xphunter
Member
They can be a long range deal. It just depends on the handgun, and the person using it.
What Handgun for hunting deer?
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LUCKYDAWG13
Member
Just remember that you don't have a cylinder gap on a Contender or on a Encore like in a revolver so you will gane a bit more velocity
Out to 100yds my 300BLK AR pistol work great for taking deer. It's light to carry through the woods easy to maneuver in thick woods & the parts are easy to get.
Doe taken with a perfect shot at 97yd away with the Hornady 110 V-max(exit wound)
Doe taken with a perfect shot at 97yd away with the Hornady 110 V-max(exit wound)
CraigC
Sixgun Nut
It depends on how you mean that. If you mean range, absolutely. If you mean terminal effect, not at all.
bsparker
Member
I can’t claim to be a handgun hunter (yet) but it has peaked my interest. I took one last year while still hunting (with rifle). Always carry a revolver just in case the opportunity presents itself. We’ll I got close enough I opted for my .45 colt clone, a Taurus Gaucho, 5.5” bbl. Doe was about 15-20yrds. Double tap ammo, 255gr Keith hard cast, going about 950fps. Doesn’t take a lot to drop a VA white tail. This year I’m hoping to do this more, with the .45 and a .357.
I could be easily talked into a .41mag for my next revolver based on what I’ve read, but the ones I have will do for a while.
It’s a lot of fun, enjoy!
I could be easily talked into a .41mag for my next revolver based on what I’ve read, but the ones I have will do for a while.
It’s a lot of fun, enjoy!
bsparker
Member
that’s a beauty. I’d take one of those, love the grips too.
xphunter
Member
You are saying that a straight-wall cartridge with a solid or HC bullet has more terminal effect (what do you mean by terminal effect?), than bottleneck rifle cartridges all of the time???
I am not asking about the distance part, I understood your response there.
CraigC
Sixgun Nut
I'm saying people normally judge by kinetic energy and that is a poor measure. The point here, alluded to in another thread, is that a revolver in .44Mag or bigger is capable of taking far larger game than rifle cartridges some people think would be "more powerful". Which is usually just about any deer cartridge.
xphunter
Member
Understood.
Since this is a a deer hunting thread,
I have seen more violent and quicker death on deer sized game (whitetail and mule), plus antelope with bottleneck rifle cartridges in specialty pistols than I have seen with the 44Mag and 454 Casull when using HC or expanding bullets like the heavier 300 grain XTP at 1775 fps.
Since this is a a deer hunting thread,
I have seen more violent and quicker death on deer sized game (whitetail and mule), plus antelope with bottleneck rifle cartridges in specialty pistols than I have seen with the 44Mag and 454 Casull when using HC or expanding bullets like the heavier 300 grain XTP at 1775 fps.
Those are Kim Ahrends stocks. A shame he is out of business.
jag1954
Member
THAT is one nice revolver.
CraigC
Sixgun Nut
Rifle cartridges definitely kill quicker due to their higher velocity. Which is why jacketed bullets are preferable for deer sized game. However, the implication in this particular string of comments was that rifle cartridges are "more powerful", which is extremely misleading. A .243 will tend to kill deer much more quickly than a 440gr WLN out of a .500 but I know which I'd rather have for a charging bruin.
xphunter
Member
Understood.
The only thing is that 95% plus (Assumption on my part for the %) of handgun hunters are not around brown bears, when they are hunting.
I know several who hunt in Alaska that hunt with specialty pistols that don't even have a revolver with them. Serious hunters who spend from a week to two weeks up there with a friend and sometimes by themselves. They pack everything in and out on their backs. They also are aware of locations to stay away from where encounters are more likely
A specialty pistol would really suck for any charging animal.
As I have said earlier, very few people are good on demand shooting, especially with a charging animal of any kind in cover. Add a 500 to the equation and even fewer people are going to make a good shot.
If I am going to be in the middle of brown/grizzly country, I am going to be adequately prepared.
I have a good friend that used to go up and guide there every year.
There was one time he had a bear stalk him and he was left with no other option-A 375 H&H rifle solved the problem.
I am all for folks hunting with what they want to use.
Deer are not that hard to kill.
I do believe there are many rifle cartridges that are more powerful than the straight wall revolver cartridges
The only thing is that 95% plus (Assumption on my part for the %) of handgun hunters are not around brown bears, when they are hunting.
