Help on Pistol Barrel?????

[muzzleblast525]

Ok, I've picked the phone up three times, and hung up as it rang.  I've been thinking of getting a barrel for my Encore, and can't make my mind up on what caliber.  This will be for shooting hogs and deer, between 50-110 yards.  Now, these are Texas deer.  I'm open to other calibers also.  I've never shot one of these guns before, but a buddy has one and loves it.  I've found that I can get a custom barrel made in just about any caliber.

Thanks

[flatlander]

So how do you do with recoil? That should make a big difference in what you decide. At the ranges you are talking about on Texas deer, just about anything will work. The question is more about what you will be able to shoot well.

[Redhawk1]

I picked the 25-06 from your listed choices, But you may want to consider a 30-06 or a .308 for them hogs.  

[oso45-70]

Muzzleblast,

I thought since you were new at the contender maybe the 7mm08 might be a good start, Very little recoil and plenty of power to do the type of shooting you might do. There are plenty to choose from. Good luck............Joe.........

[Catfish]

At the ranges your talking I would go with a .44 mag or a .45 Colt. Why not get a .454 barrel and then you`ll be able to use .45 Colt ammo in it also.

[bigbore442001]

In the Encore, I would get a 15" 30-06 barrel. That way you could use the gun for Texas deer as well as those wild hogs and some big exotics such as nilgai, aoudad,etc. To me, the 30-06 is as versatile in the pistol as well as the rifle.

If you ever decide to go for some hunt like elk or moose with the handgun, you're covered.

[Hawkeye]

I chose the 7-ought 8. I have one of them, a 7-30 Waters, and a 7BR. I think the 7-08 would do well with varmints if you hunt them with the 100grn bullets. Go up to the 120, 139 or 140grn and hunt deer and hogs, I do. You can go with the 140 grn Partition or Barnes Triple Shock and hunt Elk, or most other game except the big dangerous type that might eat you.
The other calibers are okay but most you listed are more for long range shooting and smaller game.  The 7-08 is really fun to hand load. I shoot some 100grn Sierra Jacketed hollow points and that really fly and will take down coyotes at many hundred yards and I shoot some Prairie Dogs with them also. I have taken deer with the 120grn Ballistic Tips and V-Max bullets. Deer with the 139 Hornady SST and a hog with it. My buddy used my pistol with some 140grn Nosler Partitions and took a cow elk at 140yds in CO. Great cartridge.

Mike

[hylander]

The calibers you listed in my opinion are not good handgun cartidges for the animals you listed.
Just my opinion mind you.

.44 Mag, .45Colt, .357 Max, 454 casuall, 444 Marlin
These are Better choices in a short barrel for the ranges and animals you listed.

[Mike Buchholz]

Since you have never shot on of these before I would recommend the 7-30 Waters.  Lower recoil and plenty of power to handle either game.  The .44 Mag is something you probably want to stay away from.  The recoil is not pleasant.

[Thebear_78]

35 rem!

[HL]

I would have to agree with catfish.

I have a 44mag in 14" contender. Recoil is not that bad. Even when loaded with full house 315 grain cast bullets.

A good cast bullet would work great on hogs and you can always go back to jacketed bullets for deer. The 44mag is hard to beat out to 125-150 yards and is devistating at 50.

[Steve P]

I picked 7-08 because it will do all you ask PLUS......
you can use 308 brass which is cheap and easy to find.
You can use 7mm bullets which are cheap and easy to find.
You can buy factory ammo if you want to.....
It will be a good caliber and gun to help you fall in love with the TC guns.

Steve