Caliber decision

[Fuzzy bunny]

Help me pick a caliber for deer hunting with my contender. I want something to shoot a maximum of 100 yards, but has fairly mild recoil and muzzle blast. I currently have a .44 mag. Ruger super blackhawk that I don't particularly enjoy shooting, and hope to find something more enjoyable for my new contender.

I have been looking at the 300 whisper, but would love to hear some real world input as I am new to contenders and have never been around many.

[Cheesehead]

Get a Contender barrel in a 14 inch length in 44 Magnum. The length of this barrel will greatly reduce recoil and muzzle blast as compared to a shorter revolver.

Cheese

[Keith L]

I have a 7-30 Waters that is a pussycat to shoot and a deer hammer.  Good past 100 yards.

[jhalcott]

 If you reload try the 7tc/u. The 7-30 waters is another very good round in the contender. The 357 mag IN THE CONTENDER is an excellent deer round. Be aware that some areas have specific laws for deer guns. Caliber and case shape laws limit your choices.

[Junior1942]

A 10" bull barrel 7mm TCU or 30-30.  You'll find a 14" barrel unwieldy in the thickets.

[mcwoodduck]

Get a Contender barrel in a 14 inch length in 44 Magnum. The length of this barrel will greatly reduce recoil and muzzle blast as compared to a shorter revolver.

Cheese

OH no it does not!
I have a S&W 6" M 29 and shooting mild loads in it is fun.  180 grain bullets at 1,000 FPS
I have a 14" Contender that takes those same loads and amps up the speed into a wrist twister.

[Ladobe]

10" is more than enough barrel for 100 yards or less on deer, easier to carry and manage in the woods than the longer Contender barrels.   Cartridge choices for deer are endless in that length, especially if you reload and/or would do simple wildcats.   Many of them would be plenty efficient and accurate in that length even if designed for longer barrels.
 
I killed a few mule deer with Super Blackhawks - two 7 halfers and a 10 halfer I owned.   The 10 was a PITA to carry though so it didn't live with me for very many years.   Also killed my share with both DA and SA 357MAG's, a SA 401 Power Mag and a SA 45 Colt... all with shorter barrels and with most up to 100 or a little further.   My favorites for easy carry/use yet still enough to get it done was the old model Blackhawk 4 5/8's in 357MAG and 45 Colt.   
 
But... if a Super Blackhawk 44MAG is uncomfortable for you to shoot, a Contender wearing a 10" bull 44MAG probably would be as well.   A 45 Colt barrel might work for you, or you might check out the 24, 25, 26 and 28 caliber TC/U's or JDJ's based on the 223 and 225 cases.   
 

[Cheesehead]

Get a Contender barrel in a 14 inch length in 44 Magnum. The length of this barrel will greatly reduce recoil and muzzle blast as compared to a shorter revolver.

Cheese

OH no it does not!
I have a S&W 6" M 29 and shooting mild loads in it is fun.  180 grain bullets at 1,000 FPS
I have a 14" Contender that takes those same loads and amps up the speed into a wrist twister.

Is there more muzzle blast?

Cheese

[Fuzzy bunny]

How would a 30 Herret stack up against a 44 mag as far as muzzle blast and jump? How would it compare to the 7mm tcu? For my purposes I am leaning towards a 14" barrel.

[mcwoodduck]

Get a Contender barrel in a 14 inch length in 44 Magnum. The length of this barrel will greatly reduce recoil and muzzle blast as compared to a shorter revolver.

Cheese

OH no it does not!
I have a S&W 6" M 29 and shooting mild loads in it is fun.  180 grain bullets at 1,000 FPS
I have a 14" Contender that takes those same loads and amps up the speed into a wrist twister.

Is there more muzzle blast?

Cheese

It is a velocity thing.
The 14" barrel is front heavy, so you are lifting up on it and then the added speed of the projectile due to the non vented tube. The recoil is magnified.
Less muzzle blast but more recoil.
 
