This is the first year I have hunted with a handgun. I am using a Ruger Redhawk 44 Magnum with a 7 1/2" barrel. A little before 8 AM, Saturday morning, a little 6 point buck came through where I was, trailing a doe. He wasn't paying much attention to anything except where that doe had stepped. I grunted at him and he came a little in my direction. The Redhawk did it's thing and I had my first deer with a handgun. It was about 65 steps with open sights. He wasn't as big a deer as I have taken before, but I was sure proud of him. (He sure does taste good.)
First deer taken with a handgun
- Thread starter DynaBMan
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Greybeard
Member
"65 steps with open sights"
If ya hit it where intended with one shot, that's a "fur piece" with a handgun. Congrats.
If ya hit it where intended with one shot, that's a "fur piece" with a handgun. Congrats.
I hit it a bit further back than I intended because I didn't realize he was quartering to me a little. But yes, I did hit him pretty much where I intended. I was using a 240 XTP bullet and it shoots pretty straight out of my Redhawk.
No pictures. I didn't have my camera and he really wasn't very big. But like I said, he sure is tasty.
1911 guy
Member
Good shooting with a handgun.
Nice to get you first, isn't it? I've got deer with rifle, shotgun and black powder rifle, but not with a handgun. Tried a few times, but the years I took my .357 I didn't see deer.
Nice to get you first, isn't it? I've got deer with rifle, shotgun and black powder rifle, but not with a handgun. Tried a few times, but the years I took my .357 I didn't see deer.
El Tejon
Member
Nice shot!
MCgunner
Member
Hey, it don't matter how big he was, we like pictures! Great shootin'! I love hunting with a handgun. No matter the size of the deer, it's such a feeling of accomplishment when you get one. I cheat, though, with a 2x scope on my contender. My eyes have never been that great anyway and now that I wear bifocals, I feel I owe it to the game not to try a long shot with irons. I still hit pretty well at the range with irons, but it's getting difficult.
I'm putting a venison roast in the dutch oven today. Can't eat the horns!
My eyes have never been that great anyway and now that I wear bifocals, I feel I owe it to the game not to try a long shot with irons. I still hit pretty well at the range with irons, but it's getting difficult.I'm putting a venison roast in the dutch oven today.
Can't eat the horns!cottonmouth
Member
My first too!
O.K. if it doesn't matter how big he was I'll show my first pistol kill I guess. (no laughing now!) I normally would not have shot one this small but I have had this pistol for a few years now and this is the first good chance I have had to kill one with it. Little feller came out at about 40 yards broad side and I let him have it with a 300 grain Sierra soft point, little feller still ran 10 or 15 yards.
O.K. if it doesn't matter how big he was I'll show my first pistol kill I guess. (no laughing now!) I normally would not have shot one this small but I have had this pistol for a few years now and this is the first good chance I have had to kill one with it. Little feller came out at about 40 yards broad side and I let him have it with a 300 grain Sierra soft point, little feller still ran 10 or 15 yards.
MCgunner
Member
Hey, that's a pretty normal buck where I hunt. LOL Of course, I couldn't care less about horns. I'm after the experience of hunting first and foremost and I appreciate the good protein I get from a good meal. So what we don't have no braggin' bucks on my place? It's huntin'.
I do envy the guys up in Virginia and such places with public hunting areas with real trophies, just ain't the case down here. That's one reason to use a pistol, to put some challenge in it.
I shot a spike this year with my pistol and was danged proud of it. LOL I do think it wouldn't take a 300 grain .44 to bring down that buck, but hey, good shot! I've been tempted to try my 4 5/8" .45 colt in my "pistol stand". I've got two bucks already, need to pick on does unless a really big one comes out. That .45 is friggin' accurate with 300 grain Hornady XTPs and hits hard. I haven't shot any game with it, though. I need to fix that. It's iron sighted, so I reckon I should keep my shots to 50 yards or in with it, though I can hit a hundred yard target at the range with it consistently into about 5". The one I killed earlier this season was at about 80 yards. I'm not sure I wanna try that with an iron sighted 4 5/8" Ruger. I feel much happier 50 yards and in.
So what we don't have no braggin' bucks on my place? It's huntin'. I do envy the guys up in Virginia and such places with public hunting areas with real trophies, just ain't the case down here. That's one reason to use a pistol, to put some challenge in it.
I shot a spike this year with my pistol and was danged proud of it. LOL I do think it wouldn't take a 300 grain .44 to bring down that buck, but hey, good shot!
