what PCR for deer?

[Elkins45]

I bought one of the CVA single shots in 44 magnum for somewhere around $220. That includes a really solid scope mount with integral rings. It is WELL worth what I paid for it. It shoots full-power cast lead hand loads into 3" at 100 yards. It would be a completely acceptable tool for hunting whitetails so long as you didn't get the shakes, because the second shot isn't very fast.

The trigger is fantastic...like a S&W revolver in single action.

 

[Elkins45]

First, size doesn't matter. On a tall day I'm about 5' 7". Used to be 5' 9" but age has taken it's toll. Handling the 45-70 isn't about size it's about technique.

That said, the bigger hole you start with, the bigger hole you'll end up with. So, the .44 mag in a PCR would be the way to go.

If he doesn't like the recoil of the 45-70, the .444 Marlin is a bit less. And, I'm sure someone will correct me if I'm wrong, I believe you can shoot .44 S&W mag in the .444 Marlin.

Don't believe so. 444 is more than just an elongated 44 magnum. The case tapers and the base of the 444 is a bit fatter than the 44 mag.

 

[Llama Bob]

Don't believe so. 444 is more than just an elongated 44 magnum. The case tapers and the base of the 444 is a bit fatter than the 44 mag.

I agree - .44 special in a .444 Marlin does not appear to be OK.

 

[Manny]

The venerable .357 Magnum is is quite a performer in a rifle, as is the classic .45 Colt, don't sell then short. I have a T/C Contender Carbine in .357 Mag, the best trigger of any weapon I own and a pure delight to carry. Any Contender or Encore can be set up as a Carbine with with either TC factory barrels or custom ones from a wide array of aftermarket suppliers. TC also offers their Encore Kathadyn carbine in .460 S&W which will also chamber & shoot .45 Colt in any power level from mild to wild, .454 Casull or the hotrod .460. Using this gun with Winchesters attenuated 250gr .454 Casull load which is loaded to approximately .44 mag power levels would give a very soft shooting yet hard hitting gun. Last time I saw one at Fin, Feather Fur it was priced at $675 brand new IICR.

 

[Axis II]

the fin.

my favorite place.

 

[Bull Nutria]

I HAVE Hunted with a 44mag H&R single shot with a scope. it was at most a 100yd rifle, mine was innaccurate. i sent it back and REM put a new barrel on it. was a little better --best it would do was 1.5 inches at 50 yds with reloads. I did some intensive testing with cast and jacketed bullets. settled on 265g HornadyFTX and 2400, forget the charge wt.

I transitioned to a 35 whelen TC encore. big difference in accuracy and Price. some H&Rs are more accurate, kinda of a luck thing. Lots of tricks to getting them to shoot better.TC encore shoots very well with my reloads about 1 to 1.5 in group at 100yds.

My advice if you want a good single shot get a TC Encore.

Bull

 

[GBExpat]

I found a lightly-used .44mag lever-action Marlin model 1894S (MFD ~1982-3) at the Medina, OH gunshow in 1988 for $250. I quickly added a Williams 5D aperture sight which made the rifle perfect.

With generic/whitebox or AmericanEagle-brand 240gr jacketed ammo I could shoot cloverleaf patterns at 100m ... well, I could before the presbyopia set in.

Great little, light-weight, hard-hitting carbine, certainly whitetail-capable although I never shot one with it. There are a number of deceased woodchucks that gave me a good idea of the damage that it could inflict.

With full-power cartridges the recoil is stout, but on either side of 40years old I never had any difficulty shooting it off of a tee shirt (~6' & ~170lb).

 

[Axis II]

I found a lightly-used .44mag lever-action Marlin model 1894S (MFD ~1982-3) at the Medina, OH gunshow in 1988 for $250. I quickly added a Williams 5D aperture sight which made the rifle perfect.

With generic/whitebox or AmericanEagle-brand 240gr jacketed ammo I could shoot cloverleaf patterns at 100m ... well, I could before the presbyopia set in.

Great little, light-weight, hard-hitting carbine, certainly whitetail-capable although I never shot one with it. There are a number of deceased woodchucks that gave me a good idea of the damage that it could inflict.

With full-power cartridges the recoil is stout, but on either side of 40years old I never had any difficulty shooting it off of a tee shirt (~6' & ~170lb).

wow what a deal! No way we would ever find anything like that now.

 

[Buck13]

I'd recommend a good lever gun in 44 mag or 357. And my caliber choice would be 44 mag.

Among other reasons, the .44s are a lot easier to find since the .357s are so popular for cowboy action shooting. At least with the Rossis when I was looking, .357 were almost unknown locally, but .44s were in stock at every Big5.

Rossi also makes the 92 in .454 Casull, for the maximum versatility. Nipping at the heels of the .45-70, or a popgun if you buy or reload .45 Colt cowboy loads. But neither the gun nor the ammo will be quite as easy to find as the .43 Magnum, and a deer isn't exactly going to shrug off a hit from one of those.

Rossis get a lot of bad-mouthing, but my .357 runs flawlessly with its preferred bullet profiles. That's an n=1, so YMMV. It doesn't like short OAL rounds with SWCs loaded in .38 cases, which may just be a problem with the case mouth not being crimped far enough out of the way on plated bullets with no real cannaleur.

edit: one caveat on the Rossis is that they use fairly slow twist rates. Unusually long bullets may not stabilize. IIRC, mine is OK with the Keith 358429, but the 358627 bullet tumbled off the paper even at 25 yards.

 

[BigBore44]

Buck,
They must have different popular calibres up there in the Sound. Cause I don't think I could find a 43 magnum here if I wanted to.

 

[Buck13]

Well, some .45 Colt guys make a huge deal about .0023" and how the .44 is not REALLY a .44, so in the interest of honesty, I sometimes humor them.

 

[jim in Anchorage]

Well, some .45 Colt guys make a huge deal about .0023" and how the .44 is not REALLY a .44, so in the interest of honesty, I sometimes humor them.

It's not just about bullet diameter. The 45 has more case volume than a 44.

 

[CraigC]

It's not just about bullet diameter. The 45 has more case volume than a 44.

Where the metal meets the meat, there's not a lick of difference between the two.

 

[BigBore44]

Ahhh. I see what you did there Buck13. Good one! Where the metal meets the meat, to a handloader, you're correct CraigC. They are both......adequate.

 

[Buck13]

It's not just about bullet diameter. The 45 has more case volume than a 44.

And .44 Mag has a higher pressure. Even "Ruger-only" .45 Colt loads are not the pressure of a .44, so it evens out.