hunting handgun (with limitations)

[pastorp]

Greetings from southeast alaska. I am getting the itch to hunt with a handgun as my primary weapon. I have always carried a hand gun, first a saa in 45 long colt & then a 454 casual. As well as a great variety of other autos and revolvers. However the last few years I have developed some arthritis in my hands and have been selling my 454's and carring a 45 auto for defense. For hunting I believe I want a TCcontender, I have 2 frames one blue and one ss. The question is what caliber. The only barrel I presently own is a 7tcu in 10". I can tolerate that much recoil but probably not much more. I like 10" barrels or shorter. Would the 30herret be a caliber I would be happy with. Would you that can, compare recoil with the 7tcu. Is there a better choice to meet my needs. Thanks to you all for your opinions. Byron

[Gregory]

It would be hard to recommend a caliber without knowing what you plan on hunting.  For deer hunting here in the midwest I'm using a 357 Maximum out of a 10" TC.  Recoil is pretty tame but I've never shot a 7 TCU for comparison.

[pastorp]

sorry for overlooking that detail. There are a variety of big game to hunt. Deer, black bear, elk, moose, sheep, goats,& brown bear. I mostly hunt deer & black bear. Thanks for your responses, Byron

[22popnsplat]

If you have become recoil sensitive I would suggest a barrel with a tamer or a brake , you wont be very popular at the target range though . I have shot only 2 barrels with tamers , the 45-70 and the 375 winchester . The 375 with a tamer was comparible to my tcu

[Hawkeye]

You would be well served if you found a .35 Rem in a 12" Contender Hunter barrel with the factory break or get a 14" and have one installed. I have the 7-30 Waters w/custom break and had a 30-30 w/break and both didn't have any more recoil than my 30 Herrett. The 35 Rem would cover most of you hunting needs except maybe a big bear or moose. It would be iffy on Elk unless close range.
I don't know where you would go after that for the recoil sensitive.
I have a 45-70 w/break but it is still a handful.
Good luck.

Mike

[C A Plater]

I don't have a 7TCU but do have a 6.5 and have had .30-30 barrels in 10 inch.  As for recoil, the .30-30 did buck a bit more than the TCU but seemed in the same ball park to me.  I would expect the .30 Herret to be similar but with less muzzle blast.  The .357 maximum is in that same area recoil wise as I experienced it.  The most punishing Contender barrel I ever had was a 10" .44 Magnum.  I tried it in 14" and it was somewhat better and a break may have made it tolerable but seeing I had a .44 revolver and a lever gun, I just got rid of it.  I also have arthritis and have found that glucosamine-condroitin  helps as well or better than anything the doctor precribed and without side effects.  Good luck hunting.

[Steve P]

I have a 30-30 in 10".  To get the accuracy, I had to kick up the velocity which also kicked up the recoil.  Much more punishing than the TCUs.  If you have a 7TCU, a good 139 - 140 grain load will work for you on deer.  I would suggest going to the 357 max since you reload or have someone load for you.  You can get the 200-210 grain bullets into the 1500 fps range with no problem with recoil or pressures.  Try AA1680 powder and Rem 7 1/2 or WSR primers.  Very clean and very accurate.  Will take deer or black bear no problem.    Would suggest going to the 30 or 357 herret with muzzle brake to work up loads for anything bigger.

Good luck with your choice.

Steve  

[pastorp]

Thanks guys, Some really good advice here. Looks like I need to look into a barrel with a break. mabe a 12" 357 herret. Thanks again, Byron

[yukiginger]

Pastorp, check your private mail, as I sent you a message over the weekend.

Mark