Handgun deer hunting...

Savage10FP308 · October 5, 2006, 07:00 PM

I live in Illinois and in the state you are allowed to hunt deer with a handgun as long as: 1. the barrel is 4in or longer 2. the handgun is .30 caliber or larger 3. th load you are using must be able to produce at least 500 ft/lbs of muzzle energy. I a getting a Ruger GP-100(.357 Magnum) in a few weeks when I turn 21 and I wanted to know if anyone has any experience hunting deer with a .357 Magnum?

Trapp · October 5, 2006, 07:12 PM

I have hunted with a Ruger SBH in .44 mag 7.5" bbl.

I am guessing you are looking for people who have killed with a .357.....

That's why I said I hunted with one!(

)

Savage10FP308 · October 5, 2006, 07:21 PM

Sounds like a good story! Care to share?

Freetacos · October 5, 2006, 09:09 PM

1911 with a 16" barrel and shoulder stock..

Seriously, probably .357 in smith or ruger.

Trapp · October 5, 2006, 10:20 PM

no real story....Just never see anything when I have it one me!

Savage10FP308 · October 5, 2006, 10:24 PM

I figured there was a good story about how you issed the deer with all 6 shots or something!

It happens to te best of us. Thats how the coyotes are a lot of the time around here. If I'm fishing thn I see the 5 of them. If I'm laying in some brush with a .308 in my hands then I don't see much of anything (except deer which I have to bow hunt or hopefully in the near future hunt with a handgun)

pumpkinheaver · October 5, 2006, 10:26 PM

I hunt with a .41 mag, but my stepdad hunts with a ruger blackhawk in .357mag. I load 180gr Hornady XTPs for him over a nice dose of H-110. They do the job.

Savage10FP308 · October 5, 2006, 10:31 PM

what can I expect? Is a well placed shot going to drop one on the spot, or do they almost always run a good ways? I just don't know wat to expect is all.

mete · October 6, 2006, 05:10 AM

"Drop one on the spot" is not always something that will happen even with a rifle !! The only thing I've used on deer is a 44 mag which is about twice as effective as the 357. What you must do is practice. Find a good ,heavy bullet ,160 gr, that will give you no bigger than about 1 1/2" groups from the bench. Then practice , practice !!

hossdaniels · October 11, 2006, 10:25 AM

i have hunted with my 6" gp100 with mixed results. It will kill every deer if you do your part, but I dont always get exit wounds. Naturally, this makes tracking very difficult. It will work if you wait for perfect broadside shots, being sure to avoid the shoulders. I think I will get a 44 mag soon based on what i've seen.
If your gonna use it use careful shot placement and good ammo like buffalo bore.

john in jax · October 11, 2006, 03:01 PM

I started out handgun hunting with a .357mag Ruger Blackhawk 6.5" bbl. It is one tuff gun, we took some handloads (probably) further than we should have, but it never balked.

158grn or 180grn JSPs or Cast bullets will serve you nicely, that is if you can get the deer to cooperate.

22-rimfire · October 11, 2006, 05:17 PM

Years ago I purchased a 6" Python to use for whitetail hunting. I knew very little about handguns at the time and after some reading I decided it was not "big enough". Didn't hunt for a while or hunted with rifle....

I started shooting the 41 mag a good bit. Really like the caliber although I do understand why some would choose a 44 mag for hunting over the 41 mag. Took my Model 57 out a couple of times where there weren't many deer and never got a shot. Still love the caliber and shoot it more than any of the magnum calibers.

Got serious a few years back as life stabilized and bought a Ruger Super Red Hawk in 480. That is my deer revolver. I know the 41 mag is plenty, but I just want some additional fire power.

My advice is not to buy a 357 to hunt with going out of the gate.... get a 41 or 44 mag or up the power a bit to 480 Ruger. You won't have this nagging question in your mind that you don't have enough gun when the deer takes off after you make a good hit in the heart lung area.

October 5, 2006, 07:00 PM	#1
Savage10FP308 Junior member Join Date: March 14, 2006 Location: I live in Southern Illinois. Posts: 422	Handgun deer hunting... I live in Illinois and in the state you are allowed to hunt deer with a handgun as long as: 1. the barrel is 4in or longer 2. the handgun is .30 caliber or larger 3. th load you are using must be able to produce at least 500 ft/lbs of muzzle energy. I a getting a Ruger GP-100(.357 Magnum) in a few weeks when I turn 21 and I wanted to know if anyone has any experience hunting deer with a .357 Magnum?

