I did for several years, but now it seems I'm always short of time to get meat in the freezer, so I wind up using a rifle.
These threads always have recommendations for gigantic handgun cartridges throwing 300+ gr bullets 1200+ fps in order to kill a deer or hog that weighs 150 lbs., at most. Seems silly to me. I've killed several head of deer and hogs with handguns and with a single exception, the highest velocity bullet has been 1000 fps or less, and almost all of the game has been killed with home cast, non-expanding SWC's. I've found that a .44 or .45 caliber SWC running <1000 fps can still easily make hits at 75 yds. and less. My recommendation is either a .44 Special or a 45 Colt with a SWC weighing 250-290 grs. The last buck I shot a couple of seasons ago was with a Uberti 4 3/4" 45 Colt loaded with a 288 gr. SWC running 988 fps. The buck was 41 yds. distance and ran maybe 25 yds. after being hit.
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Lest ye think a .45 caliber SWC lumbering along at 950 fps won't do much damage, I submit this said bucks lungs. Note the bloodshot tissue around the bullet hole-
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Regardless of what you choose, the important thing is practice, practice, practice. Shooting a longarm and even a bow is easy, but shooting a handgun accurately at hunting ranges requires commitment.
35W