Is there a load that I can shoot deer w/ my SP101?

[TonyB]

I want to go deer hunting this fall...like a dope I sold my GP100.My only revolver is my Sp101(357).Is there a load that I can get that's powerfull enough out of my 2.25in barrel to take a deer??
I can shoot this gun as accurate as any 4 in. I've ever shot,so I'm not too worried about a bad shot,just worried if I'd put him down w/ that shot.Thanks

 

[Majic]

Some state laws require a certain muzzle energy level from handguns to be legal to hunt with. 357s generally fall at the minimum of this level. If this law is in effect in your state will a snubby generate enough energy to surpass this level?

 

[Hutch]

Man, oh man, that's pretty ambitiious.. If it were an absolute requirement to try to take a deer with a 2.25inch bbl .357, I'd lean toward the heavy bullets, just to hope I'd get a thru-'n-thru shot for good blood trail. It's just not in me to try to hit 6-8" target with such a platform as you're describing at anything greater than single-digit yardage. But that's just me

 

[TonyB]

Not really a requirement,just wondering if it's possible.....or should I just scap the idea and....
1)buy a new gun........s/w mountain gun in 44
2)use my 16ga shotgun
3)sleep late,go to store ,buy steaks and cook on the grill.....
although I'd love to be able to say I got a deer w/ my snubby.......now that I think about it I could SAY it anyway........but if I actually did it I'd have witnesses.......

 

[Elkslayer]

I would think most any .357 load would work.

Just put the barrel in the deer's ear and pull the trigger.

 

[Shane]

Thats NOT a good idea IMO.

1. The 2.25" barrell is not efficient at burning powder and a lot of the extra magnum punch will be wasted as the powder is not burnt efficiently. This will cause poor velocity and energy for a given load (when compared to using the same load in a 4" or greater barrel). FWIW, I wouldn't use anything under 6" (barrel) on deer sized animals.

2. Deer require a 180 grain bullet or larger in .357 magnum for the most humane kill. The 180 grain bullets are pretty much designed for 4" or greater barrels.....its simply not going to work well out of a snubby barrel IMO.

3. RECOIL. Have you fired a 180 grain (Cor Bon Hunting Load) or the 200 grain (Cor Bon Black Bear/Penetrator) .357 magnum loads out of a small framed .357 magnum?? The most I've fired out of my 2.25" SP 101 is a .357 magnum 158 grain bullet, and that hurt like a son of a gun. I can't imagine firing a HUNTING load in the 180 to 200 grain range out of a snubby--recoil would be sharp!

I've used the 180 grain and 200 grain Cor Bon loads in a medium frame revolver (GP 100). In a medium frame revolver like the GP 100 OTOH, the 158 grain loads are mild IMO, and the 180-200 grain Cor Bon loads are slightly sharp but within the comfortable threshold.

All of this is of course just IMO. YMMV

 

[RandyB]

In Indiana a .357 mag. is legal, but you must use a handgun with at least a 4 inch barrel. If I wanted to hunt deer with the list provided, I'd get some slugs for the 16 ga. and practice.

 

[Jim March]

Not legally or morally you can't.

In a survival situation? The Cor-Bon 125 combat JHPs seem to produce the best energy numbers in short tubes. Somebody tested some in a 3" SP101 at over 1,400fps, closer to 1,450 I think. So you should get over 1,350.

Will that kill a deer?

Eventually, yes .

Get thee a 6" barrel GP100.

 

[TonyB]

Never mind.........
I appreciate the responses........I'll forget the idea...the last thing I want to do is WOUND a deer.....bad for him,and I don't want ot be chasing him all day.
I think I'll get some slugs.......
As you can prbably tell by my question,my hunting expeirence is very limited.Like small game and such.It's great to have a forum like this to ask dumb questions.
Jim: the GP I sold was a 6"(I am a dufus)...at that time I was sooo into IDPA that I could never see the need for a 6" revolver...........live and learn..
anyway thanks for the responses..........can anyone suggest a book or web site on deer hunting?????to prevent dumb questions!!!

 

[444]

My .02 cents. It is possible. If you knew your limitations, stuck to them strictly, and you were hunting in suitable terrain, it could be done. I have shot deer that were less than 10 yards away and had many more at that distance or closer. I have been in full cammo, sitting in a ground depression and had deer walk by me that I probably could have touched.

Every monster load I ever came up with was tested in my SP101 just for the heck of it. I personally didn't think any of them were real bad. I wouldn't want to go out plinking with these loads, but firing six of them over the chrono was tolorable.

Personally, I wouldn't consider hunting deer with my SP101. I might however carry it and if the perfect close range shot presented itself, I might attempt to draw the SP101.

 

[ACP230]

If I had to hunt deer with a .357 I'd probably use my Ruger Blackhawk before any shorter handgun.

On the question of reading material on deer hunting there are over 300 books on the topic listed on Amazon.com. The public library in your area probably has a few also.

A book I liked is Shots At Whitetails by Lawrence R. Koller. It is out of print, but might turn up with some looking.

Francis E. Sell wrote some good stuff on deer hunting. I have one of his books here but can't lay hands on it. Sell wrote quite a bit for Gun Digest and back issues may offer some good advice on deer hunting too.

On the newstand look for Deer and Deer Hunting Magazine. Some pretty savvy people write for it.

I killed a nice three point with my Winchester Model 12 in 16 gauge years ago.

HTH.

 

[MCNETT]

A 2.25" bbl .357 would not be my first choice for deer, but I think that with a 180gr hardcast handload you would be fine IF YOU CAN HIT IT!
15.5gr H110 under Cast Performance 180gr WFN gets 1170fps from my SP-101
-Mike

 

[mtnbkr]

15.5gr H110 under Cast Performance 180gr WFN gets 1170fps from my SP-101

That's roughly the same load I use in my 4" Gp100. It's snappy in that gun. I imagine it's downright painful in an SP101.

Chris

 

[EJ]

First-- Legally --
Bbl length is probably a problem--
Wisc is four inch as well --thouigh it is measured from firing pin so a 3" mdl 27 is ok but not a 2 or 2&1/4"
Wisc-- any7 357 load is legal--

Morally --

YES---
ANY 357 LOAD IS BETTER THAN ANY BOW AND ARROW--

Give me a break--

unless you guys feel bow hunting is immoral--
myself I'm not so sure---either way

 

[Tamara]

Just the thought of firing a GA Arms Deerstopper out of an SP101 makes my wrist hurt.