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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?

i'm partial to my .444 handi rifle

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

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.

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

rawalley wrote: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.

Fo-fo-fo to shoot all dem does.

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.

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

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

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.

rawalley wrote: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

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.

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.

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