OK you hunters,,,What size handgun do you use to hunt with?

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Max,,,,I ordered the "Hunting Revolvers" book as soon as I saw the link to it!! It will be here tomorrow.
Really liked the "Big Bore Revolvers" book! Ive been telling every body about it that's into hand gun hunting.
 
.In the past, S&W 44 Mag, 245gr Keith SWC for big critters, Colt Woodsman with either .22lr Winchester Super X or CCI Minimag hollow points for small critters.
Until 2017. I've yet to find a CA mandated nontoxic load I like so my handgun hunting days are probably over.
 
CraigC said:
So you posted in a handgun hunting discussion just to let us all know that you're not interested in handgun hunting???
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Unless this forum is your personal bully pulpit as your repeated negative comments indicate, Have at it.
I made a comment on the subject as this is an open forum. You for some reason or another can`t seem to let it go. Keep picking at the scab. For what purpose I have no idea.
As to your partial comment," just to let us ALL know..........." You must have a mouse in your pocket as your the only one that seems to have a problem with my comment. All though one other asked a civil question.
So to avoid further inter action .......... Your going on the list.
 
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HamSlamma said:
Max,,,,I ordered the "Hunting Revolvers" book as soon as I saw the link to it!! It will be here tomorrow.
Really liked the "Big Bore Revolvers" book! Ive been telling every body about it that's into hand gun hunting.
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Thank you again, it's much appreciated!
 
I have a .45 Colt Blackhawk. I didn't really want it for a hunting revolver, but it could be used for that. It's very accurate even with a 4 5/8" barrel. It works very well with a 300 grain Hornady XTP and Li'l Gun to push it. It's kinda rough on the old shooting hand, but that comes with the territory. :D Actually, I mostly shoot milder 255 grain flat points over Unique just to kill steel gongs with. :D

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I have taken several deer with 6 inch Smith (or Taurus when its wet outside) in .357 and have been happy with the results. A while back I picked up a 7.5 inch Blackhawk in .45 Colt and that is this years sidearm. I typically use a rifle but as I get older it is nice to be able to have a revolver in a holster and have both hands free as Armored Farmer pointed out. I usually have a revolver with me as I work around the farm and have not felt under-powered with the .357, but the Blackhawk was just there and I could see it needed a good home...
 
The Blackhawk in my avatar has been my favorite all around hand gun for more than 20 years.I also own a 454 BFR thats just a hair bigger thats beginning to be carried more often as I get better at hand loads,but better loads make the little 45 blackhawk a better hunting hand gun too.This year I might carry a Coonan Clasic on days I’m not sure I will get a chance to hunt its a conceiled carry gun that also hunts.
The 45 with good bullits will take any game from rabbits to bear,The 454 gives a little more distance and a 357mag works too.Any body tried 180 or 200 grain bullits in 357?
 
MTNSTRYDER said:
Any body tried 180 or 200 grain bullits in 357?
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.357mag doesn't have the capacity to run the 200's hard enough to really be worth the weight. 180's run OK, but it's still begging for powder capacity, even if you taper crimp and seat them long. I used 180's and heavier in .357maximum, and I'm shooting almost exclusively 180 Speer HotCor's (rifle bullet) in my 357/44 B&D, but I don' t mess with over 158/160 in the .357mag case, it just doesn't pay back going over 180.
 
I've been a handgun hunter for 30 years. If I'm going after deer or bear I use 44mag. S&W model 29 or Ruger Super Blackhawk. When I'm coyote hunting I carry a 357 mag with 125gr hollow points. If I'm squirrel/rabbit hunting I carry Ruger single six 22 caliber.
 
Thanks. You saved me the money and time.I was pretty sure 357 was at it’s best at 158 gr.
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I worked up a 180 XTP load using AA#9 that pushes it 1400 fps/780 ft lbs out of my 6.5" .357 Blackhawk. That's about as good as 180s get out of a .357. Never killed anything with it, though. I've shot a pig and deer with my 158 SWC which weighs 165 grains with gas check installed. This is a Lee mold. It works well, pushes 1470 fps using 2400. Both are quite accurate in my Ruger. I like the 165 grain bullet as it has a wide flat point, Keith style, and it kills quick or has so far.
 
Charliefrank said:
How are those bullets working out for you from a handgun?
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Answered on page 1

Armored farmer said:
They printed well on paper, but I haven't tested them on flesh and bone. I had just bought that box when I took the picture.
I am a hollow point (xtp) fan.
The 44mag in your picture looks like it performed perfectly.

Imho, you're asking for trouble if you shoot a big whitetail with a Hardcast or fmj. You had better be a good tracker.
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And my response asking @Armored farmer as well, and sharing my personal experience with the FTX bullets.

Varminterror said:
How you like those FTX's? They might catch a lot of flack from the hard core big bore guys since they don't have the penetration performance like hardcast or copper solids/FMJ's, like ANY expanding jacketed lead core bullet, but for the mundane task of taking whitetail deer, they do the job well.

Here's one I recovered, not a 45colt like yours, but a 44mag:

View attachment 764363

Another FTX bullet I recovered from a whitetail buck the processor said would have walked at 315-325lbs, killed at 250rds with a 45-70. Some guys might look at that retention as "bullet failure," but when the buck crumples within 15yrds of impact, when the bullet is only flying ~1150fps at range, I'll say I'm satisfied with the results:

View attachment 764364
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I have attempted to hunt with a handgun on and off last 10+ years. I got serious about it two years ago and late last season I finally killed my first and second deer with a handgun, about 40 seconds apart.

l48IrH7l.jpg

They were both shot while standing in a 20 ft ladder stand. Both shot double action. The first one was at about 18 yards and dropped in her tracks with a high shoulder shot. The second one was at roughly 25 yards and got a double tap since the first round sent her spinning. It was a fatal shot through both lungs and the arteries above the heart but the second shot anchored her. Both does weighed in at about 130 lbs live weight.

Handgun used was a S&W 610 6.5-inch barrel. I was firing handloaded 10mm Auto using Hornady 200gr XTP pushed by Hodgdon Hi-Skor 800-X to 1250 fps from my revolver. All the bullets exited even the one the went through a shoulder blade and spine.

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Got a deer a couple years back with a Smith 460 mag and Hornady 200g ammo, the plastic tipped ones at 2100fps. Topped with a 2x weaver scope. Impressive performance from that cartridge. Just don't ever think you can shoot it even once without ear protection. That never got all the way better.

For squirrels, a Ruger mark 3 target with a 2x Weaver. Head shooting a squirrel with a handgun ain't easy.
 
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