Author Topic: Best Whitetail Pistol Setup ??????????? (Read 2101 times)

12ring · « **on:** March 07, 2005, 07:23:00 PM »

I am wanting to get a black synthetic/rubber grip and forearm, a scope, rings, and base for a pistol barrel, and the pistol barrel as well.
Most, if not all of my shots should be under 150 yards. This pistol will be used for hunting whitetails (and maybe hogs) only. Whitetails are the main purpose for the setup.
What calibers and barrel lengths would be best for this? I am thinking of a 15" barrel in a .25-06, .260, .270, or 7mm-08. And then putting a 2x7 scope of some kind on it.
I am new to the Encore world, so any advice/suggestions would be greatly appreicated.
And also any "for sale" offers would be appreicated as well. Let me know what you've got for sale along these lines. Thanks,.......... Derek.

When choosing a caliber, please list a barrel length as well.

KYODE · « **Reply #1 on:** March 08, 2005, 01:22:29 AM »

15" 7-08........a 260rem would be an equal or dang near it for me. :grin:

Redhawk1 · « **Reply #2 on:** March 08, 2005, 01:35:40 AM »

I would go with the .270 with the choices you gave or jump up to a 30-06. I had a 15 inch 30-06 and took a nice deer with it at 70 yards off hand.

PA-Joe · « **Reply #3 on:** March 08, 2005, 01:40:20 AM »

10 inch 44 mag it's all you need.

tipiguy · « **Reply #4 on:** March 08, 2005, 05:04:22 AM »

A 12" 35 remington is great. Can be reloaded or use factory ammo. Accurate out to 150 yards. Delivers a lot of punch without the excessive recoil of other callibers listed. You can always go with a break but they are so load and personally don't really like them.

Good luck! So many options...

tipiguy

Gregory · « **Reply #5 on:** March 08, 2005, 12:29:38 PM »

Voted "other" 357 Max in a 10" TC Contender.

se-okla.shooter · « **Reply #6 on:** March 08, 2005, 05:08:02 PM »

I have a encore 15" 7/08 with 2x7 scope that I have shot 2 deer one about 75 yrds. and one about 50 neither went over 10 yards. I set up the encore to shoot long range but I have not found one yet to try it on. I have shot a hand full with a ruger 44 Mag supper blackhock from about the same range and with the same results. Guy SE Okla.

Jamie45 · « **Reply #7 on:** March 08, 2005, 06:12:04 PM »

Brother, there aint no substitute for cubic inches!! 45-70 gubment in a 15 tube (but I do recommend the compensator).

12ring · « **Reply #8 on:** March 08, 2005, 06:32:38 PM »

No thanks Jamie. I want to kill a deer, not myself! LOL! I know there is no such thing as overkill, but I think a well placed shot from a somewhat smaller caliber will be sufficient.
SE Okie, what town do you live in. I live just S of Lake Texoma. You wouldn't wanna sell your barrel and scope setup would ya? LOL! I didn't figure you would. Where did you buy your barrel and accessories. I have contacted Ed, from Ed's contenders, but he didn't seem too thrilled or excited to do business w/me. He IS sending me a list of his merchandise and prices though.

Thanks for the replys. I think I am going to go with a 15" 7mm-08.

Is the 7-08 available in a 12" barrel, and if so, what do ya'll think of it? Thanks again, Derek.

Del · « **Reply #9 on:** March 09, 2005, 05:04:02 AM »

I'd pick the 7mm-08 from the calibers you had listed, and suggest one good premium bullet load for everything. Perhaps a 140 grn Nosler Partition, plenty for any whitetail and good for that hog that happens along.

Personally I prefer .30 caliber rounds, like the .308 or .30-06, many more reloading components & factory ammo choices available.

Good luck with what ever you end up with, and happy hunting!
Del

longwinters · « **Reply #10 on:** March 09, 2005, 11:34:00 AM »

The 7m-08 is a good choice, but I would look long and hard at the 7-30 waters. Mine was a great deer caliber and an outstanding shooter with little recoil. Good for deer size game out to 225 yds.

Long

12ring · « **Reply #11 on:** March 09, 2005, 11:49:16 AM »

Longwinters,

Where can I go to see a ballistic chart on this caliber? I'm not at all familiar w/it. Where can I buy ammo for it? I don't reload. I usually buy all my ammo at Wal-mart! Does TC offer this barrel for the Encore in a 15"'er? Sorry for all the questions,...... Derek.

