Author Topic: Which gun to use...? (Read 2186 times)

KNIFE_NUT_1981 · « **on:** September 28, 2012, 06:44:28 PM »

Other than squirrels and varmints with a .22, I have never really entertained the notion of "handgun hunting." Hunting, for my family anyway, was always done with a rifle or shotgun. However, I have recently decided that I would like to take a whitetail with a handgun, and was wondering what some of you guys consider to be your weapon-of-choice for this purpose. I own several weapons worthy of the task at hand, but am heavily considering my 6" Smith & Wesson 629 (.44 Magnum) for my first big game harvest with a handgun, and if fortune smiles upon me with this endeavor, maybe try others later. Your thoughts?

Bigeasy · « **Reply #1 on:** September 28, 2012, 09:01:57 PM »

That six inch 629 is a good choice for deer. Good balance and sight radius. Stay away from the light weight hollow point bullets, and the .44 mag is an excellent deer killer. If using jacketed, I like the 240 and 300 grn. XTP, as well as the Barnes solid copper bullet. If you like cast, and don't reload, Federal makes a good 300 grn. cast bullet hunting load. I generally limit myself to the distance I can keep a cylinder full on a paper dinner plate from field shooting positions.

My personal favorite for deer is the .44 mag., usually with a red dot equipped Ruger Redhawk, although I have taken quite a few with various Ruger SA's, and S&W 29 / 629's. The few I have taken with .357's has convinced me the 44 mag., or a warm loaded .45 Colt hits with noticeably more authority.

Hunting with a handgun, you will find yourself spending less time glassing crop fields and the like, and more time observing deer trails and funnels that allow for close range shooting.

Larry

Lloyd Smale · « **Reply #2 on:** September 28, 2012, 11:37:32 PM »

I couldnt dream up a better whitetail gun then the one you have.

Steve in PA · « **Reply #3 on:** September 29, 2012, 10:05:53 AM »

My personal favorite is my scoped Ruger Super Redhawk. I was just out at the range this morning, putting some rounds downrange. I shoot both the 240 and 300 grain XTP bullets. My SRH is sighted dead on at 100 yards, so today I was out double checking the 50 yard ballistics. The 240's shoot about 1.5-2" high at 50 yards while the 300's hit about 3" high when both are sighted dead on at 100 yards.

KNIFE_NUT_1981 · « **Reply #4 on:** September 29, 2012, 12:07:33 PM »

Thanks for the input, guys. Bigeasy, I haven't gotten around to working up a "hunting load" just yet, as I have only recently decided on the weapon I will use, but will do some test firing with different loads as soon as I manage to find the time, and will let you know the results. Lloyd, thanks, I thought the same, and considered all aspects, pros, and cons of all my handguns before making my selection. Steve, I have never owned, or even fired a scoped handgun. I will try to stick to 50 yards or less for the time being, with 75 yards probably being the longest shot I will take with iron sights on a handgun. Those deer aren't threatening my life, and I don't want to be wasteful and risk the possibility of only wounding the game, and it die of infection later, and/or fall prey to predators. I hunt for pleasure, and also for food. Maybe if this catches on and really sparks my interest after the first kill, after taking game with each suitable handgun I currently own, I may consider purchasing another handgun more geared toward hunting, fit it with a suitable scope, and try longer ranges.

45-70.gov · « **Reply #5 on:** September 29, 2012, 02:29:10 PM »

i would prefer to use my 5 inch 44 smithe 629

that or your 6 inch gun is what a ''handgun'' is to me

i have scoped 30-30 and 35 rem
a 357 max in a cotenter
and a scoped ruger charger.........stockless rifle on legs
all these are just stockless rifles
all these will be more ''efficient'' deer killers

but with your iron sighted revolver.....YOU ARE HAND GUN HUNTING ...
.not just hunting without a stock

[my 500 snw is needlessly big]

KNIFE_NUT_1981 · « **Reply #6 on:** September 29, 2012, 03:03:55 PM »

Same here, 45-70.gov! I don't want to offend anyone by saying this, but in my opinion, having a scope on ANY handgun pretty much makes it a stockless rifle, and would provide a great advantage over those traditionalists who would consider such an act "cheating." I will hunt with iron sights until I feel like I have EARNED the right to use a scope, the same way I was "trained" with a rifle by my grandfather as a small child. I wasn't ALLOWED to use a scope until I had mastered the art of long-range iron sight shooting. Sorry to get off subject... Ok, back to your favorite handguns for whitetail hunting... Anyone using bigger stuff, such as 45-70, .454 Casull, or .500 S&W Magnum? Any crazy-big home-brewed wildcatters out there?

