Revolver for Hunting

[MaxP]

Got me some books from Amazon and their 2-day shipping...

These Ruger Blackhawks are all chambered in .4 - from top to bottom are two 5-1/2" New Model Flat Top .44 Specials (for target and defense). For hunting, a 7-1/2" Old Model Super (those were all .44 Mags) and a 4-5/8" Old Model in .41 Mag

That just warms my heart! Thanks man!

 

[200Apples]

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I've just cracked open Hunting Handguns, and there's a story in the Forward by Larry Weishuhn that is what must be typical of those old-school Texas lawmen. You guys have got to read it.

The photography is superb, the content intelligent, experienced and pretty-well written. With Amazon delivering this stuff to your very doorstep, there's very little reason not to own a copy. Order yours! today. Seriously. There are even some sidebars penned by our Illustrious Craig C!

Great stuff, Max.

 

[MaxP]

Thank you for the kind words! Makes the labor intensive, mind-numbing process worthwhile when folks appreciate it!

 

[Legionnaire]

Fun to read what y'all use.

My choice for hunting with a revolver is a Ruger Bisley Blackhwak Hunter in .44 Mag with a 7.5" barrel. I have also used (but regrettably no longer own) a 7.5" Ruger Super Redhawk in the same cartridge. But a 5.5" Super Blackhawk or Redhawk in .44 with iron sights is also quite capable. I've shot other big bore cartridges, but decided that I was best served by limiting myself to .44 Mag (and Spl) and .357. I have never hunted with the latter from a revolver.

If you're set on DA, give the Super Redhawk a look.

 

[Arkansas Paul]

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I've just cracked open Hunting Handguns, and there's a story in the Forward by Larry Weishuhn that is what must be typical of those old-school Texas lawmen. You guys have got to read it.

I always enjoyed watching Larry Weishuhn on hunting shows because most of the time he was shooting game with a handgun. They guy is a walking encyclopedia on whitetail deer.
I've never read anything of his though.

I was also always very jealous of the places he does his hunting in. You see him on the shows passing up 160 inch deer because they're a year or two younger than he would like to shoot.
I certainly envy those hunters that hunt land that is that well managed. Maybe one day I will take a trip and get to hunt a place where you can watch deer like that.

Where I am, if you see a 120-130 inch deer, you better shoot it because you won't see any bigger.

 

[huntsman]

I certainly envy those hunters that hunt land that is that well managed. Maybe one day I will take a trip and get to hunt a place where you can watch deer like that.

even on ranches with high wall fencing? I'll take a lifetime of killing does and small bucks as long as they are wild, I have no desire to kill "managed" game.

OP my advice is a Blackhawk, I like a .45convertible but then I'm not a reloader.

 

[Arkansas Paul]

even on ranches with high wall fencing? I'll take a lifetime of killing does and small bucks as long as they are wild, I have no desire to kill "managed" game.
OP my advice is a Blackhawk, I like a .45convertible but then I'm not a reloader.

No, I am not talking about high fences. I have no desire to hunt a high fence ranch.
I do not disparage people who do. It is no more inhumane than raising cattle for slaughter, but it is not for me.
I can't find a reason to brag when you are basically shooting pet deer (not that all high fence places are like that, but some are). I know a guy who used to raise deer. He sold big bucks to the ranches to film. They would literally come up and eat peppermints out of your hand.

I am talking about free chase, well managed property. There are places where large areas of property are controlled and managed well.

It's just not possible to do so in an area like I hunt, where a 2,000 acre lease is considered large. Everyone within several miles would have to be on board, and it is next to impossible to do.

I feel the same way you do about high fence ranches (at least I think I do).
If someone wants to, go ahead. But I'm going to roll my eyes when they brag about how big a deer they killed on one.

 

[huntsman]

No, I am not talking about high fences. I have no desire to hunt a high fence ranch.

OK cool, I admit to no experience when it comes to hunting Western ranches.
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About the closest I've come to management is putting out corn to help get the deer through the deep snows.

Here in Ohio my hunting has been on small(<200 acres) private holdings or public tracts but even those would be considered small by the west's standards.

The fact that our Whitetail grow as large as they do is an amazement what with the hunting pressure and vehicle collisions, so the way I see it if a buck makes it to 4 years he's a real trophy regardless of the headgear.

 

[CraigC]

I got to meet Larry at the 2015 NRA Annual Meeting. He was at the Ruger booth and is a hell of a nice guy. No ego. No arrogance. Real down to earth and approachable.

All deer are "managed". Some just better than others. Some folks go to a lot of trouble to manage deer herds for the purposes of maximizing trophy size. Has nothing to do with how wild they are.

 

[22-rimfire]

I have done work in high fence ranches in South Texas. I in fact spent weeks inside these ranches. Some are quite large in terms of acreage. The deer are not in the least bit tame.

 

[edmo01]

Of the calibers the OP listed, I recommend 44 Magnum...

It has more than enough horsepower (deer-power??) for the task. Additionally, if you don't reload you will find the 44 Mag is more readily available in factory loads and will likely be cheaper than the other big bore calibers the OP lists as options.

For availability I use the "Walmart" test... If I walked into a Walmart would they have ammo available in that caliber? 44 Magnum?? Likely yes.

As others have said, if you are hunting in an area with smaller deer, the 357 Magnum could meet your needs, but big bore guns are fun!

Check your Game & Fish handgun hunting barrel length requirements before you buy. Some states have a minimum barrel length while other do not.

Let us know what you get!

Edmo

Below: One of my 44 Magnum hunting revolvers - 4" S&W model 629 "Mountain Gun"