Author Topic: Whitetail: Best straight-walled cartridge? (Read 1320 times)

carolcann · « **on:** October 04, 2003, 02:26:06 PM »

375 Win or 357Max Contender?
454Casull or 444Marlin Encore?
45Colt or 45 SuperMag Contender?
Any I missed?

I need a handgun using straight-walled cases for deer at an upcoming hunt.
I don't think there are max. barrel length restrictions for a handgun but must be cal .350" or greater. :oops: Scope&bipod are ok.
I'm after max effective range, and under 5 weeks of range time available!

Is a 20 gage slug barrel on an encore pistol setup unresonable?

Well, what do you recommend?
Help!!!

C A Plater · « **Reply #1 on:** October 04, 2003, 02:35:33 PM »

Of you choices, I'd favor the .357 Maximum contender. The easiest to get a handle on in the 5 weeks you got left. The effective range is good, recoil more managable making it easier for you to hit what you're aiming at.

Quote

Is a 20 gage slug barrel on an encore pistol setup unresonable?

Not unreasonable but if the barrel is less than 18 inches and/or overall length less than 26, it is a federal felony.

carolcann · « **Reply #2 on:** October 04, 2003, 02:49:52 PM »

Thanks, but are there any maximum lengths for a handgun?
I once saw a colt SAA with a 24" barrel, but then it was a museum piece?

crawfish · « **Reply #3 on:** October 04, 2003, 03:09:44 PM »

Of those you list only two, not counting the 20ga can be more or less readily available at the local "what ever" . The .45 Colt, and the .444 Marlin. The others are a long shot if at all. There are bunches of simi-custom loaders who list all of these in their catalogs but then you need to wait for it to show up. The only round you list suitable for hunting OTC that you should be able to fine is the .444 Marlin. You don't say if you reload, have equipment, dies , brass, bullets so I take it this will be an OTC project. That leaves the Marlin and Colt but you might have trouble finding .45 Colt stuff suitable for hunting.. If you are very lucky you know a local source fro CorBon hunting ammo. They make real "killer" .45 Colt and .444 Marlin stuff. The .375 Win is a real good round but I have never seen it in any gun outlet in my location. It can be ordered for a 5-9 working day wait. BTY what are you planing to hunt? All the rounds you list are good for deer to elk 357 Max light side for elk though. If you are looking at moose, big bears, ETC. close in go with the .444. JMHO All this being said I'd not choose any on your list. My thing is the .41. I have a couple .41 caliber wil;dcats that I'd take on TRex without a second though. :grin:

rickyp · « **Reply #4 on:** October 04, 2003, 03:25:25 PM »

you did not mintion the 44 or 41 magnum you should be able to find good 44 magnum rounds almost any place that sells handgun rounds

crawfish · « **Reply #5 on:** October 04, 2003, 03:28:36 PM »

In your state hunting regs there will be a section called "manner of taking" or some such. That is where you should find the "restrictions" on equipment. Should contain caliber restrictions, bow draw weight, arrow broadhead size, arrow weight, types of firearms ETC. As far as barrel lenght on handguns, longest factory Contender is 14 inches, longest factory Encor is 15 inches. Here in North Carolina there is a barrel lenght restriction , not less than 5.5 inches, stright walled .357 caliber (38Special excluded), bottle necked .243 caliber and a least 2 inches OAL. See on another thread that you already have a .357Max barrel, all you need for deer right there.

doc-and · « **Reply #6 on:** October 04, 2003, 05:20:39 PM »

You forgot my favorite "SledgeHammer" The 45-70 loaded with 350gr bullets, "IT's THE BOMB"

doc-and

JJFly · « **Reply #7 on:** October 04, 2003, 07:23:27 PM »

It is a surprise to see the 444 Marlin (or a 444Marlin based wildcat like the 375JDJ) in the mix but not the 405 Winchester.

