Ask DS Caliber

[rawalley]

Looking to get a new gun for the "primitive season", pretty much sold on the CVA Stalker. I dont normally take shots over 200yrds during the regular season. I want as much range as possible without getting a bloody nose.

Which caliber would you suggest?

[donia]

i'm partial to my .444 handi rifle

[rawalley]

I dont know much about them but its my understanding that the 35 whelen will kick the snot out of you but has the best range. 45-70 is good within 150yrds. Tell me about the .444

[mshunter77]

Get the 35. It is basically like shooting a 30-06 with a 220 grain bullet. Really you could just hunt with it all season.

[Dux Be Us]

Love my Handi .444...kills em dead all year. I dont know alot about the Stalker, but, I am sure the Handi is on the approved list

[donia]

Tell me about the .444

i've not shot the 35, but have sighted in both 45-70 & 45-70 buffalo classic...and the last few shots of 45-70 weren't pleasant (none of the buffalo classic were...guy had original steel butt plate still on it). once in a hunting situation you won't feel it, though.
once i started shooting .444, i picked it up more often than my .270 during regular season. once i did a bit of accurizing (easily done yourself - tons of info on graybeard outdoor handi rifle forums) it groups better than both my .270 and .308...it's a "hole cutter" on paper.
where i was hunting (sloughs - and prefer to hunt if the choice is available) the large majority of my shots were well under 200 yds, but feel comfortable with a 200 shot with a slight bit of compensation since i'm zeroed at 150yd.
the 35 is much flatter shooting and has much better range, and i've heard both sides from people shooting them- "they kick like a rented mule" and "barely notice it". limbsaver recoil pads will take a LOT of punch out of recoil, whichever caliber you decide on.

[4dawgma]

Fo-fo-fo to shoot all dem does.

[deltadukman]

I absolutelt love my .444 handi rifle and I am upgrading the scope this year. Like donia, I have all but retired my long rifle and hunt with the .444 all year. I like to hunt where its thick and I dont have to worry with threading a bullet through the brush.

[rawalley]

Thanks guys ya'll make the 444 sound pretty nice.

[tombstone]

35, can chunk a 200 grain pill at 2900fps. Might not need to shoot 300, but can if you need to. Father in law has scout in 35 and hunts all yr with it

[rawalley]

Im a big guy and dont usually worry about recoil but I dont want a black eye from the 35. Ive heard some horror stories that make me unsure.

[tombstone]

Im a big guy and dont usually worry about recoil but I dont want a black eye from the 35. Ive heard some horror stories that make me unsure.

I ain't a big guy. You will be fine

[Duckimpeller]

If you feel the recoil, you ain't doing it right. I've shot 35 whelen, 300 RUM, 30-378. And all in between. I've never felt the recoil cause if I'm thinking about the recoil I'm not gonna hit what I'm shooting at. Ask any sniper that shoots a 50 Cal. About the recoil and they'll say it ain't bad. For 1 its because its heavy as hell and 2 if they are thinking about recoil they can't hit a target 1500+yds away.

[rawalley]

I dont worry about recoil when shooting, I worry about the scope hitting me. It has never happened to me before, but I shoot a 7mm 08 at deer.

[medic11]

+1 for the 444, takes the primitive out of it.