Small to medium game cartridge

[mj30wilson]

I need a small to medium game cartridge and was looking for either a .300 whisper or a .460 smith and Wesson. Both would be used in a tc encore katahdin 20 inch barrel. I would like suppressor capability. The .460 smith and Wesson can shoot 454 casull and 45 colt. I would shoot the 45 colt suppressed. I would hunt anything from raccoon's to turtles to deer and maybe the occasional coyote. I rarely shoot past 150 yards. What do you guys think would be the best move? .300 whisper or the .460 smith and Wesson combo?

 

[JD338]

I would pick the 300 Wisper for small-medium sized game.

JD338

 

[onesonek]

I would go with the Whisper also.
However if I had the .460, then you have larger game capability. And I can make a case for it loaded with 1 or 2 round balls for small game and pest when loaded to about 6-700 fps.

 

[FOTIS]

300 Wisper

 

[Woodycreek]

460 S&W for the larger selection of bullets for a wider range of use. You could load 325 gr 45LC for a great subsonic suppressed load. Full power 460 S&W loads will get you close to a 45-70. I would prefer to throw big bullets at subsonic levels. I have used the 300 Whisper with subsonic loads and really didn't care for it. Been kicking around the idea of a 458 SOCOM with 500 grainers at subsonic speeds with a suppressor.

 

[Oldtrader3]

I have always wanted the .454 Casull chambering. However, I can settle for the two single action .45 Colts (USRA) that I have left plus, the Bisley Ruger .357 Mag for smallish game.

Any of them will work fine in a TC Encore Barrel. I always liked the 200 gr Hornady plastic-tip Spire tip for the .454 at 2000+ fps. Just my $.02 worth. A .460 barrel would scratch that itch.

 

[onesonek]

I agree with Bryan and Charlie here as well.
I wanted a .45 Colt for the Encore, but were kind of hard to come by at the time.
I came by a .454 Casull, and find it to be very versatile. It is another in my battery of barrels I won't give up. I never gave the .458 SOCOM a thought at the time. Now I would consider it, as it may make things a bit more efficient with me casting for the .454 and .45-70. Then for the small game part of OP,,I do tend set up more use specific. With that said,,,I also won't give up the .45/.410 12" barrel.
With more thought on this OP question, I change my mind :lol:
You need 2 barrels,,,,the .454 Casull,(I'll throw in the .45Colt as a sub.), and the .45/.410. Those two would cover quite a few needs nicely. :twisted:

 

[mj30wilson]

I was really interested in the 460,454,45 combo due to cheaper cost and better availability while still being suppressable. The .300 while cool is still getting it's wings. After a few more years in the industry we shall see if it was a fluke or here to stay. I think buying the combo will serve me in the short run until I can buy both.

What is the effective range on deer with .300 whisper?

.460 and the 454 and 45 colt?

 

[Woodycreek]

300 Whisper
I would guess 125-150 yards with the 125 BT going 2100 FPS? Subsonic? 75-100 yards with 200-220 grain and a good chance of having to track the deer. You will have hard time getting the 30 cal bullets to open up at subsonic speeds.

460 S&W
150-175 yards with a 240 grain HP going 2250 FPS. Just found a 395 grain subsonic load that should get you to 100 yards. The 460 is looking better and better with the amount of bullets/loads.

 

[taylorce1]

I was really interested in the 460,454,45 combo due to cheaper cost and better availability while still being suppressable. The .300 while cool is still getting it's wings. After a few more years in the industry we shall see if it was a fluke or here to stay. I think buying the combo will serve me in the short run until I can buy both.

The .300 Whisper IMO has all the wings it will ever grow since it has been out over 20 years now. I considered one for my daughter but don't feel the need to nearly recreate a .30-30 when I have a great Rem 788 bolt action she can use. The newer .300 AAC Blackout is slightly different than the Whisper and the one still growing in popularity. Remington is making a few loads for it as well as a few other manufacturers.

With 110 grain bullets can reach 2400, 125 grain bullets you can exceed 2200 fps, and can reach 2000 with a 150 grain bullets. Even with heavy subsonic bullets the Whisper is easily capable of reaching 200 yards with 200+ grain bullets. I think the Whisper or Blackout have a lot to offer with the bullet selection of the .308.

 

[rick smith]

Look at the trajectory of the rounds you originally suggested. Having loaded and shot the Whisper/ Blackout, 454 and 45LC. All will kill deer sized animals if the bullet is correctly placed. If I were going to use them for deer hunting, I would limit my shot distance to 100yds or less. Now if I were going to shoot farther, I would consider 7mmBR Rem, 308x1.5 Barnes, 30BR. Know from personal experience they will effectively kill deer past the 200yd mark. The last three would not increase recoil more than the rounds you mentioned. I don't use suppressors or muzzle breaks but that is personal choice.Rick.

 

[russ808]

Blackout. Played with loads from 110 all the way up to 220. Finally settled on 168 hpbt and 220 hpbts.
Russ

 

[mj30wilson]

What length barrel would be on the whisper?

The encore is only chambered for the .300 whisper not the aac blackout.
Will I be able to shoot both in the gun?
Is the .300 whisper ammo readily available?

 

[rick smith]

A little difference in the shoulders allows Whisper to be shot in the Blackout but not the reverse. Loaded rounds for the whisper are available. A friend of mine bought several boxes, they were made from reformed 223 cases. About 1/3 of them would not fire. Wrong headspace. I decreased the seating depth so the bullet made firm contact with the lands and all fired. I made cases from 221 fireball brass and he is still shooting them. Handloading for the Whisper is easy so I would not buy commercially loaded rounds. I think Whisper brass is now on the market. I wouldn't want a barrel length over 20" for the Whisper.

 

[Wincheringen]

I'd go with the Blackout. EABCO makes a Blackout barrel for the Encore.

Only the Bowers can is strong enough for the Colt, and its heavy, expensive, & hard to get.

 

[mj30wilson]

I am leaning to combo due to the cost per round and versitility.

Plus I would like the .300 blackout to go further in the mainstream before I commit.