Author Topic: Best deer caliber for 10" barrel (Read 2618 times)

Darrell H · « **on:** December 17, 2003, 07:47:58 AM »

What would you guys recommend for a "deer cartridge" with a 10" Contender barrel? I would like to keep weight/size to a minimum, but I want plenty of power for whitetails at 100 yards or less. I don't want to be undergunned. :gun4:

I was thinking of the .30 Herret since it seems to have been designed to get maximum velocity from the shorter barrels. Is there a better choice :?:

Thanks in advance for any opinions.

X

Hawkeye · « **Reply #1 on:** December 17, 2003, 08:30:18 AM »

Here is an article that put me onto the 7-30 Waters. I have both the .30 Herret and two 7-30 Waters and it is a delima when going to the field on which one to take.

MIke

http://www.handgunhunt.com/feature/s14/index.html

rickyp · « **Reply #2 on:** December 17, 2003, 08:55:48 AM »

lets not forget the old tired and true 357 herrett. the cases are cheaper and easer to come by (30-30) then the 357 max. With the herrett you can get a few hundreds fps over the 357 max with the same bullets weights.. and now the barrels are "out" you can pick one up for around $125.

ghostZ · « **Reply #3 on:** December 17, 2003, 09:00:51 AM »

My vote is the .35 Remington...only because that is the cal I use!

Quote

...and now the barrels are "out" you can pick one up for around $125.

I can't find any barrels that cheap no matter the cal.

rickyp · « **Reply #4 on:** December 17, 2003, 09:04:50 AM »

I have seen the 10 inch barrels in 22 lr, 30 herrett and 357 herrett and quite a few of the octagon barrels go for around this price on ebay. Of coarse if you get the brass, bullets and dies the price will go up some.

Taken from edstc web site factory barrels, blued barrels for the contender
357 Herrett w/sights $110.00
357 Herrett taper $85.00

Sixgun · « **Reply #5 on:** December 17, 2003, 09:12:46 AM »

I have to plug the 357 Max. Brass is easy to come by(Midway USA for one and there are others) and not too expensive(I got mine for $12 pr 100 on sale 2 years ago at Midway).

Since you are planning on loading your own, the 357 max is a straight walled case and can be loaded with your current 357 carbide dies and if you don't have 357 carbide dies you can get them about anywhere for under $30. The Herrett dies go for twice that or more.

I load mine with 21gr of 296 or H110 and get 1860fps with a 180 gr cast rnfp bullet. I do some practice with light 38sp loads. Try that with a Herrett.

Accuracy is great. At 100 yards I get sub 2" groups with the stock open sights. I had a scope on it and got groups closer to .9" but decided it did so good without the scope, why carry it around. Both of those examples are from a bench. When I am shooting silhouettes, free standing, I do about as good with the open sights as I do with the scope.

Recoil is noticable but not unmanagable. It is really pleasant to shoot.

Sixgun

KYODE · « **Reply #6 on:** December 17, 2003, 09:40:19 AM »

don't have one, but i'd add the 7tcu to a "good 10" barrel list" :agree:

rickyp · « **Reply #7 on:** December 17, 2003, 09:44:26 AM »

you can use 38 special , 357 mag in a 357 max barrel for light practice
the if you look around you can get a set of 357 herrett dies for about the same as a set of carbide 357 mag dies and the 357 herrett brass is about $3.00 more then the 357 max, but if you go to the local shooting range you can normally pick up a nice supply of once fired 30-30 brass for free.

Both rounds are about equal but the herrett has a slight edge though I doubt a deer can tell if a bullet is going 1900 fps or 2200 fps.

If you already have a setup for 357 magnum the you would be better off getting the MAX barrel but if you don't, the herrett may be a little better.

I for one do not believe in using "light rounds" for practice out of my hunting barrels. I practice with the same load that i will be hunting with. If i want to practice with a lighter recoil round I will just put on my 22 LR barrel. Most of my 10 inch barrels are set up the same way so the 22 barrel handles the same as all the other barrels

Graybeard · « **Reply #8 on:** December 17, 2003, 12:00:08 PM »

I don't really care for the 7-30 or .35 Rem. in the 10" barrels. Just too much powder for that length. I love both rounds and recommend them highly but feel both need 14" to do their stuff.

In a 10" for me the choice would boil down to the two Herrett's (I own both) or the TCUs either 6.5 or 7mm. Any of the four will do an outstanding job on deer from a 10" barrel. The .44 mag will too but many fine the recoil somewhat brutal in a 10". I happen to be one of them. From a 14" it seems a pusssycat but in a 10" it is brutal to me. Dunno. :roll:

If I had to place them in order as 100 yard deer rounds I guess I'd say 7TCU, .357 Herrett, 6.5 TCU and .30 Herrett. Mostly because I have the least experience with the .30 Herrett. I think they are all great for the job.

GB

Darrell H · « **Reply #9 on:** December 17, 2003, 12:15:55 PM »

Thanks for all of your suggestions guys. Since nobody tried to talk me out of it, I placed an order with Bullberry for a 10" .30 Herrett. Now for the 3-4 month wait.

