Hunting with a handgun

[John Eilertson]

I suppose you can get by with a 4" barrel, tho' I always used a 6, or 6 1/2" on my .44 mag. And regardless of caliber, be able to use this weapon effectively before hunting big game. Maybe it'll take a .22 to get more proficient, maybe a .357, but you have to be able to shoot well enough to take one down at 50, 60 yds--much more often than not. But, following that--good luck!

 

[DeadAye]

The Lounge is getting to be like deja vu again

P.S. I kill a lot of deer with a 4" 686. You HAVE to shoot to a set of points through the deer instead of some point on the deer.
Know your quarry -- Inside & Out.

Where I hunt if you can see something 50 yards away you aren't where I hunt anymore - You're somewhere else entirely.

 

[trapper704]

My mod 25-5 45 colt, with keith swc cast from wheel weights does an excellant job deer and elk usually under 75 yds. They leak a lot of red stuff for a short ways.

 

[NFrameFred]

Keeping the analogy within reason, one should approach hunting with a handgun (especially such a minimum as a 4" 357) as you would if you were hunting with a bow. Yes, I know about all the amazing pistol assassins of antlered game that make 200 yard shots that a mere mortal such as myself that has been hunting for 40 years wouldn't attempt, but that's my opinion.

Get close, get closer if you can. Use a rest - shooting sticks or a cane type brace. Use as much gun as you can realistically control and shoot WELL. PRACTICE shooting from field positions. Learn deer anatomy and only make high percentage well placed shots. And use HEARING protection. Amazing how many first time handgun hunters learn that one too late . . . .

High powered rifle bullets for the most part incapacitate/kill by shock to a great degree (think of the flesh as wet sponge that the bullet treats as if driving the liquid away from and out of the impact area); pistol bullets actually are more akin to arrow impacts in the way they kill - tear blood vessels through a vital area and try to penetrate with a pass through shot to let air in and blood out. High speed hollow points are not always the best choice. Old Elmer had it right using as big a solid bullet as possible with a blunt edge that impacts a wallop while driving through and leaving a large hole.

Deer can certainly be easily taken with a 4" 357. In the right hands and right conditions they can be taken with a .22 or even a high speed pellet gun. But none of those are quick killing choices without precision placement and maximum damage achieved from the shot. Under excitement (duress) and field conditions it's best to plan on having a little "overkill" at your disposal for when things don't go exactly right. There is a component of shooting a wild animal with a handgun that many (usually who have never done such) overlook - when a man receives a wound from such his mind tells him "I've been shot !" and depending on how "hard" and where the wound is, his mind will tell him "I'm might die!" and shock begins to set in from the mental as well as physical aspects. A wild thing such as a deer on the other hand, only reacts with fight or flight reaction from being startled and hurt and doesn't know that when you shoot it it is supposed to lay down and die. Even a mortally wounded deer with only seconds or minutes to live can cover a LOT of territory QUICKLY and "disappear" more easily than you can imagine if you've never had to track one. The idea then is to get the job done as quickly and efficiently as possible. A 357 hollow point slug may well be fatal in a shot not immediately incapacitating - but you may never see the deer again, either.

But there's nothing more satisfying for an enthusiastic handgunner than to bring home venison with one of his favorite tools. I've just seen too many novice bow and handgun hunters wound and lose too many deer. Best to start out with the right tools, attitude, and skills as much as possible.

 

[brucev]

I have been thinking about deer hunting with a handgun this year. Been thinking about getting another 686 4''. What do you use? What do you think? Info please!

There's not much shocking power in a handgun. Inside of 50 yds. a 6-8" .357 S&W Magnum gives good results on small/medium game up to deer. Use a heavy SWC bullet and avoid raking shots. If you can use it effectively a .44 S&W Magnum or a .45 Colt is better as they use heavier bullets that will give better penetration on less than ideal shots. I'm looking forward to working up a good load for my S&W 24-4 using a good 240 gr. SWC. I figure it will work well inside of 25-30 yds. Recently out walking in the woods with my wife we got to with 10-12 yds. of a nice doe. She never saw us. It would have been a very easy shot. Hopefully come deer season I'll be able to get just as close with my handgun.

 

[TIMETRIPPER]

NFrameFred has it down pat.

Keeping the analogy within reason, one should approach hunting with a handgun (especially such a minimum as a 4" 357) as you would if you were hunting with a bow...Old Elmer had it right using as big a solid bullet as possible with a blunt edge that impacts a wallop while driving through and leaving a large hole.

Lots of good advice in his post. I especially like the analogy to bow hunting. Practice mainly at 25 yards but shoot at 50 yards too because it's not always possible to make an accurate assessment of distance while hunting. That's where you have an advantage when hunting from a stand as opposed to still hunting...you can determine ranges to specific points around your stand beforehand.
Never use HP's, especially with a 357. They expand too fast and lack penetration. Full penetration is better, more internal organ damage and two holes to leak blood. Want to drop 'em dead with one shot? Use a rifle. It can be done with a handgun but you can never guarantee that it will happen that way.
If a deer has been chased and shoot at all morning nothing but a spine or head shot will bring it down in it's tracks. I've seen deer run flat out for more than 100 yards after being shot through the heart by a 30-06. They were dead on their feet but their legs didn't know it.
The hardest part about hunting is knowing when to shoot and when not to take the shot. This is especially true when using hand guns.
John

 

[Jst1mr]

460XVR and a good scope (AND practice) can make 200yd handgun hunting a reality. I find, though, that iron sights lend a certain charm to a handgun hunt (not to mention making packing the gun around much more enjoyable). This gun puts true rifle-style knockdown power in your hands, but DON'T forget the earlugs!!!!

