Author Topic: Whitetail hunted at what distance with 44 mag.? (Read 1623 times)

Arkey · « **on:** September 17, 2005, 12:14:47 PM »

What is the average distance you have killed a whitetail deer at using a 44 mag.?

Redhawk1 · « **Reply #1 on:** September 17, 2005, 12:42:51 PM »

Most of my shots were under 50 yards. I have taken a few at 75 to 100. But I would say 50 and closer is the norm for me.

Greybeard · « **Reply #2 on:** September 17, 2005, 12:48:16 PM »

Agreed, most under 50 yards. I've made a couple at what I estimate to be about 100 yards and one at near point blank range. I'd guess average to be 25-35 yards.

Catfish · « **Reply #3 on:** September 17, 2005, 01:12:54 PM »

My shortest shot was abt 10 yrds. and my longest 135 yrds. , but I used to shot alot, 200 t0 400 rounds a week year round average. I would say that you can shoot deer as far away as you can keep 90% of your shots on a paper plate. That is if they are standing, if they are moving it`s a whole different story and you need to practice on moveing targets to figure that out.

S.B. · « **Reply #4 on:** September 18, 2005, 01:53:32 AM »

I don't have the vast experience of some here but, never over about 30 yards. Very thick timber where we hunted in Missouri.

Special Ed · « **Reply #5 on:** September 19, 2005, 02:48:53 AM »

I would say 15 to 60 yards, I'm sighted in & comfortable out to 100 yards. The opportunity for a longer shot hasn't happened.

Ed

Dusty Miller · « **Reply #6 on:** September 19, 2005, 10:18:21 AM »

I've never deer hunted with a hand gun but I'd not hesitate to take a 100 yrd shot with my 6" Colt Anaconda equipped with a Bushnel Holoscope (given a good rest).

longwalker · « **Reply #7 on:** September 20, 2005, 07:47:23 AM »

Fist two handgun deer were at less than 20 feet. The third was at about 25 feet while walking past me. You could subtract for arm length. The forth was a long shot probably 60 yards. This one should have been much closer but for some reason the buck didn't feel right about the set-up (guess he was right) and moved off into a bean field.

I have shot more deer within 50 yards than past 50.

longwalker

Graybeard · « **Reply #8 on:** September 20, 2005, 11:27:31 AM »

Guys 100 yards is a long shot for a .44 mag revolver in the field. Yeah it can be done. I've done it a couple times. But you best be a very experienced handgunner and have a very solid rest. Once I was in a permanent stand and had a solid rest as a bench. The other time I was in a climbing stand with a shooting rail.

It's not that it's that hard to hit them at 100 yards it's just that it's so easy to miss them out there especially in the woods as opposed to an open field.

Special Ed · « **Reply #9 on:** September 21, 2005, 02:40:11 AM »

Graybeard, you are correct. 100 yards is a long way in the field.
I would only take that shot from a rest using my scoped 14" Contender.
It isn't any fun to wound & lose a deer or have to track the critter halfway across the county.

Ed

Lawful Larry · « **Reply #10 on:** October 10, 2005, 12:46:24 PM »

My experience with the .44 mag has been all under 50 yards. :grin:

Redhawk1 · « **Reply #11 on:** October 10, 2005, 04:00:23 PM »

I was on another site, and the guys there are saying 200 yards is do able with a 44 Mag handgun. :roll: I strongly disagreed with them and got slammed. I guess there is a lot of LONG distance deer killers there. :-D I stick to my post above.

Graybeard · « **Reply #12 on:** October 11, 2005, 02:50:45 AM »

Using a scoped 14" TC barrel chambered to the .44 Magnum and a rest as solid as your shooting bench 200 yards "might" be doable. You'd need to know your trajectory and the distance very precisely to make the shot very sporting.

Making the hit is NOT the problem. I've shot the .44 Mag even from revolvers out to 300 yards and more and hit targets as small as the kill zone of a deer. BUT not EVERY TIME. You shouldn't shoot game at distances you don't already KNOW you can make the shot every time from the rest you have available. For me that means 200 yards is too far.

I have no doubt the round is capable IF the shooter is. There in lies the rub.

Redhawk1 · « **Reply #13 on:** October 11, 2005, 08:56:51 AM »

Quote from: Graybeard

Using a scoped 14" TC barrel chambered to the .44 Magnum and a rest as solid as your shooting bench 200 yards "might" be doable. You'd need to know your trajectory and the distance very precisely to make the shot very sporting.

Making the hit is NOT the problem. I've shot the .44 Mag even from revolvers out to 300 yards and more and hit targets as small as the kill zone of a deer. BUT not EVERY TIME. You shouldn't shoot game at distances you don't already KNOW you can make the shot every time from the rest you have available. For me that means 200 yards is too far.

I have no doubt the round is capable IF the shooter is. There in lies the rub.