Thanks again for all of your suggestions.

X

Hopalong7 · « **Reply #10 on:** December 17, 2003, 12:19:24 PM »

My first Contender came in 1973 and was 10" .256Mag. Never considered shooting deer with it, but my next purchase was a 10" 30Herret. Since then I would estimate that I have owned(God, I hope my wife's not looking) over 100 barrels. My favorite 10" deer barrel is STILL that old 10" 30Herret barrel. I,ve added newer and much better scopes, newer two piece bolt, but the old barrel is still the same. It's killed more deer than any pistol or rifle I've ever had. Second place is somewhere between the .357Max, 41Mag, .45Colt and .357Herret. Nothing wrong w/ .44Mag either, but I just never seemed to care for it for some reason. I think it was just because every time I mentioned deer hunting w/ handgun everybody said "well, I guess you're using a .44Mag". I kind'a enjoyed saying "no". It seemed for years that I was the only one on the planet going hunting with ONLY a handgun!! Course that was long before GBO. GOOD SHOOTIN', Walt

haroldclark · « **Reply #11 on:** December 17, 2003, 12:27:02 PM »

What a conversation on this subject. I would agree with Kyode and Graybeard and select the 10" 7TCU as my first and last choice. I have a 10" and a 14" 7TCU and they are my most used barrels out of 11 others. The reason is that they both provide superb accuracy, power and ease of shooting. How powerful are they, you might ask? Yesterday, I set up 10 500 meter Silhouette Rams and made certain they were hard set. With the 14" barreled 7TCU and a Hornady 162 grain spbt, I knocked down the first 5 in a row. I got cocky and missed a few and rang two of them. But that is a feat for a 7TCU. At 100 yards, most any shot on a dear would be a slam dunk.

I must really be getting old. I read about you ole bad boys shooting 357 Herretts and 44 Mags in a 10" TC, it makes me pucker up.

About 35 years ago, I fired a 10" octagonal barreled 44 magnum with the original Thompson thumb buster. That was more fun than I could stand then and now. Some time after that experience, I was shooting next to an Old Timer at the range from a bench rest. Every time his Thompson went off, my beard nearly caught fire and my lips flapped from the blast. However, I watched him and there was hardly any recoil at all and it looked like he was loading 44 Mags in the beast. I couldn't believe the lack of recoil that he was exhibiting.

I had to ask what he was shooting and of course, like all shooters that I know, they immediately offer for you to shoot their gun.

Well, I determined that the old coot must have had a grip like a steel vice. I damned near rearranged my forehead with the barrel of the TC.

When I read about folks shooting the big bad boys in contenders, I want you to know that you guys have gotta be some tough critters and you have my respect.

I am sticking with my 7TCU and possibly a 7-30 Waters.

Harold Clark

41MAG · « **Reply #12 on:** December 17, 2003, 12:44:06 PM »

My vote goes to the 41 mag. I have dropped several deer with mine.With no problem.Now that Winchester has a new 240gr. round I might give up reloading my 41.The new round is great

Dennis

Graycg · « **Reply #13 on:** December 17, 2003, 01:25:15 PM »

Lots of good rounds out there, I'll plug the 357 max, with right bullets it's a 200 yard gun, recoil is mild, carbide dies for reloading, extremely accurate and best of all, very flat shooting and gets out there fast! Compared to any of the straight-walled rounds, the bullet gets out there real fast!
357 herret is just as good or slightly better ballistically (probably moot in 10 inch barrel), but requires case forming (not hard) and lubing the cases for resizing. I'm lazy and prefer the max.

regards,

graycg

smoky · « **Reply #14 on:** December 18, 2003, 11:32:28 AM »

I have a 7mm BR in 10 3/4" stainless from the tc custom shop. It will really shoot. If you hand load, this round sure would be versitle.

Smoky

Gregory · « **Reply #15 on:** December 18, 2003, 12:09:27 PM »

Here in Illinois I'm restricted to bottlenecked cases less than 1.4" and a 30 cal min. so I used a 300 Whisper this season to fill my buck tag. I can use any straight walled cartridge too, so I used a 357 Max for my antlerless second tag.

I'm thinking of using my 44 Mag barrel in the January antlerless season to see if I can get a deer with each of my deer caliber Contender barrels in one season.

A 10" 44 Mag used to be my primary deer gun, today it's a tossup between the 300 Whisper and 357 Max.

hoser1268 · « **Reply #16 on:** December 22, 2003, 04:20:57 PM »

My vote is for the 7-30 waters. I have it in the 10 inch barrel and it is very accurate with factory ammo and reloads. My favorite load is 40grs. of H414 behind a 120 grn. Nosler balistic tip. I get sub MOA groups with it a 100 yards.

stevinator · « **Reply #17 on:** January 04, 2004, 11:06:08 AM »

Here in Illinois the regs say the list is only partial on the hunting application.Where do you get the full list? I was wondering what bottleneck cartridges were legal and if any could be bought off the shelf or if you have to load them all. I shoot a 357 now out of a taurus and just picked up a 357 10'' bull barrel contender.The 357 worked great this year but i can't really extend the range. I shot both deer under 50 yds.

