handgun for whitetail deer - Page 2

grimel · February 9, 2001, 11:40 PM

I know this will bring some heated response. One of the largest handgun killed whitetails I've seen was killed with a 4in 22lr Ruger single six shot one handed draw aim fire. It doesn't take much to kill a whitetail.

That said IMO 41mag is the bottom end cause I cann't always get a perfect broadside shot. My personal deer handgun is a 4in 44mag with open sights. My cousin uses a 7.5in Ruger SuperRedhawk with a 2x (might be 4x) scope. He's deadly to 100yds. Has a blackbear and boar with that gun. I hunt where 50yds would be a major feat, he hunts a little more open (farm lands in Mich, me in the mts in Tn). As someone mentioned the single shots add a whole nuther dimension to handgun hunting. FWIW, we handload hard cast bullets to the hottest level with good accuracy. 310gr FPs give total penetration of a whitetail take out the shoulder and give minimal tracking distances (does anyone know why deer always run downhill away from your vehicle?).

Johnny Guest · February 10, 2001, 10:19 AM

Friends, I'm at a loss about the last three replies in this topis string.

All three discuss the killing of white tail deer with clearly inadequate and unsporting gear. CAN a deer be killed with a .22 rinfire or a .32? Sure. So what. And, if I were a native American way out in the wilds and my kids were hungry, I would use such, if that was the difference in them having meat or not.

I am heartened to note that all three strate that they, personally, advocate the use of something a LOT more sporting for the deer hunt: .45 Colt, .44 or .41 Magnum.

I must respectfully disagree with the parallel of adequate for man = adequate for deer. In rifles, this could be arguable, the .30 USCarbine and .223 aside. In handguns, define adequate and we can begin the discussion. I've been out and around with nothing but a .32 or .25 for sole armament. Make no mistake: I did NOT consider either adequate
to stop a determined attack by a motivated adversary. Butit make me feel better. I believe in the largest defense piece paractical under the circumstances. But l am convinced that the majority of crooks will give up their attack on me if hit with ANYHING. If he runs away, I have accomplished my end.

The deer is not so cooperative. he doesn't lie down and become venison simply because he is smote a mild blow.

Best regards,
Johnny
MOLON LABE!

Nimrod · February 18, 2001, 09:49 PM

Depends on the range and situation. I have had reliable success over the years with an open sighted .44 revolver (S&W M29) and a Contender, also in .44 mag. I hunt from a tree stand and keep ranges close.

abrahamsmith · February 19, 2001, 01:49 PM

from the 2000 Huntig Regs:

"Deer and bear may be hunted with handguns which are loaded with .357, .41 and .44 magnum caliber cartidges. Other caliber handguns chambered for commerically-manufactured cartridges which produce a minimum muzzle energy of 1000 foot-pounds are also legal. These handguns must have a minimum barrel length of 5.5 inches, measured from the firing pin with the action closed"

Mrgunslinger · February 19, 2001, 09:47 PM

I use a comperitor pistol in 2506 and have killed deer out to 500 yards.
The average distance is around 250 yds.
I have killed 2 at 400 yds and one at a measured 512 yds all one shot kills and of the 15 whitetails that have been handgun kills not one miss.

Spectre · February 20, 2001, 07:54 PM

I don't plan on actually hunting deer or hog with a handgun until I get my Taurus Tracker .41.

I have killed a deer with a .40 S&W, but he had already taken a solid shoulder to rib shot from a .35 Remington. It had just been over 25 minutes, and he didn't know he was dead yet...

The 155-grn XTP I slipped under his jaw from 15 yards (this ammo had chrono'd at avg 1170 fps) put him down instantly. This same shot would have put him down just the same way if it had been the first shot, but I had ideal circumstances: a n almost stationary deer presenting me with a perfect close-range shot in very decent light.

If I'm hungry, I'd much sooner use my .45-70, or one of my 12's, or my laid-away .35 Whelen, or my projected .250/3000, or even my .30 Carbine...