 

[mcwoodduck]

How would a 30 Herret stack up against a 44 mag as far as muzzle blast and jump? How would it compare to the 7mm tcu?

I have a 30-30 barrel and a 44 mag same length and recoil feels about the same.
The 30 herret is about the same velocity of the 30-30 but with less powder so a little reduction in recoil.
I am also shooting 170 grain bullets.  My guess is the 125 grain bullets are easier on the writst.
I also have a 10" 30-30 and the recoil is slightly less but i think that has more to do wiht added velocity and the forward weight.
I think a 357 mag barrel with 110 to 125 grain soft points would be more than enough for deer with practice and mild recoil out of a 10, to 12" barrel.  Or 223 if legal with 50 to 64 grain bullets out of a 10 to 14" barrel.
I have a 14" 223 wiht a scope that I have used for varmints and on a medium sized deer out to 75 yards would not think to shoot if supported.  The recoil is mild and with electronic ears it is not too bad.  I think the $60 is well worth the investment for a pairt of howard leight muffs.

[Ladobe]

I am leaning towards a 14" barrel.

Then stop playing around with the 44MAG and go with a rifle cartridge.   To keep it real easy it's hard to beat the 7-30 Waters for deer to mid ranges.   It's a pussycat to shoot, even young hunters can shoot them fine.   Besides, perceived recoil and muzzle blast are really not noticed that much when shooting in a hunting situation by most   
 
 

...I think a 357 mag barrel with 110 to 125 grain soft points would be more than enough for deer...

I on the other hand would use 158 gr or larger for deer in a 357MAG.   It has the velocity to drive the heavier bullets more than fast enough to still shoot them flat enough to 100 .   While hard cast and SP bullets certainly can be deer thumpers, so are many of the other jacketed bullets in the heavier class.   For example Hornady's 158 and 180 XTP's (FP or HP) are well known to give both excellent penetration and expansion on big game.  FWIW I always used 158's for mule deer in all my 357's, a habit I got into early 60's with a S&W Model 19 6" because 158 cast was the heaviest bullets recommended in them.    Since I reloaded and could adjust loads I did shoot jacketed 158's in it from the start for hunting, and did so for about 20 years with no damage until I traded the revolver away.   My longest one shot 357 mule deer kill was with that Mod 19, and shooting a jacketed 158 in it.
 
 

[7-30 Waters]

The 7-30 Waters in a 14" Pro-Hunter barrel is about as mild shooting as you can get. The muzzle break really reduces the felt recoil to almost nothing. The first time I shot the gun it felt like shooting a 223 Rem.

[Grumulkin]

How would a 30 Herret stack up against a 44 mag as far as muzzle blast and jump? How would it compare to the 7mm tcu? For my purposes I am leaning towards a 14" barrel.

I shoot a 357 Herrett out of a 10 inch Contender barrel and the recoil and blast are less than in a 44 Magnum.  You really should wear ear protection ANY time you shoot ANY handgun so muzzle blast shouldn't be that much of a problem.

[David D.]

There are others I haven't  used but I will list those I have used. These have worked well for me and recoil is mild.

7-30Waters
30-30Win.
30-30IMP.
6.5JDJ

My favorite from the above would be the 30-30IMP. with the 6.5JDJ a very close second.

[shot1]

