handguns for hunting

[mark29860]

thanks for all the info a guy at my local gunshop said I should get a 41 mag,but I don't know about finding bullets, I was leaning towards the Ruger Blackhawk in 357 because you can practice with 38's and then someone else said to try a 40 S&W auto I am just going to have to take ya'lls advice appreciate all the help.

[Buddy in AK]

Hunting what? Deer?

I say 44 Mag if you shoot without a recoil problem (flinch).  That can be overcome with practice anyway.  You can shoot 44 Special for practice if you like the lighter loads.  I think a big (biggest ?) consideration is grip style and feel (balance) in YOUR hand, single or double action.  Go to a local shop and feel the steel  :grin: Take your time and find a comfortable gun for you, then practice, p, p, p, p

Buddy in AK

[myronman3]

unless you are hunting small game only,  forget the 40 s+w.  

what is your experience level?  what do you plan to hunt?

[Redhawk1]

thanks for all the info a guy at my local gunshop said I should get a 41 mag,but I don't know about finding bullets, I was leaning towards the Ruger Blackhawk in 357 because you can practice with 38's and then someone else said to try a 40 S&W auto I am just going to have to take ya'lls advice appreciate all the help.

Not that I would use a 40S&W for deer and I think it is not a good choice, you need to check you local hunting laws and see if it is even legal. JMHO.  

[DakotaElkSlayer]

Well, you definately came to the right place if you want to learn about handgun hunting!  The good folks on this board really gave me a great education about handguns and hunting with them...lot of the guys here REALLY know what they are talking about!
  If you are talking about getting a revolver, I would recommend(based on research, not experience) not to go smaller than the .41 Mag.  

Jim

[Jim n Iowa]

I go along with the 44mag. The more you shoot it the more accustom you are to it, and the less the recoil will bother you. I have a 4" colt trooper that when firing 158 gr factory loads bothers me more than 240 gr 44 mags out of a 5.5'' RedHawk, by a big margin. You also have the option of the 44sp to shoot as well.
Jim

[BlkHawk73]

I've got a .41 a .44 and a .45 Colt  for hunting.  There's loads for each out there for hunting.  keep the range reasonable and you don't need the Buffalo Bore super magnum loads either.   Ok...the .41 will shoot a bit flatter than the .44 and .45 Colt but in some guns will seems to have a bit more felt recoil than the others.  It's just the dynamics of the cartridge.  The .44 proberly has the widest available commercial load choices.  Also, as mentioned it allows the use of .44 special cartridges in the same cylinder too.  Keep in mind the mighty .44 is really .429 caliber.  Just .019 larger than the .41 magnum.  I prefer the .41 over the .44 but only becasue my guns shoot the .41 better than I .44 magnum guns shoot thier loads.  I prefer my .45 Colts over the .41 though.  Much more comfortable to shoot even with the heavy stuff whcih is on par with the .44 magnum stuff.  

  The .357 is adequate depending on the load and shot placement but it does put a bit more in the hands of the shooter to get that first shot exactly where it should be.  Even then...  yeah go with something a big more powerful.  

  Alos do some lookng around here:  http://www.handgunhunt.com/

[Oldsnow]

Mark if you like the 357 mag. you could look at the 357 maximum. This way you get more bang for your buck and can use 38's for practice.

[Mattkc]

The 357 is enough gun for deer I shot a 6 point buck 2 weeks ago.  It was bang flop the round went in the neck down through a lung then blew-up a shoulder.  Next year I'm switching to sp the hp ruined to much meat.  The advantage of the 357 is you can afford to shoot it more and hopefully more accurate.  The 41 and 44 have the advantage of longer range.  If you are thinking of a auto look at the 10mm it's power is between the 357 and 41.  The 40cal is a good self defense round but doesn't have the penetration you want for deer.  The only problem with revolver rounds is you just have to get a lever gun to go with it.

[ZZTOP]

Mattkc wrote:
"The only problem with revolver rounds is you just have to get a lever gun to go with it."

Yea that may turn out to be a big problem. :wink:

Happy shooing
ZZTOP

[Catfish]

The .357 is the absolute smallest round that I would consider for deer hunting. The .357 max. is available now only in single shot handgun. I have one in an Encore and like if for sitting, but wouldn`t carry it on a bet if I`m walking or expecting to be shooting at running deer. The .41 mag. is a better choice for deer than the .357 mag. More knock down at longer yardages. I killed alot of deer over the years with with the .44 mag. and it`s still probibly the best all around round out there. This year I`ve been carring a .454, but haven`t had a chance to fire it at a deer yet. I did get a shot at a deer with a .500 S&W last year but the bullet cliped a weed and caused me to miss the deer, I still think that the .400 gn. bullet shouldn`t deflect that easy.  :?  BUT, I`m a big bore fan and most of what I shoot is .44 cal. and up. If you don`t like recoil at all the .357 mag. is your best choice. If you can take alittle recoil go with the .41 mag. If you can handle it, get a .44 mag. You can shoot .44 sp. load at the range, they will recoil abt. like the .357, or if you reload you can load some cast bullets and do alot of cheap shooting with no recoil. Good luck with what ever you get.

[Old Griz]

:cb2: Yes, you can hunt deer with a .357. And yes, I could get anywhere I want to go in a compact car. However, my fat fanny would rather be in my wife's Titan 4x4 Crewcab. Either one will work, but one just works a whole lot better. Same with guns.

The .357 will do the job, but like so many others have said, something that starts with a "4" will do it better. If you reload, or know someone who does, the .41 is a great gun. Flatter and not as much recoil as the .44 or .45. However, factory ammo is rather expensive. Choices are limited, too, but there is some good stuff out there. My favorite is the Winchester 240-gr. Platinum Tips. I think the .41 mag is the best bet if you reload.

