Author Topic: options (Read 647 times)

flatlander · « **on:** November 21, 2003, 02:54:20 AM »

I'm considering picking up a barrel for my contender and want something larger than 30 caliber. I want something that can handle deer at 100 yards or more, and I don't want anything with very nasty amounts of recoil. 45-70 is definitely out. I'm looking at calibers like .357 max or 357 herrett or even a 35 rem. Can anyone make any suggestions here? Also, I'm not that familiar with the herritt round. Any thoughts on that one?

Bug · « **Reply #1 on:** November 21, 2003, 03:17:39 AM »

I would say consider barrel length first. For a longer(14"-16") barrel, the .35Rem would get my vote. Factory ammunition is available, and it should do anything you want a Contender to do. For the shorter (10" to 12") barrels, I think I would rather have the Herret. No factory ammo, but it is made from the common-as-dirt .30-30. The Max brass MAY become hard to get, but that is anyone's guess. Recoil will be stiffer with the .35Rem, but so are the ballistics. You're only going to get back what you put in! Hard to pick a caliber for someone else, but why not try to get with someone & try them all, before you decide? JMHO>>>>>>Bug.

flatlander · « **Reply #2 on:** November 21, 2003, 04:00:38 AM »

I'm getting the impression that the 35 rem and the 357 herritt will produce similar velocities when similar weight bullets are used, but the 35 has a heavier range of bullets than the 357. Does that seem right to you?

T/C nimrod · « **Reply #3 on:** November 21, 2003, 04:39:27 AM »

Flatlander - let me put some more flavor in the stew. Don't overlook the .41 Remington Magnum.

I have a .35 Remington, .357 Herrett, and a .41 Mag all in 14" bull barrels - all factory offerings. The two .357/.358 barrels are close but not the same - I'll give the edge to the 35 Remington just because you don't have to form the brass. The Herretts' aren't hard to make, you can use either 30-30 and/or 375 brass, but it does take time.

Personally, if I had to choose which barrel to send to another home it would be the .35 Remington. I just have more fun shooting the Herrett over the Remington.

The .41 Mag gives you a slightly less popular cartridge, factory loads available, low recoil, and out of a Contender; 100 yard capability. Bullets are slim picking when it comes to jacketed offerings (170, 200, 210 grains), but cast is another route to go.

flatlander · « **Reply #4 on:** November 21, 2003, 04:52:43 AM »

I had been looking at the 41, but don't really know much about it. I've been told the 44 mag would give you a pretty decent recoil and had kind of assumed that the 41 would be similar. So the 41 is lighter than 44 in the recoil department? Definitely something that I would consider then. Would the 41 or 357 herret work in a shorter barrel effectively? I might consider going to a shorter barrel, but 14's are good for me also. How is the 35 Rem in the hunter type barrel? Does the brake help or have no impact?

Graybeard · « **Reply #5 on:** November 21, 2003, 04:55:12 AM »

I love the .35 Rem. and in a lever rifle it really is a favorite. In a 14" scoped TC barrel I consider recoil to be fairly mild. BUT it is a real pain to make go bang regularly in a LOT of factory TC barrels. Of the three I've owned only one of them would do so consistently and it didn't matter if factory ammo or reloads were used. Yes there are work arounds to this for reloads but requires another die set everyone doesn't have or want to buy. Still for a 14" barrel it is a really nice round IF your barrel will go bang every time.

The .357 Herrett is a really nice one and will pretty much duplicate the .35's performance. I really prefer it in 10" barrels as it develops most all it is going to in that length. It was designed to do so. No factory ammo if that is a problem for you.

Don't over look the .44 Mag. In a scoped 14" TC barrel recoil is fairly mild and it is easily a 125 yard deer killer so equipped. Factory ammo is readily available in lots of different brands and will all sorts of bullet weights. Reloading is as straight forward as it gets.

