Encore handgun for deer hunting

[jjas]

Hey guys,

A friend of mine had a stroke a year or so ago and lost the use of his right arm.  He wants to continue to hunt deer and wants to try an Encore handgun.

My question is, what caliber?  In Indiana we have deer that will weigh close to 250 lbs so he wants enough gun for humane kills but the recoil needs to be as light as possible.

Any suggestions?

Thanks,

Jim

[nilescoyote]

I'm from your northern border, I don't remember what the current restrictions for handgun calibers are in Indiana. This you will want to check out before you buy anything. As I remember you have to have a .357 dia bullet or larger.

44mag or 454 would be a good starting point, keep in mind you do not need to load 454's you can shoot 45 colt loads in that chambering. Does your friend reload? If not the 44mag would be the better of those to. You could also look at the 357 max or mag chambering.

One thing to take a serious look at is if he can hold a encore well one handed. The t/c contender is a bit lighter, better balanced and available in those calibers as well. Look at short barrels 10" to 12" max as I would hate to try and hold my 15" encore at arms length, one handed for accuracy... I have both a encore and contender and enjoy shooting the contender much better than the other in its handgun format for just the weight and balance. I have total confidence in both the 44 mag and 45 colt (my reloads) to take deer with. I have taken several with both calibers and all have dropped within 10-15 yards from where they were shot.

Recoil is not bad with any of those calibers and he should have no problem with them.

[Roger_Dailey]

I believe current Indiana regs are:
"Handguns, other than muzzleloading, must have a barrel at least 4 inches long and must fire a bullet of .243-inch diameter or larger. The handgun cartridge case, without the bullet, must be at least 1.16 inches long.

Full metal-jacketed bullets are not permitted.
 Handguns are not permitted on any military areas.
Some types of handgun cartridges legal for deer hunting include:
.357 Magnum
.41 Magnum
.44 Magnum
.44 Special
.45 Colt
.45 Long Colt
.45 Winchester Magnum
.35 Remington
.357 Herrett.
Some illegal handgun cartridges for deer hunting are 38 Special, 38 Smith and Wesson, 38 Colt New Police, 38/200, 38 Long Colt, 38 Super, 38 ACP, 38 Colt Auto, 45 ACP, 45 Automatic and 45 Auto Rim. All 25/20, 32/20 and 30 carbine ammunition is prohibited also."
That opens the door to lots of lower recoil, high performance rounds.  The Remington 6.8 SPC seems like a good one.  A good muzzlebreak helps. 

[onesonek]

I would go with the 7-08, then if recoil is a factor look into a brake.

Dave

[2slow]

I have a super 14" in .44Mag.  It works really nice with a bi pod and resting the bottom of the grip on my knee.  The longer heavier barrel seems to help with recoil.  My dad has loaded up some hard cast 240 grain rounds for me to right at 1240 fps and the recoil is very manageable.  Most every where I hunt the shots will be under 50 yards so the slower rounds will be fine. 
I guess my point is this.  If your friend can or will be hunting from a place where he can support the longer barrel, the extra weight may be a help with recoil and allow him to hunt with a larger caliber. 
I haven't shot one yet, but I have read the .357 max can have nearly the same energy as the .44 with a little less recoil.  May want to look at that as well.
Good luck!

[jjas]

Thanks for the replys (so far).  I should say he will be hunting in a ground blind and will be using a set of shooting sticks to help him balance the gun.

I was wondering what you all might think of the .243?  The recoil would be light and his shots will be limited to 100 yards or less. 

Jim

[onesonek]

The .234 with say a 95 gr. NBT should do just fine to a hundred yds. and then some.
If you are running that bullet at 2500 fps (likely be somewhat faster) with sight-in on 4" target, the point blank range would be about 220 yds, with about 1000 ft/lbs remaining.

Dave

[iceman59]

 If at all possible I'd have your friend go to shop and compare the contender and the encore by weight and feel.  The encore I have is heavy enough before I added he scope.  The contender might be the way to go for him. I like my encore ,but I use two hands to shoot.

[454-hunter]

I would also suggest the 454 so your friend could shoot the 45 colt loads it is a load that can be easily loaded down to reduce recoil and it is ample to kill any deer sized game. The 45 has long been a caliber that can be handled with one hand just like in the old west and with a set of shooting stick even better yet .have fun.

