Author Topic: Best Single Shot Pistol Caliber? (Read 3039 times)

JAM66 · « **on:** February 25, 2012, 03:12:20 PM »

I have a new .223 single shot pistol with a .223 14" barrel. Its a Competitor breech load. I wanted a single barrel that would be enough for deer and varmints. I have all kinds of .308, 44,.223 ammo and did not want to add another caliber to the mix. Which would be a good choice? The .223 is not eough power for deer hunting?

kynardsj · « **Reply #1 on:** February 25, 2012, 03:33:54 PM »

308 works great in a 15 inch pistol.

Lloyd Smale · « **Reply #2 on:** February 26, 2012, 02:09:09 AM »

ive killed deer with the 223 and no doubt it will get it done with good bullet placement but out of a pistol your making an borderline round even more borderline. Either the 308 or the 44 mag will work much better. Pick according to how far you plan to shoot. the 44 mag is good out of a handgun out to maybe a 100 yards and the 308 proably 250 or so but not many are experienced enough to really take advantage of it.

Ken ONeill · « **Reply #3 on:** February 26, 2012, 02:19:13 AM »

The .308

Couger · « **Reply #4 on:** February 26, 2012, 02:36:26 AM »

another .308 vote here.

Lloyd's post covers most details you should consider in your choice!

jhalcott · « **Reply #5 on:** February 26, 2012, 09:44:43 AM »

Ive also used the .223 in a 14" contender to take white tails. I do PREFER the .308 in my XP with 14" barrel though!

Ladobe · « **Reply #6 on:** February 27, 2012, 06:49:51 AM »

Quote from: Couger on February 26, 2012, 02:36:26 AM

Lloyd's post covers most details you should consider in your choice!

And he did so very well. It is all about your ability with the handgun and the ranges it will be shot in deciding between the 44 and 308.

My pick for the "best single shot pistol caliber", AKA do anything 14" specialty handgun was the 375JDJ (I've had 4 of them).

xphunter · « **Reply #7 on:** February 28, 2012, 03:18:29 AM »

IF, you do not want to add another cartridge or caliber then I would choose the 308 over the other two.
The 308 is definitely NOT my favorite dual purpose cartridge or just deer cartridge for that matter.

Quote from: JAM66 on February 25, 2012, 03:12:20 PM

I have a new .223 single shot pistol with a .223 14" barrel. Its a Competitor breech load. I wanted a single barrel that would be enough for deer and varmints. I have all kinds of .308, 44,.223 ammo and did not want to add another caliber to the mix. Which would be a good choice? The .223 is not eough power for deer hunting?

JAM66 · « **Reply #8 on:** February 28, 2012, 03:45:21 PM »

I am leaning towards the .308 , is the 30-30 a good choice if I decide not to go with the .308 or 44?

Swampman · « **Reply #9 on:** February 28, 2012, 03:51:26 PM »

Everybody needs a .45-70.

xphunter · « **Reply #10 on:** February 28, 2012, 06:26:54 PM »

The 308 is a jump up from the 30-30. If you go with the 30-30, go with a Contender.

Quote from: JAM66 on February 28, 2012, 03:45:21 PM

I am leaning towards the .308 , is the 30-30 a good choice if I decide not to go with the .308 or 44?

stubshaft · « **Reply #11 on:** February 28, 2012, 06:58:13 PM »

I have a 308 in an Encore and a 30/30 for my Tender. Both are excellent deer cartridges and make short work of goats and hogs too.

handgunhuntr · « **Reply #12 on:** February 29, 2012, 02:17:13 AM »

Ok... I just have to be different. I chose to go with a 357 Max in a contender and a 7mm-08 in an Encore. Both hammer deer and hogs very effectively, and recoil is not much of an issue.

xphunter · « **Reply #13 on:** February 29, 2012, 02:44:01 AM »

If we are going outside the box for a dual purpose cartridge:
6mm-6.5x47 Lapua, 243 Win, 25 Souper, 250 Savage, 250 Sav AI, 6.5x47 Lapua, 260 Rem, and 7-08 at the upper end.
Deer don't wear body armor. The 6mm's, 25's, and 6.5's are more than capable.
Proper bullet and proper placement=animal down every time.

JAM66 · « **Reply #14 on:** February 29, 2012, 02:46:40 AM »

I have a Competitor Corp breech load pistol.

KAYR1 · « **Reply #15 on:** February 29, 2012, 08:39:55 AM »

The .308 has served me well in my 15" Encore. It is a pretty efficient cartridge and doesn't suffer much velocity loss from a 15" barrel. Accurate too.

Lawful Larry · « **Reply #16 on:** March 01, 2012, 01:25:59 PM »

I would go with the .44 mag. Handgun hunting is an art!!! Trying to use a high powered caliber like the .308 in a handgun, at ranges too far for a handgun, is not my idea of hunting. It is more like "Look what I can do!"

Go with a handgun caliber by stalking and hunting your game. You want a .308, get a rifle.

