Handgun hunting 357/44
I have some questions on hang gun haunting. I've never done any before, but feel fairly good with a pistol. Does a 357 mag have enough for white tail deer. Or is the 44 mag the way to go. I feel a 357 would be more enjoyable to practice with, but not sure it will carry enough energy. I would like to be able to shoot to 100 yards with pratice and sticks.
Being from Iowa I have to decide on a slug gun purchase or a hunting handgun, the pistol would be legal for 1st and 2nd shotgun and also late muzzle loader.
I use a rifle in the January antlerless season in southern Iowa. I think Iowa makes hunting to complicated[V]
Being from Iowa I have to decide on a slug gun purchase or a hunting handgun, the pistol would be legal for 1st and 2nd shotgun and also late muzzle loader.
I use a rifle in the January antlerless season in southern Iowa. I think Iowa makes hunting to complicated[V]
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It takes a lot of time, effort, practice and money for ammo, to be competent with a handgun at 100 yards. If your Deer season starts in just a couple of weeks, go with the slug gun this year. Buy the handgun of your choice in the spring, and start shooting and practicing so you will be good to go for the 2013 Deer season. 0 -
Can you try some of each first? I like my S&W 44's with 10 5/8 bbl that have adjustable 1/10" sights on both ends. Many a 1 gal milk jug at 200 yards blead out bad. I think about 40,000 full tilt rounds and that doesn't count the plastic bullets just to build the strength to hold it out there one handed. My thought was if I'm putting up with the recoil and muzzle blast not much worse in these big pistols. You should consider reloading.
I wouldn't be afraid to hunt big game with a handgun, but my 7mm RMag packs way more punch, shoots a heck of lot flatter and I'm way better with it.0 -
100 yds with a 357,,hmmm, not in my world of whitetail,,,Thompson Center,,with great optics and time invested as stated above or you will just be asking for a blood trail and a wounded deer--imo 0 -
I do hunt Eastern Whitetail with a .357 Magnum revolver. 10 inch bbl. 185 gr hard cast handloads. And I keep my shots to 50 yards or less- hunting laurel thickets where you do not HAVE long range shots.
Whatever range you can hold ALL your shots on a 5 inch paper plate, using the shooting position you would use in the field, is your max range. Unless you are carrying a benchrest with you, cannot help but feel that 100 yard shots will not end well.0 -
Since you haven't purchased a handgun yet Id like to suggest an alternative caliber, the 41 Rem. Magnum. Flatter trajectory with almost the same power as a 44 and lots more energy than the 357. 0 -
quote:Originally posted by skyfish
I have some questions on hang gun haunting. I've never done any before, but feel fairly good with a pistol. Does a 357 mag have enough [energy] for white tail deer.
Yes, a quality .357 hunting load from a handgun is powerful enough to humanely take a whitetail deer, especially if you use a gun with a long barrel (ie 6" or longer).
In any kind of hunting, the limiting factor is you placing your shot correctly, something that can be quite challenging with a handgun because effective range is relatively short.
quote:Or is the 44 mag the way to go. I feel a 357 would be more enjoyable to practice with, but not sure it will carry enough energy. I would like to be able to shoot to 100 yards with pratice and sticks.
.44 magnum is quite a bit more powerful and gives you a little extra leeway in terms of power. Yes, people use different rounds, but I think .44 magnum is pretty much THE standard for handgun hunting in North America.
But again, ultimately, its more about putting the shot in the right place than which exact caliber. If you know what you're doing you can take a whitetail with a .22 long rifle. If you don't, a .50 BMG isn't going to be enough "gun" to get it done.
In any case it takes a **LOT** of practice (ie thousands of rounds downrange) to be able to consistently put a handgun round into a 6" circle at 100 yards, which I think would be the standard before you should attempt to shoot at a deer-sized animal at that range. Bluntly, mostly shooters can't do it even fairly seasoned ones.
