Deer Huntin'

[meanmrmustard]

I appreciate everyone's comments about the sigma as a hunting utensil. I'm not looking for only positive things, but any experiences in general. But just experiences like the one above. This is what I was looking for; mainly folks who've used the sigma in a hunting situation. His was a mercy kill, but a story is better than nothin.

 

[ADKeagle]

I have killed a deer with my SD40, slightly different than a sigma. It was actually a finishing shot. The deer was initially shot by a rifle. My shot was from about 5 yards, into the back of the deer's skull slightly below the ears. The 155gr. Gold Dot did not penetrate out the bottom side. I would just use a good penetrating bullet and be careful about how far you shoot.

 

[Oldiron]

Have killed deer with rifle, bow and pistol. Deer with a 708 through both lungs normally run 100 yds, Bear razor through both lungs 30-40 yds, deer I killed with my mod 19 pilled up at 5 ft after hitting it in the shoulder (shot from the hip as I was in over grown field with only game trails to follow and the deer tried to run over me). True hunter know the limitations of himself and his weapon.

 

[mtngunr]

I have killed deer with 32WCF, .38Spl (1100fps), .357 S&W Mag, 38WCF, 44WCF, .45Colt, .45ACP, .44Spl, and .44 Rem Mag, all handloads and better hunting loads than general factory stuff.....only the highest velocity .357 and .44 Mag loads worked very well with lighter self-defense-type bullets, and even then, unless trying to decapitate with a neck shot on smaller spikes and whatnot, extreme care had to be taken to miss heavy bone or you would likely have a three-legged deer running off....your best bet is a harder bullet, as noted above on the deer finishing kill, perhaps a flatpoint to duplicate SWC performance or close enough, or a tougher jacketed SP....

 

[meanmrmustard]

Seen a 9mm jhp, 115 gr go through a two foot block of ballistics gel (courtesy of my uncle, expensive) at 15 yards. Now, given the sectional density of that bullet, the drag on it would be less than that of a .40 (10.2 mm). The wound channel was nearly .75 inch in diameter, due mainly to hydrostatic shock. Not remembering the bullet manufacturer. But, a deers chest is roughly 18-20 inches deep, thin rib bones that are easily broke. I don't shoot at shoulders, like some dudes, I go for the pie plate size lung area behind that. I feel deer travel less with the wind knocked out of em than the heart shot. I can group exponentially smaller than that at 20 yards. I'm going to attempt some testing with different rounds on target, then see if uncle Dan has some more gel. We may get some pictures!

 

[mtngunr]

I wouldn't know....never shot gelatin....only deer....and my experience says penetration means more than shock out of a handgun....unless you drive magnum rounds to 1800fps+ as i have out some Rugers, you simply are not going to get the explosive shock a rifle gives....they aren't anything but a punchpress in comparison....your 1200fps 9mm expanded to .45cal aren't going to give any more shock than my .45 cal 1200fps SWC handloads, and will likely penetrate far less than my 250grs, and less than you expect on a live critter....hide is very elastic, not to mention what bones do those lightweight HP cavities.....but they WILL work with careful placement....after all, you have total trust on those bullets against a human, right?....right?....think about it...

 

[meanmrmustard]

I wouldn't know....never shot gelatin....only deer....and my experience says penetration means more than shock out of a handgun....unless you drive magnum rounds to 1800fps+ as i have out some Rugers, you simply are not going to get the explosive shock a rifle gives....they aren't anything but a punchpress in comparison....your 1200fps 9mm expanded to .45cal aren't going to give any more shock than my .45 cal 1200fps SWC handloads, and will likely penetrate far less than my 250grs, and less than you expect on a live critter....hide is very elastic, not to mention what bones do those lightweight HP cavities.....but they WILL work with careful placement....after all, you have total trust on those bullets

against a human, right?....right?....think about it...[/QUOT

I believe I'll trust the testing. As stated, it was a past attempt at a gel block with a 9mm some 2/3 the weight of the .40 and in and around 100 ft/lbs less energy. Listen to me! Now IM getting involved in calibers!!! Back on track. No more bullet talk, as I brought it up. Sorry Let's keep it about sigma experiences shall we? Rugers and .45s aren't the subject. Let's get back on target. I've heard of mercy shots, one guy actually hunted with one, anyone else? Just relevant stories please.

 

[meanmrmustard]

I have killed a deer with my SD40, slightly different than a sigma. It was actually a finishing shot. The deer was initially shot by a rifle. My shot was from about 5 yards, into the back of the deer's skull slightly below the ears. The 155gr. Gold Dot did not penetrate out the bottom side. I would just use a good penetrating bullet and be careful about how far you shoot.

Thanks for the info. Sigma and sd series might as well be twins.