44 mag hunting revolver and why?

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lobo9er

lobo9er

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Debating on either a new hunting handgun or ccw. If I end up going for a new hunting implement I would be interested in a 44 mag revolver. price range would be around 500ish so it would be something used. So far my likings are Super Red Hawk 7.5 barrel. I am not looking to scope it. i have seen a few S&W 629's used in that price range on gunbroker but do not know much about them. I currently have a Desert Eagle in 44 mag and is my only experience with the 44 besides shooting a black hawk once and a friends revolver years ago and do not remember what it even was. I am more into DA revolvers, although the Black Hawk was very nice.

Any thoughts would be great including ideas on barrel lengths, I like shorter barrels but understand for hunting something longer is a better. Maybe 6ish?
 
If you don't go overboard on barrel length (keep it under 6") you can use a .44 sixgun for both hunting and carry. I IWB carry my 4" 629 occasionally, and OWB carry it quite a lot. It handles 800 fps 200 gr. .44 Special loads for IDPA matches and 1,250 fps 300 gr. loads (for stomping things) equally well.

Some folks have said the Redhawk is a bit less comfortable to shoot than a SRH or a 629, but honestly I don't know. I happen to think it has very nice lines, and seems to better suited for the .44 Mag than the big ol' SUPER Redhawk, which is way more gun than the cartridge needs.

Either one you can find for under $500 is a very good deal, indeed.
 
cool thanks I am gonna take my time theres a couple gun shows coming up so I might be able to handle a few examples. 4inch for hunting? would it suffice do you think? with in a hundred yards? For white tail maybe black bear?
 
I have a 10.5" Super Blackhawk. While it was extremely accurate and felled several deer and a couple elk.. I have to say that I concur with Sam, that size barrel made it a pain in the ol keister to tote around. Since I've moved to bowhunting, i am left with a gun thats too big to do much of anything with. I am actually looking into buying a shorter barrel just so I can do more than haul it to the back yard (range).. With that said *I* prefer the SA trigger of the BH over the DA's for hunting.
 
with in a hundred yards?
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Whatever range you can keep all the shots on a standard 9" paper plate is the effective hunting range of a handgun.
A paper plate is a fair approximation of the kill zone on a deer.

For most people with a 4" .44 Mag, that will not be nearly 100 yards.

Probably more like 50 yards, with some practice.


BTW: Your Desert Eagle would be a fine hunting handgun.
My son's .357 DE is one of the most accurate long range handguns I have ever shot.

rc
 
100 yards?? and open sights? More than likely not. Think more along the lines of 40 yards maybe 50, maybe. Can you place good kill shots at 100 yards with your DE. You should be able to deside that with your DE. How far can you shoot and control 6 rounds in a 4 to 5 " circle in hunting conditions. I would never conceder a 44 mag a practical CC gun, trail maybe. Hard to hide that much cylinder and grip. I would want a 7.5" barrel for the longer sight radius and extra fps. Now if you have a DE why not hunt with it?? Seems like a waiste of money if you need a pratical cc handgun to buy another 44mag. Get a glock 20 if you still need bigger power as it could be concealed easier than a 44 mag and still use some DT ammo for higher power levels for hunting most anything you would use a short barrel 44 mag for. You also can a 6" hunter barrel for it down the road too. Some ammo like DT 200gr hp is just about as hot as the commerical 44mag stuff from winny or rem today.
 
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Ok...seems everyone beat me to the answer.

If you practice your butt right off and use a very good rested position, you could make a 100 yd. hunting shot with a revolver. Probably going to want a scope for that.

If you practice a lot and only want to make safe shots that you know will hit right where you mean to, 50 yds. is probably tops for a lot of us.

If you're Elmer Keith, you do whatever you want. But you'd better be sure that's who you are! :D
 
0409112238b95320531.jpg with my costom 44mag that I have been shooting for over 15 years and I handload for it. I can get 5" groups at 70 yards , and I still would not shoot at live game with it out past 50 yards , you say you have a Desert Eagle in 44mag. , I'd use that for hunting and look for a smaller gun for carry ,
 
yeah 100 yards I guess was just a general number I threw out there. 50 is a more realistic #. I am not trying to find a gun to cover both ccw and hunting. Besides settling on a gun I am figuring out if I would rather spend my money on a CCW or a hunting handgun. I am planning on doing a bit of hunting with the Eagle also I just don't like the lack of options for ammo with the Eagle. This is definitely a good problem to have, looking for a 44 mag revolver that would round out the collection a little more as far as hunting goes. And could result in nothing more than window shopping on the internet as about 10 min ago I came to a realization my radiator is about shot :)
 
savanahsdad nice gun, did you make those grips or have them made custom?

so anyhow are any of you guys confident with a 4inch barrel hunting?
 