 

[Cracker American]

My first handgun deer was killed in 1972 with my customized Govt. Model shooting Super Vel 180 grain JHP. In and out behind the shoulder and down in fifty yards.

Nothing wrong with that but I would never do it again.

There has been some great advice here, some I would like to repeat.

Practice, practice and then practice somemore.
Two holes are better than one.
Big, heavy and with a flat point are good.
Practice

 

[millbilly]

460 xvr.......8 for 8 in 4 years from 30 to 175 yards and ZERO tracking......I don't know how you could have a better handgun for deer....every deer went straight down......

 

[Mule88]

Ive used a 29 the first year Ohio allowed handgun hunting (1986) and Ive used several 629's in Bbl lengths from 5" - 8 3/8" over the years. Ohio requires a minimal Bbl length of 5 inch's. All my hunting revolvers (for deer) are sighted to hit dead on at 50 yds. So far ive had about 25 deer kills with a .44 and havent had to track one yet.

 

[vista461]

I shot a 8 pt Whitetail buck with my wife's old 686 6" and 180grn Winchester HP. Made it about 50 yards.

 

[Stevie]

I've killed 2 good sized feral hogs with a 686 4" revolver and 158gr jacketed softpoints..it works pretty fair.

Lately I've been using a 6" 629 and Winchester 240gr jacketed softpoints..works great too...however..the pigs are getting smarter..and forcing longer shots..so I bought a Rossi stainless .44 mag carbine..and have used that this summer and fall with the same ammo....soon, I will have to break out the scoped .30-06 'cause the hogs are fewer and even farther off!!

 

[mtgianni]

Do you hunt varmits, squirrels and rabbits with a handgun? If so the 357 can get it done. If not reaction to game, hitting moving targets, waiting for their head to go down etc. make using a larger caliber easier IMO.

 

[USSR]

Have shot several deer with my 6" M-686. Have always found the .357 to be a marginal deer cartridge at best. Now I hunt with a M25-5 with cast 270gr SWC HP's at about 1050fps. A MUCH more suitable cartridge for deer IMHO.

Don

 

[S&W ucla]

Taken many deer with a handgun, several hogs, and a few turkeys. 357,10mm,44spl,44mag,45colt. With proper placement and bullets all calibers will do nicely. Lots of good advice mentioned earlier on waiting for your shot, comparison to bow hunting, and knowing your limitations(yours and your guns). The only two deer I've lost with handguns were with heavy for caliber bullets. I tried 10mm 200 grain black talon when they first came out and lost a doe with a good shot. Found it by the buzzards 2 days later. The 170 norma and 175 silvertips worked very well. The other was with a 180 grain partition .357 out of a 4" mountain gun. I finally found the doe and the first shot was well placed but it took another shot to end it 3 hours later. Much too long. Both were factory loads. I now usually carry a 5" 629 44mag with 240 JSP very effective if I do my part. Its a great way to hunt. We can kill 2 doe per day so sometimes I take my rifle along and get a double. First shot with handgun on closest doe and when they scatter they often pause at the edge of the foodplot to see what happened and the rifle takes #2. When I'm not taking a deer for myself or friends they go to Buckmasters hunters feeding the hungry program. If you have extra deer meat its a good way to help those less fortunate.

 

[Brian41]

I've taken Michigan whitetails with a Super Blackhawk in years past with a red dot but now use a Model 57 in 8 3/8 and open sights.
I treat it like bow hunting too and go for the up close shots which sometimes you must wait for. I also carry a shotgun or rifle for shots beyond 50 yards as that is my comfort zone with a handgun.

 

[BIGGUN1]

I have taken deer with a 10in 44 contender and a 6 in 657 with a 2 power lepold. I also like to keep my shots under 50 yards.

 

[C.S.63]

OP,
Double check your state regs for Barrel length and minimum cartridge allowed. Some states have these as requirements.

I started with a 6" model 66 and switched to a 44 redhawk and a 44 contender the contender scoped with a 2x Leupold.
The Contender can be a little tuff on the hand. Have not hunted in a few years now.

 

[keith44spl]

I've done sum handgun hunting over the years...

I quess a feller could shoot a deer with just 'bout anything.

There in lies the rub...Shootin or killin'? There's a differance ya know.

So, if'n a huntin for meat, I'm picking the bigger cartridges.
But then again, this jest me talkin here.

Su Amigo,
Dave

 

[Faulkner]

I've taken several deer with a 4 inch .357. Generally it's near the end of the hunt when the bucks have been far and few between and a doe gets close enough for handgun shot for some camp meat. I always carry a concealed handgun when I'm hunting, most always a .357 magnum.

This year I took my Glock 23 (.40 S&W) as my concealed carry gun with no intention of shooting any game with it. Hunted all opening week and didn't see a single legal buck, but lots of does. Last afternoon of the hunt a couple of does are grazing on white oak acorns very close to me. I finally eased out the Glock, loaded with 180 grain Winchester Ranger SXT's, took my time and made the shot. Doe dropped in it's tracks at 18 yards.

A .40 S&W wouldn't be a recommended round, but in this case it did the job.


(Disclaimer: The taking of does is encouraged in south Arkansas. The limit in some zones is six deer per season, two can be legal bucks.)