.44 pistol vs rifle dilemma

[teamnelson]

No hunting for me this year but lots of hardware changes. So a question: with a .44 inside 75-100 yds, is there a real benefit to a rifle length barrel over a pistol besides sight radius? I've got a 7.5" Bisley and a 6.5" 629. I just can't see the additional fps from 9-15 more inches making the deer any deader so I'm checking with y'all.

[Lone Star]

A rifle will be easier for many to shoot more accurately from most field positions.  The handgun will certainly kill deer well, but the additonal ~400 fps from a rifle can flatten trajectory somewhat, extending the effective range by up to 75 yards or so.  But within 100 yards if you can hit the deer with either they'll be dead very soon.



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[jlwilliams]

  A little carbine isn't much more to carry.  It's so much easier to shoot a rifle well than it is to shoot a pistol well.  More likely to make the good, clean, humane shot you want.  By all means, use a rifle.

[Mikey]

Naw.  Within 75 yds, the real benefit is the satisfaction you get from harvesting your game with your revolver. 

Some astute fella recently wrote that if you have both a handgun and rifle with you while hunting you will never shoot the handgun (or something to that effect).  and I agree. 

Yes, some say it is so much easier to shoot a rifle, but this is why I enjoy handgun hunting so much..... jmtcw.

[Terbltim]

I turned to handgun hunting out of pure laziness.
The high level of satisfaction just came along with the deal.
It was bow-hunting that made me understand just how close hunting could be and still be productive.
I reeealy like going through the woods with nothing in my hands but a walking stick.
Now the big-bore revolver is my primary companion when I go afield.
BTW, iron sights only [no optics on my handguns thankyouverymuch.)
I've tried the optics and just never could get accustomed to how they made the gun feel in my hands. I'm not picking any quarrel with the scoped-handgun guys.
I see nothing wrong with it (if you like that sort of thing.)
Uh, I hope my fiber-optic front sights don't get me into trouble here.

Oh sure, when I mean bidniss I take a rifle and the details are usually dictated by the matter at hand. For serious bidniss nothing can beat a rifle.
But for pure ease of getin' through the woods, crossing streams & fences and climbing trees, etc. the handgun has become my first choice.

Of course, I pick my hunting grounds appropriately.
Some terrain is just plain "rifle country".
I do most of my hunting where you can't see where a thrown stone lands.
That's handgun country for me.
I don't see where the difficulty is in making such a decision.
Let the firearm of choice be made by what you think you're gonna be doing.
I guess I can't help much, I just like to rant.

[Tonk]

Now when I was shooting the Ruger carbine in .44magnum caliber, almost all shots were indeed under a 100 yards, more like 65 to 75 MAX. My model 29 in the .44magnum shoots very flat out to 75 yards. It has an 8 & 3/8's barrel. I must say that both got the job done on any whitetail I put those sights on and pulled the trigger. My bullet of choice at that time was a Sierra 240 grain "hollow cavity" bullet. 

[Glanceblamm]

Naw.  Within 75 yds, the real benefit is the satisfaction you get from harvesting your game with your revolver. 

Some astute fella recently wrote that if you have both a handgun and rifle with you while hunting you will never shoot the handgun (or something to that effect).  and I agree. 

Yes, some say it is so much easier to shoot a rifle, but this is why I enjoy handgun hunting so much..... jmtcw.

Nuff said. Go ahead and use the rifle this year then start practicing with the handgun till you are shooting it like a rifle. You will get a full year of practice in till the 2010 season and be more inclined to leave the long gun at home.

[Old Fart]

I always have and will continue to carry a handgun when deer hunting.
Either a 44 mag or 357 mag. It's came in handy more than a few times.

[BlackHawkCazador]

When in doubt go with both.  Thats what I do with my 30-06 BAR browning and my .44 ruger blackhawk anniversary flattop this is a deadly configuration from here to Alaska to Africa.

[45-70.gov]

most of  my  44  rifles have  scopes

my revolvers  don't

my open sighted  44 rifle is  usally  shot  with  44 specials
it  is  VERY  quiet  and  deadly on   small game

[Larry Gibson]

It is the solid hold of the rifle, the longer sight radius and the additional fps that give the advantage in killing deer quickly to the rifle, even at handgun ranges let alone at farther ranges.  Put an aperture sight or a low powered scope on the rifle and there is no contest at all in the ability to put a killing shot into a deer much quicker with the rifle than with a handgun.

If your shot is the culmination of your hunt then use a handgun.  However, if your hunt is the culmination with the shot just ending it use the rifle.

Larry Gibson

[teamnelson]

Larry, I get your last line, and appreciate it. Thanks!

