Thinking about a barrell or a new handi

[rugerfan01]

Howdy all,
I'm kinda rolling it around in my head to get a new rifle or a barrel for my handi since they are allowing the use of calibers bigger than 38 this year during the muzzleloading season.
I think I read here that there were some trouble with the 44 mag barrels but it was corrected. Am I correct?
And how would a 45 long colt stack up to the 44mag? What about the 444 and the 45/70, How are they on the shoulder? I am not fond of recoil at all.
Some suggestions please.

[kevinsmith5]

If you expect to shoot something at any kind of range I'd go with the 45-70. You can get lighter loads that have less recoil (I load 41.7 gr H4195 on a 405 gr round nose soft point) and still get good accuracy at 100-150 yds with plenty of takedown power.  The 44 Mag and 45 LC are not very good at any range compared to the 45-70. If you don't handload the Hornady Leverevelotion (SP?) I think is supposed to have lower recoil.

[bilmac]

I know lots of folks do it, but Iv'e never been impressed by the killing power of pistol cartridges. Standard factory 45-70s don't recoil much.

[petemi]

I shoot the Hornady Leverevolution 325 gr. in my .45-70, and I'm a skinny little Wop of 150 lbs.  Doesn't bother me a bit, and the .45-70, with loads available, will take anything from a skunk to a Kodiak.  IMHO, the rest of the .44s/45s don't hold a match to it.  Pete

[dpe.ahoy]

With the recoil pads on the Handi's the 44 mag and a good hot loaded 45 colt aren't bad at all.  I have both and I also have the 444 and 45-70.  If you don't like recoil, you will need to load some softer loads for either of those 2.  If you put a Limbsaver pad on the end of them they aren't to bad, that product and I'm sure the KickEzz are very effective at tameing the recoil.  Now, as for the 44 or 45 not being very effective, I've put alot of mule deer down with them and with the right cast bullet I would have no problem pulling the trigger on an Elk within 100 yards.  I know one old man that gets his elk every year with a Ruger 44 mag, the old one, and uses it because he had a stroke and can use it with one arm.  They are on his property, and he just waits for one to come by to put meat in the freezer.  Fact, not BS.  DP.

[rugerfan01]

Thanks Fellows
99 % of all the shot I take would be inside 100 yards, theres no mule deer,elk or bear here just whitetails and a few hogs.
My first centerfire was a Ruger 44 mag carbine and it killed deer fine. I traded it off like a dummy several years back.
I went a looked yesterday but all they had was a 444 in a wood stocked handi and a 45/70 in synthetic.
I am a wood blue person, so I'm still thinking.