Author Topic: More help needed, another question about caliber etc. (Read 594 times)

Tundraman · « **on:** August 16, 2005, 05:15:06 PM »

Thanks on the replies about the synthetic and laminate stocks. How does the laminate hold up in weather? Are the NEF/HR laminates decent quality? Is the synthetic hollow? Can weight be added to the stock. Has anyone had much experience with the stainless handi barrels? Any noticable difference in accuracy to the blued barrels? Also I do most of my hunting in the Missouri Ozarks, very heavy woods, with a lot of thick cover and rugged terrain. A shot over 50 yards is rare...most are less than 25-30 :gun4: . I normally hunt with a Browning A-Bolt 30.06. However I'd like to get a single shot handi/ultra to use as my primary woods gun and to keep from beating up the Browning in the heavy woods. I've been thinking about the 270 but would the 308 be a better caliber for the heavy woods or is it a wash. I could just go with a 30.06, but I'd like to try a new caliber in the handi. Any opinions would be helpful. I've learned a lot from reading your posts. Thanks again.

MtJerry · « **Reply #1 on:** August 16, 2005, 05:27:20 PM »

If your shots are typically under 50 yards, you should try the 44 magnum, or the new 500S&W.

Those pistol calibers shine in a single shot at those distances.

Fred M · « **Reply #2 on:** August 16, 2005, 05:42:31 PM »

Tundraman

If you can find a stainless steel barrel on a Handi in a caliber you like, you won't be sorry you spend a few extra bucks. For what you like to do the 30-06 Handi is hard to beat with a 24" barrel. There are multible reasons for SS on a Handi. One is, they simply shoot better. Besides no need for seperate dies or ammo. But another caliber would be ok too like a 7mm-08 with 175gr RN bullets. You be set for anything that walks around in the woods.

Man I can hear all the howling now. I always like to get guys upset a bit with armchair technology.
Like one guy did 30-06 for squills. Fill up the case with powder drop on a bullet and blast the squirrel. This guy was simply hilarious.

:-D

quickdtoo · « **Reply #3 on:** August 16, 2005, 05:49:51 PM »

Yeah, he was so funny that GB banned him!! :roll:

myarmor · « **Reply #4 on:** August 17, 2005, 06:11:43 AM »

I am with MtJerry with this. If your shots are no farther than 50 yards then a 44 Mag would be great.
Or you could opt for a 357 too.
If it's unstopable knock down power you want, then why not an Ultra Slug Hunter? A good slug will put just about any thing down. My friend has taken moose with his slug gun before.

Varminter · « **Reply #5 on:** August 17, 2005, 12:06:17 PM »

If your shots are no more than 50 yards i don't really see a point in getting a large rifle caliber. The 44mag. or even the 357mag barrels would be great for your use. Either could be reamed out later for more power.

Norseman112 · « **Reply #6 on:** August 17, 2005, 12:25:28 PM »

44 mag should do nicely at those ranges.

Norse

JPH45 · « **Reply #7 on:** August 17, 2005, 02:35:01 PM »

I'm a heavy woods/creek bottom hunter in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountians, I live on Lookout Mountian, about 45 miles southwest of Chattanooga, and it's one of the few places on earth where everything is up hill....both ways :roll: In 30 years of hunting I've had one shot at 80 yards, everything else, some 26 deer total, have been shot at 40 yards and less. I think the 44 Mag would do ya fine, in fact I have used it to kill four deer, it is an exellent short range cartridge. Another you may want to consider is the 30-30. Mine was very accurate with jacketed bullet loads, it had a strong liking to the Remington 150 Core-Loct load, it would regularly put 3 into one hole, literally one hole, not a cloverleaf group. The 44 shoots just as well, I believe you would be well served by either. For the kind of ranges you are talking about, cartridges like the 30-06, the 308, 270, 280 are simply more gun than you need.

Mac11700 · « **Reply #8 on:** September 10, 2005, 07:12:38 AM »

Tundraman:

Welcome Aboard to a fellow Missourian

I know the type terrain your hunting..and all the Handi's mentioned will work for you at those ranges...and the beauty of these great little rifles is you can always pick up another barrel for it when you need to.

Since you already have a 30-06 bolt...your long range is covered..and since your looking at bow&arrow ranges...I'm going to suggest an alternative to any centerfire rifle...I suggest getting a 12 gauge Ultra-Slug hunter..for sheer knockdown power at those ranges...putting a slug in them will certainly work just as well if not better than any rifle cartridge offered in them. They are big and heavy..but they will give you up to 150-200 yards for some of those long clearing you run into when shooting across the valley's...

If that doesn't appeal to you...then I would opt for a 30-30...44 mag...500 S&W...or a 45-70...out of them...the 45-70 and 30-30 are my favorites...I took a nice 10 point with the 45-70... 2 years ago with my handloads..he went a couple yards and piled up...awsome round it is...and the 30-30 works just as well..

Good Luck

Mac

poncaguy · « **Reply #9 on:** September 10, 2005, 09:05:23 AM »

45-70 with the Choate stock makes an accurate and pleasant round to shoot.and I have a bad shoulder.

stimpylu32 · « **Reply #10 on:** September 10, 2005, 09:07:27 AM »

Got to throw my .02 worth in , At the ranges you are talking about go with the 44 mag. or the 12 ga.

I am not a big fan of the 357 for deer :eek: and the 308 , 30-06 and 270 are over kill .

But most inportant is , What are YOU conforable with , That would be what to use. :wink:

stimpylu32 · « **Reply #11 on:** September 10, 2005, 09:19:36 AM »

By the way --Yes the lam. stocks hold up very well , yes the syn. are hollow , yes you can add weight and no i haven't seen much difference between the SS or blue as far as acc. goes

I think that got it all

Ranger J · « **Reply #12 on:** September 11, 2005, 05:40:11 AM »

The Ozarks are also my tramping grounds too and when I moved there from Illinois for a while I continued to use my 12 g with good success but as I got older I got tired of carrying it up and down the hills. At present I have a 308, a45/70 and a 44 mag in deer hunting size calibers. Of the three I would recommend the 45/70 especially if you reload as you can load it from mild to wild. The days of my enjoying recoil are long over and mine are loaded to about what you would expect for top load 44s. These are pleasant to shoot and you can shoot them all day without abusing your shoulder. These will be fine for whitetail and if you ever get a chance to shoot something larger the possibility is there to step up the load (a whole bunch).

.308 · « **Reply #13 on:** September 11, 2005, 08:25:26 AM »

:money: Last two deer I shot with my .44 mag. (not in my Handi, my Ruger semi-auto carbine) I was using Speer 240's handloaded. Neither took a step, both were inside 50 yds. Sounds to me like a .44 mag. would work for you, too. :grin: