which would you choose?

[RelicHound]

Im getting ready to send my handi in to have a couple new barrels fitted...but after looking around Im not sure what I want...I know the 44mag is one of them but want to get 3 barrels. the 44 will be a deer gun so the other 2 will be for yote hunting and just shooting around with at the range. I was thinking maybe a 35whelen{is this available for the handi?},223,25/06,204 ruger 308 and 45/70. my current yote gun is a savage model 12 in 22-250 and I also own the handi in 22 hornet and another savage in 17hmr so im thinking I wont get much use from the 204 although I hear its a very accurate round. where I yote hunt is wide open so range is anywhere from in your face to as far as you can shoot. is the 308 over kill for yotes? I added the 45/70 because I know how fun that round is to shoot but I wont get any use out of it in the field.

[GeorgiaDave]

Hello from Georgia,

   .308 and 45/70 !!! Man, these are two of the most versitile rounds of them all. As far as overkill for coyotes, there is only one level dead and that is totaly stone cold dead.  If you are saving pelts, a smaller round like the .22 Hornet might be best. If putting a round where you want it and letting the projectile do its job is the goal, no two better rounds are available. The .308 I have in a Ultra Hunter has proven to be very accurate with some 90 gr. plinker bullets and absolutely shines with the Hornady SST 165's. The 45/70 is a good choice for ANTYTHING ! This is an accurate and reliable round that will knock a song dog for a loop. I think these two rounds have been proven by many people for many years and are even more effective in recent years because of modern bullets and powders. Good Luck and God Bless.  Dave

[Rustyinfla]

   For a small bore I was thinking about a .22 Hornet until I saw how much the ammo was. $49.50 a box where I live. .223 was $7.50 a box and every time I go to the range there are tons of brass laying around from all those EBRs. Just my 2 cents.

[RelicHound]

Thank you for the reply! the 45/70 seems to go over well with just about everyone and the 308 does sound pretty good...Im not to worried about saving the pelts on yotes as I only shoot them for "pest" control on a local cattle farm,I kill em and drop them off at the farmers shop..have no clue what he does with them after that. I guess my next question is...my hornet is an "ultra light" I believe..but looking around the site here it seems its got the same frame of most all handis{SB2} so I guess I can get any barrel from NEFs web site...but would you recommend a heftier stock to cope with the recoil of a higher caliber rifle? I like recoil myself, it makes it feel like im actually shooting something but there is a fine line between "enjoyable recoil" and "hey can you pick up my shoulder over there"

[RelicHound]

   For a small bore I was thinking about a .22 Hornet until I saw how much the ammo was. $49.50 a box where I live. .223 was $7.50 a box and every time I go to the range there are tons of brass laying around from all those EBRs. Just my 2 cents.

yeah the 22 hornet is a bit pricey to shoot...the rounds I use{remington 45grn} cost around $40 a box and I dont reload so it gets pricey...have been thinking about trading the 22hornet barrel for a 223 or 22-250 but Im a bit leery about trading barrels as im not real savvy when it comes to gun maintenance and Id hate to get a barrel that didnt fit good...guess I could send it in to be fitted but what if it cant be fitted? I see alot of folks here buying,selling and trading barrels but im sure they all know what they are doing when it comes to barrel fitting...I was going through the FAQ pages and seen there is step by step instructions to do this but I would still hate to fudge something up.

[Jimbo47]

Looking at what you already have and you are planning on getting the 44 I would say the 308 would be the best choice.

You already have a long range yote gun covered that won't tear a big hole in the hide, and with the 44 you have an excellent short range deer rifle, and with the addition of the versatile 308 you could with the right loads be able to do it all with that one rifle, and have the advantage of a long range 300 yard rifle with the right loads, that shoots a flat trajectory and carries enough energy at the end to put a deer/yote down in it's tracks.

You can find ammo anywhere on the planet that isn't overly expensive, and there are more variations of loads than any other if you handload or want to get into it.

Of course if you do go with the .308 you will then later have to consider buying that 45/70, just for the fact that your set wouldn't be complete without one.

[Jimbo47]

I posted before I saw your reply, so here are my thoughts on barrel fitting.

