Deer hunting with pistol

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Next year i want to deer hunt with a pistol. I'm looking for some advice mostly on what type of scope to use on a wheel gun without getting too deep in the pocket.
I have a .357 ( Colt King Cobra ) that should suffice, but I could be compelled into buying something bigger if I have to. ;)
 
still hunt, with open sites... I double dog dare you......

Make sure and have a good holster so you have both hands free. I tell you its a blast! Kill or not you will have a good time.

This year during gun season, I hunted with a .357 Max. Ruger Blackhawk
7&1/2 with Win. Super Xs( silver bullets ). No kill, though I saw more deer/
wildlife (and the biggest buck in my days so far; the biggest live 6 pointer anyhow) than ever did sitting in my climber with a compound here in the
Post Oak Savannah of TX.

regards

mc
 
Personally I would never recommend a 357. A 44mag is about twice as effective. Whatevr you use find an accurate load and PRACTICE, PRACTICE . Bullet placement is the most important thing.
 
The consensus for use of the .357 is heavy bullets. Lead bullets with large meplats are considered the most effective. The caveat of the .357 vs. the .44 is to carefully judge your effective range, commonly considered to be within some 50 yards.

Art
 
I used a Ruger GP100 in .357 with a 180gr Hornady XTP handload on a hog recently. PLENTY of penetration and good expansion. It WILL penetrate deer, no doubt, but I'm not sure of the expansion at long(?) range---whatever that might be for a .357. I'd keep it UP CLOSE and personal.
 
I have several friends who use .44 maggies with red dots on top. One of them has made several spectacular long shots on Whitetails (that I personally wouldn't attempt). Put one on, and practice, practice, practice.
 
Pistols are great

I'm hunting with a .44MAG Super Redhawk and love it. I carry it in an Uncle Mike's bandolier under my left arm - hands free! I went cheap on the scope and put a 1X Tasco on it. DO NOT do this. Although the scope works just fine the 1X is just not enough, even on a 50 yard shot. I plan on setting it up with a 4X or a variable next year.

I've learned not to carry the .44 when I carry a long gun. Every time I have, I've (as luck would have it) been presented with a nice pistol shot and used the long gun. Leave the long gun home.

This year I wasn't given an opportunity at a pistol shot until it was illegal to use. Three days into the muzzle loader (inlines like mine welcome) only season I walked up on a bedded buck. I shot him at just under 50 yards with the ML.

Go figure. NYS law says that after the "regular" season I can use a "primitive" ML able to take a deer at over 200 yards, but not my 50 yard pistol. I guess as long as I get to hunt another week I won't gripe too much.
 
i've been filling the freezer for the last few years with a t/c contender w/10" 44 mag bbl. I use handloaded 240 gr. xtp w/a large dose of h110. got a doe this year at 80 yards (good rest & alot of practice). scope is a fixed leupold 4x.
 
I use 44mag myself have used a scope a red dot this year i just bought a set of sites from oneragged hole to try out
 
FWIW: My 357 stays warm during deer gun season. I use a 44 S&W carried in a shoulder holster. But, since you only have a 357 you should probably use a hard cast bullet. Might even have to cut back on your shooting (clean kill) distance. You've heard it before and will hear it more, practice and shot placement is really important.
 
A 357 Maximum is plenty for deer. .44 Mag is likely better. Both are legal for big game here, the 357 magnum is not. I've drawn my 44 a time or two when presented with heavy brush, dark timber and bedded animals.

Dad uses a 44 SBH Hunter with a Leupold 2x pistol scope, though in my experience.. its really tough to use a scoped handgun in a hurry.

I may try carrying the Dan Wesson 357 max loaded with 180 gr soft points next year.
 
Like my uncle says, when hunting with a handgun and you think you're close enough get about 15 yards closer, and when you think you're too close take a few more steps :D
 
Many reckon .357 is fine .. I disagree. I would start .44 mag and up .... overkill way outperforms what might be marginal.

I started Buck week taking out my .454 Casull raging Bull ... which has a Bushnell scope ....


rage_bull_02_s.jpg


Sorry about the rather strong red hue!


The week collapsed due to flu in the family ... great timing!

The other ''tool'' I would consider and maybe will take out next time is the SRH in .454 ...... using from choice the Hornady 300 grain XTP loads ... 1800 ft lbs available here and .... I would not extend my range beyond 100 yds ... 50 -70 being preferable.

I am a ''one shot kill'' person .. if presentation, range etc are not right - I will not take the shot. SRH wears a Millet red dot.



srh_02_s.jpg
 
I've used a .357 with no problem - after all, archers have been successfully hunting deer (and larger game) for thousands of years with what amounts to a pointy stick, so a modern Magnum will do. Just pick a good bullet, and remember that shot placement is CRITICAL.

For those who recommend a .44 or a .454 . . . sure, why not? Both if these WILL hit harder than a .357, and shot placement isn't QUITE as critical. But you still can't affort to get sloppy with your hits.

Oh, yes, the original question was type of 'scope? It depends where you'll be hunting. I like the Leupold M8 2x. Higher power 'scopes are fine for target work, or if you're in relatively open country, but if you're in rather brushy country, going above 2x tends to reduce the field of view too much.

One of the "red dot" scopes might be OK, too, but being a firm believer in Murphy's Law, I haven't learned to trust batteries in the field yet.
 
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