243, 7-30 waters, etc: Whitetail

[Gdbyrd]

Looking to put together another combo for this upcoming season.  Looking for advice on low recoil calibers for an Encore or Contender.  Ranges are less than 200 yards, south Tx whitetail.

Would just like your suggestions on calibers to think about and look into.  I should mention I reload, although my experience so far is with straight-wall cartridges only. 

I own a 460 already, and it's just not fun to shoot.  I want something I can shoot a lot to get practice with for longer ranges.  I'm looking into maybe getting a break added to it but want to avoid future problems and downtime with them :*(

Thanks.

[scratcherky]

Go with the 7-30 Waters.

[shot1]

I went through this process a couple years ago. I wanted to stay with the Contender frame so it came down to the 7-30 Waters and the 30-30AI. I chose the 30-30AI and had Match Grade Machines (MGM) make me a 14" SS Shilen barrel. IT SHOOTS. I chose the 30-30AI for these reasons: First was bullet selection, many more bullets that will work with the velocity you can get out of the 30-30AI. Second, with the 30-30AI you can equal or slightly exceed 30-30 Win velocity from a rifle in a 14" barrel pistol. I have taken deer with the 30-30 rifle and know how well it kills. Third, if push came to shove you can find regular 30-30 Win ammo almost anyplace and it shoots just fine in the 30-30AI.

Results:   With 33 grs IMR 4198 in a WW fire formed case, set off by a Wolf LR primer pushing a 125 gr Nosler Ballistic Tip out of my 14" barrel I average 2670 fps and groups 3/4" at 100 yards and it just plain smokes deer. I took 4 deer from 45 to 85 yards this past season and dropped 3 in their tracks and one only took three stumbling jumps. All were shot through the front shoulder and all bullets exited with perfect expansion. Sighted in 2" high at 100 yards I am on the money at 200 yards. In my book it don't get much better.

[SD Handgunner]

I have taken Whitetail Deer with the .243 Winchester in a 15" T/C Encore Handgun, as well as the 7-30 Waters in both 10" and 14" T/C Contender Handguns and I have also used the .30-30 AI in a 14" T/C Contender Handgun.

All did their job very, very well. If I had to pick a favorite it would be a TOUGH choice.

One way to look at it is this, if you are planning on strictly Whitetails with this cartridge all 3 will do the job quite well. If Varmints / Predators enter into the picture then the .243 Encore might have an edge in that more suitable bullets are available for the smaller critters. Recoil is not going to be a factor with any one of these 3 cartridges.

Since you say you have a .460 am I correct in assuming that it is in the form of an Encore Handgun? If that is the case then a simple Encore Barrel will add your second cartridge / caliber of choice.

Good luck with your decision.

Larry

[Ladobe]

Agree with Larry, either one, or even a plain old 30-30 to stay with cheaper factory barrels.   Few people actually need a brake to shoot any of these easily, another cost savings.    Only the 243 has to be on the Encore, the other two can be on Contenders as well.  Also agree if you want to hunt P&V with one of these three the 243 is the choice.   Cheap brass and tools make them cheap to load for.   A heck of a lot of whitetail and mule deer (and other game) have been taken with all three well past your 200 yard need.   

The 30-30AI is certainly a plus, so is the JDJ's, Super Bowers and lots of other choices, but none of them are really needed for your intended use.   

Good luck hunting with whatever you decide to go with.

L.

[SD Handgunner]

I should also add that I have done a lot of shooting with a 14" .30-30 Winchester T/C Contender BUT I have not shot a Deer with one. I mainly used 125gr. Nosler Ballistic Tips loaded to a muzzle velocity of 2400 FPS.

In fact a buddy of mine has a Stainless-Steel Super 14 .30-30 Winchester T/C Contender. I load all of his ammo for him, 125gr. Nosler Ballistic Tips at 2375 FPS (from his barrel). He has shot 4 or 5 Whitetails with his .30-30 with the 125's with very good results. I think his longest shot was just over 200 yards by a few yards.

Larry

[xphunter]

Good advice has been given-either will work.
If varmints are in your future-243 Win

[luckydawg13]

how does that 460 shoot i thought that was a 200yrd shooter

[bilmac]

I had a 7X30  21" Contender once. I wasn't too pleased.  Admittedly, the cartridge was pretty new then and I was handloading and there may be better bullets for it now, but I didn't want to be using a flat nose bullet in a SS rifle. In my experience we had a lot of well hit deer run; some of them quite a way. In heavier cover some of the deer the wife and I shot would probably been lost. 