I've been tempted to try my 4 5/8" .45 colt in my "pistol stand". I've got two bucks already, need to pick on does unless a really big one comes out. That .45 is friggin' accurate with 300 grain Hornady XTPs and hits hard. I haven't shot any game with it, though. I need to fix that. It's iron sighted, so I reckon I should keep my shots to 50 yards or in with it, though I can hit a hundred yard target at the range with it consistently into about 5". The one I killed earlier this season was at about 80 yards. I'm not sure I wanna try that with an iron sighted 4 5/8" Ruger. I feel much happier 50 yards and in.critter
Member
I, too, shot a 6 point at about 65 yds this year, but with a scoped Ruger SS Hunter model .44 mag. I used a handload with a 240 gr Rem JHP over a good charge of H110 (which shoots really well in my gun.)
I have taken about 8 deer over the years with handguns. I REALLY love hunting with one. Some have been with a Redhawk .44 and others with a TC super 14" in 30-30.
For me, there is nothing like handgun hunting although I do not hunt that way exclusively.
TRY IT-YOU'LL LIKE IT!
BTW, congratulations!
I have taken about 8 deer over the years with handguns. I REALLY love hunting with one. Some have been with a Redhawk .44 and others with a TC super 14" in 30-30.
For me, there is nothing like handgun hunting although I do not hunt that way exclusively.
TRY IT-YOU'LL LIKE IT!
BTW, congratulations!
mjb
Member.
My first deer was shot with a Colt New Service .45 Long Colt with an 8 inch barrel in 1999.
Congradulations!
Congradulations!
skwerl
Member
My first buck/deer with a pistol. I bought this gun less than ten days before I shot this one. I sat there for three days and nights, but it was worth it. He ran about 50 ft after I shot 'im.
As you can see from the exit wound I was high up in the tree, and he wasn't too far off from center under me when I took the shot. I was shakin' like all get out!
As you can see from the exit wound I was high up in the tree, and he wasn't too far off from center under me when I took the shot. I was shakin' like all get out!
geo57
Member
Good job all you pistoleros . I've taken a buck and doe with Ruger .44 mags. It makes for a memorable hunt.
22-rimfire
Member
Congratulations to the handgun deer hunters!! I am hoping to get my second buck this year with a handgun. I'm not even taking the rifle out. If I score-great; if not, I tried.
Congratulations on your first deer kills with a hand gun. It is those first kills that we remember most fondly. My first large game kill with a hand gun ( Colt Python 240 gr HP) was a 6-1/2' black bear during archery season. I had just went about 150 yards from the vehicle when I realized I left my bull call in my fanny pack so stopped and dropped my gear belt so could get to my calls. Once I got the calls I gave a calf call while I was closing up my fanny pack and putting my gear belt when I caught movement to my left. It was a back bear moving in on a fast trot. By the time I pulled the gun he was within 40 yards coming straight in. I aimed at his chest, he dropped like a rock tried to get up once but collapsed. Evidently he dropped his head when I fired because I caught him in the nose two inches up from his left nostril. The bullet entered his mouth through the neck and into his chest destroying his heart and left lung. Unfortunately I have only one picture and it is not very good.
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Well at least you can brag that you CAN shoot a moving bear at 40 yards in the nose.
With a revolver.
Cottonmouth... aren't you supposed to gut and bleed the deer before you put it in the truck?
Nice shooting folks!
With a revolver.
Cottonmouth... aren't you supposed to gut and bleed the deer before you put it in the truck?
Nice shooting folks!
MCgunner
Member
I'm gonna tote my .357 blackhawk in the morning. I've already got venison thanks to my Contender and my Remington .308. I'm hopin' to fill a doe tag next.
I'm hopin' to fill a doe tag next.
Gordon
Member
Where do you get those bullets?
"Colt Python 240 gr HP"
"Colt Python 240 gr HP"
cottonmouth
Member
Gut and bleed........
Dr. Rob, I never gut the deer I kill unless I'll be draging him a long way or it will be a while before I can clean him. And as far as the blood it washes out with a water hose. Do you have laws where you live about this? Here in Mississippi we just load 'em up and haul 'em home!
J.B.
Dr. Rob, I never gut the deer I kill unless I'll be draging him a long way or it will be a while before I can clean him. And as far as the blood it washes out with a water hose. Do you have laws where you live about this? Here in Mississippi we just load 'em up and haul 'em home!
J.B.
MCgunner
Member
Yeah, wondered that myself, but didn't say anything.
I'm thinking it's an Anaconda?Sorry it was late when I sent the post and I didn't proof it very well. Yes it is a 44 mag Colt Anaconda not a 357 mag Python and the reason everyone is confused about the bullet. The load I am using is a 240 gr Remington JHP with 23.4 gr of H110. Sorry about the confusion.
Legionnaire
Contributing Member
Congratulations! I've taken a couple of deer with a Ruger SRH. It's a thrill to be sure. Well done!
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