Before anyone gets their dander up, let me start out by saying this. I realize that a .38 Special would not be the first candidate for the job of hunting whitetail deer. And while I know there are other calibers out there better suited for it, the point is I want to use a particular .38 (description to follow). As such, this thread isn't about what would be better, but more appropriately, what experience folks might have with using one for such a purpose and what loads they used.
A family member has recently agreed to sell me his old Colt Single Action for a very attractive price. This one was shipped in 1886 and was converted from .44-40 to .38 Special in the late '50's by Simmons Shotgun Specialties. This particular handgun has a lot of sentimental value to me and is a very nice example of first generation Colt that is still serviceable and shootable without destroying any type of collector value. It has a 5.5" barrel and is very accurate. It is limited to standard .38 Special loads and shoots to point of aim at 25 yards. Obviously, I am not even going to entertain the thought of any type of +P load. In addition, contrary to my usual train of thought, my feeling is that the best bullet for this purpose would be some type of lead in the 158 grain class. I am typically a jacketed bullet fan, but this is one of those cartridges I would make an exception for, but am not adverse to using jacketed bullets if they performed satisfactorily.
My favorite style of hunting is still hunting. My first whitetail with a handgun was shot at between 10 and 15 yards with my .44 Magnum. The .38 would be worn in a holster and accompanying me on rifle hunts. I'm not talking about using the .38 as my sole weapon and would definately be choosy about shots. The ideal scenario for my intended use would be at 0 to 25 yards on a whitetail doe, either from my ground blind or still hunting. These ranges are definately doable for me and my skill level, though I won't say that it is an every day occurrence. Basically, the .38 would be used in the moment of a unique opportunity and it may take a few seasons for just the right opportunity to present itself. This is not a problem for me and I'm willing to wait for that that opportunity.
The midwest does I'd be hunting tend to run not much bigger than 150 pounds, if that. Many are closer to the 100 pound weight class and honestly, I'd probably be looking at taking a yearling at the closest ranges. One because they are usually a little easier to sneak up on and two, they are smaller and the round would perform better. I do think that from a 5.5" barrel at less than 25 yards, with a proper behind the shoulder shot for heart/lung area, this cartridge would perform well enough for the shot to be an ethical shot for a whitetail deer and kill said deer humanely. Should that buck of a lifetime chance by, I would still have a rifle to use and would not be tempted to press the .38 into service for a job it wasn't capable of. Basically, the sidearm is packed for coyotes, foxes, rabbits and the occasional coup de grace, and perhaps a chance to take a doe given the right circumstances.
I have other caliber choices available and when I hunt in Montana I do use my .44's. But for hunting in the midwest, where there aren't any big toothy critters to be too concerned about, the .38 would be a fun handgun to pack for both sentimental and nostalgic reasons. I suspect that there are folks here that have used a .38, downloaded/low power .357 Magnum and possibly even standard 9mm loads to deer hunt. I am curious as to your experiences, what loads you were using, the distances at which you shot the game and what the result of the shot was, as well as your thoughts on using that particular combination again. Again, I'm not trying to start a thread on why I should use another caliber, but more properly, what load I could possibly use that would be at safe pressure levels (standard .38 Special loads) that would probably perform satisfactorily on small whitetail does at less than 25 yards. Thanks.
