Handgun hunting

[Salty]

Do any of you folks hunt deer with a handgun? I think it's more challenging than bowhunting, especially if you use a black powder handgun.

[.300Savage]

I don't, but would like to try it. What do you think the smallest caliber handgun that should be used to hunt deer is? I'm just talking about shots no more than 15 yards. I have a 380 auto that I take with me deer hunting during rifle season to "finish the deer off" if I have to. I haven't had to yet, but I have had deer walk no more than 5 yards from me and have been tempted to shoot it with the 380. It was just too easy, shooting it with my .300 Savage.

Rocco

[Flintlock54]

A Ruger Old Army will work at 15 yards. With 35 grains of 3F, a "wonder wad" and a .457 round ball, no finishing shot needed.

Depending on shot placement you should be able to take a deer out to 7 yards with your .380; after all Eskimo's take Polar bears with a .22, they just stand a little closer than I would prefer.

A mountain man is a man of honor and upright stature. He helps others in the journey through life.

[Salty]

I personally think a 357 is the minimum. I prefer 44's & out of 3 deer killed with a 44, only one was a bad experience. I hit the shoulder & the bullet deflected on a 170lb 10 point. He could not run, but I couldn't get close enough for a "Jimmy Hoffa". Ended up chasing him all afternoon, but finally got several lethal hits. By then he was going on pure will power. I was wishing for a rifle after about 3 hours of cat & mouse. I shot that deer at less than 25 yards the first shot & had a world of faith it was going to be a one shot kill, but misjudged the angle.

I killed one at about 3 yards with a 44 bp revolver. He went about 60 yards.

Several years ago, the KY dept of F&W, had a requirement whereas the handgun was required to generate 500 pounds of energy. I still think that's a good yardstick. Any of the ammo pamplets will tell you the engery, but you can figure it:

Velocity squared, divided by 450420, times bullet weight in grains.

[Salty]

Knowing Flintlock54, he could probably get one with a switch. Us less patient folks need a bigger stick.

[Big58cal]

I just got a S&W .44 mag last year for Christmas. It's got an 8 3/8" barrel and a 2x Leupold scope on it. The first day that I was shooting it, I was grouping about 6" at 100 yds. I can't WAIT until deer season!!!!!<img src=icon_smile_tongue.gif border=0 align=middle><img src=icon_smile_tongue.gif border=0 align=middle><img src=icon_smile_tongue.gif border=0 align=middle>

The place that I gun hunt is a natural funnel. The longest shot I've had in 4 years at the place was about 40 yds.

Federal came out with a new hunting load last year. It's a 300 gr. lead bullet. Doesn't look that great to me. It's got some pretty good knock-down power at long range though. A buddy of mine that does a LOT of hunting with a pistol told me to use Hydro-shock bullets. He said that he's used about all of them and has settled on the Hydro-shocks each time. What do you guys think?

[taggedout]

I had a Thompson Contender .35 Rem. W/Packmeyer grip and for grip & Buriss 4x scope talk about a sweet set up.
I could hit a milk jug at 100 yard, every shot. Took a buck at about 80yds and two does less than 40yds each and then traded the thing for a brand new off the shelf Hoyt Pro-Vantage. That bow is long gone and I sure do miss that pistol, it was a blast to shoot.

Grummybear

[Multidigits]

Big58--That Federal load is a good choice for a factory load. The bullet is a hard cast lead that will not deform badly at high velocities that the mag will deliver. It is designed to make two holes, and should do that easily on a deer at 50 yards. The idea is that the bullet is already twice as big as say a .243 so expansion is not nessasary, but you do need two holes on a hunting load for better blood trails. It should be a dandy hunting load.

[Big58cal]

Thanks Multi!

This will be the first year with a handgun and don't know what would be best. I've always been of the opinion that the bigger the load/cal./bullet, the better. I've gotten lazy and don't like to trail the things any more! The bigger the hole(s), the better! It can turn a marginal shot into a lethal shot!

[Multidigits]

In that case, you'll want to save up and buy a .454 in the Taraus or Ruger. Pretty awesome, especially with handloads. But it might be a little to big for deer size game, although you can load down ith .45 Colt ammo.