I hate to ask for advice...

[no guns here]

 but the wife said that since she would probably mess up and order something I wouldn't like, I should go ahead and order my birthday present for myself.  I guess that Ed is going to get some business!!!  Here's the problem... what to order?  I have a blue G2 frame, a .45x209 barrel and a 10" .357 Mag barrel already.  I figure I can afford two barrels so y'all get to help me decide what to buy.  Just keep in mind that I'm not going to buy any heavy thumpers right now and I don't like really long or really short barrels.  My thoughts are a .17HMR carbine (or maybe a .22 Hornet) and a .45 Colt pistol barrel of about 14".  Also considering a .300 Whisper.  Uses would be light varmint/plinking and deer.  Cartridges MUST be commercially available since I live overseas and won't be able to reload until I get back to US.  So now everyone gets to chime in and tell me what to spend my money on.  Tell me what you think...

cheers,
ngh

[HL]

22 HOrnet - fun to shoot and cheap to reload when you decide to do so.

30-30 Winchester

7-30 Waters - very good caliber IMO.

I would go with the 44mag over the 45 Colt. More Horsepower and ammo is cheaper.

my 2 pesos

[skb2706]

21" factory .204 Ruger makes the Contender a real 300 yd. varmint rifle

21" factory 7-30 Waters or 30-30 makes the Contender a real 200 yd. deer rifle

[spinafish]

as much as I love my .300 Whisper you are not likely to find ammo for it setting on a shelf overseas, 'cause its really hard to find on the shelf here in the states!  Cor-bon is the only ones loading it that I know of.

[no guns here]

Wow!  With all of the opinions expressed here on a regular basis, I thought I would get more responses that this.

.44 Mag - everyones got one...
.300 Whisper - not shooting overseas, barrels will sit in (sniffles and tears) in my safe in the US until I get back on leave or for good


Dang!  Would really like to see some more opinions... of course NOW the wife (who just called me at work) says for me not to order anything, she's going to call Ed and tell him to send a couple barrels and we'll see what I get.  So I told her to tell him my requirements.

1.  commercially available ammo
2.  no pistol barrels over 14"
3.  no rifle barrels over 21"
4.  no iron sights ( how else am I going to get her to let me buy new scopes???)
5.  no mega-loudenboomers

Guess in a few days I'll find out what she and Ed conjure up for me...  Wish me luck!!!


ngh
5. 

[Doc T]

My favorites are:

1.  44mag carbine.  You could also go with a .30-30 .  7-30 ammo may be hard to get where you are going but it would be my choice of the three.

2.  17HMR carbine.  I have had lots of fun with this one in the last few months.  So accurate it is almost boring!

3.  22 Hornet carbine.  When you get home and start reloading, rechamber it to a K-Hornet.

4.  Pistol?  How about a 10" .357 although the 45 Colt is a fine choice as well.  .357 ammo will be easier to find.

I am not including my 300 Whispers since we ruled them out in an earlier post.  That is my favorite centerfire Contender cartridge bar none!

[jimann]

Hi
I would vote one of them should be a 22  lr. Cheap to shoot, not loud and your wife might love to try it...
jim

[poncaguy]

My favorite in an Encore psitol are the 357 Max ( 38 special and 357 mags can be used too) and my 223..............my barrels are 15" though .Have a 10" 45/410 barrel, not very accurate though with the Colt loads, 410 work really well though...........would trsde it for s 30-30 barrel or 44 mag barrel if anyone interested.

[huntswithdogs]

7-30,30-30 or 35 Rem in the 14". All are great deer cartridges. Not too expensive. Recoil is very managable.

204 or 223 in a heavy 14". Varmits beware!

22 LR whether it's in a rifle or pistol version.

HWD

[giturgun]

22hornet .222 .223 .221 fireball all fun and cheap to shoot  I like the 16 ince barrels for a few reasons . Velocity  and you can put a rifle stock on it for bench fun

[Possum]

44mag! everyone has one because you need to have one!  Very versitale(sp?) round.  The 35 Rem is nice, but factory ammo is limited.  If you ever plan on casting, get a 44 or 45LC.  Big hole dead deer...hog....anything else   

[bustedknee]

You neeeeeeeeeeed a 22 rf!

[wheelgun]

7-30 waters or 44 mag.Both are sweet in a contender.

[GRIMJIM]

i like the 30-30 in a 14 inch. Less kick than you would expect. Also a 223 carbine is on my wish list.

[no guns here]

Dang!  I can't even get her to confirm or deny whether she has called Ed or not!  She won't tell what she ordered.  This is starting to be NO fun!  Yep, used to have a super 16 .30-30.  Thought about that again.  Don't know, don't care anymore.  Just waiting.  I'll enjoy whatever she orders.  But I'm hoping for a .17 HMR or M2 and then a bigger something...

later,
ngh