The way I figure it, why bother with a DA if you don't and or can't shoot it DA accurately.
If you can/do, then you'd go for the DA, of course.
As an aside, many people can.. nevermind
 
4" for hunting? Well, again, it all depends on you and how much practice you put in.

The gun certainly is accurate enough. Longer barrels just give you a slight edge with aiming precision.

If you practice with it and know that you are going to hit that 6-8" circle at a given distance, PERIOD, then it is fine to hunt with at that distance. But don't shoot at an animal farther than you can be that precise.
 
lobo9er said:
savanahsdad nice gun, did you make those grips or have them made custom?

so anyhow are any of you guys confident with a 4inch barrel hunting?
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I made them , thanks , I also spent many hours with a buffing wheel on that gun. triger is at about 3lbs and did some work on the sights ,
as for hunting with a 4" barrle , you lose some speed other than that it will still kill a deer at 50 yards or so , I have carried a S&W 66 with a 6" barrel in 357 , never got a deer with it , but I know others that have , so I would not think twice about hunting with a 4" 44mag
 
Whatever range you can keep all the shots on a standard 9" paper plate is the effective hunting range of a handgun.
A paper plate is a fair approximation of the kill zone on a deer.
Click to expand...
Good advice.

I hunt with my Redhawk, but only when necessary. If I have to shoot more than 50 yrds I bring a rifle (always my rifle to a new area). There were times, in the thick brush, where my Redhawk would have worked better than my rifle with its high powered scope. 50 yards is my max, but if you can hit your 9" group at 75 or 100... go for it.

Here is my 5.5 Redhawk. We have been through many adventures together, and if the Lord willing, many more.

Redhawk.gif
 
I am at the 50 yard limit with my 5.5" SBH .44 Magnum. More than that, and I grab the rifle. I have taken the shotgun with me to the blind because on the left a 40 yard shot is the longest shot, but down the lane and to the right you could get a 100 yard shot.

If a deer walks out on the left, middle or right within the marked 40 yards I have set, tape on twigs to let me know, I'll give a go with the Ruger. Anything further reach for the shotgun. This is in a zone that only allows shotguns for hunting.

I wouldn't mind having a double action for a quite shot if needed, but I really love pulling that hammer back. :)
 
Back when I was looking for a hunting 44 I wanted the red hawk that you speak of. It was not meant to be though. A night after work I stopped in my local shop and he had a used 629 classic in mint shape for $500. Here in MD for hunting you have to have a 6"+ barrel, so went longer. Added a scope later on. I still lust for a red hawk but my security six keeps my Ruger itch satisfied.
 
As far DA I shoot my sp101 DA just about exclusively and teach anyone new to it to do the same. DA doesn't bother me if I was hunting maybe I would change my game up I dunno cuz I have never hunted with a revolver :) and I think my radiator problem is only the thermostat or may even just be radiator cap so.... I am keeping my fingers crossed my fan blower also went too but that is still minimal in the grand scheme of things.
 
I have reached the point in my life that a 45/8 Blackhawk in 44special is my choice in a hunting revolver. It is on the small frame that packs easy...and hits hard. It took me too many years to learn that anything over 1000fps is wasted energy on a whitetail deer. The 44special is a sweet round...no recoil and lightning bolt effective.
 
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I have reached the point in my life that a 45/8 Blackhawk in 44special is my choice in a hunting revolver. It is on the small frame that packs easy...and hits hard. It took me too many years to learn that anything over 1000fps is wasted energy on a whitetail deer. The 44special is a sweet round...no recoil and lightning bolt effective.
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So what do you think about the 357 magnum for hunting? I've always hunted with my 44 mag Redhawk, but I have two 6" 357 magnums that I would love to take whitetail hunting (much lighter on the hip). Do you think they would be effective? I've shot whitetail with my 44, and I know it knocks them flat, but I would love to give my 357s a whirl.
 
I have a scoped Super Redhawk that I use for hunting. I have it sighted in for 100 yards and I have taken several deer with it, however the longest shot to date was about 75 yards. One shot, one deer.

I have a non-scoped Super Blackhawk that I will carry as a sidearm when carrying a rifle. With the iron sights on the SBH, I will limit myself to 50 yards. I'm at the age where my eyes are starting to go and that is why the 50 yard, iron sight limit.

I have shot the SBH at 100 yards and know that I can take a deer at that distance, however I am not as accurate at that distance with the iron sights as I am when shooting the scoped SRH.

I also have a Blackhawk in .357 mag that I picked up this year. The .357 Mag has taken many deer, but for me I would limit myself to 50 yards.
 
lobo9er said:
savanahsdad kudos on the craftsmanship I love seeing hand made stuff like that.
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thanks, just wish I had more time to do more stuff like it
I think the redhawk that skidder posted would work great for the OP as it is a DA
 
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