It is deer season . . . HOW MANY OTHER S&W HANDGUN HUNTERS OUT THERE???

[tom turner]

I've primarily hunted deer with my trusty 6" M29-5 w/Bushnell Holosight for nearly 15 years now. Wow, what great success too! Yep . . . "The most powerful handgun in the world . . . will blow a man's head clean off."

I was wondering how many other hunters here use their Smith revolvers.

My wife asked me today, after I harvested yet another buck with it, "Honey, why do you take your rifle too, you always seem to shoot 'em with your handgun."

It was a valid question too . . . for with the Holosight it is a lot faster and easier to get a good shot on a deer in the deep woods I hunt. I'd have never been able to make this particular shot with the scoped rifle.

Today's shot was on a buck who was passing through the area fast, checking scrapes. He never slowed down and I had a tiny spot with an opening . . . 47 yards out as he passed through the area. He was upwind and never knew I was there. Blew the heart right up . . . a clean, humane kill, like I always pray for.

Nice size too but just a 6-pt.! The pressure is off, and with a son getting married a week from Friday (at the peak of the rut here) I'm very relieved to have one in the cooler!!!

For the rest of the season, the rifle stays home!

Tom

 

[feralmerril]

Wal, as you can see, it`s been a long time!

 

[tom turner]

It's never too late to do it again!

Here's today's harvest . . . after I put him on the back of my '85 Honda Big Red. That ol' Honda will probably last forever. Wish I could too!!! LOL

Tom

 

[David LaPell]

Been right here with ya, taking this one out this morning.

 

[Dusty Miller]

Tom Turner wrote: "The pressure is off, and with a son getting married a week from Friday (at the peak of the rut here) I'm very relieved to have one in the cooler!!!"

WHATTA CAD!! How could a son do that to his own father?!!

 

[gjamison]

i carry a 4" model 57, 41 mag is a great round for deer...

 

[RYNO]

We had a early antlerless only season here last month, I was able to take one with my model 610. That was my first time hunting with a handgun.

 

[JamesArthur60]

I tried with my 629, but the deer where too far away. So, I switched back to my shotgun. Then I had deer close enough for a handgun kill. I gave up and sold the 629, since the shotgun can be used up close or at further range distances. However, I do have a 686PP that I've considered using.

 

[ladder13]

Usually take this FA 454

and a Mossberg 9200

 

[jcelect]

Love the mod 29!

Here's two guys, two days, and two Shilouettes!

That's not a scope on top, it's a red dot.
Hey JamesArthue60, Sell that shotgun, get another 44 mag! One of the does on the trailer was shot at 142yds, first shot-bad placement, second shot-down! These were taken in Jefferson county, Ohio.
jcelect SWCA#LM723

 

[okie john]

Over the years, I've taken several deer with Smith 44's, usually 4" guns.

The rules change every few years. Rifles were legal this year, so a few weeks ago, I broke the neck of one at 40m with a scoped 308. That's about average lately, so I may have to put an optical sight on my 629 and get back after it.


Okie John

 

[Jst1mr]

Model 29-3 and 460XVR...have had optics on both but now just open sights - appreciate the lesser bulk w/o optics. The 29 has accounted for quite a few, the XVR tallied its first one last year.

 

[cmort666]

The year before last and the year before that, I carried my 6" 29-2 while deer hunting in Catawissa, Missouri. I brought my 6" 27-2 as a backup for the friend I hunt with. Didn't get anything either time.

 

[venomballistics]

Ive bagged and tagged a fair number with my 629.
I am of a philosophy where a carbine seems to have no place.
You either need a full rifle or you need a hand cannon. Carbines and the like are for when you dont know what your getting into.

 

[G.T. Smith]

Here in the Ozarks where I deer hunt, the average distance for firearm season is 30 yards. Where I live it's more like 15 yards. I always have my 65 4" as a sidearm loaded with 158 grain Hornady XTP .357, just in case I can get one up close, and my 12 gauge for any longer shots.

Peace,
gordon

 

[tom turner]

Here's two guys, two days, and two Shilouettes!

That's not a scope on top, it's a red dot.
Hey JamesArthue60, Sell that shotgun, get another 44 mag! One of the does on the trailer was shot at 142yds, first shot-bad placement, second shot-down! These were taken in Jefferson county, Ohio.
jcelect SWCA#LM723

Nice shooting!!!

