Handgun hunters?

[Motley Doo]

I have a T/C Contender that I bought a 16 1/4" 45-70 govt barrel for. It's actually not as bad as you might think, the muzzle brake does a good job, but yes, it still hurts! Anyways, it came with probably a box of ammo through it and a Bushnell Trophy 2-6 handgun scope on it. Does anyone have any experience with this scope? Just how "recoil proof" is it? If that doesn't work, I have an older Aimpoint Mark III laying around, does anyone know if it will survive? Just trying to find a scope for it, even unmagnified, just to get some weight on it! I'm going to start reloading my "hunting loads" that WILL hurt a bit. THanks for the help!

 

[spring snow hero]

man I hear ya on the bite. I sold a taraus 450ti which is a 45lc+p that weighs 18oz. that thing would buck so bad it would pull all the bullets by the second shot. I replaced it with a smith 329pd w/ laser grips.......them gotta go. I shot some big heavys through it and I swear I broke my thumb.

contenders are nice cause they don't have all the leverage that a revolver does and they are heavy. but that is a serious round. I like to load a 400gr hard cast or speer on top of a big dose of varget. the varget would put on a killer show in a contender as it is slower.

in all honesty any 400gr going better then 800fps-ish is gonna stop everything in the northern hemisphere.

as for scopes, I got nothing for ya other then I put a lot of rounds through a aimpoint comp ml, all trouble free. leupold and weaver have good reps on hand gun scopes. good luck on yours!

past shooting gloves....good plan!

 

[jomamma]

I hunt with a 7 1/2" 45/70 BFR. Awesome gun really. I use Garrett hammerhead ammo, 420 GR Superhardcast. Should be about 1600 FPS. That will leave a mark.

 

[Motley Doo]

Thanks for the help guys! I have heard good reps out of Varget, I was thinking about using the aimpoint as they have the best reps. Would like some magnification, but in all honesty, I doubt you will ever run into a situation where you would need a big scope on a 45-70 pistol. Jo-I'll check into that Garrett hammerhead. I would like a nice jacketed bullet, but at these velocities, a cast might work as good or better. Who has it for the best price? Thanks again! any other suggestions are welcome!

 

[Motley Doo]

WOW! found the Garrett ammo, really cool stuff, but not cheap! $80 for 20, would be cool to find exactly what load they are using, then just reload it. What does everyone suggest for bullets? Barns? Hornady? Sierra? or go with a cast alloy? Opinions? Thanks!

 

[XC700116]

I don't shoot a 45/70 but one of the best handgun scopes I've found is the Burris 2-7 ballistic plex with the Posi-Lock reticle. That's what I'm using on my 460 XVR and it hasn't failed me yet. Also comes with a lifetime warranty.

 

[Motley Doo]

Yeah, I have a buddy who has I think that same scope on a .44, he loves it! How do you like the 460? I heard that it bites harder than the 500, but everyone that I have talked to says it's worth it! Thanks!

 

[spring snow hero]

I shoot these http://www.beartoothbullets.com/bulletselect/index.htm and 400 gr speers. if you have never used solids you gotta try it.

 

[adrenaline junkey]

I have the Thompson contender in a 45/70 I started with a Bushnell trophy 2x6 variable scope. It lasted about 150 rounds then the cross hairs fell out I sent it back they rebuilt it under warranty and said if i was using it on a hi power handgun that would be the last time so i installed it on my 223 barrel . I was then turned onto a taco pro class pistol scope heard it was the best performing for price so i found one mounted it up and over 300 rounds later still works flawless. the have sense been discontinued but still can be found at gun shows and eBay I highly recommend one. But you may have to double ring it to keep it in place.
As for ammunition you should get into reloading sense most of the ammo you buy is for rifles and the powder burn rate is set up for 18 to 20 inches being your Thompson is less length you loose a lot of unburned powder out the end of the barrel. I really like shooting the 400's. best 150 yard sledge hammer ya can buy in a handgun

 

[Motley Doo]

Nice, I have almost the exact same setup, but in blue. Exactly what length is that? 14"? or is it a 16"? I guess I'll step my bushnell down onto my 16" .223 barrel as well. What do you shoot through the .223 for ammo? I just started converting all my contender stuff over to pistols so I could hunt from a dirtbike and gopher shoot from it too. Thanks Junkey for the pics! That is a very nice looking pistol, I also have an Encore, but, honestly, the contender, I think, is more comfortable and easier to shoot than the Encore, but to each his own. Thanks a ton guys, the T/C stuff has been a lot of fun, people look at you funny when you bring a 45-70 pistol to the range! Thanks again, any other opinions are welcome! I will look into those beartooth bullets too, I wouldn't mind shooting a solid, especially since you can't get the velocities up too high anyways. Thanks again!

 

[adrenaline junkey]

I really like Hodgdon Varget it shoots well out of the 223 contender and i can buy it in bulk because my varmint rifles love it. I think there a blast to shoot and you can change them from rifle to pistol in a mater of min and as far as hunting off a dirt bike or ATV look at one of these they work great for just that http://www.cheaperthandirt.com/44445-33.html

look some loads up here and be sure to click pistol under load type http://data.hodgdon.com/main_menu.asp

 

[Motley Doo]

Wow! Thanks a ton Junkey, added the Hodgdon powders to my favorites, good reference tool for loads! And I will be buying that holster, everywhere I looked I couldn't find one for that long of barrels, should be a ton of fun from the bike, figured that if the hunting sucked, atleast the riding was good! Another Q for yah Junkey, what grips are those, are they the stock Rynite t/c's? How do you like them? Was looking at either them or the Pachmeyer grips, but they are getting hard to come by anymore! Thanks again guys, ton of help!

 

[adrenaline junkey]

Wow! Thanks a ton Junkey, added the Hodgdon powders to my favorites, good reference tool for loads! And I will be buying that holster, everywhere I looked I couldn't find one for that long of barrels, should be a ton of fun from the bike, figured that if the hunting sucked, atleast the riding was good! Another Q for yah Junkey, what grips are those, are they the stock Rynite t/c's? How do you like them? Was looking at either them or the Pachmeyer grips, but they are getting hard to come by anymore! Thanks again guys, ton of help!

I have a few more sites that i use as well as hard copy books you can pick up free copies that have a lot of information in them also most of your sporting goods stores will have them but there are a lot of good Internet sites that have good information. I will post them when i get around my other computer
I really like my holster keeps it to the side out of the way and can be adjusted to just about any size for the heavy coverall days.
Yes those are just the stock grips I tried the pachmayr ones but didn't care for them so i just use a padded shooters glove when I'm at the range trying new loads and sighting in where a lot of shots will be made. midway USA carries a lot of stuff for the thompson as well as a lot of reloading supplies http://www.midwayusa.com/browse/Bro...tegoryString=10636***10560***10406***11667***

eabco is also a good place to keep an eye on http://www.eabco.com/encor01.html
and when ya get bored with the standard stuff check out ssk for some harder hitting long range stuff lol http://www.sskindustries.com/contender.htm
Hope all that helps

 

[Motley Doo]

Thanks again! This has been a ton of help! I have already spoke to the guys at SSK, I actually came extremely close to buying a 14" 338 #2 JDJ or maybe even a 6.5 dreadnaught, unfortunatly, with college just around the corner, I can't really afford that, but it WILL be on my to-do list! I'll check out the sites, I can't thank you enough!