Folks,

I'm considering my first deer barrel for my contender. I'm looking at the 357 Max or the 7-30 Waters, but I'm wondering about the best choice of barrel length.

I currently have a .223 in Super 14 and I find it a bit heavy to shoot off-hand. I've been told that in a bigger caliber, the 14 would be lighter, but I'm still not sure. I don't shoot nearly as well with my .223 as I do with an old Buckmark .22 so I think the weight is playing into the equation.

I like the idea of the lighter 10 inch barrel for deer, but what are the disadvantages? I've been told by some guys that a 10 inch barrel seriously reduces the velocity and accuracy and increases the recoil but I'm not sure if this is true or old gun club myth.

Any thoughts on the 10 inch for deer?

Grouse

There is no doubt that you'll get more MV out of a longer barrel and there will be more muzzle blast from the shorter one. There may also be some accuracy benefits to the longer barrel in some calibers but that would depend on how efficient that cartridge is in the shorter length. T/Cs in .22 caliber are noticeably heavier in 14" vs. 10" and I understand your reservations but personally I don't find the larger bores to be unwieldy. I do shoot with one hand on the fore end. If you shoot with both hands on the pistol grip then perhaps the 10” would be more to your liking.

Of the 2 you mention if I was to choose a 10” I would go with the 357 – I think it would be much more efficient than a 10” 7x30.

To me it depends on the type of deer hunting. I use both lengths for hunting depending on the range and situation.

I'll give you an example. When I hunted New Hampshire for moose, I used a 16" 45-70 and a 14" 375 JDJ. Ok I know it ain't whitetail, but the type of hunting I did over clearcuts and longer ranges the longer barreled, flatter shooting round would be the ticket. Later that season I hunted southeastern New Hampshire in some handgun zones. I used a 10" 44 magnum barrel. The shots were going to be 50 yards or so. More like 30 at best.

So if you hunt out of a stand and expect longish shots, go with the 14" waters. If they will be under 100 yards, go with the 10" Max. Just my opinion.

well i say this first im not even close to knowing the things about tenders an such that most have around here but my 10 inch 357 factory max shoots very good with factory 150 remingtons an jumps an all so kicks at least twice as much as my 14 inch 35 remington shooting factory 150 rounds from remmy...but to take a 14 over a 10 i would if you know you are going too shoot a good amount of distance...when i was looking in to the 357 max it was too shoot 100-125 max range...with my 35 rem i tock the 14 for that extra FPS to get me up too the 150-175 max range..
hope this helped

dave

Barrel length does not have a lot to do with the accruacy of a scoped specialty handgun. My 10" .30 Herrett will shoot groups as tight as any of my other deer hunting cartridges chambered in a 14 or 15" tube. I had a 10" 30-30 Winny that also shot very well.

Choosing from the selections you have provided...I'd take the 14" 7-30 Waters...it will thump a deer at 15 yards just as hard as the Maximum...AND...it will also have the oomph to drop a deer at 200 yards.

A 14" Maximum will not really extend you effective range with this cartridge...it is hampered by the poor ballistic of the .357" bullets rather than the velocity. Now if you could get a 180gr SSPB up to 2300fps rather than 1500-1800 then you would see a vast improvement but that is way outside the Max's capabilty regardless of barrel length. The Waters on the other hand will see a marked improvement using a 10" vs 14" barrel...7mm bullets have the ballstic capability to utilize the additional velocity of a longer barrel and see an improvement in downrange performance. For a 10" 7mm barrel it is tough to beat the 7T/CU.

Try the 14" Waters...if you don't like it I'm SURE there is someone that would buy it or you could have it cut shorter and recrowned.

Just one other thing you might consider, although it may not apply to you. Some states, and some zones within cretain states, have restrictions on hanguns for big game that allow only straight walled cartridges. Aparently done to restrict overspray on missed shots like shotgun slugs. This is why I got my Max to go along with my Waters.

i know this post was about 10 vs 14 but i have found that i can shoot a 12" encore offhand better than a 15",also if you look in the artical section there was a story about the perfect 10" bbl for the tender...

I have a 12" 7x30 Waters....and I love it. I can off hand shoot it well out to 100 yards. Anything over that I try to find something to rest it on, backpack, boulder, tree limb, etc.

Gundawg