win hands down due to its versatility, ease of finding ammo, lower operating pressure for the same .454 performance, and lower recoil(according to Magnum Research's website). Don't know how much fun either would be to shoot... Since you are talking whitetails, I don't think you could go wrong with either one, or the .41 Mag, .44 Mag, .45 Colt, or .444. I would pick the one that seems "cooler" to you...

Jim

punisher · « **Reply #16 on:** June 02, 2005, 04:27:40 AM »

How would you compare the 444 recoil against the others ?
I actually was considering the 444 but kind of thought the recoil
would be excessive (more than 454) ??

BABore · « **Reply #17 on:** June 02, 2005, 05:02:30 AM »

I would personally go with the 45/70. There's a wide variety of power levels in factory loads, from Remington 405 gr SP at 1,300 fps to Garretts or PMC hot rods. With reloading there's even more options. Pressure levels from 18,000 to 40,000 cup. Recoil is stout, but slow in coming compared to the 454.

The 454 Casull is also a good option with 45 colt loads for lower recoiling fodder. While the T/C will handle the 454's 55,000 to 65,000 psi, why subject the frame to that pressure. The 454 tops out, bullet wise, around 360 grains. The 45/70 can go 550 grains plus. A 45/70 with a 300 gr bullet will do close to 2,400 fps out of a 22" bbl. You are likely to get around 1,700 to 1,800 fps out of a 10" T/C.

As for the 444, it's a great round. The recoil would be slightly less than the 45/70, mainly do to bullet weights used. Unless you handload, there's not a lot of middle ground on load intensity.

From another Michigander (mid west)

GunnyII · « **Reply #18 on:** June 02, 2005, 05:44:47 AM »

I hunt here in Michigan, and own both the 45-70 and the 454 plus a few others (don't tell my wife :grin: ) for the Encore. I have shot whitetails and cow elk with both, and a buffalo with the 454, all were one shot kills and very easy to track due to the large amount of blood loss.

The 45-70, being first and foremost an excellent rifle cartridge, leaves some unburnt powder in a 15" barrel. And those 500 grainers are a handful!

The 454 gives you a little better performance, but the recoil I feel, is greater than that of the 30-30, due to heavier bullets. But you get used to it! :x

Good luck and good hunting!

MS Hitman · « **Reply #19 on:** June 02, 2005, 05:51:27 PM »

I would recommend going with a caliber such as a .308 Winchester. Ammo is readily available, just like the .45-70 and to some extent now, the .454. You will have a broad choice in bullet weight and styles as well as being able to take advantage of the accuracy and range afforded by the single shot handgun and caliber combination.

I am going to reserve my straight-wall cartridge shooting for revolvers.

Dusty Miller · « **Reply #20 on:** June 02, 2005, 09:19:54 PM »

There's not a deer on the N. American continent that can't be taken with the 257 Roberts, so all this talk of 45-70 and 454 Casull is quite amusing. That reminds me of the picture of the guy in my Speer reloading manual who is holding a rabbit in one hand and a Thompson sub-machine gun in the other!

xphunter · « **Reply #21 on:** June 03, 2005, 02:05:13 AM »

Punisher has posted:
"Apparently, Southern Michigan (no rifle zone) allows only straight walled
cartridges when hunting with a pistol.
Have to re-think this. 45-70, 44, 454, 460

??"

This is why the conversations have surrounded the straight-wall cases.
I guess one of the questions I have for punisher is, what distances do you want to be realistically set-up for?

TH · « **Reply #22 on:** June 03, 2005, 02:48:02 AM »

punisher,
My father uses a Lone Eagle in 357 Maximum for whitetail in Eastern Iowa and I have personally seen him take many deer in the 100-150 yard range. All kills were one shot kills with complete pass through. My brother uses a Raging Bull in 454 cassul and took a deer at about 80 yards, also with complete pass through. Both hand load their ammo and when shooting their hunting rounds the 454 cassul definitely lets you know it is there. If I had to choose I would take the 357 max for overall loading flexibility and ease of shooting.
TH

punisher · « **Reply #23 on:** June 04, 2005, 01:14:14 AM »

Most all of my setups will be 75 yards or less.

xphunter · « **Reply #24 on:** June 04, 2005, 03:38:41 AM »

With that distance in mind I would go with the 44 mag, 45 LC, or the 357 Max. For that matter the 41 mag would work well also.
I don't see any reason at all to jump to the cost or recoil of the 454 or 45-70 unless you just want the horsepower for the sake of wanting it.

poncaguy · « **Reply #25 on:** June 04, 2005, 07:50:00 AM »

I have a 45-70 and 357 Max Contender...........they will both do very well. Just bought a 15" 7MM-08 Encore SS...........I think it will be my favorite, but I haven't shot it yet! :grin:

punisher · « **Reply #26 on:** June 07, 2005, 01:42:15 AM »

Forgive my ignorance, but what is the "357 maxium" ?
I do not handload, can this load be purchased off the shelf ?
Is it costly ?

poncaguy · « **Reply #27 on:** June 07, 2005, 02:10:31 AM »

It's a longer and more powerful version of the 357 mag. I think there is a round for Dan Wesson revovers that is now produced that is about the same. I'm sure someone on this board knows a lot more about it than I. I know the 357 Max is a great round in a Contender.

TH · « **Reply #28 on:** June 07, 2005, 04:40:29 AM »

punisher,
As stated the 357 Max has a longer brass but it is still straight walled, this only means something to people who live in states with straight wall ammo restrictions for whitetail handgun hunting as in Iowa. I'm not sure about factory ammo options, but for a handloader the 357 max is very versatile in that it can be loaded down for plinking or loaded very hot for a good whitetail sized animal hunting round using rifle bullets instead of the normal pistol bullets.
Hope this helps some.
TH

WNY_Whitetailer · « **Reply #29 on:** June 07, 2005, 05:34:19 PM »

I would vote for the 44 mag...Straight walled cartridge, readily available and a proven performer just like all the rest here...This cartridge can easily harvest whitetail at the range you say you hunt at Punisher...Good luck with whatever you choose.