I now have 3 barrels[22Magnum,357Mag.,45/410] and I want to get another barrelfor targets and hunting with a scope mounted.What are the recommendations from you single shot shooters as per caliber,barrel length and scope? I was thinking along the lines of 30-30,7Waters and perhaps a 223 if I stay below deer size animals. Appreciate any thoughts or suggestions.-----------------------Tom-------------------

Presently have a .375 Win in a T/C carbine bbl. Quite accurate and lots of knockdown power out to 200 yds. Had a .35 Rem in a 14" bbl that was very deadly on deer - sorta hard on the eardrums, though!

For target work and for general hunting, the 7x30 Waters (sepecially in the Ack Imp version) is as good as it gets. Very accurate, has lots of power and a joy to handload for. The carbine length bbl would be my choice.

I now have 3 barrels[22Magnum,357Mag.,45/410] and I want to get another barrelfor targets and hunting with a scope mounted.What are the recommendations from you single shot shooters as per caliber,barrel length and scope? I was thinking along the lines of 30-30,7Waters and perhaps a 223 if I stay below deer size animals. Appreciate any thoughts or suggestions.-----------------------Tom-------------------
My current favorite barrel is in .223 (16 1/4"). This caliber is a joy to shoot and reload. I have a Burris 3 x 12 on it and the gun will certainly outshoot me! I have found that 40 gr. Hornady V-Max bullets in front of 13.3 gr. of Blue Dot will give me 1" groups at 100 yds. Great for paper punching, groundhogs, and deer (Eastern, small) in areas that allow it. My 45/70 Govt. 16" barrel is, of course, a better choice for deer-size game. BTW, this barrel, with compensator and 300 gr. bullets, is NOT the wrist breaker it is often said to be. I will say that if you get used to the 45/70, you will have absolutely no problems with "flinch" when shooting the .223! :D

If you stay below deer sized critters I would vote for the .223 also. If you want more accuracy/power get a carbine length. You didnt say if you shot a pistol, or carbine? If you shoot pistol I would get a Nikon 2.5-88 or a Burris 3-12x. I myself get Nikon cause I hear alot of horror storys about Buris. Judging by the amount of people who have Burris 3-12x , I guess Burris isnt all that bad. If you shoot carbine get a Leupold or Bushnell Elite.

I shoot an encore in 17/223 15" by bullberry and a 7mm-08 with a brake also by bullberry and they both are fun to shoot. The 7mm-08 is no wrist breaker and the 17/223 is great fun and brass is very easy to form . I have 2x7 burris on both barrels and they have had zero problems. Enjoy and I'm sure you'll like what ever you choose.

hoeram

Please clarify. Have the Burris scopes had problems retaining their zero or have they had no problems?

Kanuck,

I have used the Burris handgun scopes off and on for the past 25 years and they have always had problems with them retaing their zero! That is why they developed their Posi-Lock system, to help eleminate the constant headache of having to replace scopes all the time....

I use the Simmons Gold Medal handgun scope and the Bushnell Trophy handgun scopes and out of 32 of them that are mounted on my guns and barrels, I have yet to have a single problem out of any of them....

DAVID