If you want a 10" barrel and are a handloader I would go with the 357 MAX. Yes the 357 mag will kill deer out to a touch over 100 yards. I have done it with my 10" 357 mag and prefer 180 gr Hornady XTP pushed by 13.5 grs H110. But the 357 MAX is just more of a good thing. ALWAYS WEAR EAR PROTECTION WHEN PRACTICING. When hunting you should only be making ONE SHOT so it is no big deal. If you are like me and most hunters you really don't hear the gun go off or feel any recoil when shooting at game. I have found that a 14" barrel is no more trouble than a 10" in the Contender to carry in a bandolier style holster. It is covered from brush etc. but quick and easy to get into action.  I have used a number of different calibers to kill deer with in the Contender and my favorite a MGM made SS 14" 30-30AI. I use 125 gr Nosler Ballistic tips and get 2670 fps average with 33 grs IMR 4198, WW case, Wolf LR primer OAL 2.825 and under MOA accuracy. This is a deer hammer and is a well beyond 100 yard killer. Recoil is about the same as my 10" 357 mag. Both barrels wear Weaver 2.5-8X28 scopes and the weight holds the recoil way down. I mostly hunt out of tower or tree stands and keep a par if the rubber ribbed ear plugs that are strung on a string around my neck. When I see a deer I quickly wet them in my mouth and stick them in my ears when possible.

One other thing about recoil. You really need to learn how to shoot a pistol properly and then recoil becomes not much of a problem. First off you need grips that fit you. Then you need to learn that you can not stop a pistol from recoiling and fighting it will only result in a sore hand and a twisted wrist. Don't death grip a pistol. Hold it tight enough not to let it jump out of your hand, about like a firm hand shake. Then let the gun rise up in recoil.

[mcwoodduck]

I am leaning towards a 14" barrel.

 
 

...I think a 357 mag barrel with 110 to 125 grain soft points would be more than enough for deer...

I on the other hand would use 158 gr or larger for deer in a 357MAG.   It has the velocity to drive the heavier bullets more than fast enough to still shoot them flat enough to 100 .   While hard cast and SP bullets certainly can be deer thumpers, so are many of the other jacketed bullets in the heavier class.   For example Hornady's 158 and 180 XTP's (FP or HP) are well known to give both excellent penetration and expansion on big game.  FWIW I always used 158's for mule deer in all my 357's, a habit I got into early 60's with a S&W Model 19 6" because 158 cast was the heaviest bullets recommended in them.    Since I reloaded and could adjust loads I did shoot jacketed 158's in it from the start for hunting, and did so for about 20 years with no damage until I traded the revolver away.   My longest one shot 357 mule deer kill was with that Mod 19, and shooting a jacketed 158 in it.

'Oh I go with the 158 grain out of my 357's but he saud he did not want recoil or muzzle blast.  the 110 or 125 may have muzzle blast but almost no recoil for a round that will kill deer.
Then again the other end of the spectrum is possible with a 327 federal and load to 32-20 specs or just go wiht a 32-20 barrel.
My thinking is always to go with a standard production round instead of either a wildcat, semi wild cat or propritary round that limit you sources of ammo.

[Ladobe]

'Oh I go with the 158 grain out of my 357's but he saud he did not want recoil or muzzle blast.  the 110 or 125 may have muzzle blast but almost no recoil for a round that will kill deer.

Anyone who can't handle the recoil or muzzle blast of a 357MAG shooting heavier bullets (or any other handgun for that matter) is using the wrong tool for the job.   Maybe from starting so young, but muzzle blast never bothered me, and soon enough neither did recoil even on the biggest handcannons I've owned over the years.   Add that the Contender/Encore platforms do a great job of taming most anything you can shoot on them to make them quite manageable.

Then again the other end of the spectrum is possible with a 327 federal and load to 32-20 specs or just go wiht a 32-20 barrel.

I killed a coastal blacktail with a Colt Police Positive Special 32-20 no problem in the late 60's, but that's not the other end of the spectrum to some.   Deer don't always take much killing with a well placed shot - almost any firearm can kill them within it's range for them in the right circumstances.    When I was a kid my family and I commonly killed mule deer in our ranch crops with 22 rimfires, mostly Shorts and Longs being cheaper to buy.   Every ranch vehicle had a 22 rifle or handgun in or on it just for them, other "vermin" and cook pot fodder.   
 

My thinking is always to go with a standard production round instead of either a wildcat, semi wild cat or propritary round that limit you sources of ammo.

