Handgun for Whitetail... *** Update in post 65 ***

[BlackSky]

I'm seriously considering going deer hunting this year with a handgun. I live in CA and hunt on family property in OH.

OH DNR regs say you can use a handgun during youth & regular gun season as long as it has a minimum barrel length of 5", shoots only straight walled cartridges and is chambered in a minimum caliber of .357.

Nothing in my safe currently meets all of those requirements so I'm on the hunt for a hunting gun.

What would you all suggest? I'm open to about anything but preferences would be S&W and a caliber larger than .357.

Also, what about sights? Anyone hear with handgun hunting experience that can speak to the pros/cons of a scope or red dot vs. iron sights?

 

[Sebago Son]

I'd look for a 6" 29-3. Should be easy to locate and not break the bank as badly as a 29-2 or earlier marks.

A Red Dot will reduce portability but add at least 50 yards to your realistic range of hit probability....

Drew

 

[murphydog]

I think it depends on your hunting conditions and proficiency. Generically speaking, however, it would be hard to go wrong with one of the model 29/629 variations in .44 Magnum on which a 2-4X scope can be mounted easily, if you anticipate taking shots at 50+ yards.

 

[STCM(SW)]

I have shot 3 deer with S&W revolvers over the last 40 years, M29 .44 Magnum 6", iron sights, M57 .41 magnum 6" iron sights & 500 S&W 7" iron sights. None over 50-55 Yds.
But this years after hiting 71, the 500 Mag. has a scope on it, eyes get worse as you get older it seems....

 

[Doug M.]

Some of this could depend on your eyes. If you are suffering from aging eyes, or eyes messed up by other health problems or just need really strong correction, a red dot or decent scope of modest power might be a real useful crutch. I doubt that the effective range of the cartridge would be changed much, but your ability to perform within that range might be a lot better. I'm a big fan of Aimpoint, myself, but have none on a pistol.

It's pretty hard to go wrong with a 6" - 6 1/2" .44 Magnum, of any decent vintage, and a good hard SCW at modest velocity, or a decent JHP. Others more familiar with hunting will have good tips on ammo.

 

[hudsonvalley]

If you're really close... a 351 PD .22 mag behind the ear should be plenty....

 

[vic3620]

I've killed deer with a .357 .44 mag, and .500 mag. Scoped and iron sights, beyond 50 yds. The front sight pretty much covers the whole chest area. I would recommend a 2x scope or a red dot. With shot placement being the key to ending the hunt or the hunt just beginning. 357 is really minimal
Vic 3620
Indiana handgun hunter

 

[holo]

I hunt with three guys in southern ohio, we are all handgun hunters. two of us use .44 rugers with 7 1/2" barrels the other guy uses a smith .41 mag performance center gun. I would use nothing less than a .41 on whitetail. but we all have done very well with are weapon of choice.

 

[tguil]

The Ruger Redhawk (not the Super Redhawk) while not as "classy" as a S&W is a darn good hunting gun. I've used a .44 mag Redhawk for deer hunting for over 25 years. Had to change to a fiber optic front sight a couple of years ago....an age thing. I also bowhunt and keep all of my handgun shots in bowhunting range...no more than 60 yards.

 

[kritter]

depends on where you hunt also, up here in the NE part ( at least in my area ) are usually under 50 yards, Down in the southern part of the state your going to have longer shots,, any of the guns mentioned (except the .22mag? Really, suggesting breaking the law for a deer?) would work fine.
I personally use a 629 with open sights for the more wooded areas, and a 500 with a scope for hunting the fields where a longer shot (100yards+) would happen.

 

[Frank237]

The Ruger Redhawk (not the Super Redhawk) while not as "classy" as a S&W is a darn good hunting gun. I've used a .44 mag Redhawk for deer hunting for over 25 years. Had to change to a fiber optic front sight a couple of years ago....an age thing. I also bowhunt and keep all of my handgun shots in bowhunting range...no more than 60 yards.

WHY would You even suggest this on the SMITH & WESSON FORUM ?

Infidel! Heretic! Shame on You.

FN in MT

 

[BlackSky]

Good advice so far, thanks.

Holo, where are you at? We hunt in Vinton County. The family has several hundred acres of farm land between me, my dad and my uncle.

The terrain is a mixture. Some is dense woods, some parts nearly unpassable because of the vines and thorns (my Uncle carries a pair of garden snips with him lol). The less dense parts are excellent hunting grounds criss crossed with trails a river and a creek. Then there are wide areas of just grassy fields. The hills can be pretty steep in places.

The doe I took last year (in the dense woods) was at 42 yards and that was just about the longest shot I could have possibly had in that location. I could see getting a shot well past 50 yards if you were in the meadows.

I'm kind of leaning towards a S&W 460 Magnum. I'm thinking it's more versatile than the next thing bigger and smaller. For Ohio deer I'm thinking a stout .45 Long Colt would do the job nicely. It also gives me the ability to use either .454 Casul or 460 Mag if I ever end up hunting something big enough to justify that.

All that being said it's dissapointing there aren't any 460 Magnums that have the traditional S&W look and appeal.

 

[AveragEd]

While my first choice in a hunting revolver is my 5" 629-4 Classic DX, my first choice in a hunting handgun is my 14" T/C Contender in 7-30 Waters, a .30-30 case necked down to .284" (7mm).

Ed

 

[CWH44300]

I've successfuly used iron sighted guns from the 4" 629 up through the 10.5" super blackhawk, unless another minty 4" 629 comes along ( that I couldn't resist ), I was thinking about the PC stealth hunter 44, the two toned one that comes with a red dot , although I'd probably put standard 2X scope on it

 

[Old Corp]

I'm an avid deer hunter and more times than not, just carry a handgun.
Really enjoy my 6" M29. Understand the need, but have never been a fan of scoped handguns. Once you've placed glass on a revolver, all the 'handiness' of it just disappeared. May as well tote a carbine at that point.
Pic is from this past Fall about 5 miles from my home in NC. This was about a 65 yd. shot, downhill. High shoulder shot, instant drop.

 

[rxbrew]

Iuse a Model 29 6 1/2 barrel 44 mag. Iron sights and I use Hornady 300 gr XTP's. Hits like a hammer. I usually hunt in North East Ohio and in the South east part of the state. I have shot a couple with my model 27 but have lost a couple as well. I think the 357 mag is a little small for the ohio 250 lbs. brusers. The 44 is much better. All shot were 50 yards or less. I have a model 25 in 45 long Colt that works very wll as well.

 

[ladder13]

Been taking this out for the past few years. 454 Casull.

 

[holo]

my deer camp is near a small town called glenmont about 30 miles east of millersburg in holmes county.most of are shots are 50 yards and in also.


since we are showing pics my two deer guns

 

[tguil]

WHY would You even suggest this on the SMITH & WESSON FORUM ?

Infidel! Heretic! Shame on You.

FN in MT

Cause I'm an "Infidel and a Heretic" and feel absolutely no shame. As soon as new big Smiths come without a lock, I'll come back into the fold. What I'd really like is that Freedom Arms a few posts back.

 

[Frank237]

Cause I'm an "Infidel and a Heretic" and feel absolutely no shame. As soon as new big Smiths come without a lock, I'll come back into the fold. What I'd really like is that Freedom Arms a few posts back.

Someone say Freedom Arms? This is my little M-97 in .44 Special. You're talking about it's big brother M-83. You would be hard pressed to find a more accurate or stronger revolver than the FA's. VERY impressive all the way around.

FN in MT