Hunting with a 4" 629?

[sfm629]

Hi all, I'm relatively new to the forum as far as posting questions. First one was yesterday on a 617.
Anyway this question may have been asked and discussed before but I haven't found any info. on it.
I have a 629, with a 4" barrel that I currently shoot recreationally. I'd like to try it out for deer hunting, but from everything I've read it looks like 6" and up is the perfered barrel lengths.
Is 4" too short or just not perfered?

 

[viceunit]

I assume a 4" barrel is legal in your State. In Ohio, the legal minimum handgun barrel length is 5". I have hunted for years with a 6 1/2" 29, but would have no reservations using a 4" if it was legal and I could hit a target with it as well as the longer barrel. The longer barrel obviously gives a longer sight radius. The longer barrel only gives a slight ballistic advantage at typical handgun hunting range (50-75 yards?). Bullet placement is the most critical factor. Can you hit with a 4"? That's what it boils down to. Bagging a game animal will be more dependent upon bullet placement than barrel length in a handgun.

 

[pharman]

Hunting with a 4" 629

Hello...I too am from Ohio and I hunt with a 6" 29...In Ohio as the previous post stated, the law says the barrel must be at least 5"...If you are comfortable with the 4" and it is legal in your state, I say go for it...I have never really understood why Ohio law says 5", I really prefer my 3" 29 but can't use it here in Ohio...I don't think the law makes any sense...any comments please? Thanks...

 

[murphydog]

If it is legal in your state, I see no reason you shouldn't try deer hunting with your 4" 629. See how well you shoot it at known distances with the field positions and loads you will use when hunting, and do your best to stay within those limits.

 

[ishootblanks]

Very simple

Practice and know your limits.

 

[sfm629]

Barrel length

I've looked in the Idaho F&G book and don't see any restrictions on barrel lengths for handgun hunting. If someone knows better, please let me know. I'll have do a more detailed search.
I can usually put my shots within an 8" circle at 75yd.s but haven't practiced with different/unusual positions that may come up when hunting.
Thanks for the replys. A little more investigation and I think I'm in business.

 

[yaktamer]

I concur with what others have said. You'll have a lot of people say you need something longer due to the imporved velocity, but i think they seriously overestimate the difference an extra coupe of inches makes. As far as Ohio goes, it seems to be one of those states that has some irrational regs based on emotion, anectdote or personal opinions of the rulemakers, rather than reason and empirical data. Do they still prohibit rifles for deer?

 

[Rafsob]

I have used my 629 in the woods for big game here in Virignia. I have harvested many deer with it. This is my favorite handgun for hunting:

 

[6GUNSONLY]

It worked OK for Elmer...

 

[sfm629]

I hunted the Frank Church Wilderness area (talk about verticality!) in south central Idaho last season and kept thinking the whole time how much energy I could save by not packing around the 30.06 and using the 629. Of course I need to get alot closer.

I appreciate all the replys.

 

[6GUNSONLY]

If you can hit with your 4" gun, use it. If you are shooting a big hard-cast SWC, velocity over about 1100 fps is angels dancing on the head of a pin anyway, IMO. Some (myself included) do just as well with 4" S&Ws or 4 5/8" Rugers as with longer barrels. I think I see the sights more clearly on a 4" gun than I do on a longer barrel. With any handgun, remember Clint's words - "...a man's gotta know his limitations."

 

[pharman]

For Yaktamers question...

Yes, Yaktamer ohio still prohibits use of rifles for deer hunting! We can use shotgun with slugs, muzzleloaders, or handguns 357mag or larger with straight walled cartridges with minimum barrel length of 5".....

 

[shawn mccarver]

Hi all, I'm relatively new to the forum as far as posting questions. First one was yesterday on a 617.
Anyway this question may have been asked and discussed before but I haven't found any info. on it.
I have a 629, with a 4" barrel that I currently shoot recreationally. I'd like to try it out for deer hunting, but from everything I've read it looks like 6" and up is the perfered barrel lengths.
Is 4" too short or just not perfered?

You might want to read Elmer Keith and see if it is really necessary to have 6 inch and above for hunting.

 

[Sprefix]

Ditto.......

You might want to read Elmer Keith and see if it is really necessary to have 6 inch and above for hunting.

+1---------Elmer Keith----"Hell....,I was there"------Very enjoyable book!!!!! Think I'm gonna read it again soon.....Sprefix

 

[WPWarhawk]

I used this ...

To take this ...

Yes, the laser sight is legal here in Texas on hogs. The range was short, no more than 15 yards. One Keith bullet did the job.

 

[Joed49]

Do they still prohibit rifles for deer?

Oh yes, I think they'd outlaw hunting altogether if they could. Live most of my life here and part in FL, FL is a very gun friendly state with OH being about the worst.

 

[okie john]

A 4-inch Model 629 is plenty. Game regs get written the way they do to keep some things out of the field. For instance, in Washington State it a 4 3/4" 45 Colt was legal for deer but not for elk for many years. Other places have a fear of semi-auto cartridges.


Okie John

Okie John

 

[kennyb]

your 4" will do just fine...and a BIG welcome to the forum!

 

[RidgwayCO]

In Colorado, a handgun cartridge has to produce a minimum of 550 ft-lbs of energy at 50 yards in order to be legal. Your 4" 629 would be fine with most commercial rounds. However, most .357 Magnums wouldn't make it (which I assume was the whole idea...).

 

[wls]

Like you Pharman, I'd like to know how Ohio decided on a 5" barrel. I hunt Tusc county and have taken deer with 5 1/2 " barreled 44mag and 45 colt rugers.
Here in Indana you can use 4'' barrels