I am new to hand gun hunting and have found the following guns
A used contender in 70-30-Waters w a 22LR barrel priced $689.00
or a new Encore Hunter package in .270 win for $659.00. For a guy new to hunting which would you recommend. I plan on mostly hunting deer in Michigan.
Thanks

Hey C180...good to have you on the forum!

As for the handguns.....I have a preference for Contenders myself. I can usually find used ones with 14" barrels for $400 and under. At $689 w/ two barrels.....that's a bit high unless they come with halfway decent optics. If not, then $550 or under would be a MUCH better price....$350 for the complete gun and $150 for the extra barrel is how I see it.

The Waters is an awesome cartridge. Do you handload?

the contender would be lighter in weight, and that may make it a lil easier to rest/steady for shots on game, since you are just startin. the 22lr would be great for practicing up cheap!

both sound like nice packages. do the contender barrels have scopes n mounts? like dan says....that will make considerable difference in price/value. the encore "hunter package" comes with the 2.5x7 TC scope. it should be a nice scope too.....or at least i had one yrs ago that was.

Both guns have scopes. Not sure about the power of them

Both guns (meaning the Encore and Contender) or do you mean both barrels in the Contender combo have scopes?

The Encore has the 2.5 to 7 and the Contender 70-30 waters has a 4 power and the 22LR has a 2 power.

If the Contender scopes are Bushnell's or better (Weaver, Burris Leupold, Nikon, etc)...then $600 would be a pretty good price.

What kind of hardware are the scopes mounted in? Weaver style dovetail base or Burris/Leupold/Redfield style that turn in?

Also...what is the Contender wearing for grip/forearm? Wood or Pachmyer?

Hi Comanche.
I'll throw in my $.02 here.
1st off, welcome to the one type of hunting that can tear me away from traditional bows!!!

As far as the Contender vs. Encore question goes, having owned both, for your use I'd prefer the Contender.
Just a sweeter handgun to me. I like the feel better, & it comes in calibers like the 7-30 that are more than plenty powerful for your stated use.
The 7-30 really comes to life in the Contender with the right bullets & handloaded.
I went to Encores just because moose is my main critter & brown bear a possibility & I wanted a bit more powerful cartridges.
Like the others, I'd say the price is a bit steep unless it's nice glass.

Welcome to Handgun Hunt Comanche180!! The contender package would be great for deer hunting and practice. Price is good with the scopes. The used Encore hunter package goes for $550 in these parts. The 270 is a good round, but there are better and cheaper choices to shoot out there. The 270 is not the best choice for a beginner to start and really practice with.

Ok guys here is the correct info.
The encore hunter package is new with the box 2.5x7 scope and case in .270 win Blued and rubber grips
The contender is used wood grips 70-30 waters with a 2 pwr fix Burris scope and weaver bases. It come with a 22lr barrel and no scope.

Hi Comanche180, in your opening post you say you plan on hunting deer in Michigan, thats great! I'm sure you will love it, but check the handgun regs. I think you have to use straight wall cartriges of .38 cal. or larger. I picked up a T/C Encore in .460 S&W Mag. last year for handgun hunting and am fairly pleased with it. Think either of the calibers you mention above would be great fun to shoot. I live/hunt in the thumb of lower MI. also go to the U.P. for bear and deer, but more for bear. The deer are pretty scarce up there. What part of MI. do you live/hunt in? Just throwing in my 2 cents.

I'll check the regs. I live lower SE michigan and have 150 acres in the Northern lower. I have taken Deer Bear off the property and have seen bobcat and Elk. I am looking forward to the challenge of hand gun hunting.

OK........that makes sense.



That does not!!

Anyhoo...the 2X Burris is a great scope. Swap that on to the .22LR and practice like crazy while finding out of y ou can or can not hunt with the Waters. If you can, get a 2-6X Bushnell. If not, sell the Waters (worth anywhere from $140 to $175) and get a .357 Max, .44 Mag, etc to do your deer hunting.

The term “Northern Lower” refers to the northern portion of the Lower peninsula of Michigan. Sorry

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Well here is my answer from the DNR. I'm ok as long as I hunt the Rifle area


Can a hand gun with a necked down cartrige such as a .270 or 70-30
Waters


Discussion Thread
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Response (Tami Pullen) - 07/19/2007 08:53 AM


Yes, in the rifle zone, as long as the hand gun is larger than a .22
cal and not capable of holding more than nine round is the chamber and
barrel combined

....and with the T/C it's easy to swap barrels and hunt in either area! See...there's a reason to add another barrel already!!

nine rounds in the chamber and barrel ought to be REAL fun!!!!

I was thinkin' the same thing.......