Author Topic: Help a brother out !!! (Read 2191 times)

malainse · « **on:** April 09, 2007, 10:07:09 PM »

Hello everyone,
I have read the last 25 pages and obtained some very good information. But wanted to run my plan past the experts. I was in a cycle crash and broke my neck. My. Dr. said no more long guns. Well 2 year have gone by and got the OK from the Dr. to start shooting pistol. Went out this week and banged out a few rounds from .22 and .357 (well .38's). I have used handguns for over 20 years so they are not new to me. The T/C is new to me...

My guess is that I want a G2. I do not reload but, have a friend that will help me out with that if needed. ... For now have budget for frame, plinking barrel , straight walled deer barrel and optics..

I HAVE TO WATCH THE RECOIL......

.22 lr or 22. mag. or .223 for plinking, getting used to the weapon.....

Now for the Deer round.....

Up to 100 yards.... Straight Walled for my area.

I like the numbers of the .357 Max but what is the recoil like ?? Any other options that I should look at

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Future>>

Small game, might try skeet....
45/410 barrel....

Deer in areas that are open to a rifle round......
Remember recoil !!

.243

Is there anything out there that has a bit more punch that is not a cannon for elk/bear size game or am I just wishing...

Thanx
Mal.

Grumulkin · « **Reply #1 on:** April 10, 2007, 01:34:45 AM »

Recoil of the 22 LR is minuscule, the 22 WMR is slightly worse and the 223 Remington isn't bad at all.

As far as straight wall deer cartridges are concerned, many states required a minimum of .357 caliber so at the least you should get a 357 Magnum. The 357 Maximum is a step up from that. It's slightly less potent than a 357 Herrett which I shoot. I took a black wildebeest with my 357 Herrett which is a fair sized animal. I would think that with proper shot placement, with the right loads and at ranges less than or equal to 100 yards, the 357 Maximum should be up to taking elk or bear.

The recoil of my 357 Herrett is substantial but not as bad as a 44 Rem. Mag. If you get a longer barrel (say in the 12 to 15 inch range), scope it and have a good muzzel brake installed, you should be able to get the recoil down to a very comfortable range.

Graybeard · « **Reply #2 on:** April 10, 2007, 01:56:56 AM »

The .357 Max would be a good choice, recoil shouldn't be too bad but really from the sealed breech of the TC with at least a 10" barrel the .357 Magnum wouldn't be a bad choice for you. Recoil would be a bit less and ammo is readily available without having to reload. It is adequate especially from the TC for deer hunting. That would be my recommedation to you for that purpose.

For your later skeet shooting needs ask the doctor if a .410 shotgun would be OK. Yeah I know long gun but a .410 shotgun especially an O/U has basically no recoil. It's what I use most on the skeet range for that very reason. My shoulder can't stand much of even the 20 ga target loads so I use the .410 mostly along with a 28 gauge. There is a noticeable difference between the very light recoil of the 28 and the almost nonexistent recoil of the .410. My best scores these days are actually coming from the .410.

I've come to prefer the newer G2 to the older Contender. For plinking definitely buy a .22LR, cheap ammo and no recoil and that's the way to go.

Ken ONeill · « **Reply #3 on:** April 10, 2007, 05:26:07 AM »

My recommendation would be the .357 Magnum. It's ballistics from a Contender are adequate for whitetails, and the accuracy is outstanding. I'd recommend a 180 Hornady XTP, but Remington and others also offer 180 gr. jacketed bullets. A 158 gr. JHP ( I use the Speer) may offer you less recoil, and can still be adequate if you don't over reach the distance.
A bottleneck for later? I recommend the .257 JDJ in a 14" barrel. It's a wildcat and would require reloading, but it's easy to load for, has low recoil, is extremely accurate, and will work in a Contender. The .243 will not; it would require an Encore, or XP, etc. The ,257 JDJ will run a 100 gr. bullet @ 2620 fps. from a 14". It's excellent cousin, the 6.5 JDJ runs a 120 at about 23-2400, but the recoil is correspondingly greater.
I use a 14" .45/410 with 2 3/4" high brass shells, rather than 3". It's the cat's meow, or something like that.
So, a Contender in .22 LR, .357 Mag., 14" .257 JDJ ( if you didn't need a straight wall, this could serve all deer/ antelope type needs) and a 10, 12 or 14" 410 should serve all your needs nicely, except for elk... although in the hands of an expert shot, the .257 with Nosler Partitions would work on cow elk. I'd have to think hard about the terrain, likely distance, and such before I talked myself into using it on a bull, even if that's all I had.