Gregory · « **Reply #18 on:** January 04, 2004, 12:11:18 PM »

Quote from: stevinator

Here in Illinois the regs say the list is only partial on the hunting application.Where do you get the full list? I was wondering what bottleneck cartridges were legal and if any could be bought off the shelf or if you have to load them all. I shoot a 357 now out of a taurus and just picked up a 357 10'' bull barrel contender.The 357 worked great this year but i can't really extend the range. I shot both deer under 50 yds.

Here's the text of what is legal from the IL DNR:
http://dnr.state.il.us/pubaffairs/2003/Nov/Gunopp-Nov13.htm

The only bottlenecked cases I know that fit the <1.4" are the 300 Whisper and 30 Bellm. Cor bon sells 300 Whisper ammo and CNC Cartridges sells the 30 Bellm.

http://www.cnccartridge.com/sp30.htm
http://mysite.elixirlabs.com/catalog/index.php?file=catalog&prod_pcategory=49228&clist=0,49198,49228&uid=12665&gpoid=

Paladin · « **Reply #19 on:** January 04, 2004, 12:25:45 PM »

http://www.dnr.state.il.us/admin/systems/03/DeerHuntingInfo.htm

stevinator · « **Reply #20 on:** January 04, 2004, 01:57:19 PM »

Thanks for the replies guys. It looks like if you don't want to wildcat you have to go to the big boomers in a straight wall.I know there are a couple of barrels around in 30 and 357 herrett but it wouldn't do me any good.

Lone Star · « **Reply #21 on:** January 05, 2004, 11:30:05 AM »

Quote

....looks like if you don't want to wildcat you have to go to the big boomers in a straight wall.

Not really. While many have bad-mouthed it, the .30-30 is not a bad cartridge in the 10" T/C. The 150 BTip at 1950 fps will expand on deer out to 100 yards, but I prefer the 125 BTip at 2200 fps. Not as efficient as the .30 Herrett ( one of my personal favorites ) the .30-30 still performs well.

A hunting buddy took his 10" T/C out for caribou several years ago and killed a nice bull with one shot using factory 150-grain ammo ( WW at 1917 fps ). Even better is the .300 Savage - but it is a handfull in a 10" tube. It is far better in a 15" barrel.

helobill · « **Reply #22 on:** January 05, 2004, 05:18:14 PM »

Lone Star,
He's in Illinois so bottle-necks have to be under 1.4" case length. 30-30 won't fit the bill. Any straight wall is okay (so why are the 45-70 and 444 marlin okay but the 30-30 not :? I don't get it, but them's the rules. We had to go on a letter writting campaign to keep ANY bottle-necks legal) They thought they were opening up the choices, but forgot about those of us with bottle necks that met the regs. Other restriction is it has to be "factory loaded" to over 500 ft lbs of muzzle energy. Cor-bon and CNC have done the steps necessary to get them qualified as "factory" ammunition (have to guarantee to produce the ammo for 10 years!)
Bill

Gregory · « **Reply #23 on:** January 06, 2004, 12:33:23 PM »

Quote from: Paladin

http://www.dnr.state.il.us/admin/systems/03/DeerHuntingInfo.htm

This is not the most up to date info on handguns for deer hunting.

Try:

http://dnr.state.il.us/pubaffairs/2003/Nov/Gunopp-Nov13.htm

buckweet · « **Reply #24 on:** January 13, 2004, 06:58:46 PM »

my vote goes to the 7mmTCU then the herrett
long ago i bought a barrel from graybeard the 7mmTCU 10 incher
i learned to reload. had a blast
dang thing shot like gangbusters !!
sadly i got hard up for money.
sold it..
how i wish i had it back !!!
but another 7mmTCU is on its way !!!
buckweet

Tommyt · « **Reply #25 on:** January 14, 2004, 01:03:22 AM »

7mmTCU

JD HHI 6092® · « **Reply #26 on:** January 14, 2004, 02:34:52 AM »

Quote from: ghostZ

I can't find any barrels that cheap no matter the cal.

If you look around you can find them barrels cheap. I just ordered a blued 10" 30 Herrett barrel, dies, and brass for $140.

Hopalong7 · « **Reply #27 on:** January 14, 2004, 09:52:50 AM »

Ebay, this past weekend a 10" .357 Herret w/ forend and mount and rings went for $125.00. I started to buy it and I already have two. Walt

buckweet · « **Reply #28 on:** January 14, 2004, 12:24:00 PM »

check with board members !!!
some have barrel's they'll sell reasonable..
good luck !!!
buckweet

i still vote fer the 7mmTCU

stevinator · « **Reply #29 on:** January 23, 2004, 06:37:30 PM »

How much recoil can you expect from a 10'' 44 mag bull barrel. I have a 357 and wondered how much worse the 44 was?