October 5, 2006, 07:12 PM	#2
Trapp Senior Member Join Date: December 5, 2004 Location: KTN Posts: 1,221	I have hunted with a Ruger SBH in .44 mag 7.5" bbl. I am guessing you are looking for people who have killed with a .357..... That's why I said I hunted with one!( ) __________________ HDR Ban!? It's a shame all of my guns sank with my boat last week... Time to catch up.....like mayonnaise

October 5, 2006, 07:21 PM	#3
Savage10FP308 Junior member Join Date: March 14, 2006 Location: I live in Southern Illinois. Posts: 422	Lol! Sounds like a good story! Care to share?

October 5, 2006, 10:20 PM	#5
Trapp Senior Member Join Date: December 5, 2004 Location: KTN Posts: 1,221	no real story....Just never see anything when I have it one me! __________________ HDR Ban!? It's a shame all of my guns sank with my boat last week... Time to catch up.....like mayonnaise

October 5, 2006, 10:24 PM	#6
Savage10FP308 Junior member Join Date: March 14, 2006 Location: I live in Southern Illinois. Posts: 422	I see. I figured there was a good story about how you issed the deer with all 6 shots or something! It happens to te best of us. Thats how the coyotes are a lot of the time around here. If I'm fishing thn I see the 5 of them. If I'm laying in some brush with a .308 in my hands then I don't see much of anything (except deer which I have to bow hunt or hopefully in the near future hunt with a handgun)

October 5, 2006, 09:09 PM	#4
Freetacos Senior Member Join Date: September 20, 2006 Location: California Posts: 441	1911 with a 16" barrel and shoulder stock.. Seriously, probably .357 in smith or ruger.

October 5, 2006, 10:26 PM	#7
pumpkinheaver Senior Member Join Date: May 22, 2006 Location: Missouri Posts: 294	I hunt with a .41 mag, but my stepdad hunts with a ruger blackhawk in .357mag. I load 180gr Hornady XTPs for him over a nice dose of H-110. They do the job. __________________ Just because your paranoid don't mean they aint out to get ya.

October 5, 2006, 10:31 PM	#8
Savage10FP308 Junior member Join Date: March 14, 2006 Location: I live in Southern Illinois. Posts: 422	pumpkin... what can I expect? Is a well placed shot going to drop one on the spot, or do they almost always run a good ways? I just don't know wat to expect is all.

October 6, 2006, 05:10 AM	#9
mete Senior Member Join Date: June 14, 2004 Location: NY State Posts: 6,575	"Drop one on the spot" is not always something that will happen even with a rifle !! The only thing I've used on deer is a 44 mag which is about twice as effective as the 357. What you must do is practice. Find a good ,heavy bullet ,160 gr, that will give you no bigger than about 1 1/2" groups from the bench. Then practice , practice !!

October 11, 2006, 10:25 AM	#10
hossdaniels Senior Member Join Date: January 16, 2006 Posts: 162	i have hunted with my 6" gp100 with mixed results. It will kill every deer if you do your part, but I dont always get exit wounds. Naturally, this makes tracking very difficult. It will work if you wait for perfect broadside shots, being sure to avoid the shoulders. I think I will get a 44 mag soon based on what i've seen. If your gonna use it use careful shot placement and good ammo like buffalo bore.

October 11, 2006, 03:01 PM	#11
john in jax Senior Member Join Date: August 11, 2005 Posts: 1,177	I started out handgun hunting with a .357mag Ruger Blackhawk 6.5" bbl. It is one tuff gun, we took some handloads (probably) further than we should have, but it never balked. 158grn or 180grn JSPs or Cast bullets will serve you nicely, that is if you can get the deer to cooperate. __________________ America is at that awkward stage. It's too late to work within the system, but too early to shoot the bastards. Claire Wolfe

October 11, 2006, 05:17 PM	#12
22-rimfire Senior Member Join Date: February 19, 2005 Location: Tennessee Posts: 5,323	Years ago I purchased a 6" Python to use for whitetail hunting. I knew very little about handguns at the time and after some reading I decided it was not "big enough". Didn't hunt for a while or hunted with rifle.... I started shooting the 41 mag a good bit. Really like the caliber although I do understand why some would choose a 44 mag for hunting over the 41 mag. Took my Model 57 out a couple of times where there weren't many deer and never got a shot. Still love the caliber and shoot it more than any of the magnum calibers. Got serious a few years back as life stabilized and bought a Ruger Super Red Hawk in 480. That is my deer revolver. I know the 41 mag is plenty, but I just want some additional fire power. My advice is not to buy a 357 to hunt with going out of the gate.... get a 41 or 44 mag or up the power a bit to 480 Ruger. You won't have this nagging question in your mind that you don't have enough gun when the deer takes off after you make a good hit in the heart lung area.