Your Suggestions?

[teamnelson]

I like to shoot standing, production in SB, FP, and BB (IHMSA), with a TC, 10" barrels open sights. I've been shooting SB and FP with the same 22 barrel, and the same ammo (Winchester 40gr.), and the BB with a Bisley .44. I'd like to try a different caliber on the TC for FP, and for BB.

What would you recommend in a 10" barrel for FP and BB? What about if we limited that to factory loads only? And, what if the BB caliber needed to also take deer sized game at under 100 yds.?

Merry CHRISTmas folks!

[Sixgun]

Well,

In answer to your question, I think you are limiting your options too much.

First, is, do you want to hunt or shoot silhouettes?  When I first started shooting I wanted to get barrels that do double duty, until I borrowed a friends 357 mag barrel.  I soon learned that although I could shoot that 357 barrel, fairly accurate, with just casual shooting, by the time I got to the rams, in a 40 shot match, I was anticipating the recoil, and couldn't hit a thing.  In silhouette shooting, recoil is not your friend!  
 

Second thing to consider is what kind of target damage will your match director allow.  If you are limiting yourself to factory ammo, about the only thing that will work will be a 38 special class round, with lead bullets, unless your match director allows all kinds of target damage.  Then it dosen't matter.

Most good FP or Hunters Pistol shooters use something that has a light recoil.  The 22 hornet is perfect for this.  However, factory ammo will go halfway through a silhouette target so it requires you to handload and get the velocities down around 1600 to 1700 fps.

If you can't reload, go with the 22 mag and then get a 14 inch 30-30 or 7/30 waters for hunting.  You will be much happier.

Sixgun

[jcunclejoe]

I hope that you realize that the restrictions you have placed, make this a serious compromise. But there are a few choices.
You could go with a 44 mag barrel and use magnum ammo for BB and hunting and use specials for FP.
You could also use a 357 Maximum barrel using 38 specials or 357 mag ammo for FP and using 357 Max loads for BB, although it might be hard to find Max loaded ammo. You could use 357 Mag's for BB but you would likely lose too many rams for comfort.
A 45 Colt could also be used with cowboy loads for FP and something with a 250gr bullet for BB and hunting.

A 30-20 would also be an excellent choice for all three but would be a handloaders show only for Hunting deer or BB.
Good luck and keep on shooting. If you like, give me a call and we can discuss it some more. 541-317-8801 after 5 Pacific time
Joe

[teamnelson]

Thanks guys; this is what I expected. I've shot enough silhouette now to know that the 22 Hornet and the 7TCU are the most common winners on a TC frame. Heck, after reading the results from Stockton this year, I'm suprised that some factory isn't producing loads for IHMSA in those two calibers - a few thousand rounds of 22 Hornet and 7TCU went downrange that week it looks like.

And both of those calibers are marginal hunters, when compared to other calibers in their respective "classes." But I keep hoping that someone will come along with an alternative that makes competition a little more accessible to the "common" man, but even revolver shooters handload for their calibers so there doesn't seem to be much way around it.

Now if I can only convince my wife that I need a press; the accessories can be snuck in later.

[teamnelson]

Thanks guys; this is what I expected. I've shot enough silhouette now to know that the 22 Hornet and the 7TCU are the most common winners on a TC frame. Heck, after reading the results from Stockton this year, I'm suprised that some factory isn't producing loads for IHMSA in those two calibers - a few thousand rounds of 22 Hornet and 7TCU went downrange that week it looks like.

And both of those calibers are marginal hunters, when compared to other calibers in their respective "classes." But I keep hoping that someone will come along with an alternative that makes competition a little more accessible to the "common" man, but even revolver shooters handload for their calibers so there doesn't seem to be much way around it.

Now if I can only convince my wife that I need a press; the accessories can be snuck in later.

[Sixgun]

Team,

I know how it is when you are trying to get started into loading ammo.  It  can get expensive really fast.  

Way back in the early 60s I got started with one of the Lee loaders that you drove primers in with a hammer.  Since then I have aquired a room full of reloading equipment.  Most of it is second hand or the cheap lee stuff, but I don't see that as a handicap.  Poverty is the Mother of Invention.  My friends load on Dillons and I load with a Lee Turret Press and they use store bought jacketed bullets and I cast my own from a 2ed hand mold with jury rigged handles, and I can shoot with the best of them.

I don't mean to brag here but if I am, so be it.  I shoot 5 different NRA silhouette games and am AAA or Master in all of them.  I have either won or placed first AAA in every state match I have shot in since 1997.  I shoot all of the centerfire matches with my own cast bullets and the rimfire matches are shot with the cheapest Wally World stuff I can buy.  I can go to any silhouuette range and shoot with any group of people and not be ashamed of my scores, and I do it on a fraction of the cost that the other shooters do.  

So don't be afraid of getting into the loading business.  With all of the money you save on ammo you can shoot more and afford to buy those 2ed hand TC barrels in 22 hornet and 7tcu.

sixgun