First Deer with my Freedom Arms

[Spencer]

Sorry, no pics.  but I took my first deer with a Freedom Arms. (Not my first handgun deer, just with the F.A.)  I used a beartooth 'sledgehammer' WNFPGC with 2400 as the powder.  The doe was out about 33 yards.  I shot three times and the doe never looked or acted as if she was hit.  Just walked away.  I saw a little hair, and 20 yards later, a drop or two of blood.  65 yards later following a limited trail, I found the doe.  After field dressing, we saw that I never missed, she just did not realize she should drop.  Tednerloins marinating in Teriyaki sauce, ready to be pan fried in butter.
Here is my hunting rig.

[Bryan Elderkin]

Way to go Spencer. As you know Sometimes deer just do that? Enjoy the Loins.



Bryan

[Glanceblamm]

Congratulations Spencer!

[Sgtshultzy1]

Other than bowhunting, nothing is more rewarding than getting a deer with a handgun..congrats.  BTW..what caliber is your FA?

[timothy]

Outstanding, I take it we're talking 454casull?

[Spencer]

Yes, it is the .454 Casull.  I bought through Cabela's for a real good price.  It was a 7.5" barrel and ported.  I sent it back to F.A. and they chopped the barrel just behind the ports, recrowned and reinstalled the front site putting on a fiber optic front site.  Now it is louder with more recoil, but I reload and have found a load that I can take to the range and shoot a bunch as well as take to the field for deer.  The 5" barrel is a great packing length for a field gun.

[S.B.]

Nice job, Spencer.

[kennisondan]

go head on spence.. great job..
dk

[roger460xvr]

Good looking outfit you have there spence. good job time for another one.

[Racer X]

The lack of blood trail is why I quit hunting deer with cast bullets and switched to hollow points.

I am hunting with a 45/70 Guide gun. I used to shoot the a 405 grain Cast Performance WLN with a .360" meplat. On deer, I have shot 4 deer and lost 2. The only one that didn't run was shot in the neck. With shoulder shots, they run like hell and don't bleed. I recently switched to the 300 grain Hornady hollow point. I shot a doe in the heart/lung area and it ran about 25 yards, bleeding all the way, until it laid down.

I have a 45 Colt Ruger I plan to hunt with using a 250 grain XTP over 24.2 grains of IMR4227. I guess it is moving around 1300 FPS. 

[Redhawk45]

Nice job!  I took my first deer with my S&W 460 this year also.  If you don't mind how much did you pay for your hand cannon?  I have thought about getting a FA maybe in 41 or 357mag.

[Spencer]

You guys are going to hate me for this, but the handcannon started out as a ported 7.5" barrel that I had chopped by the factory.  With adjustable rear sites, and rosewood grips, I found it on the Cabela's web site for $1090.  I had $350 in Cabela gift certificates so I paid $740 plus shipping and FFL fees.  You can't turn down a deal like that for a F.A.