A little background about me will help you guys to answer my questions.
I'm retired SWAT, department firearms instructor, wrote deadly force policy, partnered a long time ago with Massad Ayoob, was a really good pistol shot and taught defensive tactics.
That said I'm familiar with the handgun,
None of that makes me a handgun
hunter.
And I have sense enough to know it.I would love to take a deer with a handgun.
I've killed two deer with a pistol, one 2" .38 spl and one with a 4506 Smiht.
The deer shot with the .38 was a left over wounded critter from gun season the one with the 4506 was shot in a barber shop.
(no kidding)
So you know I'm familiar with handguns of all sort and I have a self imposed limit of 50 yards max. for deer sized game.
My question is what caliber handgun to use for whitetail.
My range limit with issued sights is 50 yards and most likely I would hunt from a tree stand. (and get much closer than the realistic max of 50 yards.)
Here's what I have available.
.45 Colt: Bisley Blackhawk 7.5" and Vaquero 5.5"
Smith "N" 6 or 6.5" .44 Spl, .44 Mag, .45 a.c.p., .41 mag, .357 Mag.
Smith "L" 6" .357 mag.
.44 mag. 3 screw Blackhawk 7.5"
Wouldn't the .357 be light for deer? ( I think it would do at under 25 yards but a well placed shot is a must?
)
I imagine bullets in the 200 to 265 grain weights would be adequate at least.
I don't scope my handguns with exception of the Ruger 22/45 h-bar for serious plinking.
I'm not recoil sensitive so full house .45 Colt loads are fine.
What about hard cast LBT flat nose bullets?
I know I have power to spare in the .44 and .45's and have no need at all to get a .55 for deer sized game.
The thoughts and opinions of season hadngun hunters is welcome and valued.
I've taken a lot of deer and am a seasoned hunter. Most of the 50 odd deer were with 12 bore slugs , some with bow, a few with muzzle loaders.
The black powder traditional muzzle loader is a real hoot!
My prettiest shot and isntand kill was a big doe looking at me face to face across an open corn field at 80 long paces.
I dropped her with an offhand shot to the 'curl' in the chest from my Lyman GPR and found the lead bullet in the ham.
Yes I reload for all the above calibers and would dearly appreciate comments on bullets you have found to perform on deer sized game.
I've read the LBT type do well for a non expanding bullet.
How about the lighter .44, .45 bullet (200 t0 220) God Dot?
I have some and they look like they should open up nicely.
By the way I test hunting bullets in milk jugs of water.
Believe it or not it was Mass and I that promoted that medium long ago for coppers to test the early hi vel expanding bullets in the 9mm, 38 spl, and .357.
Those were the only police calibers back then and the 9mm had yet to become very popular.
Early expaning bullets often did not perform at all!