[Dixie Dude]

Friend of mine shot a buck at measured 192 yards with a 44 Ruger carbine (old model semi-auto).  He said he aimed about 1' high and buck went down with authority.  He said buck had turned and flicked his tail up and he aimed for the tip of his tail.  Said it went in about 2" from his rear end and bullet was in his neck.  His dad was sitting on a stump eating some Vienna sausage and dropped both his mouth and his Viennas and couldn't believe his son's shot.  It was his favorite woods gun.  Shot about 100 deer with it.  When he was young, his dad would put a target in the center of an old tire and would roll it down a hill for him to shoot.  He said when he could shoot the target in the center of the tire, he would let him go deer hunting.  He said he rolled that tire up the hill 100's of times before he could do it.  He shoots about an 85 sporting clays with a 28 gauge.  Best shot I've ever seen and fast. 

[Lloyd Smale]

not on deer sized game

[30hrrtt]

Inside a hundred yards, either results in a dead deer if the shot is right.

It depends on the type of hunting.  This last year I took a SRH out opening morning for stand hunting and felt confident in hitting anything in my shooting zones.

From mid morning Saturday on we do deer drives and I walk almost all of them because thats what I like.  While walking, I carry a Winchester 94 Trapper in 44 mag with a 1X circle X scope.  When I see the deer, they are always close but the afterburners have already kicked in and they are flat out moving.  It is woods, hills, and brush and the deer are out of sight by the time they are at the most 30 to 40 yards away, usually by 25.  I wouldn't even consider shooting at them with my revolvers.  I'm just not good enough.  I can get them in the no power scope of the rifle and shoot quickly and quite accurately.

This year a took a large bodied 7 pointer running almost at me at about 25 yards.  I didn't have my cast done so used my standard load of Hor 240 xtp over 24 of 296.  Shot went in neck and came out 2nd to last rib for a total of 27" of deer!!!!!!!! Damage was incredible and I was impressed.

Whatever you use, practice till you are confident you can hit what you want.

[Spencer, Carey]

I hunt with both and leave the decision to the question you pose to the range the I know may or may not be. I have stands in the thick where you cant see past 35 yds or so even in the late season after the leaves are gone, and others where better than twice that range is a possibility. The 1894 Marlin, Or IMI Timberwolf carbine get the nod on the more open stands, and the Red, or SuperBlachhawk goes with me for the others. Use this as an excuse to buy BOTH!!! Good luck!

[irold]

Wow , some really excellant replies here !  I have to agree with Mikey.   I think the decision should be what and where your hunting if your undecided on what to carry.  I perfer the challenge of hunting with a handgun over everthing else.  My hunting tactics have changed due to me using a handgun.....but only carry one or the other. Been there , done that.......you'll use whats in your hand.

Naw.  Within 75 yds, the real benefit is the satisfaction you get from harvesting your game with your revolver. 

Some astute fella recently wrote that if you have both a handgun and rifle with you while hunting you will never shoot the handgun (or something to that effect).  and I agree. 

Yes, some say it is so much easier to shoot a rifle, but this is why I enjoy handgun hunting so much..... jmtcw.

[jimster]

Inside 75 to 100 like you asked about makes no difference rifle or handgun in my opinion.  One thing you might want to do with your handgun or rifle, is set up a target 6" square or round target, and shoot it from field postions at different ranges.  A couple shots sitting, a couple shots kneeling, a couple shots standing, maybe a couple laying down or whatever you want really,  take your time between each shot, take all the time you need, but if you shoot six shots at each target from different field postions all six rounds has to be in the target to say you can hunt and shoot at that range.  Some people can do this exercise at 100 yards consistently, so that means they could take 100 Yard shots.  Some can do it at 60 yards every time and no farther, so they are limited to 60 Yards shots when hunting.  It makes sense to know what you can do with whatever you use.  Someone who can hit the target at 60 yards every single time from field positions is going to take a lot of game in the deep woods and in the brush.  Handgun hunting is nice, when it comes to getting your deer out of the brush, it's nice to have your gun in a holster and out of the way too. 

[Spencer, Carey]

Excellent point on the dragging deer out with the pistol put away jimster.

[Eugene]

I like to hunt with a Handgun, it is more "sporting" to me, and suits the way I hunt, my hunting mate, and greatest friend and I hunt 3-4 times a year for 3 days and do the following.

He uses a Remington 20" 7600 pump action 308, open sights, and can hit a coke can at 200 yards off the shoulder, I cant. Our sons come along most trips and they range in age from 10 to 16 yrs, the two younger boys both use 22lr bolt actions with open sights, my son uses either a 22lr bolt action or his (mine) remington 223 7615 pump action, fitted with a 3.5 ACOG. fast handleing and real easy to shoot with that set up.

