Help me choose a cartridge

[HEAD0001]

I have a brand new Encore pistol frame just egging for a new barrel. I have been kicking around some different cartridge's. Please help me choose one. Here is what I want to do.
1. Deer hunt out to 150 yards.
2. Groundhog hunt out to 150 yards.
3. Target and fun shoot out to 150, maybe 200 yards.
4. Definitely shoot cast bullets.
5. I prefer not to use gas checks, but that is not a definite.
6. 10 to 15 inch barrel.

I have been considering a 460 S&W, 500 S&W, and 45-70. Should I be considering a rifle barrel like a 30-30. I am not recoil sensitive, but no one likes recoil?? What do you guys think? Tom.

[leftiye]

You might want to think about some .35s. I've got a .357max and a .35 Whelen. There are also .358 Win, 35 Rem. 350 Rem mag., etc.. People that have them swear by them. This bore size is a good all around compromise, and as you can see there are cases that allow a very wide range of power. If you go for a larger case there's always the option of J-word bullets for a stopper ctg. for large and/or dangerous game. Plus it has pretty good ranging ability, and the larger case will allow lower pressures for higher cast boolit velocities (less booit deformation while accelerating the boolit).

[Leftoverdj]

I tend to agree with Leftiye. The mould selection is good at .35 cal, and the increased diameter over .30 cal is an asset in hunting without the jump in bullet weight, hence recoil, that you get with the .45-70. Which .35 cal is a little more difficult. The .357 Max is very easy to load for, but would not get 250 grain bullets to the velocities you would want for your ranges. It will do so nicely with 180 and 200 grain bullets. I'd take the .358 Win over the .35 Rem, but that might be just me.

[felix]

180 grain boolits at 2400 fps would give you very good range with enough power for anything reasonable using kentucky windage for sight adjustments. My choice would be 35 remington having 16 twist, enough twist for 200 grainers when a little more recoil is desired for "fun". ... felix

[versifier]

I would opt for the .35Rem too. It performs well in handguns as well as rifles at the ranges you are considering, and many rifle cartridges do not. If the ranges were longer, the .358 would get my vote, but IME it doesn't make a good handgun round - the extra powder capacity is not needed and the recoil is much more than the .35Rem in a handgun. I would still want a .30-30 rifle barrel for it, just because, and probably a rifle barrel in .45-70, and a .307, and a 7-30Waters, and a .243, and a .22-250......:mrgreen:....then for handgun barrels a .44mag, a .45Colt, a .223, a .300Whisper, a .357Max, are you listening, Santa?

[Marlin Junky]

I have a brand new Encore pistol frame just egging for a new barrel. I have been kicking around some different cartridge's. Please help me choose one. Here is what I want to do.
1. Deer hunt out to 150 yards.
2. Groundhog hunt out to 150 yards.
3. Target and fun shoot out to 150, maybe 200 yards.
4. Definitely shoot cast bullets.
5. I prefer not to use gas checks, but that is not a definite.
6. 10 to 15 inch barrel.

I have been considering a 460 S&W, 500 S&W, and 45-70. Should I be considering a rifle barrel like a 30-30. I am not recoil sensitive, but no one likes recoil?? What do you guys think? Tom.

I don't think your choices (possible exception of the .30-30) meet your requirements and agree with the others that a .35 would be better. I have a 16" twist on my vintage 336A in .35 Remington and it shoots 248 grain SAECO 352's very well... velocity exceeds 2100 fps from a 56 year old Marlin with a 24" barrel and impressive accuracy.

MJ

[jhalcott]

The only flies in the ointment I see are the 200 yard targets and no gas checks. What decent .35 cal mold can you get in 200 grains with out a gascheck? As for the targets,what kind? Paper or sillywets? The 30-30 will do for deer to 150 yards easily. With a bunch of searching you might be able to come up with a plain based .30 cal mold in the 150 to 180 grain range. A good 200+ grain .35 caliber bullet from a 35 rem should work also. Recoil isn't THAT much different in these 2 calibers. I just have NOT been able to get TARGET accuracy from MY 35 rem Contender with cast. I REALLY have NOT tried though. figuring a 5-6" group is good enough for deer!

[S.R.Custom]

.600 Nitro... There was a video going around not long ago that showed how much fun an Encore in .600 Nitro was to shoot. :mrgreen:

[Edit] Here it is, lol... http://www.ranch.bz/misc/recoil.wmv

[Wayne Smith]

[QUOTE=jhalcott;With a bunch of searching you might be able to come up with a plain based .30 cal mold in the 150 to 180 grain range. A good 200+ grain .35 caliber bullet from a 35 rem should work also. [/QUOTE]

NEI will make any of their molds with or without a gas check. They will also cut any mold shorter to make a lighter bullet. Not a custom mold, but considerable variability.

[onceabull]

Lyman's website shows the 358430 is still made (358 PB,RN, nominal 195 gr) also shows up on the auction sites fttt..maybe less costly than some of the alternatives..fwiw,Onceabull

[lovedogs]

Me thinks you're trying to do too much for just one bbl.... especially if you're going to shoot cast only. You don't need much for the 'chucks, and if you shoot cast at them, depending where you live, you may get too many richochets with bullets that aren't explosive enough to disintegrate. I know many will frown on the suggestion of j-bullets but I'd use them on the chucks. In a 15 in. Encore a .223 or .22-250 will do nicely. Then a .357 Max or .35 Rem., or something thereabouts, will do the rest.