IKE · « **Reply #12 on:** March 09, 2005, 12:06:36 PM »

7-30 Waters factory loaded ammo can be hard to locate in almost all gun stores and I've never seen a box in Wal-mart.......for a constant supply you'll more than likely have to mail order it in.

I'd go with a 15" Encore barrel in 7mm08.

Ike

poncaguy · « **Reply #13 on:** March 09, 2005, 01:39:49 PM »

I think a 16" Bull barrel from S&K in stainless steel for an Encore in the new 460 S&W would be ideal :-D

mamerch · « **Reply #14 on:** March 09, 2005, 03:18:36 PM »

is that he is a busy man AND he doesn't (IMO after meeting him a time or two) suffer fools gladly. He does seem to be very honest in his dealings and has just about the best prices you'll find. My two orders from him showed up within 3 days of ordering. You are close enough to OKC to make an appoinment and drive up there or check out his stuff at a gun show. Good luck... oooh, for what it's worth, it TX I'd probably start and end with a .300 Whisper or .260 in about a 14 in barrel. Neither will beat you up but with proper bullet selection and shot placement, you won't have to search for the deer either.

mamerch

12ring · « **Reply #15 on:** March 09, 2005, 08:00:02 PM »

OK, you guys are killing me. I'm not a young, green, pup. It's just that I do most of my whackin' w/a compound bow. Archery has always been my #1 sport, but I wanted to try these pistols. I can do almost anything to a bow, including building my own arrows. But I don't know anything about reloading. I have always shot a .270 or 7 mag, when I rifle hunt. I don't know alot about calibers. I have a friend who shoots a 7-08, and he said it kicks less than a .270. The ballistics are comprable, so I thought I'd go with it.

WHAT IS A 300 WHISPER

??
Do ya'll know of a site that has ballistics for all of these? The whisper, 7-30, etc.......... I want a caliber that shoots at least a 120(or heavier) gr bullet accurately out to 150 yards.

Again, sorry for being so ignorant on the subject.......... I'm here to learn!

Thanks in advance................. Derek.

jhalcott · « **Reply #16 on:** March 10, 2005, 07:52:47 AM »

Derek , the 300 whisper is a 221 fireball case opened to handle a .30 caliber bullet.It was designed as an urban police/military swat weapon. With 125& 150 grain bullets it is effective on deer. The 7-30 waters is a 30-30 improved necked to 7mm. Using 120 to 145 grain bullets it is VERY effective on deer. Mine is a 14" bull,contender barrel. Federal makes the ammo.I buy it at Pro Bass or roll my own.The 120 grain bullet from the 7-30,14" bbl. can hit speeds of about 2500 fps.139/140 are about 200 fps slower. (MY best groups are near 2250 fps/139)The 7-08 in a 15"bbl will get another 50 to 100 fps on the 7-30. The 7-08 can NOT be loaded in the contender.Either round is good for your stated purpose,BUT, you will soon find many other uses for the gun.250 yard ground hogs(marmots),200 yard prairee dogs.pop bottles for practice at any range,ETC..
A 2x7 scope is a practical minimum for either of these calibers,IMHO

longwinters · « **Reply #17 on:** March 10, 2005, 11:54:26 AM »

12ring,

Actually this is for the Thompson Contender. I had one in S.S Super 14". The 7-30 Waters is a 30-30 brass necked down to shoot 7mm bullets. I could buy cartridges in a nearby sports store. I also had the dies etc... for reloading it. Since I did not reload at that time I never used them. But then had a hankering for my 1st Sako so I sold it. I regret getting rid of that pistol more than any gun I have ever sold or traded.

Long

Stillhuntn · « **Reply #18 on:** March 11, 2005, 04:16:19 AM »

Count me in for the 35 Remington also. Depending on the area being hunted a good red dot might be a better choice than a scope. Thick cover or dark timber make low light shots tough with a scope.
Rick

sawfish · « **Reply #19 on:** March 11, 2005, 07:29:23 AM »

I voted "other" .308 Winchester. Never my favorite in a rifle, but I have come to love it in a handgun. Gives up very little in velocity to a rifle, can be loaded from pipsqueak to heavy, compatible with many powders and bullets, and factory ammo is available everywhere. The last point is going to be increasingly important with the jack booted tactics of the ATS i.e. cutting locks, and/or demanding that checked bags be left unlocked.