Even on a lighter side the 35 Remington or 375 Winchester are TOP NOTCH.

jamie · « **Reply #8 on:** October 05, 2003, 03:46:23 AM »

I agree with Doc-and, go with the 45-70.

rickyp · « **Reply #9 on:** October 05, 2003, 04:23:38 AM »

is the 45-70 considered a stright walled case? it does have a slight taped .it starts out at about .505 at the rim and goes down to .480

Jagdzeit · « **Reply #10 on:** October 05, 2003, 01:56:48 PM »

I also have to go with the 45-70. But I've been flinging a 300 Gr. XTP.
I shoot them out of a Marlin lever gun w/16-1/2 inch barrel, and have taken deer from 20 yards to out to nearly 300 yds with it.
Lots of broken bones and deep wound channels, front to rear, in and out.
IMO, it is "THE BOMB". :eek:

Stay Safe,
Franz

carolcann · « **Reply #11 on:** October 06, 2003, 08:43:00 AM »

The max OAL I was referring to is barrel length. In case I cannot find a barrel <16", is say an 19" barrel generally legal onna handgun?

State laws only require the straight-walled case and caliber minimum. Any non-FMJ bullet is allowed. Yes, tapered but straight is not a prob.
Even the 44Remington Magnum has a taper!

The other thing is, my 44 (and 41M) will do fine but I wold never tke a shot over 70 yards on deer with them. I am looking for experience with shots/energy at longer ranges, so I wouldn't have to pass on say, a 125 yards shot. There are plenty of 'bubba's around who would try such a shot, and risk blowing the leg off an animal. I'm not one of them.

But I can make a 200-yd/8" shot on the range, and am just looking for a heavy hitter that won't knock my behind out of a tree stand when it goes off.

One I did overlook - I can borrow a 45/410 barrel but would have to scope it using a B-square mount or equal (no D&T on a borrowed barrel), and have some CorBon 45 Colt Magnum loadings with 260 grain Sierras at I believe 1300fps. Accuracy is unproven at this point of course.

The 20 gage barrel (18") sounds good using Winchesters saboted 260 gr 454 casull bullet at 1900fps. The rig ought to turn heads is the laws allow!

So anyone out there actually get hits with the heavier stuff? C'mon boys!

.

crawfish · « **Reply #12 on:** October 06, 2003, 03:11:30 PM »

Been a handgun only hunter since 1989. As I stated above the .41 is my thing. I currently own 13 different .41s', 10 .41RemMags and 3 .41 wildcats. I have one shot, cleanly killed beast as large as 2000lbs+ with a heavy loaded .41RemMag. Have killed deer out to 150yds (14 inch BullBerry Contender) with the .41RemMag although my imposed limit is 75yds and <25yds is ALWAYS better. The only draw back with the .41 is that it really is a handload caliber. There is only one true hunting commercial load from Federal and I think CorBon and Buffalo Bullets have a hunting load. The .41 RemMag will do for any game around and do it with less muzzel bark and recoil than any other hunting handgun caliber out there. So if the intent of your first question was to ask about ALL stright walled calibers and not just those you listed then I'd go with the .41RemMag with the Federals or CorBons or handload a good 250-265g hard cast (CPBT or BearTooth) to around 1100fps and take on what ever you want out to 125yds if you are up to the shot.

carolcann · « **Reply #13 on:** October 09, 2003, 07:11:42 AM »

Maximum effective range.

See original post.

Someone mentioned a 414 Supermag in another forum.

Maximum effective range, straight-walled case.

So far the deal looks like a 454 in a 17" handgun.

Maximum effective range...

Moe · « **Reply #14 on:** October 10, 2003, 06:03:15 AM »

Can you tell me about your 41 Wildcats? Are any of them Reeders? Also, do you have a Taurus 41? Redhawk 41? If so how do you like them?

flyfisher · « **Reply #15 on:** October 13, 2003, 08:24:12 AM »

Love my .375 Win...plenty of knockdown and a great all-around caliber!