highwayman · « **Reply #4 on:** April 10, 2007, 11:43:25 AM »

if you can get some one to reload it for you try the 30 herrett. at least you can get 125gr bullet for it. very mild recoil.

spinafish · « **Reply #5 on:** April 10, 2007, 11:46:18 AM »

I also would recommend a .357 mag for straightwall applications..for the bottleneck cartridge..I would go with the 6.8 Spc..or maybe the 6 TCU or the 6.5 TCU. the last two being reload or speciality loads only.

swampthing · « **Reply #6 on:** April 10, 2007, 01:43:57 PM »

For all your deer, elk, bear, and hog hunting, the 12" .357mag will be more than enough. A good 180g FNGC hard cast bullet at 1400-1500fps will shoot through most anything you encounter, in a 23" carbine rifle 1850fps will be no problem with the 180g LBT hard cast and H110 powder. Once you learn the trajectory 200yd shots are simple in the carbine, that bullet is still going 1300fps and is only 7" low if sighted 3" high at 100yds. In the 12" I would keep my shots under 150yds if I loaded it to 1500fps, its going just under 1200fps and is only 7.5'' low at this distance if sighted dead on at 100.
Shot placement.

The Old Redneck · « **Reply #7 on:** April 10, 2007, 02:33:15 PM »

Sir, I lost a disc in my neck and 2 in my low back over 10 years ago, and went through the same thing about recoil. Never had it repaired, and just shoot handguns mostly. The advice on the 357 mag or 357 max is good. I would advise learning to hand load. By loading your own, in time, you can work loads for things like the 44 mag barrel with reduced loads that will not beat you to death. You will learn how to let your hands and arms take the recoil without your neck and body taking a beating. Things like magna porting and TC's Muzzle tamer helps also, and good grips. Take your time, and shoot a lot of 22's, I shot a lot of BB's and Pellets out of all kind of air guns. This time of the year in the south I got to be hell on Bumble Bees with an air gun. It is not so much what you shoot as it is that you try to do it every day. That builds your body back up, and your ability to shoot. I shoot a BFR 45/70 with up to 500 grain cast loads now with no problems, no way I would have tried that 10 years ago. You have got as long as it takes, work into it slow and build up. Good luck and don't quit, even on the bad days dry fire a few rounds or something. Look forward to hearing about your deer next year.

malainse · « **Reply #8 on:** April 10, 2007, 09:07:34 PM »

Thank You to everyone....

.22 LR

.357 Max. , Neighbor will reload for me.

Sold a Ruger Red Label tonight so better spend some $$$ before my wife finds my stash...
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As for a bottleneck down the road will keep reading/ looking. After some time and rounds thru the TC will give me more of an idea what to get....
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Thanx again...

blhof · « **Reply #9 on:** April 11, 2007, 11:09:13 PM »

I too recommend the 357max, they usually can be had fairly cheap used and you can still shoot 357 mags. I have a Dan Wesson in 357max and a contender with a max barrel. The recoil is definitely greater in the contender, even with the 14" barrel., but it makes 1/2" groups at 100 yds.

358nutz · « **Reply #10 on:** April 17, 2007, 03:51:27 PM »

If you can get your neighbor to reload for you, how about a 375 Winchester? I have no clue about the recoil but in a longer barrel with a scope and a good brake like OTT's Sharkgill I wouldn't guess it would pose a problem.
I have a 14 1/2 inch OTT in a 358 Win Improved and with the brake installed and the weight of the gun its a pleasure to shoot...to me..far less recoil than a 44 mag. I like shooting it better than my 357 revolver.

http://s146.photobucket.com/albums/r270/Gunguys/?action=view&current=MVI_0621.flv

7-30 Waters · « **Reply #11 on:** April 17, 2007, 04:16:32 PM »

357 Maximum gets my vote. Easy cartridge to reload for and gets the job done.

If you plan on hunting with jacketed rifle bullets of 180 grains and heavier than I would highly recommend an Bullberry 15" barrel with a .358 bore diameter and 1:12 twist. Bullet selection would be either the Hornady 180 grain SSP or Remington 200 grain Round Nose. Both bullets would expand very well from this cartridge.

My 357 Max barrel is 12", .357 bore and 1:16 twist. The slower twist and long throat shoots heavy cast lead rifle bullets extremely well, but jacketed bullets don't shoot as well in the slower twist. The 1:12 twist does a better job of stabilizing heavy jacketed bullets in my opinion.

What ever cartridge you decide on, please send the barrel maker some dummy rounds with the bullets you plan to shoot so the chamber can be properly throated.