Add in the fact that handguns are relatively slow projectiles, meaning the bullets can give significant drop at that distance, and that your deer probably isn't going to be standing still perfectly broadside at 100 yards (meaning there may be a range estimation issue here), and its potentially quite a bit harder to do it against a deer in the "real world" than at the range.
In practice most handgun hunters try and keep the ranges short, with 75 yards being a practical maximum, and 50 yards or less really being the goal. Arguably, the hardest part of the exercise isn't making the shot. . .its getting inside 50 yards to do it!
Incidentally, like you, I consider myself "competent" with a handgun but "poor" with a rifle. Probably 90% of the rounds I shoot go through handguns. But despite that, in terms of ABSOLUTE accuracy, I'm still WAY better with a rifle, even with iron sights. Its just that the long sight radius (or scope) and stock make it MUCH easier to shoot a longarm accurately. And pretty much any centerfire rifle caliber is going to more intrinsically accurate, shoot flatter and hit harder than most handgun cartridges, even a .44 magnum. The point is, even if you're pretty good with a handgun yet a complete tyro with a rifle, you're still probably going to have an easier time taking a deer with a rifle [or slug shotgun] compared to a handgun. Just something to think about.
Edit: Just read some of the other comments in this thread. I agree with the others that unless you've been shooting 100 yards with a pistol for years already (which you haven't been, or you wouldn't be asking this question), its 'too late' to actually try to take a deer with a handgun at that range this season.
.41 magnum is an excellent round in its own right and a great deer round. Still, I wouldn't buy one. Not because the round isn't good, but because the round is "niche" enough that you're not going to find ammo for it at your local Sporting Goods or big box store. Anything a .41 can do a .44 can do, and probably better. If you're loading your own ammo, you might consider a .41, but until you are, I wouldn't.0 -
Skyfish,
You've been given some great advice, all I can add is the experiences I have had.
I've killed 3 western black tail deer with a 357 magnum revolver, 1 with my Python and 2 with my model 27 Smith. All where shot from the road, or in the road while I was driving log truck. Maximum range was probably 40 yards.
I shot a cow elk with a model 29 Smith, she was standing in the middle of a forest service road about 30 yards in front of me. 240 gr Nosler and 23grs H110, 2 shots in the neck and she was on the ground. This was 26 years ago.
I have a model 57 Smith 41 mag, I hand load for it and love it. Less recoil than the 44, flatter trajectory, I carry it as a backup while elk hunting now.
The last few years I walk with a telescoping walking stick that has a V rest on top of it, it is a great help shooting a handgun or rifle at any distance. An aid you might want to consider.
I am an avid handgun shooter, have been most of my life. There is no subitute for rounds down range.
W.D.0 -
I've taken deer with both my Dan Wesson 357 8" and a D-W 44mag, Ruger Redhawk and S&W 29 44mag. I limit my shots to about 50yds. with the 357 158gr handloads. I will go out to 100yd with the 44,s.
As said, practice at the different distances.0 -
You should probably join a silhouette team in your area to dispel any of the bad advice and hearsay/rumors about the killing power of the 357 at 100 yards.
The targets are smaller than a life-sized deer, clang when hit, and topple quickly when hit well.
By the way, the rams at a Big Bore shoot are at anywhere from 175-225 yards.
I use Barnes 180gr solids and 2400 powder, and don't feel undergunned in any situation up to 250 yards.
I've taken Mulies at almost 210 yards from a solid rest on a fencepost, Black Bear from 150, and even bagged an Elk that surprised me at just under 45 yards.
Most all were taken cleanly, with one shot. From a stone-stock GP100 Ruger.0 -
Been very successful with my Ruger Blackhawk .44 mag. BUT don't attempt beyond 60-70 yds. Just go to range and see how you pattern at the various distances and that will tell you a lot. A 2X quality scope with the proper mounts would be a big help. Good Luck. P.S.-I use 25 grns. of 296 powder and a 300 Grn. copper H.P., with win. primer. DEADLY. 0
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