balance of caliber

[Bezoar]

IS there a time to admit a hunting caliber/cartridge is just to much for self defense and just to get a less powerful cartridge?

For example i mean instead of weakening a .41 magnum by pushing a 110 gr hp at 1500fps, just get a 38+p? Or a 45acp instead of your favorite 240 gr .44 magnum moose load.

Im trying to figure out a caliber that will work for self defense but still be able to hunt deer or even coyote with.

Im interested in
.38 specials
.357
.41
.45acp
.44 spcl
.44 magnum

I am curious on the .38 super for hunting, but dont see much on that.

 

[Deer Hunter]

Ever thoguht of getting a 10mm?

 

[john1911]

Strictly for hunting, the .38, .45 acp and .44 spec aren't powerful enough (IMO). The .357 is a good personal defense round but is considered marginal by many for hunting.

The .41 and .44 magnums are great for hunting but too powerful for personal defense. That leaves three choices; 2 revolvers (one for hunting and one for self defense), use a 357 magnum for both or get a .44 magnum. Use magnum loads for hunting and special loads for defense.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

never mind

 

[MrBorland]

That leaves three choices; 2 revolvers (one for hunting and one for self defense), use a 357 magnum for both or get a .44 magnum. Use magnum loads for hunting and special loads for defense.

Just to complete the symmetry, a 4th choice would be a .357 revolver for defense and a .357 lever carbine for hunting. Many believe the .357 carbine to be adequate for mid-sized deer at reasonable reanges.

 

[whistler]

44mag for hunting and 44special for s.d.it does not get any better than that.

 

[JesseL]

Except for the 38 Special, any of the other cartridges you list can be used for SD and coyote or deer.

Here are my opinions on your list:

38 specials - Ok for self-defense, too weak for hunting anything bigger than rabbit.
.357 - Excellent for self-defense, minimal for hunting deer (limit it to good shots at less than 50 yards)
.41 - Will work well for self defense if you use the appropriate loads (easy to overdo it), excellent for hunting - possibly including things much larger than deer.
.45acp - about the same as 357.
.44 spcl - ditto
.44 magnum - like the 41 but weighted even more toward the hunting side and away from the sd side.

When I was searching for a trail gun a couple months ago, I had a set of criteria similar to yours. I ended up choosing the .41 Magnum as something controllable, yet powerful enough to hunt deer or defend against black bear if the need should arise.

 

[jh9x18ky]

My vote is 44 mag/44 spcl. Unless you reload...

 

[Bezoar]

whats easier to handle with factory loads, 41 magnum or a 44 mag or 44 special?

 

[JesseL]

With typical factory loads recoil will be:
44 Special < 41 Magnum < 44 Magnum.

If you want the greatest flexibility with factory loads you will probably be best off with the 44 Magnum since it can also shoot 44 Specials.

 

[TimboKhan]

The .357 is a good personal defense round but is considered marginal by many for hunting.

Eh.... True to the extent that it isn't a great choice for the large Muleys, but small whitetails will fall to a .357 pretty easily. As is the case with any hunting platform, it's a matter of shot placement and patience. If you want to use a .357, your going to have to stalk close, use a heavy bullet, and wait for the right shot.

For coyotes? The .357 will terminate them with extreme prejudice. I have taken most of the coyotes I have shot with a .22, so I would think a .357 would be just peachy.

 

[MrBorland]

I don't hunt, but I've always been under the impression that yotes are fairly leery and cautious and that shooting them is generally a long-range proposition. Would a .357, even fired from a rifle, have enough range? Not energy-wise, but maybe too much drop or not enough accuracy at long range? Just curious.

 

[JesseL]

I regularly hear about guys hunting coyotes using shotguns shoot 00-000 buckshot. Apparently it's not uncommon to call them in pretty close.

 

[TimboKhan]

You can call them in very, very close. Actually, if your not careful, you can call them in too close!

 

[jcord]

I use a 357 for deer all the time either from a timberwolf carbine or a 6 inch taurus. I use it for home defense in my speed six. Perfect balance of power in my opinion. Of course my walking around gun is a bodyguard.

 

[ATW525]

In .44 Magnum don't forget about the Gold Dot Short Barrel Personal Protection loading that will give .45 ACP +P like performance for self defense. It's a very nice shooting load.