I know several who hunt in Alaska that hunt with specialty pistols that don't even have a revolver with them. Serious hunters who spend from a week to two weeks up there with a friend and sometimes by themselves. They pack everything in and out on their backs. They also are aware of locations to stay away from where encounters are more likely
A specialty pistol would really suck for any charging animal.
As I have said earlier, very few people are good on demand shooting, especially with a charging animal of any kind in cover. Add a 500 to the equation and even fewer people are going to make a good shot.
If I am going to be in the middle of brown/grizzly country, I am going to be adequately prepared.
I have a good friend that used to go up and guide there every year.
There was one time he had a bear stalk him and he was left with no other option-A 375 H&H rifle solved the problem.
I am all for folks hunting with what they want to use.
Deer are not that hard to kill.
I do believe there are many rifle cartridges that are more powerful than the straight wall revolver cartridges
CraigC
Sixgun Nut
Depends on what "more powerful" means. If it means the capability of taking larger and larger critters, then I would agree if we're talking the big .400's and up. Those cartridges will do the job quicker. However, we still end up in the same place, the Big Six.
If we're looking at energy figurs and deeming that the .308 is "more powerful" than the .44Mag (and up) and capable of taking larger critters, then I would have to vehemently argue against it. With heavyweight cast or monolithic solid bullets, we're getting penetration on large critters measured in feet and that's after smashing heavy shoulder bones.
I like the .35 rem in a Contender.
.44 mag in revolver.
I run 240 to 180 gr bullets in my .44s. Most deer kills w 180gr JHPs but from now on proly just run 200's.
Have only shot one w a .357.
May get a new Python and slap a Leupold DPP on it.
Never tried an XP or Striker. Shot em, cool, but just a little bigger than what I want to carry around.
Might take my dad's old brass frame Super out this yr.
Got the ERH changed and original parts back in (bye bye thin spur safety hammer).
.44 mag in revolver.
I run 240 to 180 gr bullets in my .44s. Most deer kills w 180gr JHPs but from now on proly just run 200's.
Have only shot one w a .357.
May get a new Python and slap a Leupold DPP on it.
Never tried an XP or Striker. Shot em, cool, but just a little bigger than what I want to carry around.
Might take my dad's old brass frame Super out this yr.
Got the ERH changed and original parts back in (bye bye thin spur safety hammer).
xphunter
Member
Getting some revolvers ready for next season: Two 357 Magnums, and one 44 Magnum
xphunter
Member
Good job new57!
Ive shot em from the base of my tree (treestand) to 150 yards (not in a stand) w .44 mag revolvers.
Was younger and more gung ho back then.
Older, and maybe wiser......for me a .44 mag wheelgun is a 100 yard and in rig.
And I'd be happy with em all inside of 50 yards LOL
Was younger and more gung ho back then.
Older, and maybe wiser......for me a .44 mag wheelgun is a 100 yard and in rig.
And I'd be happy with em all inside of 50 yards LOL
Same here. 50 yards or less, but I'm lovin' 25 yards and less. LOL For me I want to be up close and personal, as close as I can be, with my quarry. The challenge of blending in with the environment is as much of the challenge as taking a responsible, humane shot.
horsemen61
Member
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Anybody seen or used the CVA single shot pistols I think they have one in 6.5 Grendel that maybe a cheaper way to get into this so has anybody used one are they worth it?
.38 Special
Member
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This is my only scoped hunting revolver:
Bisley Blackhawk "Hunter" in .44 Magnum, with a 4x Leupold.
I haven't hunted with it much. It's big and heavy and it kicks more than it needs to. I can hit with it out past 100 yards but don't especially enjoy that kind of hunting any more, and really prefer trying to get into longbow range. If the handgun hunting bug bites again, I'll probably be carrying an iron sighted .44 Special and keeping shots under 50 yards.
Bisley Blackhawk "Hunter" in .44 Magnum, with a 4x Leupold.
I haven't hunted with it much. It's big and heavy and it kicks more than it needs to. I can hit with it out past 100 yards but don't especially enjoy that kind of hunting any more, and really prefer trying to get into longbow range. If the handgun hunting bug bites again, I'll probably be carrying an iron sighted .44 Special and keeping shots under 50 yards.
xphunter
Member
The CVA's have a good accuracy record.
Definitely an economical way to get into the specialty pistol world.
Definitely an economical way to get into the specialty pistol world.
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