February 10, 2001, 10:19 AM	#27
Johnny Guest Moderator in Memoriam Join Date: August 28, 1999 Location: North Texas Posts: 4,123	We're discussing SPORTING stuff, here. Friends, I'm at a loss about the last three replies in this topis string. All three discuss the killing of white tail deer with clearly inadequate and unsporting gear. CAN a deer be killed with a .22 rinfire or a .32? Sure. So what. And, if I were a native American way out in the wilds and my kids were hungry, I would use such, if that was the difference in them having meat or not. I am heartened to note that all three strate that they, personally, advocate the use of something a LOT more sporting for the deer hunt: .45 Colt, .44 or .41 Magnum. I must respectfully disagree with the parallel of adequate for man = adequate for deer. In rifles, this could be arguable, the .30 USCarbine and .223 aside. In handguns, define adequate and we can begin the discussion. I've been out and around with nothing but a .32 or .25 for sole armament. Make no mistake: I did NOT consider either adequate to stop a determined attack by a motivated adversary. Butit make me feel better. I believe in the largest defense piece paractical under the circumstances. But l am convinced that the majority of crooks will give up their attack on me if hit with ANYHING. If he runs away, I have accomplished my end. The deer is not so cooperative. he doesn't lie down and become venison simply because he is smote a mild blow. Best regards, Johnny MOLON LABE!

February 19, 2001, 01:49 PM	#29
abrahamsmith Senior Member Join Date: October 5, 2000 Location: Madison, WI Posts: 177	FYI, Wisconsin Law: from the 2000 Huntig Regs: "Deer and bear may be hunted with handguns which are loaded with .357, .41 and .44 magnum caliber cartidges. Other caliber handguns chambered for commerically-manufactured cartridges which produce a minimum muzzle energy of 1000 foot-pounds are also legal. These handguns must have a minimum barrel length of 5.5 inches, measured from the firing pin with the action closed" __________________ Abe Smith, President of UW-Madison's Student Alliance for Firearm Education and Responsibility

February 9, 2001, 11:40 PM	#26
grimel Member Join Date: October 19, 1999 Posts: 43	I know this will bring some heated response. One of the largest handgun killed whitetails I've seen was killed with a 4in 22lr Ruger single six shot one handed draw aim fire. It doesn't take much to kill a whitetail. That said IMO 41mag is the bottom end cause I cann't always get a perfect broadside shot. My personal deer handgun is a 4in 44mag with open sights. My cousin uses a 7.5in Ruger SuperRedhawk with a 2x (might be 4x) scope. He's deadly to 100yds. Has a blackbear and boar with that gun. I hunt where 50yds would be a major feat, he hunts a little more open (farm lands in Mich, me in the mts in Tn). As someone mentioned the single shots add a whole nuther dimension to handgun hunting. FWIW, we handload hard cast bullets to the hottest level with good accuracy. 310gr FPs give total penetration of a whitetail take out the shoulder and give minimal tracking distances (does anyone know why deer always run downhill away from your vehicle?).

February 18, 2001, 09:49 PM	#28
Nimrod Member Join Date: February 18, 2001 Posts: 78	Depends on the range and situation. I have had reliable success over the years with an open sighted .44 revolver (S&W M29) and a Contender, also in .44 mag. I hunt from a tree stand and keep ranges close.

February 19, 2001, 09:47 PM	#30
Mrgunslinger Junior Member Join Date: January 28, 2001 Posts: 8	I use a comperitor pistol in 2506 and have killed deer out to 500 yards. The average distance is around 250 yds. I have killed 2 at 400 yds and one at a measured 512 yds all one shot kills and of the 15 whitetails that have been handgun kills not one miss.

February 20, 2001, 07:54 PM	#31
Spectre Staff Alumnus Join Date: October 23, 1998 Location: ATL Posts: 3,277	I don't plan on actually hunting deer or hog with a handgun until I get my Taurus Tracker .41. I have killed a deer with a .40 S&W, but he had already taken a solid shoulder to rib shot from a .35 Remington. It had just been over 25 minutes, and he didn't know he was dead yet... The 155-grn XTP I slipped under his jaw from 15 yards (this ammo had chrono'd at avg 1170 fps) put him down instantly. This same shot would have put him down just the same way if it had been the first shot, but I had ideal circumstances: a n almost stationary deer presenting me with a perfect close-range shot in very decent light. If I'm hungry, I'd much sooner use my .45-70, or one of my 12's, or my laid-away .35 Whelen, or my projected .250/3000, or even my .30 Carbine...