Handgun Hunters ?

[Gary Pieper]

Do we have many handgun hunters in KY. ?
I got bit by the hand gun bug a few years ago .
I'll still pick up the rifle if the situation warrants it
but my weapon of choice is a handgun .
I'm looking at the Traditions Buckhunter PRO Pistol , to use during
Muzzle loading season .

Anybody have any experience with there ........
Any other handgunners out there ?




Gary

[Flintlock54]

I use a Ruger Old Army 44 caliber as a side arm when ML hunting. I have taken 2 deer with it using 35 grains Pyrodex P and a .457 roundball with Bore Butter as a cover over the bullet. This is a two handed load and good out to about twenty-five yards for deer hunting. These guns are very accurate with some shooters holding 2" groups at 50 yards off-hand.

[Big58cal]

I just got a S&W .44 Mag for Christmas this year. Too late to try out now, but I plan on using it next year. Any advice on the type of bullet/load that works best on deer?

[Gary Pieper]

Big 58
Congratulations on the S&W .
I still consider myself a newbe at handgunning for deer
but I'll tell you what I've learned .
I use a 7 1/2" Ruger Super Blackhawk (.44mag), topped with a
Simons 4X Pro Hunter scope . (I blew the lenses out of a Tasco
Accudot , red dot site , after three rounds . So if you were planning on mounting a dot site , do some research before you buy . )

Now Ammo ,
Factory loadings , I've used 240gr. Speer Gold dot , but get much better accuracy from 240 gr Federal Hydra Shock .

If you build your own , Hornady 300 gr XTP over 20.5 grs, of H110
is hard to beat .

One rule I follow .... If I'm using a hollow point , I go for a
behind the shoulder shot . (Just like arrow placement when bow hunting). And don't expect pass through .
If I'm using a soft point (preferrably a partitioned bullet, with a big meplat)I'll go for a shot to break the shoulders , and usually get pass through .

I haven't tried the Winchester Supreme Partition Gold yet , but it's a 250gr partitioned hollow point , so it may just turn out to be an excellent all round deer load .

Enough rambling ..... get that Smith out and practice , practice , practice .

[Big58cal]

Gary, you're the second person so far to recommend Hydra Shocks. Have to give them a try to see what they'll do.

The gun has got an 8 3/8" barrel and I've mounted a Leupold 2x scope on it. Just messing around with it the day that I got it, I was knocking down 8" steel targets at 100 yds. Sweet!!!! The gun is a blast to shoot, so I think I'll get in quite a bit of practice with it.