OK I have just purchased a new Pro Hunter frame and was thinking on handgun hunting in Indiana but was hoping some fellow Hoosiers might give some input. I reload already the following
45 Colt, 44 magnum, 357 Mag, 357 Max, 445 Super and 454 Casull. Will need to practice. Barrel length etc. I been looking and Bullberry has some barrels on sale till the end of the month.

LOL...


Depends on your cup of tea...


300 Whisper/Blackout
357 Max
414 Super Mag
445 Super Mag

I have all of these in either the Contender or Encore platform with 14+in barrels.

I hand load for all of them shooting both cast and jacketed bullets. I don't know what you are looking for, but I might be able to answer a few questions.

I have a Bullberry barrel in 7-08 that shoots very well. Everything you have listed there will kill anything we have. Just depends on how close you want to be to do it.

LOL. The 357 Max and 300 Whisper are honest 200+ yard camberings. Particularly with longer barrels.

Either of these would do nicely in the Encore, depending on your needs. A 10-13 inch barrel handles best for me. Give MGM a look, they are quite reasonable and do nice work. Pretty fast turnaround as well.

Does your state require it to be a straight wall cartridge, or can a bottleneck round be used.

Racksmasher, I think it is Indiana rules and regs...

[quote=s4s4u]

Ditto!!! I went with MGM cause they were cheaper, quicker, and it flat out shoots. I went with a 14" 460S&W with a muzzle brake on my pro hunter, and love it! It shoots MOA easily with a 300gr XTP MAG being pushed by 40.5 grains of H110.

MGM is certainly worth a look. I looked at Bullberry also, and Bullberry's sale prices might be close to MGM's regular price! MGM customer service is second to none also.

MD

I have used a Contender or Encore in various calibers since 1995 for Hoosier whitetails. All are custom SSK Industries barrels all but 1 is JDJ wildcat, the lone holdout is 7x57 Ackley Improved.
With the Encore you have lots of options, from standard factory rounds though wildcats. Basically as long as the bullet is .243 or larger your good to go.
Let me know if you have any questions I’ll be glad to help / share data.

B..

I thought the bullet had to be .358

Greetings from a fellow Hoosier and Hunter Education Instructor. Indiana's pistol regulations specify a minimum barrel length of 4" and shorter than 16", and a minimum bullet diameter of .243" and a minimum case length of 1.16". No full metal jacket bullets are permitted for hunting. Ergo, the Encore could be chambered in the .243 Winchester or larger. For years I have been using a Contender in 7-30 Waters and an XP-100 in .308 Winchester. If you go to the DNR web site, the rules are there. No pistol permit is required while hunting and one can carry as many pistols as he wishes. A defensive pistol of any caliber may be carried with a permit, but the deer must be shot with a deer legal caliber. If you will P.M. me your email address I will give you my cell number.

Well------- I would get a long range set up in a Encore, and carry a sixgun for shorter work.

I learn something new everyday. I was listening to a expert and now I realize he did not know the rules. This changes my plans considerably

Sounds like I could have a Pro Hunter in 475 Linebaugh and my 4" 629 on my bely

Your "expert" was just a little mixed up. .358 is the minimum caliber for a rifle in Indiana now. Wheeler45 has the right info for pistols. I use an Encore with a factory 308 Winchester barrel. Shoots great! Just need a good rest.

Are you saying that a .338 Winchester Magnum rifle is not legal in Indiana, but a .358 Winchester rifle is?

To be a legal Indiana deer rifle, the bullet diameter must be a minimum of .357" not .358". The .357 Magnum is legal. The case length must be a minimum of 1.16" and not to exceed 1.8" I just taught a class Saturday. Regular high power rifle cartridges .243 and larger are legal in pistols, but not rifles. Those making the rules do not understand ballistics. The DNR is clueless.

Similar situation here. You are limited to shotgun/slug near the more populated areas of the state. But you can hunt deer with a pistol in nearly any centerfire chambering you wish, statewide.

That is exactly what I have been doing for the past 25 years. Usually my 6.5 JDJ and one of my 6/5 shooters. Has worked well for me for a long time.

From what I gather here, it is straight wall only (.357 min.) for rifle; and no restriction except for min. .243 caliber, for pistol.

Indiana's rifle case rule has no shape restrictions, only bullet diameter and case length.

A long time ago, NY had the same conundrum in the rule department. The expert said "the equivalent energy of a 357 magnum, 158 grain load in a four inch barrel, the person typing the law wrote, minimum 357 caliber and a four inch barrel..... sounds pretty close

Hogghunter
Those are no longer the rules in NY for handgun hunting.

You might even think about a 30-06. Mine shoots 1/2" groups with 150BT at 2730fps. A legit 400+ yard set up if the shooter is up to it. Ammo availible anywhere if you travel. reflex264

44 Mag

A little off topic, but the complete Texas deer rifle and pistol restrictions:

No rimfires or air rifles.


Sorry rest of the US.