Graybeard, I agree 100%. I know a lot of guys that should not even shoot a rifle at 200 yards let along a handgun. my point to anyone is consistency and I don't thing a 44 Mag is a good choice for the distance. There are so many better choices in my opinion.

Davemuzz · « **Reply #14 on:** October 12, 2005, 03:47:06 AM »

It's interesting to review the yardage comments. Here in SW PA, the longest shot that I practice for, with my scoped 44 is 100 yards. That would be off of a good solid rest. Most of the deer I encounter are 60 yards or under.

Here in SW PA, it just isnt that often where you are in a place that allows you a clear shot of 200 yards. Usually there is a hill that pops up between you and 200 yards. Now, I'm not saying you can't find a place, I'm just saying it's not the norm. I usually hunt the woods where I see heavy deer trail usage. So, the open fields are not where you will find me. Some guys hunt the open fields, but usually in rifle season, when the deer hit the open fields, they are on a full dead run, and the target is now much harder to hit.

Just my $.02.

Dave.

Redhawk1 · « **Reply #15 on:** October 12, 2005, 04:58:03 AM »

Quote from: Davemuzz

It's interesting to review the yardage comments. Here in SW PA, the longest shot that I practice for, with my scoped 44 is 100 yards. That would be off of a good solid rest. Most of the deer I encounter are 60 yards or under.

Here in SW PA, it just isnt that often where you are in a place that allows you a clear shot of 200 yards. Usually there is a hill that pops up between you and 200 yards. Now, I'm not saying you can't find a place, I'm just saying it's not the norm. I usually hunt the woods where I see heavy deer trail usage. So, the open fields are not where you will find me. Some guys hunt the open fields, but usually in rifle season, when the deer hit the open fields, they are on a full dead run, and the target is now much harder to hit.

Just my $.02.

Dave.

I totally agree. I have never taken a deer over 100 yards with a handgun. I never had the opportunity to do so, and if I did I think I would pass.

jhalcott · « **Reply #16 on:** October 12, 2005, 08:44:11 AM »

when I was into "sillywets" a shooter asked about going hunting with me. He was a top shooter and wanted to kill a deer with his Dan Wesson 44mag. I told him I'd take him only if he'd hold fire till I said "shoot".After some discussion I set up a deer target at 200 yards. The kind of target the bowhunters use,a big picture of a deer.Five shots from a sandbagged rest and he only wounded the target.ALL 5 would easily knock over a ram.He never asked to go with me again.

Gonzo Joe · « **Reply #17 on:** October 12, 2005, 01:39:00 PM »

I've not had the opportunity to handgun hunt much, so I haven't actually taken any game with the .44 Mag yet, but I'm looking forward to it. But I wouldn't feel to confident in anything out past 50 or 60 yards.

shermbob · « **Reply #18 on:** October 12, 2005, 02:49:39 PM »

I'm new here

but I think the key word is practice,practice,practice and then practice some more. What ever distance you can keep your shots on the paper plate is a good place to start. 3yrs ago I could group them at 100 with a rest This year I won't shoot over 40 not enough practice. By the way I've taken 2 deer with my sbh both under 40 and 1 with a 454 at about 40.

Redhawk1 · « **Reply #19 on:** October 12, 2005, 04:43:07 PM »

Quote from: shermbob

I'm new here but I think the key word is practice,practice,practice and then practice some more. What ever distance you can keep your shots on the paper plate is a good place to start. 3yrs ago I could group them at 100 with a rest This year I won't shoot over 40 not enough practice. By the way I've taken 2 deer with my sbh both under 40 and 1 with a 454 at about 40.

Welcome to Graybeard.

TCBrian · « **Reply #20 on:** October 13, 2005, 08:05:13 AM »

I agree that 100yrds is a very long shot with a handgun. I hunt with many guys that think they can kill animals at 400yrds with a rifle and 200 with a handgun. When I go shooting with them and put the rangefinder on the target, they quickly find out that there "400yrds" is more like 250 and there "200yrds' is more like 125. Even at the actual shorter distances, they do not make good hits from hunting rests or situations. It is one thing to hit a deer and another to kill it cleanly. Most guys have trouble even seeing a deer at 200 yrds if it is around some cover.

My cousin has yet to shoot a big game animal and I am getting him ready for coues deer hunt in AZ. I have made him run a couple laps around the parking lot with a pack on then come over to the bench and shoot with an elevated heart rate and sweat dripping down his face. Amazing how 2" groups can go up to around a foot or so under those conditions. That is with a scoped rifle, a handgun is much harder to master.

Of course, you eastern hunters are generally in a stand and in cooler weather, so it is a little different. But cold, frozen hands can have the same effect as apposed to shooting from the bench on a nice warm day.

I would say, after thousands of rounds of practice with my super redhawk, I would take up to a 100 yrd max shot, with perfect rest and no obstructions. I would also use the rangefinder to know that I am not way off on the distance.

Good hunting,
Brian