I've traded for barrels on this forum, and have bought or traded four barrels, and out of the four, only one fit like it was made for my receiver, and one fit but wouldn't lock up, so I was able to take off a tiny amount from the breech face, and it locks up and shoots like it was factory fitted to my frame.

The other two I had to add shims, and it's a little bit of work to get it right, and I've had good results, but now it's a wait and see, to see just how long it holds up.

I'm not into shooting paper on a regular basis, so I'm thinking that with as much as I shoot those barrels, I should be good for a long, long time.

That said, it does take some tinkering skills, and basic mechanical aptitude to get it done properly, and I wouldn't recommend it if you are just a little skeptical about your skills.

If I were contemplating buying/trading for a used barrel and not done it before, I would buy/trade the barrel, and if it doesn't fit exact, or is loose, I would immediately put it back up for trade rather than tamper with it, and thus give someone else a chance to booger it up, if they so choose to do so, and if you trade it, the one you trade for may fit your receiver and then if it again doesn't fit, I'd just sell it outright and recoup what I can, and order a barrel fitted by the factory.

In other words, if it don't fit I'm trading it, and give someone else a chance, because 50/50 to me isn't good odds.

If you have more receivers, the chances are better for a proper fit, but I've only got two, and those are my odds, which aren't that good.

It's a roll of the dice, and doing a good shim job takes a little work, and some don't seem to mind, but I don't think it's worth the trouble, because a perfect fitting barrel makes life and accuracy a whole lot more enjoyable.  But that's just my opinion!

[Badnews Bob]

If you handload I'd give a look at the .280 if not the .25-06 or a .270 would be excellent yote rifles, You get a .45-70 and you might find yourself useing it more than you'd think, it's a very good deer gun and will drop a dog quick.

[RelicHound]

I posted before I saw your reply, so here are my thoughts on barrel fitting.

I've traded for barrels on this forum, and have bought or traded four barrels, and out of the four, only one fit like it was made for my receiver, and one fit but wouldn't lock up, so I was able to take off a tiny amount from the breech face, and it locks up and shoots like it was factory fitted to my frame.

The other two I had to add shims, and it's a little bit of work to get it right, and I've had good results, but now it's a wait and see, to see just how long it holds up.

I'm not into shooting paper on a regular basis, so I'm thinking that with as much as I shoot those barrels, I should be good for a long, long time.

That said, it does take some tinkering skills, and basic mechanical aptitude to get it done properly, and I wouldn't recommend it if you are just a little skeptical about your skills.

If I were contemplating buying/trading for a used barrel and not done it before, I would buy/trade the barrel, and if it doesn't fit exact, or is loose, I would immediately put it back up for trade rather than tamper with it, and thus give someone else a chance to booger it up, if they so choose to do so, and if you trade it, the one you trade for may fit your receiver and then if it again doesn't fit, I'd just sell it outright and recoup what I can, and order a barrel fitted by the factory.

In other words, if it don't fit I'm trading it, and give someone else a chance, because 50/50 to me isn't good odds.

If you have more receivers, the chances are better for a proper fit, but I've only got two, and those are my odds, which aren't that good.

It's a roll of the dice, and doing a good shim job takes a little work, and some don't seem to mind, but I don't think it's worth the trouble, because a perfect fitting barrel makes life and accuracy a whole lot more enjoyable.  But that's just my opinion!

that is an excellent tip! I guess it wouldnt hurt a thing to trade the barrel and if what I trade for doesnt fit re trade or sale...I imagine these barrels have a good resale as long as nothing is "shot out" the barrels are cheap enough as it is so its not a big deal for me to dish out $100 for basically a new gun{the wife doesnt care for the idea but I dont get upset when she spends that much on a new purse or pair of shoes}...I just dont like the idea that I may have to wait 6-8 weeks to get my gun back...that is the main reason I was gonna send it in to have multiple barrels fitted to get it all done in one shot. I like shooting my hornet but like said Ive got other guns to get the job done and for what it can do the hornet is a rather expensive little gun to shoot since I dont reload..ive only bought 2 boxes and in 2 weekends shot a box and half so those to outings cost me almost $80...I bought it mainly as a paper puncher and close range yote hunting but my 17hmr will do all that and not break the bank. my 22-250 isnt exactly cheap to shoot either but its proven itself time and time again on the yotes so I dont mind paying $30 or so for a box of rounds.