The .45 Colt and the .44 mag are pretty well equal in power and results. The advantage of the .44 is that there are a gazillion different rounds on store shelves to choose from, and locally, .44 mag ammo is cheaper than .45 Colt. And as stated above, you have the option of shooting .44 Specials in it. Personally, I wouldn't hunt with .44 Specials. Sure, people have done it for years, and the .357 has also taken about everything you can think of in North America at one time or another, but there are just too many better options out there for you today. I like the .41 best for deer sized game, but the .44 may have the overall advantage, just because of the ammo selection.

Whoever suggested the .40 must not have realized you were going to use this gun for hunting. It's strictly a self defense round, to be used on two-legged creatures, not four.

I've gotta bunch of .357s and I love 'em. If push came to shove, and that was the only thing I had, yeah, I'd hunt with it. But, again, don't cramp yourself--get enough gun. Don't get more than you can handle well. There is a such thing as overkill, even with handguns (though I know some folks will disagree with that!). A .41, .44, or .45 Colt should do the job quite well. This will be your hunting gun. Get the .357/.38 for self-defense, plinking, and small game.

Good luck, and good shootin'!

[sixgunluv]

I prefer a Ruger Super BlackHawk 10 1/2in. in .44 Rem. Mag.

[jro45]

I would say that the 357 can kill deer if shot in the right spot [ lungs ] or the 44 would be a good gun no doubt or you could go bigger. The 40 is diffinely not a good idea.

[poncaguy]

Only pistols I deer hunt with are my Contender 357 Max and 45-70. Encore 7-08 and 460. Have a 8" Dan Wesson revolver and 6" GP Ruger 100, 357's , I would use from my tree stand if I had the  chance. Reminds me, I was treed by 2 spike bucks Friday, it's a special 3 day doe season here, and these 2 spike bucks came and fed by my tree stand for 30 minutes. Went "woosh" real loud, they jumped, looked around, went back to feeding. One finally wandered off, but the other kept feeding. I said real loud " ur a fat pig", he looked up, looked around, went back to feeding. Finally left about 15 minutes after shooting time. If they had been does............... :grin:

[David Carey]

I agree a 40cal should not be used for hunting.

Here in Washington State a few years ago they changed the handgun laws, they now read must be 24cal or bigger, center fire, and at least a 4"bbl. That sure leaves it open for any gun it is sad.

Dave

[LMM]

I've hunted and taken deer with .357 Magnum and .44 Magnum.  From experience the .44 Magnum doesn't kill a deer any more dead than a .357 Magnum.  The difference is if you are a capable shooter the .44 Magnum will give you a little more effective range.  There are proper hunting loads for .357 Mag, .41 Mag, .44 Mag and .45 (Long) Colt.  With hunting loads no reason the .41 Mag and .45 (Long) Colt would be any different.  The important thing is regardless of caliber it is ALL about shot placement!

You can hunt deer with the really large bores (i.e. .475, .480, .500 etc...) but it isn't necessary, won't make you a better shot and it won't guarantee you success.  Again with a capable shooter they will give you a little more effective range.

Once you get into handgun hunting I think you will find it is very addictive, challenging and satisfying.

[doncisler]

i have almost any calibur handgun for hunting you can think of.
for deer the minimum i would feel comfortable in the woods with is a 12" dan wesson 357mag (then only because the longer barrel gives it acceptable energy).
you would probable be unhappy in short time with anything less than .44mag.
if you have the funds available the bfr .45-70 or s&w 460 will be with you forever. they are wonderful to shoot with "any gun" loads in the 45-70 or 45 colt loads and you can stoke them up to hunt anything in the world. they are about the most accurate handguns you will ever find - that counts as much as their power potential.
if you can't afford them the contender is always a good choice with more caliburs available (especially including the custom barrels) than i could list here.

[PaulS]

With the BFR's you can get the 450 Marlin that fires a 350 grain bullet at over 1800 FPS which is even faster than the same weight bullet in the 500 S&W magnum. It comes in a 10" barrel and weighs 4.5 pounds, reducing recoil to that of a 44 magnum in the Super Blackhawk.
Gun selection for deer hunting just may require more than selecting the most powerful gun available though. Being able to practice with your hunting loads builds competency and the security that comes only from knowing the gun, load, and your ability. As in all hunting, shot placement is the primary concern. A poor placement or all together miss with the biggest gun is never as good as a lethal shot with a smaller gun. I use a 357 maximum and a 180 grain rifle bullet for deer beacause I can shoot it very accuratly and it has more than enough power to penetrate fully through a deer even if a shoulder is hit. I can also drop a deer with my 6" Ruger 357 magnum but there is virtually no margin for error and ranges have to be within that of a bow.
I am not the best hunter, my eyes are getting old and I have difficulty getting close enough in the terrain in which I hunt to be assured of a 50 yard shot. With the Maximum I can stretch my shots to 120 yards while maintaining that margin of error so that I can be assured of a good clean kill. Choosing a gun for hunting keep in mind your own ability and how much practice you need to have to have the skills and faith in your gun to get the job done right.

[wyocarp]

There is a such thing as overkill, even with handguns (though I know some folks will disagree with that!).

Old Griz, you gave some great advice.  I am one that has never felt I have too much gun though.  I am convinced that in time, a gun that is too small will make a good animal tracker out of a person.  It does depend on the situation though.  I have a relative that fed himself and a couple others on deer meet while going to college.  He shot a deer every week or two for years while attending a college in Colorado.  He used a 22.

[Dusty Miller]

WHAT?  Nobody suggested the .223?   :lol: