Going to try a handgun for deer this year

[randy_68]

Just thought I would post a pic of my new deer hunting gun. It is a S&W 686-6 .357 with 5" barrel and a 7 shot smooth cyl. I topped it with a Mueller Quick shot sight. So much better than a scope- at least to me.
The gun is very accurate with my handloads of 158 gr XTP's over some H110 powder. I will also be sighting in some Magtech 158 gr JSFP this afternoon. I will be using this only for 30 yards or so and will also be carrying my H&R .357 Maxi rifle for the longer shots.
   My friend has this same setup only in .41 mag and he is shooting 2" or less groups out to 70 yards. Anyway I am pumped up to try this out next weekend and just thought I would share.

[GRIMJIM]

Welcome to handgun hunting. It's a lot of fun. I carry mine when I don't want to lug the shotgun around. It's nice to be able to use your hands.

[Ron 1]

i have been hand gun hunting for 3 years now what a blast.
i have found that hunting with a hand gun has opened up more hunting spots for me.
with a long gun i tend to look for the 100 yrd shots and with a pistol i look for all shots to be around 50 yrds
and under so i will sit in  or near the bedding areas with more eaz in getting a shot off in thick cover.
i have a 6 in. 686 with a red dot on it and have taken deer out to 75 yrds and the 158 gr. bullet went thru the rib cage. good luck with the hand gun.
      rw

[DANNY-L]

I've wanted to take one with my contender for the past 5yrs being new to handgun hunting I sighted in for 50yds but also but I also carried my rifle and no matter what the distance I always used my rifle,until last year I sighted in my t/c for 100yds (7-30w) and left the rifle home,no choice but to use it and took a doe at about 60yds. Felt really rewarding.Since then I've got my 357 blackhawk with 180 xtp with one hole peep sight good to go at 50 yds and my DW 375sm with aimpoint and 220gr hornady good at 50yds now when I got to sit with either I go to places that are only within my range which for these would be about 75yds and my t/c of about 150yds as I have a 2x7 burris bdc that works great with a good rest. Good luck to ya.

[jhalcott]

  Like Danny discovered, IF you take the rifle AND the handgun ,YOU will grab the rifle. I had this same trouble when I first started using the handgun. I went thru a period where I carried a 44 Ruger SBH AND a 14" T/C in holsters,grabbing the SBH for quick, close shots. Eventually I settled on taking one or the other depending on the area to be hunted. I had/have several 14" barrels to choose from and MAY have missed a close deer or 2 ,but it was still fun to HUNT for the deer instead of waiting to snipe it.

[randy_68]

The main reason I will be carrying both next weekend is that I just built the .357 Maxi rifle and am itching to shoot someting with it. But I also just got the revolver set up so I want to shoot something with it also. I can shoot multiple does but only one buck in Indiana, and I already got one with a bow.
Does beware!!!

[DANNY-L]

I dont blame ya on that one.

[Jal5]

That is my goal for this year too. I missed a nice doe with my S&W M66, 6" 357mag last year, shot over her at about 30 yds. Did more practicing this year plus I changed my load too to a much more accurate one.  Should use the revolver at least once or twice during our firearms season in Ohio.

Joe