Last December I arrived in Texas for a Whitetail hunt, and my ammunition was inexplicably missing (I know it is not the norm., but it did happen). Perhaps it was a vision from St. Hubert (patron saint of hunters), but something told me to take my .44 Mag Super Redhawk and my .308 Striker. Consequently, replacement ammo was quickly and easily found at the ranch. Had I brought my .30 Merrill, .357 Herrett, .357 Maximum, etc. things would have been much more complicated.

Those are all fine WT calibers, but this is something to consider if you fly to your hunting destination. Just MHO.

Sawfish

SingleShotShorty · « **Reply #20 on:** March 11, 2005, 10:42:38 AM »

I shoot a 15" #08 Win Barrel with a 2.5X8 Leupold and have taken deer out to around 175 yards.

12ring · « **Reply #21 on:** March 11, 2005, 11:12:57 AM »

Great shooting man. A .308 Win? I hope to get a better scope later, but for now, this 7-08 that I bought already had the straight 4x on there. I was planning on getting the TC 2x7 eventually. Thanks for the reply............. Derek.

MnMike · « **Reply #22 on:** March 11, 2005, 04:30:34 PM »

You Encore shooters have some nice rounds to pick from but my choice in a Contender is a scoped 7-30 Waters for longer range and .45 Win Mag with iron sights for carry in the heavy brush during drives.

mike

se-okla.shooter · « **Reply #23 on:** March 11, 2005, 05:02:56 PM »

I live near Coalgate in Coal Co. I have a 15" 45/70 tc barrel with red dot scope on it. With 350 gr PMC MV around 1700 you can test your ability not to flinch. Back to the 7/08 if you not used to shooting a high power pistol you are in for a shock. As for deer they are not hard to come by around here. I kill a small buck a couple years ago with a .50 flintlock pistol. Guy SE Okla

Doc T · « **Reply #24 on:** March 12, 2005, 09:04:06 AM »

I shoot Contenders so I voted "other". With me its a toss-up between a 10" 44mag and a 10" 300 Whisper. If I had to pick one, it would be the Whisper.

Lefty Behind · « **Reply #25 on:** March 12, 2005, 02:08:54 PM »

There is not better 150yd. pistol cartridge than the 45/70. None.
But a guy who is shy of recoil can get along great with a 30 Herrett using a 110gr. soft point. That one will kill as well and as far as the 30-30.
Lefty

Lawful Larry · « **Reply #26 on:** March 16, 2005, 09:01:06 AM »

Mark me other. .30-06. It is an all around caliber that will take down any game you may encounter in the woods of the lower 48.

Just my two cents.

45Super · « **Reply #27 on:** March 20, 2005, 05:13:41 AM »

My favorite, .445 Super Mag!!!
:lol:

hutch · « **Reply #28 on:** March 20, 2005, 12:52:57 PM »

Hello,
I have shot every factory Encore and Contender barrel made plus a few custom barrels.

I would have to vote other also.

In the Encore I would vote for the 250 Savage. Factory ammo is available and is lighter in recoil than the rest listed. The Indiana buck that dropped in his tracks did not mind.
If you where to reload I would suggest buying the 15" 280 JDJ that Ed Kirkpatrick has for sale. I have taken a Mule Deer and Antelope in WY with one shot each with the 280 at 200+ yards and the 280 JDJ has a little extra added.

In the Contender I own 73 barrels and would have to say the 14" 357 Maximum is best. ( little bias since I can only use straight wall cases in Iowa). Factory ammo is available and would use the 158's for deer and 180's for the pigs.
Again if you where to get a Contender and start to reload I would suggest the 7x30 JDJ since it will do with 140's what the 7x30 Waters will do with 120's and the brass will last longer to boot.

Side note on the straight wall Contender barrels. I have taken deer with ALL straight wall Contender barrels and the 357 Maximum is the best out to 200 meters. It gets there flat and fast. With the 414 Super Mag and the 445 Super Mag close seconds. After all they where made for 200 meter rams. Sorry 45/70 fans.

Again this is just one T/C nut's opinion.
Hutch

poncaguy · « **Reply #29 on:** March 20, 2005, 01:05:35 PM »

....where can you get 357 Max factory loads?I haven't been shooting mine because I don't reload..... :shock:

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Best Pistol Caliber for Whitetails?

Author Topic: Best Whitetail Pistol Setup ??????????? (Read 2101 times)