Hunting Handgun: Ammo and Optics Questions

[Taurus44]

I recently purchased a Taurus Model 44 (.44 REM MAG, 6.5" ported barrel) to use for the 2006 Ohio deer season, and I have a few questions...

I've been researching factory ammo to use on deer-sized game, and I think I've pretty much decided on CCI/Speer Gold Dot 210gr loads (as long as they shoot well in my gun). I want to keep bullet weight down and velocity up, so I'm wanting to stay under 240gr for bullet weight.

My question is this: How do I determine the correct range to sight-in my gun? I'm finding good info on velocity and energy for factory ammo, but how do I figure trajectory. I need to figure out my maximum responsible range for hunting deer with this gun (with a 6-8" vital zone). Is my best bet to just chrono the loads in my gun and plug the numbers into a reloading/ballistics program to find my "point-blank" range?

That brings me to question number two: What type of optics would you recommend? My eyes are pretty bad, and I have problems with open sights even with my glasses... I wouldn't even consider hunting without some sort of optics.

I've been researching scopes, holo-sights and red-dot sights and I'm having problems deciding. I need something that will hold-up to the recoil of the .44 MAG, but magnification isn't really a concern at handgun ranges. I also don't want a huge dot that covers half of my target either.

As a brand new handgun hunter, I appreciate any help you can give.

 

[birddog]

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=114110

Here's a post about my first handgun buck -- with the same Taurus M-44. Great gun. You'll love it.

My advice would be to practice to proficiency at about 50 yards. It's nice to know what the gun does further downrange in case such a shot presents itself, but in my area 50 yards is a good starting point.

As for sights, I have a red-dot on the M-44, and open sights on my Super Blackhawk. Although my rifles are scoped, I could not get used to a scope on my handguns. They take a lot of getting used to, and are nowhere near as user-friendly as rifle scopes. I like the zero-magnification red-dots. Instant target aquisition, no messing around. I'd recommend one like the Aimpoint II or the Bushnell Trophy. I have both and they both work well. The Bushnell has the added benefit of different size / type dots that give you a little more flexibility in different lighting situations.

I don't have any holo-sites, but a friend had one on his 629, and it was nice for target work. It did have a downside in bright sunlight though. Without a tube to shade the "dot", it was often difficult to pick up the reticle in bright conditions. He abandoned the sight and went back to iron-sights before hunting season.

Hope this helps & good luck.

 

[Majic]

Rather than figuring the ballistics of any load you need to learn your personal skill. After you have mounted the optics of your desire take paper plates for targets and shoot them at increasing distances until you can no longer keep all 6 shots on the plate. Make sure you use all shooting situations (standing, sitting, kneeling, using a rest, and unsupported) that you may encounter on a hunt. When you can keep all 6 rounds on target with the various shooting positions then you will know YOUR maximum distance to take the shot.

 

[azredhawk44]

My friend put a burris scope on his Dan Wesson 357 in preparation for javelina season a year and a half ago.

Even after a couple hundred rounds of practice, he shot better at 50 yards with iron sights than with the scope.

He took it back off. It was the weight that bugged him.

 

[unspellable]

scopes

I like a 2x scope when I scope a revolver. I had a red dot type sight but it did not prove to be reliable.

 

[Taurus44]

Rather than figuring the ballistics of any load you need to learn your personal skill.

25 years of hunting and shooting has taught me that. What I want to do is determine my maximum point-blank range and recommended sight-in range for the load I choose first. Then I will shoot the hell out of it from all ranges in all positions until I know my own limits.

For instance...

With my slug gun, shooting the new Hornady SST Sabot Slugs, I can zero the gun at 150 yards (2.5" high at 50 yards) and know that from 0-175 yards, I will never be more than 3" high or low of my gun's zero. Personally, I would never shoot a deer more than 125 yards out because I know my limits. But, if I misjudge the distance by a few yards (or 10), I know at least that my gun will be where it needs to be.

Does that make sense?

 

[Sergeant Sabre]

If you have eyesight trouble, make sure you take a look through a red-dot sight before you decide to buy one. I have about 20/50 uncorrected vision in my right eye and any time I look at a red-dot sight without my contact lenses in it looks more like a "red-smudge" sight. The dot is extremely fuzzy. I dunno why.