45-70.gov · « **Reply #7 on:** September 30, 2012, 08:38:31 AM »

i grew up with scopes on my pellet guns
i like a hand gun to fit in my pocket in the abence of a holster
my 5 inch smith fits.......my 7.5 ruger doesn't

454 cassul is as big as i would go
any thing else the gun starts getting huge
i know....470 linbough ,480 ruger.....ammo to rear and expensive

KNIFE_NUT_1981 · « **Reply #8 on:** September 30, 2012, 12:26:51 PM »

I personally don't plan on going any bigger than a .44 Mag. It's really not all that bad to shoot the bigger, less common stuff if you wanted to load your own. Hand-loading a box of .480 would be cheaper than buying a box of .44 Mag factory loads from wal-mart.

hillbill · « **Reply #9 on:** September 30, 2012, 12:50:37 PM »

i dont know why you would want to go any bigger than a 44 mag for whitetails? what would be the need? you mite look into handloading and bullet casting if you really want to hone your shooting skills on the cheap.you could load the 44 for just pennies per round with wheel weight cast bullets and shotgun powder.it works well in my 45.

Tom W. · « **Reply #10 on:** September 30, 2012, 01:05:36 PM »

Quote from: 45-70.gov on September 30, 2012, 08:38:31 AM

454 cassul is as big as i would go
any thing else the gun starts getting huge
i know....470 linbough ,480 ruger.....ammo to rear and expensive

The .480 ruger is nothing against the .454 in terms of recoil. I wish I had my .480 back.....Not so my .454!

Ladobe · « **Reply #11 on:** September 30, 2012, 08:35:36 PM »

Your 629 is just about as good as it gets for handgun deer hunting. All of mine had 8 3/8" barrels, not as nice to carry up and down the Rockies, but were pure death for hunting. The Super Blackhawks were even worse for carry, especially the ten and a halfer. When the 629 Classic 5" came out I thought about buying one... would have been perfect for mountain carry and good to go on mulies for well over 100 yards with just the factory sights. But I had stopped hunting BG by then so never did buy one.

You've got all you need in that 629 6".

keith44 · « **Reply #12 on:** September 30, 2012, 08:47:28 PM »

For 7 years I hunted with a .44 mag Super Redhawk with 2x scope. The only bullet I do not recommend is the 300 grain XTP. I shot a buck that was quartering away from me, mis-judged the lead and hit him in the hip. The 300 gr XTP destroyed that hip, both tenderloins, both back straps, and the off side shoulder. It is just too much for whitetails. If your shots will be 80 yards or under 240 grain bullets of about any construction, running at or above 1,100 fps will anchor any whitetail I've ever seen.

45-70.gov · « **Reply #13 on:** October 01, 2012, 04:10:01 AM »

you already have a near perfect gun

now all you need is a good WFN bullit mold at about 280 grains...
non-gas checked...if your as cheap as me

GET LOT OF PRACTICE

while you making all those good cast bullits
get a 44 handi rifle instead of a new handgun and scope it for lots less $$

ole 5 hole group · « **Reply #14 on:** October 01, 2012, 05:01:57 AM »

Anything from a 32 mag up to a 500 Linebaugh Max will do just fine for deer - all depends upon your State Laws, as some States have restrictions/min requirements as to what is legal.

Your 44 mag is a great start and next year you can go up or down in caliber choice and probably get the same result with a well constructed and placed bullet. If you don't get a CNS strike the deer will usually react some to the strike and take off, piling up 10 to 100 yards away with about any caliber used.

Place the bullet poorly, and you'll have about the same problems with about any caliber but I suspect you probably already knew everything I wrote here. Good luck on your hunt.

SHOOTALL · « **Reply #15 on:** October 01, 2012, 05:50:46 AM »

Quote from: KNIFE_NUT_1981 on September 28, 2012, 06:44:28 PM

Other than squirrels and varmints with a .22, I have never really entertained the notion of "handgun hunting." Hunting, for my family anyway, was always done with a rifle or shotgun. However, I have recently decided that I would like to take a whitetail with a handgun, and was wondering what some of you guys consider to be your weapon-of-choice for this purpose. I own several weapons worthy of the task at hand, but am heavily considering my 6" Smith & Wesson 629 (.44 Magnum) for my first big game harvest with a handgun, and if fortune smiles upon me with this endeavor, maybe try others later. Your thoughts?