If you notice my 29-5, it also came with the 4-way adjustable sight but I took it off to keep down holster noise during the draw.

With the correct hold over I can nail milk jugs with consistency at 200 yards (prone) with this rig. If people only knew how quick and accurate a red dot is on a .41 or .44 Magnum I think more folks would get into handgun hunting for deer.

I absolutely could not have made that shot yesterday with my scoped .270. Twice I've been able to drop three deer in rapid succession . . . the two times I've had the ladies auxilary show up like that!

No stinkin' scope on a M29 for me . . . the red dot is the way to go! I keep a trajectory chart on the top of my Holosight out to 200 yards for my chosen load.

Yep, nothing beats handgun hunting for deer with a Smith wheelgun!!!

 

[jcelect]

Low light!

Hey tt, your 100% correct about the red dot. Last year I shot my buck in a low light condition that a scope or open sight would have been useless! With my load I hold on out to 100yds and after that I use the open sights with the front adjustable zeroed at 200 yds.

Hand gun hunting takes a lot of practice and knowing where your load and gun hit at different yardages!
jcelect SWCA#LM723

 

[snowman]

I haven't hunted deer for quite some time; if I were able to do so, I would use my 29-2 or 629 DX. But here's a question for you fellows: Don't the deer hear the noise of cocking the revolver? I remember when I used to hunt, it was pretty quiet in the woods. I would think that that cocking noise would send those wary deer away in a hurry.

 

[Viss]

I have been hunting deer for over thirty years, and this year I bought a 629 with a 6 1/2 " barrel, wish me luck.

 

[tacreload]

Count me in Tom.Have killed two with 629 Classic and Holosight combo.Gettin old and would like to get a couple more that way before I can't get into the woods any more.Scoring with a revolver ranks right up there with bow kill in my opinion.

 

[firearmsunlimited]

Here's two guys, two days, and two Shilouettes!

That's not a scope on top, it's a red dot.
Hey JamesArthue60, Sell that shotgun, get another 44 mag! One of the does on the trailer was shot at 142yds, first shot-bad placement, second shot-down! These were taken in Jefferson county, Ohio.
jcelect SWCA#LM723

That was some damn fine shooting there Joe. I even see a head shot or two.

 

[LennyLames]

I've been using my 460 XVR with 14" barrel up in MN. I don't even carry a shotgun anymore (no rifles allowed).

Unfortunately, I'm unable to go deer hunting this year, but I'm hoping to go again next year.

 

[DeadAye]

4" 686 - I hunt with it like I'm using a bow. NO long shots... Then again - Where I hunt there are a few places where I can see for 30 yards at most.
I almost never see anyone down in the swamps where I hunt. One time in the quicksand is enough for right at everyone

 

[Rick in IA.]

Ive shot 5 in the past 4 years with an old 41 mag 6 1/2 " blackhawk. New to me this year is a 5" 629. It is fun !!

 

[armenius]

One with a 29 4" and an 8 pt with a Super Redhawk scoped,as he passed out of bow range.
I am anxious to put a Holosight on a 57 with 8 3/4.I would like to have it drilled and tapped for a mount-Should I send it to S&W for the work or elsewhere?

 

[m75rlg]

Black Powder season in NC now. Gun will open 11/13.

 

[okie john]

Hey tom turner and jcelect, what loads are you guys using?

thanks,


Okie John

 

[JDOUGLAS]

I killed a nice 8 point last year with my 6.5" 657 wearing an antique Weaver red dot sight. My 454 had upset it's scope with recoil so I took out "the spare". I was really impressed with the .41 Mag.

 

[TIMETRIPPER]

After over 40 years of hunting, this coming December will be my first time out with a handgun. I've taken my share with bow, flintlock, and rifle but I hope to put some meat in the freezer with my S&W 27-2, 8 3/8", this year.
John

 

[tom turner]

Hey tom turner and jcelect, what loads are you guys using?

thanks,


Okie John

Elmer Keith got it absolutely right, and I've found the same to be true, the Keith-style bullet really plants 'em better than anything else I've ever used. No lost deer!!!

Federal Cast Core Premium Hunting ammunition . . . 300 gr. hardcast flatnose, loaded pretty hot. It is an extremely accurate round too. Truly impressive and . . . and total penetration should you need a blood trail. Again, no lost deer!!! Great on hogs too . . . as well as bigger game here in North America for those who have the opportunity.