Lloyd Smale · « **Reply #12 on:** April 17, 2007, 11:34:07 PM »

id give you a little different advise. Id go with a 44 mag on a 10 inch gun and run 44 speciials in it. The closed breach and longer barrel in a tc would push 44 specials faster then a revolver and i would think it would work at least as well as a .357 and if anything recoil would be milder yet and muzzle blast would certainly be less.

Bullseye · « **Reply #13 on:** April 18, 2007, 01:27:24 PM »

I think Llyod has a good suggestion. I see a lot of votes for the 357 Max, but I always thought it was one of the hardest kicking barrels I have ever owned. It had a good backward thump in the palm and would hurt my wrist in 15-20 rounds from the twisting motion. I would rather shoot a 30-30, 375 Win or even my unbraked 45-70 over the 357 Max. But that is just me, and why mine went bye.

A 357 Mag would also be a good choice.

HEAD0001 · « **Reply #14 on:** April 18, 2007, 07:09:11 PM »

I hate to add another. I would opt for the 45 Colt. You would not have to reload if you did not want to. 45 Colt Cowboy loads are very mild, easy to come by, and not real expensive. I would go with a 12 inch barrel, in 45 Colt. Have an integral muzzle break put on the barrel.

I like the large diameter 45 Colt bullets. Just like the 45-70-the large diameter bullets, IMO, are more effective on game. Especially at lower velocities.

The 357 Maximum is a good choice, however I lean more toward the larger bullets, with a large meplat.

Siskiyou · « **Reply #15 on:** April 18, 2007, 07:29:11 PM »

I meet a guy out hunting years ago who had broke his neck diving into a swimming pool. He was very good at shoting a M1 carbine one handed. He even collect a deer with it.

malainse · « **Reply #16 on:** May 09, 2007, 07:00:14 AM »

I want to thank everyone again for there input. Not what I was looking for but, I picked up a Blue G2 with 375 JDJ barrel, 3 1/2 boxes factory ammo for $355... The barrel and gun have fired 8 rounds thus the 1/2 box for ammo. So I am all set for bear, Elk, even Bigfoot if needed.

Ordered a .22 match barrel so I can start plinking......

I decided to go with the .44 Mag/special for my straight walled barrel...... Lots of ammo choices out there that will fit my needs.

Question

What brake for the JDJ ?? I will not shoot it untill I get a brake installed. I have used mag-n-port in the past for my shotguns, but not sure what to look for in the contender..... Or am I still going to even have a monster on my hands with the best brake ??

Thanx again.....

neald · « **Reply #17 on:** May 11, 2007, 12:36:27 PM »

Hello,
I have a mag na ported SS 375 jdj 14" barrell.
"

neald · « **Reply #18 on:** May 11, 2007, 02:09:56 PM »

I don't know what happened to the rest of the post, so will try again.
I have a 375 jdj mag na ported barrel. I bought this barrel from a guy who was afraid of it. This thing kicks like a mule. To me the only fun shooting it to shut up some loud mouth bragger, I let him shoot it...
Some one else had said that you should reload. I for one second that. It is a lot of fun and you can tailor your loads to what ever you want.
Neal

Ken ONeill · « **Reply #19 on:** May 12, 2007, 02:15:14 PM »

Holy Cow!! Let me see now...you were concerned about recoil, got lots of advice recommending a .357 Mag. a .357 Max., even a .44 Special and a .257 JDJ... but you bought a .375 JDJ

It's a great cartridge. Ive used one for 18 years. But recoil ?? What on earth are you thinking? Anyway, have a good time with it.

malainse · « **Reply #20 on:** May 12, 2007, 03:54:43 PM »

Well the JDJ is gone... I traded it for a 14" .44 Mag. with cheap scope.... Shot it today with special's and recoil was not bad....... My neighbor loads .44 so worked out good....

Thanx again...

charles p · « **Reply #21 on:** May 13, 2007, 05:05:54 AM »

Had two rotator cuff surgeries and have spinal stenosis in neck. Was told not to shoot at all. After first surgery on my right shoulder I got a contender and learned to shoot left handed from a small bean bag. No problem. I hardly even hold the pistol. I shoot 7-30W. Then I tried my traditional black powder rifle - which is more of a push than a sharp recoil. No problem. You might ask your doctor about these options.

I did give up golf. Hitting a fat iron shot on hard soil was more painful and any gun recoil. Hitting long irons on cold days gave me a jolt also. Don't hit tennis balls either.

malainse · « **Reply #22 on:** May 13, 2007, 05:41:12 AM »

I hear ya Charles... As I broke not only my neck but both legs, ribs ect. Right ankle was destroyed, so do not walk so well. A lot of life changes for me also. At this stage I am just glad to be able to get into the woods this fall....

7-30W and 6.8 SPC are on the top of my list for a bottle neck round.....But that is down the road....

M.