 
Store bought ammo was costly and so scarce when young on the ranch, and you got your butt kicked for wasting it.   Made for some strong motivation to learn how to shoot well real fast.   I was shooting family held 22 rifles when not much out of diapers, soon enough centerfire rifles and handguns with their help, and not long after even those with no help.   Every member of the extended family owned multiple firearms, so ammo was an expense we had to make pay for itself.   By the time I was 10 we had started reloading our own ammo, just factory copy at first for the deer/elk rifles, SA handguns and shotguns.  But soon enough we learned how to tune loads to each gun and started getting into the wildcats.   I mostly never shot store bought ammo after that except rimfire and some shotgun shells, and maybe at first with a new firearm shooting a new to me cartridge until I had the dies/supplies to load for it. 
 
I always just danced with the one I brung.   

[spinafish]

the 300 Whisper mentioned in original post is a fine cartridge for whitetails out to 200yds.  I would limit myself to 150 yds..wouldn't hold others to that limitaion though.  Load it w/ 125 Bt and H-110 and you will do just fine.

[45-70.gov]

357 MAX


i just reamed  my 357 mag  condenter and handi rifle


never  fired the 357max yet so maybe i shouldn't post


both  guns STILL shoot  38s and 357mags great......and they are a good rounds as is


also i never go out without my 357mg revolver and spare ammo in my pocket


this round should not be allowed to die

[mcwoodduck]

Ladobe,
When I said the other end of the spectrum, Everyone so far has suggested a Magnum pistol round or a medium rifle round.
It does not take much to kill a deer.  I have a shot gun that throws a OO buck load wiht one strait and one a few inches away and I have no idea where the other 7 pellets go.
Well I hit a small buck with the single OO pellet in the lungs at 75 Yards.  Energy wise a singel OO Buck round is about equal to a 32 ACP.  It was not a DRT kill but it was still a kill.
Rounds like the 32-20 do not have a great deal of recoil and muzzle blast but will get the job done on a white tail under 100 yards.   
I have been toying with a similar idea as I am trying to master the 30-30 and 44 mag out of my T/C.
Oh and suggesting Factory rounds makes it cheaper to shoot in cheaper brass.
 

[Hopalong7]

      I have had or still have both 10" and 14" barrels in 44Mag, 45Colt, 357Max and 41Mag and when shooting the same loads in both lengths there IS, to me, a considerable difference in recoil and muzzle blast.  I know mcwoodduck's comparison was 14" 'tender to a revolver and I could go along with that, depending on the revolver.  To me the 14" 44Mag is relatively tame(remember I said relatively),  the 10" bull has a bad "snap" to it, 10" octagon is just plain wicked, 44Mag single action(Blachawk) is relatively pleasant, and 44Mag double actions hurt(especially with certain grips).  I don't think the OP said if he reloads, but considering his other possibles he will need to, although not have to in most cases.  But, there are some excellent bullets and loads that would turn the 14" 44 into a pusscat yet still smack-down any deer with a decent hit out to 100yds.
     Another possibility if you want a 10", and this is one I've really come to appreciate, is to cut & crown a 14" barrel which is almost full bull and has two forend bosses to 10".  The standard 10" does have considerable taper and only one forend boss.  Then attach a scope and Pachy forend and you have the handiness of the 10" but almost the weight of the 14" to tame 'er down.  I've not done this with 44Mag(yet), but have with the 357Herrett and absolutely love it.
Walt
 

[Fuzzy bunny]

Thanks for all the replies, but to clarify; I never said that I couldn't shoot my 44 blackhawk. I just said that I don't particularly enjoy it. I always wear hearing protection also.
As Ladobe said, whitetails don't particularly take a lot to kill with a well placed shot. As I grow older, the need to have a 3' blast of fire coming out of the barel from the biggest and baddest caliber does nothing for me, and I tend to appreciate precision more.
I realize this is the quenticential Ford vs Chevy argument, but  I am just looking for some advice on a good flat shooting round of sufficient power to shoot and kill a few deer with, that I can load cheaply and enjoy shooting. I am a reloader, so factory ammunition isn't a concern.
Keep the recomendations coming as I am enjoying reading up on the different sugestions.

