Handgun hunting

[GatorHunter]

Just curious who hunts with handguns and what people prefer. I have a Glock 40 10mm and I have been practicing at different ranges. I have been hunting for years and always wanted to try handgun hunting. My next choice is going to be a new revolver. I’m looking at 41 magnums and 460 s&w magnums. Gotta save up and pick one

 

[GatorHunter]

Here’s my Glock 40 with vortex venom red dot. So far I’m shooting out to 40 yards on my 8” steel plates

 

[Armored farmer]

Handgun hunting is a liberating experience after years of toting a long gun. Having free hands for binos and other gear is addictive.
This is my deer hunting gun. .45colt blackhawk 7½".

I treat handgun hunting very similar to bow hunting range wise.

 

[Ru4real]

I handgun hunt using 45 Colt for deer and elk in the timber. I’ve come to learn that handgun hunting is more similar to archery than it is to rifle hunting.

Focus on loads, calibers and bullet construction that punches through the animal.

 

[black mamba]

I've taken six whitetails with handguns, using revolvers and one with a T/C Encore. There's no fun like getting close!

 

[GatorHunter]

That’s the way I was looking at it. I have a spot on our property that has a longest shot of 45 yards. When the deer come through the can get within 15 yards of my blind. I really like the 460 because I can use 45 colt on up. But I have ammo and components for the 41 magnum.

 

[Larry in wyoming]

I handgun hunt using 45 Colt for deer and elk in the timber. I’ve come to learn that handgun hunting is more similar to archery than it is to rifle hunting.

Focus on loads, calibers and bullet construction that punches through the animal.

Ru4real, what bullet do you use? Your load is similar to mine 18gr of 2400 under a 285gr RNFP cast from straight wheel weights

 

[.38 Special]

I started with five-shot .45 Colt on a Ruger Bisley, back when that was cutting edge. It got stolen decades ago so I then tried .44 Magnum and 500 S&W, and ended with .44 Special. ( I've pretty much gone over to the longbow for hunting these days.)

Those cartridges all work, though the bigger ones kick more than necessary. I personally have had great luck with cast bullets, most often the LBT shapes.

 

[Ru4real]

Ru4real, what bullet do you use? Your load is similar to mine 18gr of 2400 under a 285gr RNFP cast from straight wheel weights

That sounds like a good load. For the photo, that was 335 gr Cast Perf WFN GC 15 BHN 1.57 +/- 0.01" OAL shot out of the Ruger.

Currently I’m using 325gr Missouri Bullet Company Coated Slammer 18 BHN 1.65 +/- 0.01" with 20gr of H110 or W296 for 3 reasons. Cost is way less, I’m using hard to get 2400 for 357, and the H110 recoil is less snappy which is better for the S&W.

I agree with @.38 Special and @black mamba (shown in his photo) that LBT bullets with a wide, flat, front nose work best.

 

[GatorHunter]

I started with five-shot .45 Colt on a Ruger Bisley, back when that was cutting edge. It got stolen decades ago so I then tried .44 Magnum and 500 S&W, and ended with .44 Special. ( I've pretty much gone over to the longbow for hunting these days.)

Those cartridges all work, though the bigger ones kick more than necessary. I personally have had great luck with cast bullets, most often the LBT shapes.

I love shooting cast. I have molds for just about every gun I could ever want.

 

[GatorHunter]

That sounds like a good load. For the photo, that was 335 gr Cast Perf WFN GC 15 BHN 1.57 +/- 0.01" OAL shot out of the Ruger.

Currently I’m using 325gr Missouri Bullet Company Coated Slammer 18 BHN 1.65 +/- 0.01" with 20gr of H110 or W296 for 3 reasons. Cost is way less, I’m using hard to get 2400 for 357, and the H110 recoil is less snappy which is better for the S&W.

I agree with @.38 Special and @black mamba (shown in his photo) that LBT bullets with a wide, flat, front nose work best.

that’s the same bullet profile I use for everything. My Rossi 92 in 357 loves a nose that is barely smaller than a Wadcutter

 

[GunnyUSMC]

Years ago hunting tree rats with a rifle got to be to easy so, I bought a Ruger MKII with a 10” barrel. That’s when hunting tree rats became fun again.

 

[GatorHunter]

Years ago hunting tree rats with a rifle got to be to easy so, I bought a Ruger MKII with a 10” barrel. That’s when hunting tree rats became fun again.
View attachment 1057456

now that I have done. I had a ruger lite I picked off squirrels and rabbits with

 

[buck460XVR]

I’ve come to learn that handgun hunting is more similar to archery than it is to rifle hunting.

^^^This. I haven't carried a long gun during the regular gun deer season here in Wisconsin for almost 2 decades. While my success rate has dropped dramatically, the quality of my hunts has increased in the same fashion. With the long seasons and liberal tags given out in my area, it has come down to challenging one's self and not always going home with something in the bed of the truck. Many folks believe they are handgun hunters because they carry a handgun in a holster while carrying their long gun. It ain't till you leave the rifle back at the cabin, that you truly are handgun hunting. Hard for many of us to imagine loosing the chance at a buck of a lifetime, who would be an easy kill with a rifle, because we are stuck to shooting 30-80 yards or less(depending on caliber). But this is what makes handgun hunting. Like with archery, Handgun hunting is a commitment. It takes a lot of practice and self control. It is not for everyone.

I really like the 460 because I can use 45 colt on up.

