I want some opinions from experienced handgun hunters that use these calibers. I just moved to Iowa and the law says I can't use the rifles I cut my teeth on in SD, so I'm buying and Encore to shoot the legal straight-walled pistol cases, can't use bottle-necked cartridges. I'm looking for something to shoot a deer with at 150-175 yds. max, and won't punish me too badly. I have heard that these two will do the job, but which one is better, or is it a toss up? I handload, so I can load them both down to comfortable levels if I think they get too hot, but I have a lot of experience with a 7mm BR in and XP-100 that I can hit flickertails with at 250 yds. regularly, so I know I have the marksmanship to use them out to their effective ranges. How bad will these rounds bite me, and is it worth getting the Denzel Roberts grips to spread the recoil out over my hand? Thanks in advance, I hope you can help me out here. BTW, I can buy a NIB Encore frame and .454 barrel without grips for $395. Is this a good deal? Let me know what you guys think on all of it.
Sincerely,
Willie Rosin willie_rosin@hotmail.com

Willie_Rosin,

You say that your state limits you to traditional straight walled handgun cases. Depending on how strict they are about this, the 444 Marlin will not qualify as it is technically a round designed for use in a rifle and not a handgun. Most stated aren't that picky but call your game department and make sure.

As far as the two go neither will do much more then the other as far as range goes. The 454 in the 12" barrel will reach 125 yards easily and with a scope 150 yards is not to hard. The 444 will add about 25 yards to the 454, not much at all.

It really doesn't matter how fast you can drive a .429" or .452" bullet, they both take a nose dive rather quickly.

About loading these two down, the 454 works OK with mid level loads but I would prefer shooting 45 colt loads instead as velocities will be nore consistent. The 444 marlin can be a very dangerous beast if one tried to reduce loads with the wrong powders. Alot of crazy things can happen that aren't good. Unless you are a vey experienced handloader, I would advise loading the 444 no less then 10% off max loads.

Recoil is a relative thing, what is pain to one shooter is a pussy cat to another. Load both of these rounds with a quality hunting type bullet(260 gr and up for the 454, 270 and up for the 444) and they both have alot more recoil then a 7mmBR. The 444 is concidered brutal to some so be aware of that. If a 454 revolver is uncomfortable for you, a 444 Encore will be worse if loaded to max levels.

There really isn't much in the way of grips that I have found to improve on the Encore stock grips, they did alot of research on these and really did it right. I have a custom barrel for my Encore in 7mmRUM with a Holland break and the thing doesn't even move when I touch off 90 grains of powder under the 150 gr Ballistic Tip.

If you want to control recoil, get a break.

The price of the 454 you state is pretty good if new, I would pay that for a new Encore as factory 454 12" barrel run around $190 and a frame in the $220-230 range.

Hope this helps a little!!

Good Shooting and Hunting!!!

50

you say rifle cartrages are illegal here in iowa does shooting deer have different laws or what?
a friend of mine shot silhouettes with a .444 marlin t c contender with a custom made barrel. hes a gun dealer and goes by the book so i cant imagine hed over look that detail. the .444 was legal to shoot ihmsa with in iowa. we ran the state match at perry in 1990 he was the match director. a .357 mag can be your best friend.............

I'm sorry I didn't specify the regulations more. I can use any cartridge in a pistol with the restrictions: It must be straight-walled, so I could technically use a 45-70 or a .600 Nitro Express, as long as it's in a pistol. The main restriction is that I can't use a bottle-necked cartridge in any gun, and the gun I use MUST be a handgun. I hope this makes things simpler.
Willie