I know the 243 may not have the pizzaz of a 7X30, that's probably 90% of the reason I had to have one, but the 243 works. I can only remember one deer that was well hit with either a 243 or 6mm moving very far. Between the wife and me we have killed a slough of deer and antelopes with 243s and 6mms. The deer that ran was a very big muley and he made it about 300 yds before he piled up dead. On the other hand I think a 6mm size bullet will be less likely to anchor a poorly shot critter as well as something with a little more thump, not a 7X30 but something from 30-30 up.

[DANNY-L]

Mine is a 7-30 14" w/break and it is an excellent shooter,under an inch at 100yds,scoped and with 120gr.sierra lots of fun to shoot and absolutely no tiring the body.

[44 Man]

I guess I need to sound off in here as I have had both 14" Contender pistol and carbine barrel in 7x30 Waters.  I was very pleased with the handgun barrel as it would shoot under an inch at 100 yds all day long.  The carbine barrel was a disappointment though, as the best it would do was 1 1/2" at that same range so I got rid of it.  Then I decided I had a need for another rifle barrel and had a brake permanently installed on the 14" barrel to bring it over 16" to use it leagaly as a carbine.  I did not shoot quite as well as a carbine as it did as a handgun.  Must be the way you hold it.  Anyway I was well pleased with the performance of the 7-30 waters on deer.  I really couldn't see much difference between that and the 30-30 for downrange performance.  If you handload, any of the calibers are useful as you can load 125 gr bullets in the 30-30, I use Sierra Pro Hunter.  Or for the 7-30 you can use 120 gr Ballistic Tips.  They are good clear down to 1800 fps terminal velocity.  Good luck and enjoy shooting what ever you choose.  44 Man

[retfed]

......  I want something I can shoot a lot to get practice with for longer ranges.  I'm looking into maybe getting a break added to it but want to avoid future problems and downtime with them :*(

I started out with a standard, SS, 7mm-08 barrel for my Encore because I am hoping for a Caribou hunt in AK with my son. I soon realized I didn't want to put much more than 10 rounds down range on any given range visit. So I added two more SS, ProHunter barrels, a .17HMR and a .223 Rem. Now I can shoot the Encore a lot more getting used to the new trigger job and just the general feel of the gun.

[Gdbyrd]

how does that 460 shoot i thought that was a 200yrd shooter

It hurts like hell to shoot more than 10 or so times.  Hornady storebought ammo was getting me 6-8 inches at 100 yards.  Reloading with the 200gr FTX and 296 I was getting 2-3".  I haven't had a chance to do more than one powder weight though, I know it can do better. But it's honestly just not fun to shoot.  I'm worried a big deer will walk out and I'm going to flinch. 

I'm going to try a shooting glove and some other recommendations Grumulkin gave me.  I think once I get a 243 barrel I'm going to only use it for reduced loads and keep it as a hog gun.

Decided I'm going with the 243 too, thank you all for the info and suggestions.  I have a 223 barrel for the contender, so I can shoot it a lot already, but I really want something I can use for deer and also take to the range and enjoy to shoot.

[Junior1942]

It hurts like hell to shoot more than 10 or so times. ........ I really want something I can use for deer and also take to the range and enjoy to shoot. . . .

Try a 7mm TCU.  You can shoot it all day.  See http://www.castbullet.com/shooting/7tcu2.htm

[44 Man]

Sometimes I think there is way too much emphasis on the size of the bullet (.244, .257, .264, .277, 284, etc).  If you have a properly designed bullet for the game you are hunting, at the proper velocity for the bullet to work as it is designed; it will do the job asked of it, caliber not withstanding.  There are so many good calibers out there trying to pick the 'best' one out is an endless discussion.  Pick a caliber you like and get proper ammunition and go have fun!  44 Man

[SlimL]

Me I would go with the 243.  The one change that I would suggest is going with an 18" barrel and a fast twist.  Heavier bullet farther distance.  Slim

[Win 1917]

I'd go with the 7-30 simply because I like the Contender better. I had a 243 barrel for my Encore though and it shot very well and recoil was mild

[Hopalong7]

     Go back and read 44Man's last post again and then pick your choice(to me the choice is the platform....Encore or Contender)and then practice, practice, and practice some more until you can put whatever bullet you choose exactly where you want it under any conditions and from any postion.....then show us pics of that big ole buck!  Good luck with whichever!
Walt

[basdjs]

I agree with others on the .243.  I have a 15" barrel for my Encore with 2-6X32 Bushnell scope and it's very accurate at 100 yds. with a good rest.  Likes 85 gr. and 87 gr. bullets better than 100 gr.