Author Topic: Caliber Recommendation for Deer Hunting (Read 1651 times)

kinger · « **on:** July 20, 2005, 05:41:00 PM »

Hi,

I live in central NY and hunt deer mostly from stands. The majority of time I'm limited to 100yd or less ranges, occasionally a bit longer. I've got an Encore .308. I've had back/neck surgery this summer, and I'm not sure I'm going to be able to handle the recoil of the .308 this fall. What would you recommend as an "easy going" round for the encore that will get the job done?

Thanks,

Pete

MS Hitman · « **Reply #1 on:** July 20, 2005, 05:56:45 PM »

This is one is a bit tough to consider. I presume you do not reload. If you do or have a friend who does, 150 grain Nosler Ballistic Tips loaded down to around 2100-2300 fps should not recoil much at all in an Encore. If this is too much recoil, I would also suggest going the route of a scoped revolver. Either the .44 mag or .45 Colt using a 300 grain bullet loaded between 1000 to 1100 fps. Recoil is very manageable and penetration is excellent. Expansion is a none issue as the bullets are starting out at nearly one-half inch in diameter.

timothy · « **Reply #2 on:** July 20, 2005, 10:17:51 PM »

Try a 41 mag. You should get exellent ballistics from a 10-12 inch contender

Redhawk1 · « **Reply #3 on:** July 21, 2005, 12:03:17 AM »

I would try the 41 MAG or the 44MAG, nothing smaller though.

Larry Gibson · « **Reply #4 on:** July 21, 2005, 01:03:38 AM »

"I'm limited to 100yd or less ranges, occasionally a bit longer. I've got an Encore .308."

No need for another cartridge, get some 130 or 150 gr Speer FPs for the 30-30 and load them down to 21-2200 fps. I suggest 4198, 4227 4759 or 5744 powder. Zero 3" high at 100 yatds and you're good to 150-175 yards. what you will have is essentially a 30-30 cartridge. Lord knows how many deer have fallen to that.

Larry Gibson

myronman3 · « **Reply #5 on:** July 21, 2005, 01:03:40 AM »

30-30. loaded with spitzer bullets, ballistics improve dramatically. i had one that i loved to shoot, it would recoil a tad more than my 223 barrel (not much). that way, you could still you your 308 dia. bullets in it. and brass is everywhere for free.

at 200 yards, i could shoot a 1 1/2 group if i was having a good day. the gun could do it anyday, i was the weak link.

longwalker · « **Reply #6 on:** July 21, 2005, 11:41:50 AM »

I can only tell you what I am going to do. I had open heart surgery about a month ago. The doctors all seem to think high power rifle is out so. I'm taking my SRH in 44 magnum instead. One handed or two it won't bother me one bit.

240 grain JHP Federal, American Eagle brand

longwalker

rickyp · « **Reply #7 on:** July 21, 2005, 12:22:55 PM »

how about a 243 winchester? it is milder then a 308.

Badnews Bob · « **Reply #8 on:** July 21, 2005, 01:12:20 PM »

.357 maximum.

Elwood · « **Reply #9 on:** July 21, 2005, 02:19:20 PM »

I agree with what LMG said.
You are not going to like the recoil of the 308, especially not the recoil the 44 or 41 magnums. Just load your 308 down to 30-30 peeerfect.
Elwood

poncaguy · « **Reply #10 on:** July 21, 2005, 02:42:49 PM »

I have a bad shoulder and "arthur" wrists, but I still shoot my Contender 45-70 and 357 Max. Also have a new Encore 15" 7mm-08 that I will use this year for deer. You should be able to handle a 357 Max or 44 mag with ease. You ought to try my Handi 45-70 rifle with 300 grain Remingtons, really whacks my bum shoulder....

NE Hunter · « **Reply #11 on:** July 21, 2005, 04:51:17 PM »

Rem offers their reduced recoil ammo in 308 now. If you don't reload that might help. OR if this is a I need a new gun story for your "significant other" .... .243, 7mm-08, .41 mag, .44 mag or .45 colt ( maybe a .454 Casull) you can shoot the milder .45 colt with it and when yo heal up you can then shoot the .454

I forgot to mention .30-30 in the line up

Old Griz · « **Reply #12 on:** July 21, 2005, 05:41:05 PM »

:cb2: Yet another .30-30 vote. There's a reason it's been going strong since 1895it works great!

Cartridge (Wb@MV)    Rifle    Recoil    Recoil
Weight energy velocity
.30-30 Win. (150 at 2400)    7.5    10.6    9.5
.30-30 Win. (170 at 2200)    7.5    11.0    9.7

Oh, and ammo is real cheap at Wally World if ya don't reload.

