I am looking into purchasing a T/C Encore pistol. In my state I must use a straightwall cartridge, what would be the best for deer? I will be hunting some timber along wide open fields, so some range would be nice, I currently have used a .357 with a 8 3/8 inch barrel. Not real impressed, but I have owned the gun for a long time so I use it cautiously under 80 yds, Im outside my paperplate anything past that distance.
any help would be great.

I have looked at at the 460 S&W, 500 and 45 Long Colt. Can I shoot the 45 LC, and 454 Casull out of a TC 460 barrel?

thanks

Man, that is a great list! Have you thought of a 45-70 or 375 Win?

I have a 15 inch 460 S&W barrel. Yes you can shoot 45s and 454s in it. The 45s will shoot faster in a shorter barrel. In my gun the 45s are like shooting 38s, the 454s are like 44s, and the 460s are definately two handers. I could go on and on about this gun.

You an Iowa boy Siyakadog?

Here is S.E. MI we are restricted to traditional straightwalled pistol rounds. I use .44 Mag & 45 Colt, but I've also thought a .357 Max, or 445 Supermag might be the ticket for extending my range. I've never owned either, ... but they look good on paper!

yepp I'm an Iowa boy, NW Iowa! Really want to get into Deer Hunting Handgun style, I have just dabbled in it on an off. We have so many deer but we can only get one gun tag, go figure that one out.

Go with the .460, etc.

[quote=Luv 2 Hunt]I have a 15 inch 460 S&W barrel. Yes you can shoot 45s and 454s in it. The 45s will shoot faster in a shorter barrel. In my gun the 45s are like shooting 38s, the 454s are like 44s, and the 460s are definately two handers. I could go on and on about this gun. [/quote)Please do--I am in the process of purchasing a T/C Encore.460 15"

Will a 444 Marlin fit the bill? If you are not restricted to classic "pistol" calibers this is a great round.

Don't leave out the 375 Winny if you can use "non" pistol calibers. It is a straight wall case. If you are not restricted by overall length it is worth looking into.

While I have used the .357 magnum with great success on deer,you seem to have doubts, so I would go with at least the .45.It'll leave a big hole which will probably give you more confidence when sqeezing that trigger.

I'd go with the .460S&W, it give you 3 choices on ammo, the .45Colt, .454Casull, or the .460S&W.

Hunlee is verry proud owner of 375windchester!!!!!!!!!!!!!!375 windcherser of hunlee wood be the lass barrle sold if it ever come to that!!!!!!!!!!!!!!45-70 of hunlee is verry good aswell but 375 windchester of hunlee is #1

hunlee

Are those straightwall, Hunmeister?

I'm with Hunlee on this. The .375 winchester is a great cartridge in a contender frame. The 220-grain Hornady is a good bullet for this cartridge. A little easier on the shooter than the .460.

I agree.

That is four of us for the 375... and still counting! LOL

I had really good luck with my 45-70 this year. 3 for 3. mine is a 16" with the muzzle break. shoots nice! Deer don't like it though!

Your 357 would surprise you if you scoped it (assuming you haven't). A nice 2X w/170 gr Speer Gold Dots will do nicely if you reload or Hawk Bullets as well. Since Nosler so cruely discontinued the PGHs. W/an Encore any of the aforementioned would do fine. I'd lean toward 375(Supermag or Win), 414 Supermag, 445, 444, 45-70, 454, & 460 to get full potential from the Encore frame. I know most of these don't need the Encore frame but it is a little more versatile. I'd prefer a Contender my self. Those seem to be the ones that are better at longer ranges.

You might want to explore your thoughts of the 357 max.

very easy to handload, You just use 357 mag dies and adjust out. You can shoot 357 mag bullets out of the same barrel, just clean good.
These links will tell you more about the 357 max than I can in this little space. But I will tell you it's easy to load, fun to shoot, very very accurate, I can shoot all day and not feel pain in my wrist or hand, did I mention very accurate.

I have 2 now, both 12.5 inches. One with a brake, one a bull barrel I just purchased from an elderly man here in De. The brake is very loud so I hunt with Walker game muffs.
You can load cast bullets, Remington SJHP 180 gr., Hornady XTP's, or Hornady 180 gr. Single Shot Pistol bullets.

I have used a variety of powders- http://stevespages.com/357p_5.html
1680, N120, H110, N110, 5744, IMR 4227. All shot with acceptable accuracy.
The Remingtons shot with N110 best, the XTP's worked well with most of the powders and I use N120 with Hornady SS/PB as my main hunting load.

Take a look at these websites. You can get a custom barrel(both of mine are MGM barrels) or get a Mike Bellm barrel or find a 357 mag locally and get a local gunsmith to cut a max throat in it. Good luck, John

http://357maximum.com/developing-a-load/

http://www.bellmtcs.com/store/index.php?cid=121

http://www.lasc.us/Fryxell357Max.htm

One final thing, if you reload the max with any of the pointed bullets you need to modify or order the seating stem in your die. Lee made me one for $12 and other people have gotten them from their press companies.

The 357maximum is allways intreeged Hunlee!!!!!!!!Maybee sometime down the road Hunlee will be able to fire one off a time or 2!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Small packages with grate hittin power!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Hunlee getting all excited juss thinkin about it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

hunlee