GB

flatlander · « **Reply #6 on:** November 21, 2003, 05:03:43 AM »

If the recoil isn't that bad, I might reconsider the 44. I think that I might actually have a set of reloading dies lurking in the basement still. How does the 44 recoil in a 14" contender with a scope compare with a blackhawk with iron sights? Sorry for all the followups, but I don't know anyone with any of these calibers to try for myself, so I'm going to have to use your opinions as a guide to get started. I guess I should clarify that reloading is an option.

Ladobe · « **Reply #7 on:** November 21, 2003, 05:24:14 AM »

Can't really compare a SA to the Contender as far as recoil. The SA design allows it to roll in your hand during recoil, while the Contender is more straight back like a DA. That said, put a set of Pachy Grippers on it and go hunting. In a scoped 14" bull with these grips, you won't notice recoil, especially in a hunting situation.

Ladobe :bye:

RWG · « **Reply #8 on:** November 21, 2003, 05:24:25 AM »

flatlander ,
I agree with Graybeard in that the 35 is a fairly easy kicking T/C chambering. I owned a 14" 35Rem years ago that was a joy to shoot. It was one of the most accurate factory barrels i have ever owned. I loaded 180g SSPs and took several deer with it with never a problem. I had several new shooters try the gun and fall in love with it. I was lucky that I had a barrel that never gave me a misfire or fail to fire with handloads or factory loads. I didn't have a brake on my barrel but if you could find a Hunter barrel it would definitly help reduce the recoil. I shoot some pretty hefty calibers in handguns and can tell you from experience that a good muzzle brake can turn a tiger into a pussycat.
Good luck on whatever you choose.

Ronnie

SingleShotShorty · « **Reply #9 on:** November 21, 2003, 05:32:32 AM »

Myself I would pick the 35 remington in a 15" Encore barrel and have a muzzle break installed. It would be load but the recoil would be reduced gratly and the 35 Rem is one heck of a whitetail round.

ghostZ · « **Reply #10 on:** November 21, 2003, 05:42:53 AM »

A few months back I asked pretty much the same thing...I was new to hg hunting and didn't want too much recoil. I got a 12" .35 rem with brake. The recoil isn't too bad! I also have been using only iron sights...will be getting a scope because I thought I was better than i really am!

luredaddy · « **Reply #11 on:** November 21, 2003, 12:40:53 PM »

I like the 44 mag in a pistol barrel, BUT, if you get one , do not make the same mistake I did. I bought a 10" barrel, it produced more recoil than I wanted to deal with. I then bought a 14" barrel and LOVE it, I also went to a lighter grained bullet. The super 14 with a lighter grain bullet,

is a nice combination, in my opinion.

quicksdraw45 · « **Reply #12 on:** November 21, 2003, 05:42:36 PM »

I had a 357 max barrel and could never get it shoot like I thought it should , I tried alot of bullet/powder combos . Maybe it was me maybe the barrel ?
I now have a 357 herrett but have not had a chance to shoot it I am in the process of getting ready to move .
I think a logical step would be 44 mag for a non reloader , I would really like a barrel in 45 colt without being chambered for the 410 shotgun , It will do all the work that the 44 but will do it with less pressure . It is easy to for the handloader to go from mild to wild .

Possum · « **Reply #13 on:** November 22, 2003, 04:15:23 AM »

My vote is for the 35 Rem. It packs a whoollup! The last deer I shot with it I removed his shoulder ball joint from below his brisket. My barrel performed for three years great with round nose Rem 200 gr factory loads and now it is accurate with 180 gr Hornady SP reloads. Performance is what I need and look for. I like it. I don't have the experience with the many other calibers that others do on this forum. What I do have is experience with this chambering on deer. For the South where a blood trail is extremely important and trailing needs to be kept to a minimum, the 35 is hard to beat.

Recoil is moderate judging from my other calibers. I would keep the barrel to a 14" minimum. The longer barrel seems to keep the recoil moving backwards it the handgrip instead of making the muzzle jump.