If you are going to shoot .45 Colt, I suggest you just get a .45 Colt. If you are going to get a .460, you need to reload for it. Loading .460 brass down is better all around than switching calibers. Just because one has a .460, does not mean they need to shoot wrist breaking ammo to put down whitetail deer. My hunting loads in my .460 are well below max, because very few of my shots are over 100 yards. The main reason I like the .460 is not just because of it's increased range, but because exact range is not as important, because of minimal bullet drop at those ranges. Unlike when using my .357s or .44s.

 

[GatorHunter]

I have been looking at light loads for the 460. I’m going to do a lot of testing if I get one

 

[Patocazador]

I like the Remington XP-100 for deer. This is my favorite, a .250 Savage repeater. It has killed 18 deer.

 

[Fyrstyk]

I have hunted deer and small game with a handgun for many years. For deer I prefer my FA 353 with 180 grain bullets, but for the last 5 years I have moved on to a T/C contender in either 30-30, 357 SM or 375 Win. I find it to be like hunting with my muzzle loaders. Only have the one shot so you have to make it a good one.

 

[35 Whelen]

I did for several years, but now it seems I'm always short of time to get meat in the freezer, so I wind up using a rifle.

These threads always have recommendations for gigantic handgun cartridges throwing 300+ gr bullets 1200+ fps in order to kill a deer or hog that weighs 150 lbs., at most. Seems silly to me. I've killed several head of deer and hogs with handguns and with a single exception, the highest velocity bullet has been 1000 fps or less, and almost all of the game has been killed with home cast, non-expanding SWC's. I've found that a .44 or .45 caliber SWC running <1000 fps can still easily make hits at 75 yds. and less. My recommendation is either a .44 Special or a 45 Colt with a SWC weighing 250-290 grs. The last buck I shot a couple of seasons ago was with a Uberti 4 3/4" 45 Colt loaded with a 288 gr. SWC running 988 fps. The buck was 41 yds. distance and ran maybe 25 yds. after being hit.



Lest ye think a .45 caliber SWC lumbering along at 950 fps won't do much damage, I submit this said bucks lungs. Note the bloodshot tissue around the bullet hole-



Regardless of what you choose, the important thing is practice, practice, practice. Shooting a longarm and even a bow is easy, but shooting a handgun accurately at hunting ranges requires commitment.

35W

 

[courtgreene]

I have wanted to leave the rifle home for several years now (five actually),
. I got a .41 mag Blackhawk, put a scope on it, and between seasons I practice like crazy to be sure I can hit them well at fifty yards. Then I doubt myself and bring the rifle anyway. Hit repeat.

 

[GatorHunter]

I did for several years, but now it seems I'm always short of time to get meat in the freezer, so I wind up using a rifle.

These threads always have recommendations for gigantic handgun cartridges throwing 300+ gr bullets 1200+ fps in order to kill a deer or hog that weighs 150 lbs., at most. Seems silly to me. I've killed several head of deer and hogs with handguns and with a single exception, the highest velocity bullet has been 1000 fps or less, and almost all of the game has been killed with home cast, non-expanding SWC's. I've found that a .44 or .45 caliber SWC running <1000 fps can still easily make hits at 75 yds. and less. My recommendation is either a .44 Special or a 45 Colt with a SWC weighing 250-290 grs. The last buck I shot a couple of seasons ago was with a Uberti 4 3/4" 45 Colt loaded with a 288 gr. SWC running 988 fps. The buck was 41 yds. distance and ran maybe 25 yds. after being hit.

View attachment 1057561

Lest ye think a .45 caliber SWC lumbering along at 950 fps won't do much damage, I submit this said bucks lungs. Note the bloodshot tissue around the bullet hole-

View attachment 1057562

Regardless of what you choose, the important thing is practice, practice, practice. Shooting a longarm and even a bow is easy, but shooting a handgun accurately at hunting ranges requires commitment.

35W

i will say in that note, my friend took a 6 point 2 years ago with my 9mm carbine. He loaded some 140gr cast and they chronographed at 1450. Nothing too hot. He took a shot at 55 yards and got a heart shot. Deer never took another step

 

[jmorris]

My order is generally an XP-100, Contender, 44 magnum or 357 magnum revolver, all with optics and generally in that order if I don’t know the exact circumstances I may face.

 

[new57]

The .41 magnum is an excellent cartridge for hunting deer. It offers more than enough power to drop a deer where it stands if you place your shot on point. The .41 can be tamed down or tuned hot and recoil varies as such but never is unbearable.

You know my vote - grab a .41 wheel gun and start training.

 

[1976B.L.Johns.]

you are going to shoot .45 Colt, I suggest you just get a .45 Colt. If you are going to get a .460, you need to reload for it. Loading .460 brass down is better all around than switching calibers. Just because one has a .460, does not mean they need to shoot wrist breaking ammo to put down whitetail deer. My hunting loads in my .460 are well below max, because very few of my shots are over 100 yards. The main reason I like the .460 is not just because of it's increased range, but because exact range is not as important, because of minimal bullet drop at those ranges. Unlike when using my .357s or .44s.

Yup.

 

[GatorHunter]

Maybe I just need both the 460 and a 41 mag

 

[new57]

Maybe I just need both the 460 and a 41 mag

Maybe.

Disposable income / resources allow, go for it! But in my opinion the 460 is even more limited in availability of ammunition and instruments than the 41.

I have never shot the 460 so no first hand knowledge but I wonder about recoil / muzzle flip, and then anticipation of those when taking a shot for hunting (and if that could negatively affect shot placement).