Should work well . Good Luck.

m-g Willy · « **Reply #16 on:** October 01, 2012, 02:43:31 PM »

When hunting deer with a 44mag. I use either a 6" or 8 3/8" model 29
My hunting load is a 240gr Hornady XTP with 22 gr. of 2400.

hillbill · « **Reply #17 on:** October 01, 2012, 02:56:54 PM »

Quote from: keith44 on September 30, 2012, 08:47:28 PM

For 7 years I hunted with a .44 mag Super Redhawk with 2x scope. The only bullet I do not recommend is the 300 grain XTP. I shot a buck that was quartering away from me, mis-judged the lead and hit him in the hip. The 300 gr XTP destroyed that hip, both tenderloins, both back straps, and the off side shoulder. It is just too much for whitetails. If your shots will be 80 yards or under 240 grain bullets of about any construction, running at or above 1,100 fps will anchor any whitetail I've ever seen.

dang bet that ticked yu off? nuttin left but a few round steaks and sum jerky?

keith44 · « **Reply #18 on:** October 01, 2012, 07:24:36 PM »

Quote from: hillbill on October 01, 2012, 02:56:54 PM

Quote from: keith44 on September 30, 2012, 08:47:28 PM
For 7 years I hunted with a .44 mag Super Redhawk with 2x scope. The only bullet I do not recommend is the 300 grain XTP. I shot a buck that was quartering away from me, mis-judged the lead and hit him in the hip. The 300 gr XTP destroyed that hip, both tenderloins, both back straps, and the off side shoulder. It is just too much for whitetails. If your shots will be 80 yards or under 240 grain bullets of about any construction, running at or above 1,100 fps will anchor any whitetail I've ever seen.

dang bet that ticked yu off? nuttin left but a few round steaks and sum jerky?

Yup, madder en a hornet

Redhawk1 · « **Reply #19 on:** October 02, 2012, 01:03:24 AM »

KNIFE_NUT_1981, I have shot a lot of deer using my 357 Mag up to my 500 Mag. My first 15 or so handgun deer were with my Ruger Blackhawk in 357 Mag. I used 158 gr. soft point bullets or 158 gr. hard cast. I never could afford a scope back then, so all my deer were taken with open sights and all under 35 yards. I moved up to a 41 Mag in a Blackhawk for a few years and then to the 44 Mag in a Blackhawk as well. My bullet of choice in my 44 Mag was a 240 gr. soft point for many years, and then I really got into hard cast bullets. I went up to 300 gr. hard cast bullets when I started hunting hogs, and they worked great, so I kept using them even for my deer. Moved up to a Ruger Redhawk in 44 Mag when they came out, and then a Super Redhawk in 44 Mag. Still using them 300 gr hard cast bullets. Currently I have several handguns I use for handgun hunting, most are open sights, but I have some with Ultra-dots on them. I tried the scope hunting for some time, but I just did not find it to be my cup of tea, I much more prefer open sights or a good red-dot. Faster sight accusation with open sights and red-dots. I don't knock anyone that likes to shoot scoped handguns, but they are just not for me. My longest handgun kill was with my S&W 460 Mag using a scope, at 142 yards. It was like shooting a rifle. After that, I decided I would go back to shooting my handguns with open sights and red-dots. I like getting close to my game, after all I like the hunt much better then I do the long distance shooting. Your S&W 6 inch 629 in 44 Mag is a great choice, all I will say is, don't use hollow point bullets. Stick with a soft point or hard cast in 240 or 300 gr. JMHO. You ask about other handguns, I have used a BFR in 45-70 to take deer as well as my Super Redhawks in 480 and 454 Casull, as well as a couple of custom Blackhawks in 475 Linebaugh. I have also shot deer with my S&W 460 Mag, 500 Mag and a custom 510GNR. all using hard cast bullets. I have well over 30 years of handgun hunting experience. Have fun and enjoy handgun hunting.

RustyJr · « **Reply #20 on:** October 02, 2012, 06:17:38 AM »

While I have yet to take my first deer my handgun of choice for woods carry and hunting is a Ruger Super Blackhawk in 44 Mag with a 5.5" barrel. I just use Winchester White box 240 grain soft points as I have yet to work up a good hand load for it.

