« previous next »
Pages: [1]   Go Down

Author Topic: What Caliber for Whitetail  (Read 1517 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Offline Lost Okie

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Avid Poster
  • **
  • Posts: 131
  • Gender: Male
What Caliber for Whitetail
« on: May 14, 2006, 11:23:42 PM »
I am looking at getting back into handgun hunting.  Looking at the 357 Max or the 260.  shots will be kept to max of 150.  Used to reload and shoot the 44 Mag, but would like to keep the recoil below that.  Realize this may have been beat to death but I did not find a lot of info on the 260.  Why these 2 calibers; already own a 35 whelan and a 6.5 swede.
Logged

Offline MS Hitman

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • A Real Regular
  • ****
  • Posts: 561
What Caliber for Whitetail
« Reply #1 on: May 15, 2006, 01:45:51 AM »
THe decision is going to boil down to what you want to shoot.  Either cartridge will kill a deer out to 150 yards.

Make a list of all the shooting opportunities you want to participate in with your new handgun.  This may help you decide which caliber to get.  

If there is still any doubt, get both and don't worry about it anymore.
Logged

Offline Lone Star

  • Reformed Gunwriter
  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 2359
  • Gender: Male
What Caliber for Whitetail
« Reply #2 on: May 15, 2006, 06:33:26 AM »
The .357Max will be stretched at 150 yards compared to the 6.5s.  A lot will depend on which hangun you prefer, the Contender or the Encore.  I would not get a .357Max in an Encore - too big and heavy for such a small cartridge, and the Maxi can be loaded as hot as practical in the Contender anyway.  If you want an Encore, then the 6.5s are the better choice.

I have used the .260 Remington in rifles, and it performs great.  I prefer it over the 6.5x55 particularly if factory ammo will be used.  Handloaded, both will perform the same.  Since you already own a Swede it may be a good choice.
Logged

Offline B_Koes

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Avid Poster
  • **
  • Posts: 207
What Caliber for Whitetail
« Reply #3 on: May 15, 2006, 10:12:48 AM »
Ditto to what Lone Star said...
Logged

Offline Gregory

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1482
  • Gender: Male
What Caliber for Whitetail
« Reply #4 on: May 15, 2006, 11:52:13 AM »
I prefer 10" barreled Contenders to 15" barreled Encores for deer hunting, but my hunting is at woods ranges and my 357 Max performs great.  I did own a 260 Encore for a while and like the caliber, but never hunted with it.
If I were to set up where shots were mainly over 100 yds I'd go with the 260.
Logged
Greg

NRA Endowment Life Member
the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed.
Second Amendment, U.S. Constitution (1791)

Offline Cheesehead

  • GBO Supporter
  • Trade Count: (6)
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 3282
  • Gender: Male
6.5x55
« Reply #5 on: May 15, 2006, 01:23:41 PM »
I have an encore with the 12" custom barrel in 6.5x55 since I have Swede rifles, very accurate to 200 yards and easy to shoot.  I have yet to score on deer with this yet,, but I will.

Cheese
Logged
Nothing in the world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance.

Offline Lost Okie

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Avid Poster
  • **
  • Posts: 131
  • Gender: Male
What Caliber for Whitetail
« Reply #6 on: May 15, 2006, 02:02:08 PM »
Thanks for the reply's.  My research produced similar results.  Leaning toward the 260 or 6.5 swede.  The encore is listed as approx 3/4 lb heavier than the G2.  I am currently hunting with an NEF Ultra Slug Hunter and 5 lbs is a LOT lighter than the 9 lbs for the NEF.  The NEF will shoot, but $2.00 plus per shot really hurts.
Has anyone ran the 260 or 6.5 loads thru a chrony, just wondering what velocity might be anticipated with a 1129 and 140 grain??
Logged

Offline Cheesehead

  • GBO Supporter
  • Trade Count: (6)
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 3282
  • Gender: Male
fps
« Reply #7 on: May 15, 2006, 03:27:14 PM »
2200 fps with 12" barrel, 140 corelokt of 6.5x55

Cheese
Logged
Nothing in the world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance.

Offline muffindrvr

  • Trade Count: (7)
  • Avid Poster
  • **
  • Posts: 102
What Caliber for Whitetail
« Reply #8 on: May 16, 2006, 01:06:47 PM »
I JUST GOT INTO PISTOL HUNTING  GOING TO USE MY CONTENDER WITH A 12 INCH HUNTER BARREL WITH A MUZZLE BREAK ON IT. CHAMBERED IN 7-30 WATTERS OR MAYBE THE 12 INCH 44 MAG.
Logged

Offline poncaguy

  • GBO Supporter
  • Trade Count: (2)
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 2751
  • Gender: Male
What Caliber for Whitetail
« Reply #9 on: May 16, 2006, 04:19:11 PM »
7mm-08...............
Logged

Offline MnMike

  • GBO Supporter
  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Contributor
  • *****
  • Posts: 493
What Caliber for Whitetail
« Reply #10 on: May 16, 2006, 04:35:48 PM »
For most deer hunting I use a 14" scoped Contender in 7-30 Waters. For drives in tight cover I use a 10" .45 Win Mag with iron sights.

The 7-30 is nice to shoot. The .45 Mag is close to my recoil limit for a handgun.

good luck
mike
Logged
Mike Ellestad

Offline MnMike

  • GBO Supporter
  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Contributor
  • *****
  • Posts: 493
What Caliber for Whitetail
« Reply #11 on: May 16, 2006, 04:38:32 PM »
For most deer hunting I use a 14" scoped Contender in 7-30 Waters. For drives in tight cover I use a 10" .45 Win Mag with iron sights.

The 7-30 is nice to shoot. The .45 Mag is close to my recoil limit for a handgun.

good luck
mike
Logged
Mike Ellestad

Offline glshop20

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Avid Poster
  • **
  • Posts: 168
What Caliber for Whitetail
« Reply #12 on: May 22, 2006, 02:32:16 PM »
I have a good old 30/30 barrel for my contender and it shoots very well.  No problem with bringing down Whitetails.  Since its a single shot you have a much greater variety of bullets to choose from.(not limited to round nose)  People are amazed at the accuracy potential of the 30/30.  Most are only familiar with lever guns with mediocre open sights firing factory round nose ammo.
Logged

Offline MOOSE 4 GOD

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Member
  • *
  • Posts: 5
  • Gender: Male
What Caliber for Whitetail
« Reply #13 on: June 09, 2006, 03:29:03 PM »
7-30 Waters super 16 bring them down at 150 easy with factory loads. 1.5 inches high at 100yds. 4 in. drop at 200 of of bipods and sand bags. super 16 45/410 with slugs for thick wood hunting. 75 yd no problem with this barrel either. recoil on the 7-30 is nice and 410  slug suprised me. both are fin to shoot. hope this helped.
moose
Logged

Offline Yel95

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Member
  • *
  • Posts: 80
What Caliber for Whitetail
« Reply #14 on: June 10, 2006, 02:40:35 AM »
I have a 15" full bull 270 win on my encore.  I love this caliber, i think that 'ts going to be a great whitetail caliber.  Not bad in the recoil department with 130 grain bullets or below either.
Logged

Offline HL

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Contributor
  • ***
  • Posts: 404
What Caliber for Whitetail
« Reply #15 on: June 10, 2006, 04:55:27 AM »
I have to admit, with the limited shooting I have done with the 7-30 Waters, I am very impressed with the accuracy and manageable recoil.

It has quickly become I second favorite caliber right behind the 6mm-223.

Good shooting,

HL
Logged
Pages: [1]   Go Up
« previous next »