Hunting pistol

[Mike1273]

I'm wanting a pistol for hunting in .357 magnum & interested in t different models available. I've done some looking at it seems there are a lot of models of Smith out there. I want 8" or so barrel & preferably an N frame. Most of what I found currently in stock on Web sites is 44 mag. I hope you guys they know the models & possibly have pics will crawl out of the wood work. A scope hasn't been decided on yet but is a consideration. Thanx in advance!

Sent from my DROID BIONIC using Tapatalk 2

 

[VaRecon]

My model 27-2. N-frame .357
IMO they don't get much better.
I shoot at a three foot wide dirt pile about 75 yards away and hit consistently with great ease.
Didn't hunt this year but plan to next season.

 

[cp1969]

If I'm not mistaken, N frames have a shorter cylinder than L frames. You can load heavier, longer (i.e., hunting) bullets in the L frame.

 

[recurve]

I've shot two deer with a 66 S&W 4in. 13.5gr of H110 and a 158gr XTP.

 

[hittman77]

At the risk of getting flamed ...... if you don't have to have a Smith;

 

[fyimo]

A 27-2 like this as it doesn't get any better in 357 magnum.

 

[chud333]

Hello my friend. Although not an N-frame and 6" instead
of 8" i like to take this 586 no dash to the deer woods.
Easier to wield than a longer barrel but still very accurate
for me. You could do a lot worse. Just one mans opinion.

Chuck

 

[David LaPell]

I once had a 686 which had an 8 3/8 inch barrel and it was quite accurate. You will be surprised at how accurate even a 6-inch barrel can be. There are still a lot of nice Highway Patrolmans in that barrel length out there. The Model 27 with the 8 3/8 inch barrel is another great choice.

 

[kennyb]

i hunt with the S&W 500 magnum from the performance center...it's on the X-frame with 7.5" barrel....so far i have taken several large boars,a merino ram,muflon ram,and 4-horn ram...it's surely knocks em down

 

[BillyMagg]

At the risk of getting flamed ...... if you don't have to have a Smith;

That was my grail gun, until I actually shot them side by side, the Smith is just mo purty and mo comfortable in my hand, but one thing is fo sho, you won't blow that thing up and they are quite accurate. My 27 just talks to me, and the older pinned and recessed, well? you know, but I agree, especially if I were to shoot heavier loads such as the old heavy silohuette loads. billy

Great looking Ruger by the way!

 

[tinkerunique]

To each their own - I use an old #2 HE in .44 Spl and 6.5" with 240 gr HP shells for hunting. At close range (compared to a rifle) it has taken whitetail and a couple rabbits. (> shot placement is preferred<) The .44 Spl is/was a rifle cartrige.

 

[Mule88]

I have a 7 shot 686 in a 7 inch bbl. you dont see that barrel length too often. It would be a great .357 hunting revolver but its an L-frame of course and not the N frame you wanted, but you may want to check one out.

 

[scooter123]

Have you ever shot with a longer barrel? I ask because I made an unexpected discovery when I purchased my 6 1/2 inch model 610. That is that longer barrel make good recoil management skills a lot more critical. It took me nearly 2 years of steady practice with it to get to the point where I could shoot it as well as my 4 inch model 620. That was something I really didn't expect, I thought like most that the longer sight radius would make it a lot easier to shoot tiny little groups with. What I found was that the longer dwell time for the bullet transiting the barrel made it much easier for me to "throw" a shot with inconsistent recoil management. On the plus side the effort put in gaining the necessary skills made me a better handgun shooter but it's only fair to warn you that longer barrels on a handgun can present new challenges.

Another thing I'll warn you about is that you will NOT find resting that long barrel on a sandbag or shooting sticks to be helpful. That is something else I tried when I was working on my skills with my 610. The result of resting the barrel was that my group sizes doubled. As for the cause, it's basically the same reason why free floating barrels are the primary choice for precision rifles. If you allow anything to disturb how the barrel vibrates when the bullet is transiting the barrel you end up with degraded accuracy. What I found worked best when shooting from a rest was to put my forearms on a good rest with my hands supported on a sandbag or tightly folded up towel.

As for the 686 as a hunting revolver, with the right load and in good hands you can knock a deer flat without any problem. However, shot placement is fairly critical so you'll want to limit your maximum range to that where you can consistently hold within a 4 inch group. Yeah, 4 inches is conservative but cold and excitement will open up your groups unless you are a robot from the future.

Not trying to rain on your parade in any way, taking a deer with a handgun is something well worth getting rather stoked about. Just giving you a bit of a warning that you'll likely find yourself challenged in unexpected ways and that you may want to consider a 6 inch barrel instead of that 8 3/8 inch barrel.

 

[silentflyer]

Mod. 27,28,586,686 will all do the job, as will the Dan Wesson's, all great hunting handguns, as are the Rugers, both single and double action.
Some folks don't like the 8" barrels, but I love'm along with some even longer barrel Dan Wesson's. have taken several deer and turkeys over the years.
A K frame .22/.22mag or .38 with a 8 3/8" (with wad cutters) makes a great small game gun to sharpen your skills with.

 

[TheMystro]

I found the 8 3/8 inch barrel was a bit too long to pack all day in the woods. I much preferred a 6 inch barrel. It does everything you would need but carries much more comfortable. If you know you're really going to hunt deer with this pistol and go with a 44 Magnum.

 

[drhenzler]

I don't know what you expect an 8" barrel to give you... perhaps a few feet per second more velocity? A lot more weight. A slight advantage in sight radius. It's a whole lot heavier and more difficult to handle in a stressful moment.

As my mentor said to me 40 years ago. Do you suppose the deer you shoot will know the difference between being hit with 100 fps more velocity? It will be just as dead if your shot placement is right, and if it's not... You will have problems either way.

As long as your weapon of choice meets State regulations for hunting, I think you're good to go. I know here in NC that there are some weird regs on carrying a .22 into the woods during deer hunting season. As for me. I'd recommend a 41 Mag or better for the job and at least a 180 gr bullet.

[email protected]

 

[silentflyer]

Several years of metal silhouette shooting has proved to me the adavntage of the longer barrel's as far a knockdown power at longer ranges. Add a scope and out well past 100 yards are do able with the big bore long barrels. 6" tubes are fine at 25/50 yards beyond that the long tubes rule.

 

[CAJUNLAWYER]

Fellas the guy asked about a 357 pistol and all you've talked about is 357 revolvers.

 

[scooter123]

Cajun, here in Michigan a Revolver is considered to also be a Pistol under the Law. Perhaps that is also the case in Louisiana. Fact is in Michigan out concealed permit is identified as a Concealed Pistol License and there are a whole bunch of us Yankees walking around with revolvers hidden on out persons. In fact, if it's a bit too warm for you today you are perfectly willing to come a visitin and you can bring you pistol if you have a permit for it. Currently it's a moderately cool 28 degrees with only 4-6 inches of the white stuff coming.

 

[DonD]

What I found was that the longer dwell time for the bullet transiting the barrel made it much easier for me to "throw" a shot with inconsistent recoil management.

Interesting remarks and for the most part I agree. I do find it hard to believe that the bullet transit time differential between a 4 and 6" barrel is significant. Sort of like saying you'll be a vastly better shooter if your bolt guns lock time is 70 milliseconds instead of 100 milliseconds.

I know I'm far more accurate with my 8 3/8" .500 Mag than I am with any of my shorter barreled revolvers. Don