I need input on a hunting rifle

[fallout mike]

I need a new gun for primitive weapon season. In mississippi it has to be a breach loader, exposed hammer, and .35 caliber or larger. I can no longer shoot a gun with heavy recoil bc of a severe injury to my strong hand arm and elbow. So, 45-70, 444, and 35 whelen are out. I'm thinking .357 mag, .44 mag, or .45lc. I will be handloading for it. Thx in advance.

 

[Art Eatman]

I've shot 300-grain max loads from both the .44 Mag (Redhawk) and the .45 Colt (Ruger Blackhawk). The Colt seemed to be more of a push than a sharp "kick".

I guess I'd recommend the .45 Colt, and put a Limbsaver butt pad on the rifle. If they'll feed okay, a cast lead bullet with a large meplat and around 250 grains oughta be more than enough.

 

[jaysouth]

If you are a reloader, you can load your cartridges to any pressure level you desire.

To me a factory round in a .44 mag kicks just as much as a .45-70.

You need to join this board. Here is a link that will keep your amazed and amused for hours.

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/forumdisplay.php?f=27

A handi-rifle in .45-70 or .44 Mag would be worthy of condiseration. A 300 gr. cast lead bullet on top of 16-18 grs. of 2400 will take a deer down like it was struck by lightning, without taking any of your limbs off.

Here is some good data on reduced loads: http://www.gmdr.com/lever/lowveldata.htm. This site will absorb you for days.

 

[Coltdriver]

Bellm has developed exactly what you need from a Contender frame. Its a .357 Maximum.

Check out the article here:

http://www.bellmtcs.com/store/item.php?pid=1185&mark=.35

 

[matt 7mm]

what about a 35 rem

 

[fallout mike]

Where I hunt 125 yards will be about the longest shot I would have. Thanks for all the input. I think that all suggestions so far would work. The .357 maximum intrigues me. I'm thinking I could buy a .357 mag handi rifle & a uncle of mine could ream it out to a .357 maximum. He's pretty skillful at such things. I had thought about a 35 rem. My budget right now is handi level and they don't make one. Anybody else deer hunt with these calibers?

 

[jaysouth]

I have one stand where max visual field is 50 yards. That is, you cannot see further than 50 yards because of brush and trees. From that stand I have killed a boatload of whitetails with my .357 Handi-rifle.

The trigger on mine must be 8 or 9 pounds. It takes several hundred rounds to get the hang of it, but once you do, a hundred yard gong belongs to you. Fortunately, .357 is cheap and easy to reload.

I have tried 180 gr. cast FP bullets and 158 gr. JHP. Hard to tell the difference.

 

[Abel]

35 Remington.

 

[Tex4426]

bought a 44 magnum HB2 handi rifle for my gf ..has 200 yard potential but would keep it 150 and under. you should have no problem hitting deer out to 150 with it as it is a pretty accurate rifle...we shot hornady XTP bullets out of it..and they did fine but switching to lever evolution next year to see if we can get them groups to shrink a lil

 

[T.R.]

The mighty 44 MAG is far more lethal than paper ballisitic charts would suggest. My TOP ammo choice features Hornady's 240 grain XTP bullets and for good reasons: outstanding accurasy and big ghastly wound channels through the chest organs.

This dandy blacktail buck was taken during a Northern California hunt with a Marlin 44 MAG.

TR

 

[kludge]

.35 Rem or .357 Max.

200gr Hornady FTX bullets at 2000fps-2200fps has pretty "mild" recoil in a 8# rifle.

 

[StrawHat]

Another option is the 38-55. Origianlly developed as a target cartridge it soon was found to be a good hunting cartridge as well. Loaded with blackpowder and a cast bullet, recoil is mild. Smokeless works well also. I believe the Handi-Rifle is/was chambered for it.

In a bit heavier rifle, the 45-70 with a 330 grain cast HP is not a hard recoiling combination.