Author Topic: New to pistol hunting. Which Encore barrel to buy? (Read 764 times)

smoky · « **on:** June 12, 2003, 05:54:39 AM »

I am new to the world of deer hunting with a pistol. I am looking for suggestions on which caliber and barrel length for my encore. I doubt if I will ever use it beyond 75 yards. I hand load and buy off the shelf ammo. I also would like to know if a red dot scope would work fine or should I look towards a magnified pistol scope (I will never use iron sights).

Thanks in advance for all comments and suggestions.

Smoky :?: [/b]

PJ · « **Reply #1 on:** June 12, 2003, 06:09:39 AM »

Welcome to the world of handgun madness

I have a 10" .480 Ruger with a red-dot and just love it.I have only used factory ammo so far and the 325gr XTP shoots great at 75 yards.I think if you want a fast handling brush gun a 10" or 12" .480 or 454 will be hard to beat.If you want a .480 Ruger I know a guy on this forum that has two or more new in the box barrels.I can send you his e-mail if you like.

P.S. He is were I got my barrel from.Very nice guy.

flatlander · « **Reply #2 on:** June 12, 2003, 06:29:04 AM »

What kind of recoil are you willing to deal with? That could make quite a difference on your choice of caliber.

KYODE · « **Reply #3 on:** June 12, 2003, 07:03:24 AM »

my preference for the range you specified would be a 12" 44mag with a good 2x burris scope. you may prefer a red dot, but i have just become accustomed to using low power handgun scopes for deer. the burris, especially, has a wide(21'@100) field of view. the same is true of the 2x7 model when set on 2x.
just remember that with handguns, if at first you don't succeed, don't go back to rifles. KEEP TRYING! it takes a little extra effort and there are several different issues to deal with. such as getting used to shooting and using a handgun scope as compared to a riflescope. much practice is neccessary to overcome several obstacles that you will encounter as a handgun hunter.
after you get proficient with that 44mag, you could add another long range barrel later, with a nice 3x12 burris. that would make a nice deer hunting setup.

smoky · « **Reply #4 on:** June 12, 2003, 10:22:18 AM »

Flatlander,

I don't think recoil would be too much of an issue for me. I'm just not sure of the pros and cons of choosing what is traditionally a pistol caliber (ie 480 Ruger) or choosing what is tradionally a rifle caliber (ie 7mm-08).

PJ · « **Reply #5 on:** June 12, 2003, 10:52:12 AM »

Do you hunt in brush or open country? You did say 75 yards or less and any of the hangun calibers will do you just fine.
Brush calibers would be.....1.) .480 Ruger
2.) .454 Casull
3.) 44mag
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Open country calibers would be.....1.)300mag He..He..He just had to add that one.
2.)'06
3.)308
4.)270.....and so on..

Gregory · « **Reply #6 on:** June 12, 2003, 12:59:08 PM »

smoky

A 357 Maximum would be my choice. It has a flat trajectory and ample power for deer. I have one in a Contender, I know it's not a factory chambering in the Encore. A 44 Mag would be my second choice, especially in the old 10" barrel style.

In my opinion the 480's and 454's are more than what is needed for deer, if elk or bear are on the menu then I'd consider them. (For those of you who like these calibers for deer, that's fine with me, I'm not knocking your choice, I just don't think they are needed for deer)

At 75 yds you don't need a "rifle" caliber, but they do normally group better than a traditional pistol round at 100 yds. I had a 260 Remington 15" barrel that I foolishly parted with, wish I had it back.

PJ · « **Reply #7 on:** June 12, 2003, 01:10:08 PM »

Just about any pistol caliber will do just fine for deer.But ,I know Louisiana has some nice size BEAR and I would like to have the power with me if I need it.Plus the extra power will help in DENSE BRUSH BUCK COUNTRY.

jamie · « **Reply #8 on:** June 12, 2003, 01:11:49 PM »

I would say go with the rifle rounds. They will absoutely work at 75 yrds and when you are ready they will reach alot farther. 270, 308, 7-08, -06 (25 or 30) will be everything you are looking for and then some. Recoil is not a problem with any of them. Then once you have a good all around barrel then you can start choosing specific ones for certain jobs.

flatlander · « **Reply #9 on:** June 12, 2003, 01:45:42 PM »

My first reaction was to tell you to go with a rifle round. It will do everything you need plus you can start shooting it farther as you get more comfortable with it. But what fun is that? Buy a traditional pistol round and then get a rifle round later. And then a varmint barrel, a magnum, and some wildcats as you start to pick up steam. :eek: :lol: Just don't say that we didn't warn you!

Bug · « **Reply #10 on:** June 12, 2003, 04:41:23 PM »

I'm gonna get my drivers license next month. What kind of car/truck/suv should I get? :-D
You'll get as many different answers to this question, as you will to yours. Just depends on how many people you ask. You probably won't get the same answer twice, until you talk to a bunch of folks. Have you considered a suitable cartridge for which you already have another gun? you said you use factory, and reloads. Maybe one of the calibers you do not reload for? It would be extra incentive to add that one to your reloading list, and even if the reloads weren't interchangeable (but, they might be), It would still make economical sense. Even if they just used the same basic brass. JMHO>>>>Bug.