I feel that there is enough rifles along for the trip, so my 25-06 stays in the hut, and I take a 6.1/2" 357 ruger Blackhawk. open sights, carries real easy, fast to get into action, and I have no trouble hitting goats on the move after the boys have run out of range for head shots with the .22lr's.

We take turns at shooting first, but the boys get a pretty good go, so its nothing for me to walk all day and fire two shots,  I dont mind at all, the fun the boys have, teaching them how to stalk in, with a group of 4-5 people, this can be a real art, getting them close enough for a safe head shot with the 22's is some of the most enjoyable time you can spend with the boys.

I love my Ruger 357, I have several rifles to take, inc a 223, 25-06, 308 but dont bother most of the time.

Get some range time with your rosco, make sure you can hit 6" plates at 60-75 yards every time before you go out hunting, this will give you the confidence to make a clean shot when the time comes.

Enjoy yourself.

[Redhawk1]

For the people that do not want to put it the time to become proficient with a handgun, then by all means use a rifle. Myself I prefer to use my handguns, just more rewarding to me.

Yes the sight radius is better on the rifle and there for aids in better shooting, as well has having the stock on the shoulder aids in holding the gun steady. The extra velocity will aid in a little flatter trajectory as well.

[SHOOTALL]

No hunting for me this year but lots of hardware changes. So a question: with a .44 inside 75-100 yds, is there a real benefit to a rifle length barrel over a pistol besides sight radius? I've got a 7.5" Bisley and a 6.5" 629. I just can't see the additional fps from 9-15 more inches making the deer any deader so I'm checking with y'all.

With a rifle you have better control . With control you stand a better chance at having a shot. With a handgun one has to be more careful to "have" a shot , one they can make . This may mean detting closer or better shooting position . A rifle offers an easier or more forgiving platform. Like stated a handgun offers challenge to the hunt.

[Curtis]

Lots of good thoughts and experience.  I prefer a handgun since my hunting is likely to produce close shots.  To me the main factor is the fact that to stay proficient with a pistol, much more trigger time is required.  Many hunters pull their rifle out each year, shoot it to check sighting and go hunting.  Most of them get away with it, but the man who can do that with a pistol is rare I believe.

My cousin is a good example.  He's hunted all his life with good success.  A few years ago he wanted to take up pistol hunting, being weary of lugging a rifle all of the time.  However, he got no joy from the Scoped Super Blackhawk 44 he had purchased, so convinced it did not have the accuracy he required he sold it to me.  Of course I found it to be plenty accurate in my hands.  A short time later after seeing what I could do with a Contender he insisted that I build him up a hunting setup in my recommended caliber (7-30 Waters).  I tried to educate him that a pistol even a 14" barrelled Contender, is not a rifle and he would need to practice a LOT.  Several years later, he has still not used up the custom ammo that I loaded up for his pistol (proven by me to be sub-moa).  Last time I asked him about it, he confessed that the Contender is part of his "collection".  I guess he just would not practice enough to become confident in it for hunting.

Curtis

[45-70.gov]

Re: .44 pistol vs rifle dilemma


what  you don't have both.....that would be a dilenma

get  both....then  only you will know the limitations of  yourself and the guns

not to sound  smart or something....as  i think you already know this
if you have to ask......get a rifle

[tacklebury]

I personally always carry both.  I have a .45 Colt Blackhawk for moderate range shots and a sling on my .45 Colt Carbine, which extends my accuracy out to 100+.  I am good out to about 70 yards with my pistol iron sights, but cannot beat the extra barrel for more velocity and range imo. 

[Junior1942]

....I do most of my hunting where you can't see where a thrown stone lands...

Good line!!  You must hunt the thickets like I do.

[SHOOTALL]

Have you seen briars so thick when a snow lays them over you can walk on top ?

[Cheesehead]

As mentioned before, having both is very nice. Especially in the same chambering. I have two 44 rifles and a 44 revolver and am always experimenting between the three. That is half the fun. I then make my own informed decision based on my results and needs for that day.

Cheese

[1911crazy]

I had the super blackhawk in 44mag with the 7 1/2'' barrel(life before my redhawks) and i chose the 444 marlin over the 44mag rifle.  Since its the same bullet to reload its a win/win.      CZY

[xhare]

Using my Hornady reloading manual one thing becomes apparent.  With a 240 grain bullet, the carbine adds enough energy that at 100-125 yards it still retains the same energy as the pistol has at the muzzle.  The trajectory from a carbine is flatter, but not by much.  How much deader the deer is depends more on shot placement than energy.