[petemi]

I'd advise you to go with the .45-70 and the .308.  You already have small bore coyote guns, and both of these will do a better job than the .44 on deer close up or far, far away.  I think the .308 with 168 gr. boatails is the most inherently accurate rifle I own. I don't have the ten years of experience with the .45-70 that I have with the .308, but it has become my favorite.  The .308 sat out this deer season and the .45-70 dumped a buck in his tracks at 220 yards.  Your chances of doing that with a .44 are slim.  The .44 works fine at short range, but why not carry a rifle that will do both close in and long shots?  Good luck and good shooting with whatever you choose.

Pete

[RelicHound]

Thank you for the reply..the reason I am going with the 44mag as a deer choice is because in my state we are not allowed to use most standard rifle rounds...must have a bullet no smaller than .357 and I cant remember the length off hand but I know its gotta be just shorter than a .460 and it must be straight walled. almost all my shots are well under 100yrds more closer to 30-50yrds with 100 being very rare. I wish we could use the 3030 as where I hunt it would be the perfect round.

[petemi]

Shorter than .460?  That's less than a half Inch.  Please run that by me again.  Thanks, Pete

[RelicHound]

Shorter than .460?  That's less than a half Inch.  Please run that by me again.  Thanks, Pete

Im sorry..I meant .460 as in whole length of the case..I just looked it up and the case can be no longer than 1.625"...I think case length for the .460 is 1.79" but dont quote me on that.

[petemi]

Thank you, Now I understand.  The .44 is a very good choice under those conditions.  What State are you in? 

Pete

[RelicHound]

Thank you, Now I understand.  The .44 is a very good choice under those conditions.  What State are you in? 

Pete

Indiana

[dpe.ahoy]

The 44 is a great short range deer round for pistol cartridges, but the 45 colt is also if you "roll yer own" and the 357 out of a rifle is suprisingly good.  I have all 3 in the Handi's and all 3 have taken deer, 44 and 45 do smack em harder.  DP

[Rustyinfla]

 Relic,
   If you're buying factory fresh .22 Hornet ammo every time you go shooting you should save your brass. What you have there is good trading stock if you're not reloading it. even once fired stuff would be rather pricey.

[RelicHound]

yeah I save the brass for everything I shoot...the only reloading I do is shotgun but would like to get into reloading rifle rounds some day.

[danza]

i'd lean towards the .223 or .308.

the .308 is probably one of the most versatile cartridges available and may be handloaded from their 110 grain plinker to the heavy bullets required to take down big deer and elk and both may be tuned to be 'tack drivers'.

[BCall]

If you are shooting 22 Hornet Factory ammo, I have had very good luck shooting the Hornady ammo with the 35 gr V-max bullet. Grafs lists it at $16.79 abox of 25(Grafs is local for me, so I buy alot of stuff there), and the other one that has worked well for me is the PRVI Hornet ammo. Not as accurate as the Hornady stuff, but acceptable accuracy in my gun for anything out to 150 yds, and it is only about $19 a box of 50 from Grafs. I bought 2 boxes for less than $40, and then had 100 rds of brass to reload with. Not too bad a deal when brass is $23-24 per 100. Good way to break in a barrel if you are shooting a new hornet. Bullets and brass will cost you as much as you can buy the PRVI stuff, and you still have primers and pwoder to pay for. JMO, Billy

[RelicHound]

I tried to order some of the hornady rounds from a couple of places and all of them said they are on backorder and expected to ship some time in Jan. I have wondered about the privi ammo..had heard it was dirty shooting but they shoot well for the price..I will have to order me a box to try. yes its a new hornet and I have only shot maybe 75 rounds out of it or so,so its still in the "breaking in" stages...I just can find a scope for it that I like..the only scopes I have just laying around are BSA and barska scopes and I like them on my rim fires but not so much on the hornet..I currently have a barska varmint scope on it now and its OK but im thinking of just going with maybe a bushnell in 3-9x40...really dont think I need anything much more than a 3x9.