Hunting with a wheelgun

[buzzr46]

I'm ready to get into the handgun hunting thing, (wife thinks I already have enough guns, bows, etc) but I have a chance to buy a S&W 629 w/4" barrel. Has had about 20 rounds fired through it, looks and shoots great. What I want to know is the 4" barrel suitable for limited range deer hunting, under 50 yards and what bullets would you recommend? I can get the whole pkg, pistol, shoulder rig, walnut grips and another set of grips, can't remeber the brand offhand and hard case for $400.00. Or should I save a little more and pick up a pistol with a longer barrel? Thanks for the input and info. Lord knows I need it,

[Gregory]

I What I want to know is the 4" barrel suitable for limited range deer hunting, under 50 yards and what bullets would you recommend?

Yes, the 4" will work as long as it meets local regulations.

Any bullet from a 180 gr JHP to a heavy cast bullet will work out of a 44 Mag.

My favorite is a 200 gr Nosler JHP.   See what shoots best from your gun.

[dubber123]

Sounds like a good deal to me, the 4" will work fine in my opinion.  If you haven't done alot of handgunning, the shorter guns can be harder to shoot accurately.  That definately doesn't mean they can't be as accurate as the longer ones, just a little harder to shoot well.  I hunt with a 4 3/4" FA in .475.  This is the most accurate wheelgun I have ever fired.  When I'm not carrying that, it's a 4" Smith in .44 or .45 Colt.  I like the Wide Flat Nose cast bullets in the heavier weights, and have been impressed with their performance.  Lots of other guys like the jacketed bullets, and many of them have alot more experience than me.  If someone credible answers that has 50 deer with a certain combo, don't be too proud to copy them!  Good luck with your new sport!

[Cheesehead]

I have taken deer with two wheel guns. One is a 45 long colt in 4 5/8" barrel and the other is a model 29 in 5". They are very carryable and adequate for 50 yard shooting. My point is the 4" would be very adequate and quick to handle. I had an 8" once and it seemed to big for my taste.

Cheese

[Mikey]

buzzr46 - yes, get the entire package, it osunds like an excellent deal.  And yes, that 44 magnum with a 4" bbl will do you just fine for Whitetail or larger at to as far as you can accurately place the shot, and hopefully for your hunting experiences that would exceed 50 yds.  The caliber from a 4" bbl is certainly more capable than that.

4" bbls carry just fine in either a shoulder or hip rig.  They are a bit easier on the hips than the longer barrels but that depends a lot on your size.  I pack a 4" Model 29 and she carries very nicely on the hip.  HTH.  Mikey.

[Old Griz]

:cb2: The 4" barrel is no problem. I have a 4" .41 mag that I haven't hunted with yet . . . but I will, as soon as I get the chance. :grin:

[Lloyd Smale]

4 inch smith n frames are probably my favorite hunting handguns.

[mikemayberry]

My new S&W Model 629 Light Hunter is destined to become my favorite hunting handgun.  It arrived last week and was shot Saturday morning, showing its stuff!

Setup will be multiple choices:   iron sights stay intact; Crimson Trace laser grips are mounted and ready to go for close work; Warne Quick Release Mounts on Busnell dot scope for 50 yard hunts; and another set of the Warnes holds my Elite 3200 Bushnell sighted to 100 yards.

I see this becoming my favorite rig anytime I am in the woods.

Couple of speedloaders on my belt and a canteen and I am good for all day.  My new www.edgecustom.com holster is lets me carry with or without the scope of choice.

Thinking I am close to "there" but need to shoot it more and learn this handgun to be fully practiced and ready to go this fall.

Mike

[Glanceblamm]

I started with the 7-1/2" and have since purchased a new 4".
You would think that my groups would have been sloppier due to the shorter sight radious alone but was not the case as this wheelgun was a
Shooter right out of the box.

I don't know why this is but suspect that the overall balance and pointability have alot to do with it. No deer with the 4"yet (new in Jan)
but I would take it in a heartbeat.

[Darrell Davis]

Morn'in shooters,

Although it is just IMHO, sounds like I have a lot of company.

I presently shoot a 5 1/2" Red Hawk and enjoy it very much.

I have had a number of 7 1/2" Black Hawks, including one "Hunter" and just find the shorter handguns to be very shootable as well as easy to carry.

My 357 is a 4" and the longest in our collection are the 6 7/8" Ruger Mark II "Slabside" and a 6" mark II target.

I'm not a big S&W fan, but I'd say Buy and Enjoy that .44.

Keep em coming! :wink:

[S.B.]

I'm ready to get into the handgun hunting thing, (wife thinks I already have enough guns, bows, etc) but I have a chance to buy a S&W 629 w/4" barrel. Has had about 20 rounds fired through it, looks and shoots great. What I want to know is the 4" barrel suitable for limited range deer hunting, under 50 yards and what bullets would you recommend? I can get the whole pkg, pistol, shoulder rig, walnut grips and another set of grips, can't remeber the brand offhand and hard case for $400.00. Or should I save a little more and pick up a pistol with a longer barrel? Thanks for the input and info. Lord knows I need it,

Yes, a long as it meats your local laws? Any bullet  that's 240 grains and jacketed hollow point is a good place to start.

[WNY_Whitetailer]

The following quote is from the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency web site:

6. Center-fire handguns .24 caliber (6 mm) or larger
having a barrel length of four inches or more, in all
counties except where regulated by legislative acts.

[Lawful Larry]

I do hunt with handguns and enjoy it very much.  I have three that I take into the woods and love all of them.

This is my S&W 629 with a 2x Leupold scope:



This is my Ruger SBH in .45 Colt with a 2x Burris scope:


And this is my woods gun, a Bisley BH in .45 Colt:


It does take a lot of practise to become proficient hunting with them.  But it is different and enjoyable.