Carbine caliber choice for Iowa whitetail, 45 acp or 40 sw

[DougGuy]

None of the above....if I had to use a straight wall cartridge in your situation I would get a .350 Legend. One gun to carry and it does it all.

Oohhh a .357 caliber in a short barreled AR would make for one lightweight, quick handling platform for thick woods, and then step right out to 150+yds if a longer shot came into view.

[popper]

Short barreled AR is SBR and tax money + other problems. Pistol AR in 350 legend would be a handful, loaded for 150 yd shots. 357 mag is slightly hotter than 10mm in pistol or carbine. OP was asking about more 'firepower' when backpacking in with a short gun for quick targets.

[JBinMN]

JBinmn, My 1100 I used deer hunting in the past came up missing several years ago while on hiatus from shot gun hunting, kids what can you do. I replaced it with a over under, for upland game hunting. For me a pistol grip is almost a must as I have lost rotation in my right wrist and have thumb hole stocks or grafted pistol grips on all my rifles/shot guns I shoot much (over and under looks a bit funny but works for me). At the moment i'm leaning tword the 45 as I have no 40, just a bunch of range brass I have pick along with dies and one mold. I do reload .40sw for my brother but have more mold choice's with the .45. I was thinking a Hi point ,,, well because its cheep and so am I, thus the CVA, which I like very much by the way. I really expected to get ripped a bit more but thanks for the positive suggestions. I will not take any shots over 50 yards and were I'm walking likely less than 30. Everything I read about the hi points are the are a fun plinker's, which is likely 99% of the rounds the carbine will see and yes it is something of a excuse to by a new gun.
Tony

Thanks Tony, for the direct reply.

Based on the info you provided in this recent post, unless I missed something, I understand what I have read here, & can only say what "I" would do in trying to accomplish the same goals as you described.

Personally, I would go with the .45 rather than the .40 if I was to use the choices ya offered in the OP.

If you would ask why, I would say that, for "me", and since I already have a .45ACp setup, with molds & dies, I would go that way.
You will have to decide what it is that you would like to do, regardless or others.

The reason I say that is that I have found it best in the past to "go with what I know, & have" rather than depend on the possible "whims" of others.

Many times I have had folks say, "Yeah, I'll do it." , or, "Yeah, count me in for that." & then when the time comes( push comes to shove), it is a different story line from them. Either they are no longer interests as much as they thought, don't have the time, or the $$, or any other such reasons they come up with to balk at the doings...

If you already have the 45ACp & the possibility of getting stuff for others & "re-tooling" to do so, then sure, if you can reasonably afford to do so(re-tool, etc.), & see such changes in your future, for your own benefits, then go for it.

But if you have even the slightest feeling that by "tooling up" for something you do not even know if it would be to your benefit, then I would stick with what you already have & know about.

Best wishes & and again, G'Luck!
.
Only YOU can make these decisions.

I hope that I helped maybe just a little bit, & the others here with their experiences in life, will help you as well!

[dverna]

Short barreled AR is SBR and tax money + other problems. Pistol AR in 350 legend would be a handful, loaded for 150 yd shots. 357 mag is slightly hotter than 10mm in pistol or carbine. OP was asking about more 'firepower' when backpacking in with a short gun for quick targets.

Well...a HiPoint carbine is not very short or light and carrying in two rifles makes no sense to me.

I think carrying is a single rifle that does the job is what I would do...but I am old and lazy. Lugging 15+ pounds of metal does not appeal to me.

If rapid repeat shots are a requirement, a 16” AR in .350 will address that and still be good to 200 yards. No tax stamp issues either. I would still get a bolt action but that is me.

[beltfed]

If a person already has a 223 AR, there are 350 Legend 16" carbine gas system barrels out there already for
$80. Piece of cake to switch barrels or build an upper in 350 Legend. you do also need a 350 legend magazine or two
as the std 223 mags may not feed well.
beltfed/arnie

[Tracy]

I would and did choose the .45 ACP Hi Point. A 255 grain flat nose at 950 fps is a proven combination; like a .45 Colt revolver but in the guise of an autoloading carbine. And it will handle .45 Super, too.

[Shawlerbrook]

A Trapper length levergun in 357 or 44 mag. would be my first choice, but a 10mm out of your list.

[missionary5155]

Good morning
Bottom line … Bigger holes are always better. I would be launching a .452 250 grainer flat nose at max accuracy / velocity. You want a complete pass through. you want a nice red trail that is easy to follow if need be.
I always ere on using enough rifle plus.
Mike in LLama Land

[Tripplebeards]

I bought a Ruger American 450 bushmaster fo the job. I also have a 77/44, Ruger 44 mag carbine, and savage 220 for backups.

