zmschillin

I live in indiana and I am trying to figure out what I want to be for my new deer gun. I am looking at the Savage 220, a Marlin 1894 .44 and a Ruger M77/44. Does anyone have experience with these and what is your response for them. Is there anything else out there that would be a better Indiana deer gun?

SJAdventures

It is just me but I would go with the designated rifled slug gun over a pistol cartridge.

gonewest

I hunted Iowa this yr and needed to buy a shotgun so I got the Savage 220 in a 20 guage. When I got it I couldn't find 3" accutips rem. slugs all I could find was 2 3/4" . But that gun can shoot lights out. I can get groups of 3/4" at 100 yrds. But the barrel heats up fast and you have to let cool if you want to shoot 3-5 shot groups. But it is very very accurate. I had mine shooting 3" high at 100 yds and was right on at 150 yds. At 180 yds it was 8-9 in low. I shot a nice 10 pt in the chest at 120 yds and he ran off like he wasn't hit. I'm used to the .270 hammering them and they really take off. He went only 80 yds. But overall I put on a nice 3x9 scope and it shoots great. I highly recommend it. But save yourself alot of money. Buy 2-3 boxes of Remington Accutips and try them everyone I know that has a Savage 220 their gun loves them. Then if it does buy a case so you get the same lot number. Slugs are expensive and if you start experimenting you will spend 150-200 dollars real fast. Buy the ACCUTIPS. Whether you go 3" or 2 3/4" depends on you I hear they kick alot more. Good luck hope you shot a big one.

salukipv1

.460 S&W or that .35 WSSM wildcat? 358wssm??

or a savage 220 slug gun 20ga.

PastorJim08

I live in Indiana and I'm wondering why you don't just go with a good slug gun. My Remington 1100 is good out to 100yds with wicked knock down power. If I were going to go with a pistol cartridge in a rifle, I would probably go with a 44 mag or 35 remington.

Blessings.......Pastorjim

flyinlowe

I had been thinking about switching to some of the "new" rifle (pistol) cartridges in Indiana as well. I usually use my .50 cal encore during shotgun season. I don't know if the new rounds that Indiana allows performs any better then the .50 cal will or not. I don't know what the range of any of these rounds are but I can

Sheridan

+ 1 for the Savage 220F

New camo stainless model;

http://www.savagearms.com/firearms/m...0SLUGGUNSSCAMO

Buckhunter46755

I wouldn't mind getting one of the single shot Rossi's that you can change the barrels on. But for the past several years I have been using my TC Omega .50 during firearms season. I like the accuracy I get from the ML. I usually use the .45 in a sabot either in a ballistic tip or a semi-jacketed hollow point depending on the situation & range of my shots.

flyinlowe

Here is the verbage copied from Indiana's rule book. Are any of these rounds a lot better then the .50 cal muzzle loader as far as range, accuracy and knock down power. I don't know enough about the ballistics of these rounds to know what would be the best combo for me next firearms season. I have been using the .50 cal for the last couple of years and like it over the 12 gauge for the range. But I would also like to have something that I can shoot without the cleaning and such for firearms season and then use the .50 cal for black powder season.

Rifles with cartridges that fire a bullet of .357-inch diameter or larger; have a minimum case length of 1.16 inches; and have a maximum case length of 1.625 inches are legal to use only during the deer firearm season. Some cartridges legal for deer hunting include the .357 Magnum, .38-.40 Winchester, .41 Magnum, .41 Special, .44 Magnum, .44 Special, .44-.40 Winchester, .45 Colt, .454 Casull, .458 SOCOM, .475 Linebaugh, .480 Ruger, .50 Action Express, and .500 S&W.

Ghost of the hardwoods

I put in another vote for the 220. The model 94 and model 77 are both good guns. I just see me being able to do more with the capabilities of a bolt action slug gun with a rifled barrel.

Yes, I know that there are guys that say they take whitetail out to 200 yards with a 44 mag. Although I don't doubt this claim, I personally view the 44 mag as more of a 100-125 yard gun for whitetails.

So depending on what distances you would like to be able to shoot to, that would be a factor too.