elnor Posted February 7, 2006 Report Share Posted February 7, 2006 I am new to hunting big game with a handgun, though I have hunted squirrels with a .22 revolver in my youth and taken deer and turkeys with rifle and shotgun over the years since. A recent surprise encounter with a big boar while toting only a .22, however, has made me reconsider having a bigger hunting handgun on my hip. I plan to hunt whitetail deer and hogs with whatever handgun I pick. My major requirements are: (1) Enough energy for hogs and deer out to 200 yds, and if feasible given other constraints below, elk too (2) Flatter trajectory than 30-06, preferably with a point blank range around 250-300 yds (3) Light enough recoil that my wife, who's comfortable with 30-30 recoil but shys away from my 300WSM long gun, wouldn't mind shooting a rifle chambered in the same caliber as my pistol-to-be Right now I'm thinking about getting T/C Encore in 7mm-08 Remington. Thoughts or recommendations? Thanks in advance for any ideas and assistance you can provide. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VTbowman Posted February 8, 2006 Report Share Posted February 8, 2006 Re: Recommendations for a deer & hog hunting handgun? [ QUOTE ] Right now I'm thinking about getting T/C Encore in 7mm-08 Remington. Thoughts or recommendations? [/ QUOTE ] The WHOLE time I was reading your requirments I was thinking to myself "7mm08". Then I read your last line. LOL This is excatly what I just got and it does all you listed and more. Coyotes to Elk I am told. I personally feel the Encore platform is the very best choice since it can be used for other calibers too. Its not a "put on your hip" gun though but they do make a bandoleer style side or back holster. When I 1st got interested in handgun hunting I only had a Ruger Black Hawk .357 revovler and was told by all that it was bare minimum for deer sized game and the range was only 50 to 60 yards max. My 7.08 is a 200 to 300+ yard big game hunter... JMO but thats what your wanting it seems. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elnor Posted February 8, 2006 Author Report Share Posted February 8, 2006 Re: Recommendations for a deer & hog hunting handgun? Thanks for your replies here and on HandgunHunt.com, GrnMntMan. My father has deer hunted a bit with a 357, too, but never taken a deer. The other option I'm considering, strictly for short range shots on deer or hogs, 50 yards or less in some of the tight wooded areas I hunt, is a SA XD in 40S&W (see related thread http://www.realtree.com/forums/showflat.php?Cat=0&Number=883208&an=0&page=0#883208 ). XD-40 is legal where I hunt, but as you said about the 357, would be the bare minimum and only for close range shots. Heck, maybe I should get an Encore 7mm-08 for open terrain and bigger animals *and* an XD-40 for close work on light bodied whitetails and little pigs? Hhhmmm... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hangunnr Posted February 8, 2006 Report Share Posted February 8, 2006 Re: Recommendations for a deer & hog hunting handgun? I would not consider the 40S&W suitable for deer at any range. The 7-08 however is a excellent suggestion. hangunnr Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnf Posted February 8, 2006 Report Share Posted February 8, 2006 Re: Recommendations for a deer & hog hunting handgun? [ QUOTE ] [ QUOTE ] Right now I'm thinking about getting T/C Encore in 7mm-08 Remington. Thoughts or recommendations? [/ QUOTE ] The WHOLE time I was reading your requirments I was thinking to myself "7mm08". Then I read your last line. LOL [/ QUOTE ] Funny you should say that. After I got done reading the first post and started to scroll down to post this exact same thing. I believe we have reached a consensus here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnf Posted February 8, 2006 Report Share Posted February 8, 2006 Re: Recommendations for a deer & hog hunting handgun? If your going short range only I would get a 44Mag. unless you got a really good deal on a 357. It would work, just not as much boom. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elnor Posted February 9, 2006 Author Report Share Posted February 9, 2006 Re: Recommendations for a deer & hog hunting handgun? Thanks again for everyone for sharing your experience and opinions. My wife and I were at Bass Pro tonight for a friction turkey calling seminar so I made sure we checked out cartridges and guns. It looks quite likely that we will go with 7mm-08. I'll post more when we have one or more straight shooting new toys in hand. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elnor Posted February 17, 2006 Author Report Share Posted February 17, 2006 Follow-up questions RE deer & hog handgun My wife's announced she wants to head to the Colorado high country in September and ML hunt for elk rather than rifle hunt in Oct/Nov, so... ...this has started me thinking about how this might change my handgun plans. I'm still leaning heavily towards a T/C Encore, but if I'm not going to elk hunt with this particular barrel, could I go with 243 Win instead of 7mm-08 for deer and pigs? Our deer in these parts are usually 150 lbs or less, but the hogs can push 300 lbs and obviously are tough critters. Will 243 be sufficient pig medicine? BTW, for the elk hunt, I'm thinking 209x50 ML barrel (see " 50 cal ML handgun legal for elk in CO " for a related post about that). Two new barrels are always better than one, right? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VTbowman Posted February 18, 2006 Report Share Posted February 18, 2006 Re: Follow-up questions RE deer & hog handgun Personally I would still go with the 7mm08. Like I said before its good from coyotes to elk and everything in between. Since setting a bbl up is fairly expensive. I mean your gonna have $200 minimum in just one barrel, then another $200 to $300 in a scope per bbl, rings and bases too. Yourlooking at $500+ per bbl set up. Owch! For me, and this is JMO, but its nice to have one bbl that is multi-taskable. I have a 7mm08 and the 209x50 pistol bbls and they can do 95% of any hunting I could do. My next bbl will be a thumper for really large game. not sure what yet. Again JMO. The 243 will be more then enoguh for deer sized game but I feel its a bit on the weak side for hogs. Let us know and please show pics! BTW very cool about your wife wanting to go and hunt. I envy you... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elnor Posted February 22, 2006 Author Report Share Posted February 22, 2006 Re: Follow-up questions RE deer & hog handgun Two other options I've considered if the gun doesn't need to be elk-capable are: (1) Contender in 30-30 Win using Hornady LeverEvolution ammo (better energy and trajectory than "regular" 30-30 cartridges, interchangeable ammo with my wife's Marlin 336) (2) Encore in 30-06 using "Managed Recoil" cartridges to lessen the kick for my wife, at least until she decides 30-06 isn't that bad after all I haven't yet gotten into handloading, so I'd need to use manufacturer ammo. Any opinions on either of the options above? Would the new Hornady 30-30 pack the punch needed for hogs and have flat enough trajectory for 200+ yd shooting? If 30-30 would work for deer and pigs out to 200+, would there be any advantage to the lower recoiling 30-06 given that I think it has comparable energy to regular 30-30 rounds? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LETMGROW Posted February 26, 2006 Report Share Posted February 26, 2006 Re: Follow-up questions RE deer & hog handgun I have a Contender in .35 Rem. which is really accurate at 100 yards. I do handload and have put together some pointed bullets for the .35 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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