Each has it's own merits, like muzzleloader hunting, archery, and rifle. But handgun hunting is in a class all it's own! The .44 mag. is ideal for game out to 100 yds. I have a Contender, Ruger Black Hawk, and S&W 629 in .44 and they are very capable of taking both small and large game.

Just my thoughts on this subject though. Good luck!

ShootnStr8 · « **Reply #17 on:** March 02, 2012, 02:26:25 PM »

If you don't want to add another chambering then I would vote for .308.

If you are open to another cartridge then the sky is the limit. Readily available cartridges like the .243, 260, 7-08 would all be great and offer deer/varmint versatility with the added advantage of manageable recoil.

Blessings!

Shootnstr8

BlkHawk73 · « **Reply #18 on:** March 02, 2012, 03:38:52 PM »

Do your job in placing the shot and any of those will suffice for deer just fine. The Competitor is quite capable of great performance and accuracy. If you were open to other chamberings, I'd suggest .357 maximum. It's awesome in he Competitor!

charles p · « **Reply #19 on:** March 02, 2012, 03:49:37 PM »

In a Contender, its 7-30 Waters for me.

DANNY-L · « **Reply #20 on:** March 03, 2012, 04:45:41 AM »

Quote from: charles p on March 02, 2012, 03:49:37 PM

In a Contender, its 7-30 Waters for me.

Me too,very nice shooting cartridge.

ShootnStr8 · « **Reply #21 on:** March 03, 2012, 03:05:39 PM »

Just to make it 3 in a row -- the 7/30 Waters is simply awesome in a Contender! 100 grainers for varmints and 120 BTs or 139SSTs for deer. However, it seems are are talking Encore here.

Blessings!

Shootnstr8

Rodent · « **Reply #22 on:** March 04, 2012, 12:15:03 PM »

Don't pay attention to those that say you should not shoot a 308 in a handgun. If you want to do it, go for it. I have a Striker in 308 and it is all that I have used for 6 years or more and has taken plenty of deer. Some just do not know what they are talking about. I use the Striker for competition as well, so I am going with the 30-30 AI in a Contender for hunting this coming year.
Whatever you end up going with, practice, practice and practice some more. The game that you are hunting deserves that.

Good luck

David D. · « **Reply #23 on:** March 04, 2012, 01:15:52 PM »

I plan some day to build a 308 pistol on a Encore frame 15" barrel. I now have a Tender 30-30IMP, Tender 6.5JDJ, MOA 30-30IMP. For me the 30-30IMP or 6.5JD are going to work well as most my shots will be 200yds. or less and the recoil milder than the 308.

Tender 30-30IMP.

MOA 30-30IMP.

Tender 6.5JDJ

xphunter · « **Reply #24 on:** March 04, 2012, 01:35:56 PM »

JAM66,
I agree with rodent. Don't pay any mind what people think you should get in terms of cartridge design.
Nothing wrong with using a bottleneck cartridge in a handgun.
If it doesn't suit their needs, then they don't have to use it.
If you want a straight wall cartridge-Cool!
Point being, get what you want!!!
With your action, you have about any cartridge option you want. You have a very strong action.
Good luck and have fun with your decision

gypsyman · « **Reply #25 on:** March 05, 2012, 04:38:56 AM »

Probably because I already have a Dan Wesson in .445sm, I'd like to have a barrel for my Encore in that caliber.(just not high enough on my want list yet I guess)Or, if I had a .460S&W, I'd go with that. AAHH, if I could only hit the lottery!!

gypsyman

jhalcott · « **Reply #26 on:** March 06, 2012, 02:52:43 PM »

Jam66, how far away from these deer are YOU going to be? You have a .223 and lots of ammo. Use it IF you do not like the recoil from the other calibers or can not afford another barrel. I'd check the area where you plan to hunt just to be certain the .223 in a handgun IS LEGAL! I have a Lone Eagle and an XP in .308, both are more than enough for white tails.

mcwoodduck · « **Reply #27 on:** March 06, 2012, 03:12:20 PM »

Since you do not want to add any calibers.
The answer is easy the 44 mag.
You will be suprised what the added tube does to the speed of the barrel.
and turns 44 mag into something else.
The recoil of the 44 with 240 grain bullets is about the same in recoil as my 14" 30-30 barrel and these are the same loads I shoot single handed with my model 29 with no problems.

338JDJ · « **Reply #28 on:** March 07, 2012, 07:03:57 AM »

Tough question. I think it also depends on what your gonna hunt. If I absolutely had only on caliber to pick it would have to be the contender in 338JDJ#2. It will take any game in N. America. It has great accuracy with moose knock down. My farthest shot on prairie dogs with it was 287 yds. I have taken whitetail out to 260 yds but that is the max I can shoot where I hunt due to the terrain. I consistently shoot 4 1/2 " groups out to 350 yds at the range. The 375JDJ would be my second choice.

xphunter · « **Reply #29 on:** March 07, 2012, 07:25:07 AM »

Since he has a Competitor, he is not limited to the pressure restrictions that come with a Contender/G-2.
Strength wise, I would put it above the Encore because of its action design.
There would be no need for him to go to a wildcat cartridge for varmint to deer sized game, unless he just likes wildcats.