[Junior1942]

........Another possibility if you want a 10", and this is one I've really come to appreciate, is to cut & crown a 14" barrel which is almost full bull and has two forend bosses to 10".  The standard 10" does have considerable taper and only one forend boss.  Then attach a scope and Pachy forend and you have the handiness of the 10" but almost the weight of the 14" to tame 'er down.  I've not done this with 44Mag(yet), but have with the 357Herrett and absolutely love it.
Walt

Walt, that is one heck of a good idea!  My 357 mini-max (lengthened 357) in 10" octagon kicks so bad it hurts my wrist. 

[Doublebass73]

45 Colt or 357 Magnum

[Lonegun1894]

Since you are a handloader, I would say ANY .30+ caliber should work and work well.  I have a 10" .357 Mag that I love shooting.  It is very accurate and I trust it to take any deer or hog in my parts out to about 125yds or so.  I also have a .30 Herrett 10", and it shoots just as well, but recoils more with full power loads, but is also flat enough to shoot out to at least 125 with my 4x scope, and I have shot it to 200, and it grouped well enough that I think I could make that a realistic range for me assuming I have a rest available when the moment comes.  Recoil is manageable, and I think less than my .44s, but it is more than a .357 mag.  My .44 mags are a 7.5" Ruger Vaquero, and a 14" Contender.  Using factory ammo, neither is comfortable, but the Contender hurts a bit.  Now this is one thing I dont understand, but shooting handloads out of these same guns, in loads that exceed the performance of the factory stuff (checked with a chronograph) isn't bad.  The Vaquero is still slightly more comfortable, but I have always been more comfortable with a single-action type grip frame than a double-action, and the Contender is very close to a double-action frame/grip design.  I have settled on a load that is slightly lighter than factory .44 mag, but due to the lack of a any venting like a revolver provides, it equals performance of the .44 mag in a revolver, and shooting those in my Contender is actually comfortable, and still flat enough out to 115yds for deer with a dead-on hold, so I use that, and it works well with my 14".  I have been seriously considering making a 10" .44 a priority soon though because I just prefer the balance of my 10" barrels over the 14".  Haven't made up my mind yet though, because that 14" shoots very well.
 
I just think that being a handloader, you can take a caliber that may recoil on the limit of your comfort level, and load it down somewhat and end up with something that should be much more comfortable, yet give you the option of going to full power as your comfort level grows.  I can't speak on the 7 TCU, or .223 for deer, but the .30 Herret I have loaded from very light subsonic small game loads on up to the limits (per the manuals at least), and it is very versatile, but I haven't seen any factory ammo for it yet and dont expect to, but that shouldn't matter since you load like I do.  .357 is great, as is .44, but another option which has been mentioned is a .45 Colt.  Mine are all revolvers, but it would seem to be great in the Contender since it is a strong action like my Rugers so you can load it as light as you want or as warm as safety and common sense allow.

[chiefs50]

In a 14" barrel I would go with a .30-30 and never look back.  If  you are looking for a little more zip, I would consider the .30-30 Improved over the 7-30 Waters.  I stick with rifle rounds in the longer barrels and reserve the 10" and shorter barrels for the pistol rounds.  Just makes sense to me.  I have a .30-30, Super 14 barrel and since I limit my shooting to 100-150 yards, it is more than adequate for Whitetail Deer.  A dream to handload for and a nice choice of bullets available.  I handload and usually shoot cast.  Recoil should not be an issue with the .30-30.  I don't like brakes on hunting barrels due to the need for hearing protection.    As Amos McCoy (Walter Brennan) used to say, there "I've had my say".