RustyJr

keith44 · « **Reply #21 on:** October 02, 2012, 07:03:25 AM »

Good Luck to ya Rusty jr, and welcome to the board. Win white box is good ammo to use until you get yer hand loads up to par.

HGunner · « **Reply #22 on:** October 02, 2012, 07:38:25 AM »

I've shot a lot of deer with the 240 XTP and I've never had an experience that's made me question this bullet. I suppose it might be too soft if pushed to max velocity in a long barrel but at typical 44 magnum velocity it is excellent. When I hunted with factory ammo I liked the Black Hills ammo (they use the XTP) better than the Hornady. The Black Hills is loaded a little lighter and I always shot it better. The worst jacketed bullet performance I ever had was a double lung hit (no bone) with a 44 mag jacketed soft point at 1250 fps -- no sign of expansion, very poor blood trail and a long recovery. An XTP at that velocity works very well and is not hard on the shooter. I suspect you need top end velocity before you get most soft points to expand. That being said Winchester White Box is widely available and pretty hot.

Redhawk1 · « **Reply #23 on:** October 02, 2012, 10:35:56 AM »

Quote from: HGunner on October 02, 2012, 07:38:25 AM

I've shot a lot of deer with the 240 XTP and I've never had an experience that's made me question this bullet. I suppose it might be too soft if pushed to max velocity in a long barrel but at typical 44 magnum velocity it is excellent. When I hunted with factory ammo I liked the Black Hills ammo (they use the XTP) better than the Hornady. The Black Hills is loaded a little lighter and I always shot it better. The worst jacketed bullet performance I ever had was a double lung hit (no bone) with a 44 mag jacketed soft point at 1250 fps -- no sign of expansion, very poor blood trail and a long recovery. An XTP at that velocity works very well and is not hard on the shooter. I suspect you need top end velocity before you get most soft points to expand. That being said Winchester White Box is widely available and pretty hot.

Hornady makes the XTP.

HGunner · « **Reply #24 on:** October 02, 2012, 01:14:28 PM »

"Hornady makes the XTP."

[/size]Sorry for the confusion.... What I mean is that both Black Hills and Hornady load the 240 XTP in factory ammo. The Hornady ammo is hotter but the Black Hills ammo has been more accurate for me. Lately, I load my own and use the same bullet with 2400.

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gate · « **Reply #25 on:** October 02, 2012, 02:17:43 PM »

got a 44 mag. mine is a t/c encore load 240 gr xtp never killed a deer with it. killed a big hog with it .. hopeful this year.. we can kill a doe during rifle season..

WORM

keith44 · « **Reply #26 on:** October 02, 2012, 07:25:11 PM »

IMO (and I stress OPINION) The 240 grain XTP for the .44 Mag is about the perfect all around jacketed bullet for the .44 Mag. The 300 grain XTP is (again IMO) just too destructive for deer.

KNIFE_NUT_1981 · « **Reply #27 on:** October 03, 2012, 11:57:52 AM »

Thanks guys, for all the very useful info. I will keep you all updated with my handgun hunting progress throughout the hunting season. As of yet though, it is only an idea that I hope to find the time to follow through with. My rifle is ready to go, and I am very confident with it out as far as I can see, and will probably use it to put first meat on the table this year before I ever get around to fooling with the handgun. Will probably carry both for a while, and hope to get close enough to something to try a shot with the old 629...

bulletstuffer · « **Reply #28 on:** October 03, 2012, 12:54:32 PM »

You will have a completely different feeling in the woods hunting deer if you leave the rifle at home or in the truck IMO. I have carried both at the same time but it is a lot more exciting when the rifle is not with you. Try it and I'm sure you will see what I mean when that chip shot on a deer with a rifle is just a little to far to take an ethical shot with the handgun

And yes that 44 is awesome for deer!

Good luck hunting with whatever you carry

Bulletstuffer

poncaguy · « **Reply #29 on:** October 03, 2012, 02:27:11 PM »

I have a Ruger GP 100 357, but I would probably use one of my TC Contenders or Encores. I have killed a nice doe at 100+ yards using my scoped 7-08 Encore 15", dropped in her tracks....................I can go from 357 max up to a 45-70...........which gives me an idea now ....think I'll use the 45-70 Contender this year......