Catfish · « **Reply #13 on:** July 22, 2005, 06:51:21 AM »

I would recomand the .357 max. in a Super 14 barrel topped with a 2 1/2 to 8 Leupold. I have a 15 in. Bullberry barrel in .357 max. that will shoot sub-moa if you want to spend alittle more money. Also I love Serria bullets, but the Serrias are to soft for the .357 max.`s velosities. I recomand the Hornady XTP bullets for this round. This year I`ll be useing a .500 S&W when setting a stand and will carry a Red Hawk in .454 when still hunting or driveing. They will not kill a deer any deader than the .357 max., but I just like to shoot big bore handguns. :-)

.358buddy · « **Reply #14 on:** July 22, 2005, 07:12:09 AM »

Here is another vote for the 30-30 or the 308 loaded down to 30-30
ballistics.

Several years ago I was crushed under a 4x4 truck and broke my shooting shoulder. It took me a couple years to work back up to enjoying the handcannons again. I loaded down the 35 Remington to .357 max
and below and satisfied the need to burn powder during the healing time. All of the above are great deer calibers to 200 yards if you need it. If
these are still a problem I would go with the 7mm tcu. and a 120 grain bullet. At the range you indicate it will put everything down just fine.
I have taken 22 deer with this super accurate cartridge and only one required more than one shot and that was because I was shooting to far away. It did not go very far, just did not have the juice for a one shot drop.

be careful and check twice.

Cuz · « **Reply #15 on:** July 25, 2005, 06:50:45 AM »

another vote for the 30-30.

Dusty Miller · « **Reply #16 on:** July 25, 2005, 09:27:34 AM »

If you are shooting from a stand and have a rest for your rifle then you can most likely make head/neck shots given the range you described. Heck, a .243 with a light bullet would do the trick under those circumstances unless you've got some unusually large white tails there in New York.

Varminter · « **Reply #17 on:** July 25, 2005, 09:41:24 AM »

If you don't reload the 41 mag. or 44 mag.

If you do reload the 445 supermag.

pastorp · « **Reply #18 on:** July 25, 2005, 10:40:15 AM »

Kinger, I too had bypass surgery a few years ago, and recoil is the last thing you want. I settled for hog hunting with a 22lr that fall (legal in Florida) and waited until next year to deer hunt.

I think in a handgun a 256 win mag up to a 7 tcu might work for you. Just don't overdo it. Better to wait another year to hunt and let yourself heal up completely. Regards, Byron

kinger · « **Reply #19 on:** July 31, 2005, 01:26:35 AM »

Hi, I'd like to thank everyone for their help. I was looking at the local classified ads yesterday morning...lo and behold, there was an RCBS RC Supreme reloading kit plus dies, casings, etc. for the .308, brand new, for a great price. So I'm on my way to being a reloader. I'm going to take the advice of Larry and others, and load my .308 down to 30-30. I'd love to get your recommendations on bullets, powder, etc, as I am brand new to this side of the hobby!

Thanks again, all of you, for your help.

Pete

jhalcott · « **Reply #20 on:** July 31, 2005, 03:18:35 PM »

kinger, I suggest you get a reloading manual and read the info there. Once you have done that you will be better prepared to choose a bullet/powder combo. A 130 grain bullet with a charge of 27 grains of 4227 SHOULD give about 2250fps in a rifle. I'd expect around 2000 fps from your Encore.

rugerman1 · « **Reply #21 on:** August 01, 2005, 03:13:25 AM »

Hodgdon 308 Youth Loads

Quote

Hodgdon Powder Company has developed the following reduced loads for youth and beginning shooters for use on deer and similarly sized game animals. The bullets chosen were originally designed for single shot pistols and their lower velocities. These loads have been developed to closely approximate those pistol velocities in rifles, and therefore, similar performance on game animals. This provides our young and beginning shooters with loads effective to 200 yards with minimal recoil.

For all cartridges we chose H4895 because it is the slowest burning propellant that ignites uniformly at reduced charges. For years, H4895 has been the top choice by cast bullet shooters. For this type shooting, loads are reduced even more than the hunting loads listed herein.

:toast:

sulaco · « **Reply #22 on:** August 02, 2005, 07:25:56 AM »

I agree with the .308 loaded to 30-30 power. But, if you want an excuse to buy a new rifle, a handy little bolt action chambered for 6.5x55 would be a real sweet shooter with hardly any recoil worth mentioning. It is similar to the 30-30 in most regards with a little flatter trajectory.

A Tikka T3 Lite in 6.5x55 with a scope and sling will weigh in at less than 7 pounds total and recoil less than a 30-30.

www.tikka.fi

Oh and they are guaranteed MOA or better out of the box.

tcencore · « **Reply #23 on:** August 05, 2005, 07:04:25 AM »

I also agree with loading down the 308. Now for loading it down i would get sierra's reloading manual There is a section on just single shot pistols this has helped me a lot with my encore pistols. :gun4:

S.B. · « **Reply #24 on:** August 10, 2005, 11:48:23 AM »

kinger, I and my second oldest son rode the Harleys accross your state this spring, (I-90) on our way to Glaucester Ma. then Laconia N.H., beautiful country. Sure you already know that T/C should be able to fill any bill for caliber in your pistol with just a different barrel and possible forearm. Sorry to hear of the health problems. Good luck in the deer season.