Handgun Newbie Needs Help

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excal66

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Aug 26, 2010
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Im looking to get my first handgun for hunting whitetails in Ohio.Hunting regulations says it has to be a handgun with atleast a 5 inch barrel,shoots straight wall cartridges,and has to be 357 or bigger...Heres what id like to be able to accomplish if possible- 200-220 yard shots on a whitetail.Is this possible?Obviously I want one that accepts a scope/scope mount and I dont want the recoil to be harsh.(who wants that lol)

Id like to keep it under $1,000 for the gun....Im looking for suggestions on what caliber(following Ohio's 357 or larger rule)and what gun.Someone point me in the right direction please.
 
We have the same law up here in Michigan I have a Ruger Super Redhawk 44mag but it is only good to about 100yd maybe 125. I might be wrong but I think the only way your going to get to that 200 mark is with a T/C Contender pistol in 45-70 but recoil will come into play.
 
I use a 357 with hottish loads using Hornady 158gr HP-XTP bullets. I figured I could get out to 150 yards with enough accuracy and energy.

I would think the 44 Magnum probably would fit the bill. With 240gr bullets at 100fps faster than my 357 bullets were going, (using the same length barrel,) there is more energy at 250 yards than I have at 150.

The bullets are going subsonic by 150 yards which could cause accuracy problems. I don't seem to suffer from accuracy loss at extended ranges with the same bc and bullet type.

I see pretty many of them in your price range.
Here is a nice one. Smith & Wesson Model 629

There is a Taurus there that would fit the bill for $550... If you like Taurus.

Then you need a scope mount, rings and scope. I priced those items for my pistol at around $200 but I don't know how brutal a 44 magnum would be on a scope and such, you could need really good accessories.
 
Get you a T/C Contender or Encore in 357 Maximum with a 14" barrel and a scope with a ballistic plex in it and do a bunch of practicing. You will need to hand load for this but you can get a 180 gr bullet up to around 1900 fps and with a 125 yard zero you will not be above or below line of sight more than about 3.5 inches out to 150 yards. Then you will need to use the ballistic plex because after 150 yards it drops like a rock.
 
Having started hunting game in the early 70's with a handgun I would highly recommend a 357 Max cartridge and with practice and the right bullet 200 yard shots are easy!

I would not go with the rainbow trajectory of the 45-70 or the recoil as a starter hunter. Many I friend is using the Max and have taken a lot of deer and antelope with one.

Not knowing all your regulations I would suggest a bolt gun and lead bullets for the straight walled 458 Win Mag or the 458 LoTT if they pass the muster. With the straight walled case and 300 grain bullets they should do you just fine to 300 yards or so. Don't forget the 444 Marlin as well. I hunted with one for ten years nut recommend a muzzle brake starting out.

Neal
 
Some great advice above.

The 44 Mag is a great cartridge - to 125 yards, even when sighted in with a zero at 100. After that it drops like a brick, no matter what. The only way to get past that is to dial in adjustment for shots beyond that range, and I doubt you want to do that. The best ballistic coefficient in a 44 round is the Hornady LEVERevolution cartridge.

Else the 460 or 500 S&W will get you closer, but you'll have to deal with the recoil. Sight them in at 150, and you're good to about 180 yards per the ballistic calculator.
 
I cant find any 357 max contenders anywhere.Midway is out of the 357 max barrels......But I seen it can be re chambered here for $95 .....

The Great .357 Remington Maximum Revival

Would this be the best way to go?Buy A TC G2 contender barrel in 357 mag and have the place above,re chamber it?
 
Last edited:
What about this(from the website I posted):

However, .357 Remington Maximum was given a death sentence by SAAMI the day it was born due to the forcing cone type chamber design they gave it. Accuracy in fixed barrelled guns is absolutely superb, BUT not from the ill-conceived forcing cone chambers the industry is forced to adopt in order to march lock step with SAAMI, insurance companies, and our sue happy American legal system

Will this be a problem with the encore 357 max?
 
The encore is a fixed barrel gun aka single shot and i think t/c uses a different shape forcing cone than the revolvers used call them up they were very helpful when i bought my 375 jdj.
Robster
 
If you want a really good 357 max barrel for either the Contender or the Encore for about the same price of a factory T/C barrel but MUCH better quality take a look at Match Grade Machines. Do a search you will find them. It will take from 6 to 8 weeks to get the barrel made and to you but it is worth it. I got a 30-30 Ackley Improved 14" SS Shilen barrel from them for this past Christmas. It is a shooter. As has been said you need not worry about the cylinder/throat erosion problem with the revolvers in a Contender or Encore. You also get much more velocity out of the closed breach of these than you will out of a cylinder gaped revolver.
 
You are on the right track with the 357 Max AND a 357 max rechambered barrel by Mike Bellm!!!

You will not find a better setup for hunting in Ohio!!

Pick up a TC contender frame, I do not know if the encore can be had in a 357. Ask Mike Bellm.

He has the rechambered barrels ready to go and they will shoot rings around a standard TC 357 Max. I have one of his 10" models and 1" groups are the norm

He is using the 12" barrels now. I would also pick up some Accurate Arms 1680 poweder, some Hornady SSPB 180 grain bullets, CCI 450 primers.

.357 Maximum » Developing a Load for more info.

Start at 26 grain and see if you can work up to 28 grains.

We are hunting an Ohio farm this year in SE ohio and that is the setup I am using.

BH
 
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