Pistol for deer hunting

[JEB]

Any time I push the 124gr 9mm xtp over 1250 fps it has jacket separation and frags does the .40 do better at higher speeds? I also live in iowa and it torques me that I can't hunt with my 9 but anything higher is ok.

from the rather informal bullet testing i have done (lined up milk jugs) the XTP's have held up very well. from a 4.49" barrel i am pushing a 180gr XTP around 1050-1075fps with a max charge of powerpistol. weight retention is almost always 95% or better, expansion is more than adequate, penetration is very good, accuracy is steller, and they very seldom lose their jacket and i have never had one frag on me. had one lose a petal once or twice but they hold together really good. they are all i will use in a handgun for hunting.

all that said, when i used a .40 for deer hunting it was only ever used as a finisher. i would not have hesitated to take a shot if it was within about 30 yards or so but i never got the chance. when i carried it, it was because it was all i had. i have since upgraded to a .44 mag and am very pleased with its performance; both accuracy and effect on deer.

 

[Skylerbone]

.50Cal. Knight Mk85 shooting a T/C 250gr. Shockwave (HP with plastic expansion insert), 100gr. Pyrodex (pellets), approx. 60 yds. Deer taken was approx. 80 lbs. doe. Both lungs, penetrated with NO exit hole, bullet lodged underneath the skin on far side. Penetration is never a given. I'm guessing and recalling on the animal's size but I can say it was takeout size as I hoisted it over my shoulder to load it (I don't let mom carry deer at her age).

I wouldn't hesitate to recommend a better choice than 40 S&W but my personal choice is to never, no matter the critter, attempt anything I do not consider humane. It's a personal threshold with much universal wisdom applied.

 

[22-rimfire]

I think the 40 S&W is a little light for whitetailed deer unless you are very close. Are you willing to pass up a shot at 30 yds? I think the 357 mag is a little light for deer hunting. My standard advice is 10mm (or larger) in a pistol or 41 mag or larger in a revolver.

 

[wildcatter109]

.50Cal. Knight Mk85 shooting a T/C 250gr. Shockwave (HP with plastic expansion insert), 100gr. Pyrodex (pellets), approx. 60 yds. Deer taken was approx. 80 lbs. doe. Both lungs, penetrated with NO exit hole, bullet lodged underneath the skin on far side. Penetration is never a given. I'm guessing and recalling on the animal's size but I can say it was takeout size as I hoisted it over my shoulder to load it (I don't let mom carry deer at her age).

I wouldn't hesitate to recommend a better choice than 40 S&W but my personal choice is to never, no matter the critter, attempt anything I do not consider humane. It's a personal threshold with much universal wisdom applied.

Good advise!!

 

[murf]

mcgunner,

what load are you using in that 357 blackhawk? what is the muzzle velocity?

thx,

murf

 

[Buck13]

Maybe worth considering:

http://www.brassfetcher.com/index_files/9mmvs45ACP.htm

Look at the two "versus bone and gelatin" links. Only two rather exotic bullet types expanded reliably when shot into gelatin through a bone-simulating layer, from either 9mm or .45 ACP. Interesting if true. From Ballistics By the Inch, real gun velocities for .40 come out between the 9mm and .45, so is there any reason to expect to expect .40 to be better?

Looks like if I was going to shoot a deer with an auto pistol, I'd practice like hell with something cheaper with similar MV, but shell out for one box of DPX. It sounds as if you have asked a question for which few people have real experience, so you may have to take your best guess.

 

[Buck13]

Do you mount a scope on your .40, or use iron sights? Iron sights would be one more handicap to perfect shot placement, IMHO.

 

[22-rimfire]

Using a scope or red dot type sight is easier to shoot more accurately on a shot by shot basis. At the distances that the OP should be taking a shot with a 40 S&W, no scope is needed. Again, I think in general the 40 S&W is too light for hunting, but not too light to carry as a companion piece while hunting.

 

[22-rimfire]

Unless you break bones (front shoulders or spine) and have a good heart-lung hit, most whitetails will run a bit and bleed out. That includes shooting them with a rifle.

 

[Justin Holder]

Despite what the negative nancies say, the .40s&w, properly loaded, is completely capable of taking deer sized game out to 50 yards or more.

Stay away from lightweight self defense loads and stick with quality, heavy 180-200gr. JHP, flat point FMJ or hard cast bullets.

With just a little practice most anyone can routinely keep all their shots from a service grade auto well inside a 12 inch circle at 50 yards.

 

[coolluke01]

With just a little practice most anyone can routinely keep all their shots from a service grade auto well inside a 12 inch circle at 50 yards.

This is hardly a acceptable standard for taking deer!

Despite what the negative nancies say, the .40s&w, properly loaded, is completely capable of taking deer sized game out to 50 yards or more.

If you are using the above standard for accuracy then this is hardly true.

 

[Hangingrock]

You would think by responses’ to this subject that deer have grown to the size of Elk and the S&W 500 would be barely adequate.

 

[Skylerbone]

I'd hardly say they're now Elk sized but that I've seen a fair number of shooters who could not hit elephant sized targets beyond 15 yds. Shot placement will always be key and having a bullet properly designed and a cartridge loaded to take advantage of that design isn't far behind. Some calibers and bullet designs are better suited to the specific task of taking deer sized animals.

FWIW, the aforementioned 80 lb. deer took some time (and a knife) to expire while another, weighing in over 200 lbs. using the same bullet and 150 gr. charge dropped and had passed before I could cover the 155 yds. to check him. Similar shot placement but with an unmistakeable exit hole.

 

[FenceChargerIII]

Here in MO any center fire handgun is allowed.
My idea is more to carry the pistol as a backup. That way if I do get a good clear close shot with it, I could take it. I'm not sure I'd necessarily use it as a primary gun.

 

[Justin Holder]

Not exactly deer sized game but I did manage to get this little sucker the other afternoon with my G20 using the .40s&w conversion barrel at 30 yards. The 180gr. Winchester white box bonded JHP left a nice star shaped exit hole.

 

[Buck13]

You would think by responses’ to this subject that deer have grown to the size of Elk and the S&W 500 would be barely adequate.

Perhaps we should consider this solution:
http://www.chuckhawks.com/825_magnum.htm

 

[ljnowell]

lol. 3006 softpoints and 12 ga slugs often let deer run 50 yds or so with a chest hit, and you are claiming that a .44 swc stops them drt? that's funny, dude.

Have you ever seen what a 44mag SWC will do to a deer? I'm willing to bet not. I have anchored deer in place with one. Its all about where you hit it. A 500 mag isnt going to drop a deer dead if you hit it in the soft flab and it misses everything inside.