[asquires2]

Im looking into a S&W 629 w/a 6.5" barrel for hunting . My question is whats the effective range for the gun?

[Master Blaster]

Further than you can hold it steady or see.
Have you ever shot long range sillouhette?

[snorko]

That will depend mostly on you. On deer sized game, the effective range is less than 100 yards, generally 50-75 yards at best. It loses too much energy to effectively harvest an animal beyond that.

[Ol` Joe]

Elmer Keith dropped a wounded mule deer at 500 yard with a 6 3/8" M29, same gun just blued........

[asquires2]

thats what I was thinking atleast 50yrds which would be fine , I want to use it from my treestand. And no I have never shot sillouhettes, sounds like a blast though.

[parisite]

The 629 is more than capable of taking deer sized game if you can reliably hit it.
The range strictly depends upon "your" abilities.

[Wolfeye]

I've heard of people taking deer at over 100 yards, but I think that was using scopes & bipod sticks while in a prone position.

For most skilled hunters, I think a medium barreled .44 like that could easily be used under conditions similar to bowhunting. Revolvers are handy in areas with a lot of trees & brush.

[rodell]

Your capabilities, under hunting conditions, is the defining factor. There is, of course, other contributors, including load and bullet construction/type.

I limit shots at deer to less than 100 yards or so. It isn't like the deer just fall over as they might when hit with something heavier/faster.

Bob

[Buck Snort]

Alaskan brown bear have been taken with a .44 mag. Its up to the shooter and the load.

[TIMC]

When I had the scope on my 6.5 mod 629 I was able to hit 6" groups at 100 yards using hand loads, that was as steady as I could hold it.

The 240 grain bullets and the fairly warm load I was useing should be good for deer at that range.

[Brian Williams]

As far as you can reliably and consistently put all 6 shots in a paper plate that is the size of the heart/lung area of the animal you are hunting.
Remember this is a hunting situation, not your typical range benchrest
If you can keep 6 shots on an 8" paper plate(the average size around here for a Whitetail deer) at 100 yds, then you are good to go at 100 yds. If you can't keep 6 shots on a paper plate at 25 yards, rethink your idea.

[ArmedBear]

It loses too much energy to effectively harvest an animal beyond that.

LOL

Stop reading whatever BS you're reading, and get rid of those jacketed hollowpoint bullets.

Brian, Master, et al. have it right: your ability to hit a small target with a handgun is the real limiting factor. But oh, what fun it is to improve that skill...:)