[Bigslug]

What I know: .45ACP is an easy cartridge to run cast in, with a long history of being run in SMG's, SBR's, and carbines. You also have a .45 Colt revolver, so there may be some mold interchangeability in the .452" - .453" range.

What I don't know: It seems the .40S&W might suffer from some of the same cast bullet issues that plague folks when they start shooting cast in 9mm, notably, bullets getting squashed undersize when seating into a short case.

Why not a .45 Colt levergun?

[waksupi]

With your choices, I think you are limiting your range considerably, and not beating shotgun trajectory or velocity by much, if any. For close in shooting, one shot should do the deed regardless. Encumbering yourself with two guns would wear you out, and make it harder to get a gun into action.

[dverna]

With your choices, I think you are limiting your range considerably, and not beating shotgun trajectory or velocity by much, if any. For close in shooting, one shot should do the deed regardless. Encumbering yourself with two guns would wear you out, and make it harder to get a gun into action.

It looks like I am not alone in thinking carrying two guns is a less than stellar idea.

To the OP...before spending money on your carbine, take two guns with you into the woods before deer season and practice not just carrying them, but trying to get a quick shot off while doing so.

[richhodg66]

Personally, I can't see any realistic situation where one of the High Points would be better at deer killing than your .45-70.

[popper]

Don, I was just thinking a semiauto 10mm pistol, then backpack the 18" upper, switch in the stand.

[pmer]

OK, let me explain a bit more. In Iowa we can use straight wall pistol caliber, as of a couple of years ago for what used to be shotgun only. Last year I purchased a CVA hunter in 45/70 and was able to harvest a small doe. I mostly just sit (about all I can do any more) but like to "still hunt" on the very slow trip back to my sitting spots. I find the single shot not a good choice for this task as the shots, if they come are very short but must be taken expediently. I do carry a .45 colt revolver but just not a good enough, to trust my-self with it. So I thought, a Hi point carbine in 45 ACP or 40 SW may work for the trip back, while backpacking the 45-70 in for the sit. I have all the brass, dies and molds for these two calibers or I would consider the 10mm (don't want to by a bunch of brass I will likely just lose). Now that I have explained my thought process you can make your suggestions or just "flame away" which ever you choose.
Thanks Tony

Of course you know the time that monster buck will appear is when you have both hands full.

[DougGuy]

Short barreled AR is SBR and tax money + other problems. Pistol AR in 350 legend would be a handful, loaded for 150 yd shots. 357 mag is slightly hotter than 10mm in pistol or carbine. OP was asking about more 'firepower' when backpacking in with a short gun for quick targets.

I meant pistol length and should have clarified in my original post. I would never advise someone to create a SBR because of the bs you mentioned.

10.5" barreled AR in 45 Super or 460 Rowland would be the bees knees under 100yds. Over 100yds should rule out ANY pistol unless you can hold it to 3" groups at your hunting distance. I don't consider 6" groups acceptable for hunting deer at any distance.

150gr supersonic in my pistol length 300 BO is a handful I admit. 220gr sub is akin to a government model 1911 just in a larger format.

[dverna]

Don, I was just thinking a semiauto 10mm pistol, then backpack the 18" upper, switch in the stand.

Except the OP said he is not competent with a pistol...thus his desire for a carbine.

[Tripplebeards]

What ever carbine he picks, if it were me, I’d be researching the velocity gains. IMO the whole reason IA went to straight walled pistol so hunters could gain some advantage to longer shots. That’s why I bought a Ruger American 450 Bushmaster. The action is strong enough to handle 460 S&W loads(I tried it) as long as you loctite the scope rail down. Midway/bear creek makes complete 16” and 18” 450 bushmaster uppers that range from $209 to $229 so if you already have a lower your all set. The boolit is .003” smaller in diameter as your 45-70 so you’ll have retained energy at longer ranges vs the smaller calibers. Factory loads with 250 grain j words are 2250 FPS and hornady makes 225 and 220 grain j words to get you to 2500 FPS or more with Sami spec loads. I sit over some 250 yard spots so I don’t mess with cast when I’m out of state and spending four bills on a license looking for a once in a lifetime trophy. Just my opinion take it for what it’s worth.

[popper]

I do carry a .45 colt revolver but just not a good enough, to trust my-self with it. Not sure what his purpose for the revolver is.

[Brett Ross]

Popper, just to look cool or if one come's up and licks me in the face, might take that shot. All, thanks for your response's. I may just keep things as they are and carry the CVA 45/70 only. It's kind of silly to spend the money as I just give the meat to my hunting buddy, the wife will not eat it. Anymore, I hunt just to get out of the house and make winter feel, a bit shorter.
Tony