454-hunter

[Keith L]

You most likely have this under control, but I keep wondering how a second shot if needed will be acomplished.  Does he have the dexterity to handle the break open action and a second round?  I would make sure this is practiced, or maybe better yet that he not hunt alone so he can have help getting the second shot off.  If this is an issue then perhaps a revolver should be considered.  I can't shoot as far, and do feel recoil more, with my revolvers than my Contender pistols, but they do have more than one shot loaded.

Thanks for helping him hunt.

[onesonek]

No offense Keith, but I see this subject of follow-ups come up often when discussing single shots in general. To me it should be a non issue and is a non issue. The point is, too know your and your gun's limitations and make the first shot count. It was done for many many years prior to the advent of repeating firearms. I know a couple amputee's that hunt with TC's just for the reason that they are easier to manage one handed. As you stated practice is important, but I feel that's the case for everybody, not just those with a handicap or physical limitations.

Dave

[Keith L]

No doubt.  I have skipped deer season because work prevented me from shooting enough so that I felt confident in my ability to make a clean kill.  However many aren't able to ensure that one shot kill, and a second shot is a reality for much of the hunting population, at least around me.  It needs to be at least considered.

[David D.]

[quote  many aren't able to ensure that one shot kill,
[/quote]


I hope this dosent offend, but if one dosent have the confidence or ability  that one shot is going to put the game down then they need to shoot and practice more regardless of what type gun they are shooting. I,m not saying my first shot kills ever time because it hasnt. Things sometimes do go wrong. I do hunt with single shots only because I know my shooting ability and the capability of my firearms. I do not take eighter beyond that.

[Keith L]

I don't know where you guys hunt, but in my world there are twigs that aren't seen, deer that jump at the wrong moment, trees that come between the hunter and the deer at the wrong moment etc.  You guys can beat your chests all you want about how much people should practice, and I agree that many do not do enough.  But I still think that someone who is just now thinking about using a strange gun this close to hunting season would do well to have someone along to help, or do some thinking about a backup shot just in case his shot doesn't live up to the standards expressed here.  Have a little bit of compassion for someone who wants to hunt following a stroke.  I hope he has a wonderful hunt.  I hope you two do as well.

[David D.]

  Have a little bit of compassion for someone who wants to hunt following a stroke.  I hope he has a wonderful hunt.  I hope you two do as well.

Keith,

I think you read something into my post that isnt there. My post simply states one should practice until they are proficent with thier firearm of choice, capable of clean one shot kills. Also for the safty of other hunters.

jjas,

 Was your friend a righty or lefty before the stroke. Encores are heavy pistols. The G2 Contender is a lot ligther. A G2 in 7-30Waters, 30-30Win., or if reloads availible 30-30IMP, 6.5JDJ with a muzzle brake are very good choices.

I wonder also if a G2 carbine set up with a 20" barrel in any of the above cals. with a set of long bipods attached so he can shoot from a sitting position would make a better choice.

[jjas]

He was right handed and the stroke affected that hand.  He's been shooting a .40 S&W with good success so he's capable of shooting well (thankfully).

I agree with the contender vs encore weight issue.  He may very well go that way instead.  We thought about a carbine and he can't manuever it well enough to turn on a deer if he has to. 

We've also thought about going with a revolver but shooting a .44 magnum may prove to be too much one handed for him. 

I really appreciate the suggestions and the time you all have taken.  It's hard to watch someone who loves to hunt face something like this and see the frustration in his eyes.  But I have to give him credit for trying, and we'll get it done, someway, we'll get it done.

Jim

[rimfire]

You might also consider the 41 magnum in a Contender.  Recoil is lighter than 44...works at 100 yards...deer do not like it...and it is slightly different...which I like.

Note that reloading helps with this one.

As an aside...have him get a 22 rimfire for practice.  I find that I need no practice with the heavier calibers in my Contenders.  As long as I shoot enough to ensire it is ready I concentrate on the rimfire ans save money and hand fatigue/abuse.

[Tallwalker]

Since you do give up some velocity with a handgun, I would like to see a bit more bullet diameter than the .243. My brother-in-law has used a 7mm TCU of a 10" barrel contender for years as his PA "doe gun" and has taken a good number of deer with it to about 120 yards if my memory is correct. In a factory load, perhaps the 7-30 Waters would be a better choice. The new 6.8 SPC is close to those also.