Deer Hunting Handguns...

[Adam Helmer]

I spend a lot of time in my woods and the big woods adjacent to my farm. I have hunted deer in archery season and muzzleloader and rifle deer season. Now, I am on the wrong side of age 60 and still like to hunt deer. I look at deer, watch deer and occasionally shoot deer. This year I am going to hunt deer with my .44 Magnum Ruger and .41 Magnum Ruger Single Action Revolvers. Yes, I know handguns are short range arms. Both handguns have served me well in Metallic Silhouette matches and knocked over Rams at 200 meters. My max range on deer is 100 yards to be fair to the deer.

In the Big Woods here in PA a long shot is about 75 yards. I have accurate handloads for both handguns. On Opening Day I will be afiled looking for a big buck. The ONLY Does I ever shot were greviously injured before I shot them. Killing Does kills THREE deer and is unwarranted, in my opinion, in view of the predation inflicted on our current diminished PA deer herd.

Adam

[popplecop]

I use an older Ruger Super Blackhawk, 5", fluted cylinder and round trigger guard. I keep my range a little shorter than yours, but I'm passed 70. I use a walking stick that has a padded V and is adjustable for lenght. I am comfortable with up to 60 yards at a broadside standing deer with a rest. One thing about them Adam is they are easier to carry in the brush. May be we both will be successful this year, I haven't hunted with mine in about 15 years, been shooting it though and have shot deer with it before.

[powell&hyde]

Been hunting during the shotgun seasons in Iowa and Wisc with handguns in 357 and 44 mag. In the last 22 years I have used the Ruger SRH in 44 mag with the 9 1/2" barrel with great success. Handloads using Nosler partition bullets and Imr 4227 powder.

[Mr. 16 gauge]

S&W M29 & Colt Trooper Mk III here....both with 6" barrels. You guys are better than me....my range is 25-30 yards. I have trouble consistantly hitting the vitals at 50 yards.
Never shot a deer with a handgun, but I've taken two rams and two hogs off of preserves with them.....the last hog was well over 300lbs and taken with a cast bullet load from my .44 (LEE 245 grain SWC-GC).
The bullets that I have had great accuracy with and liked to shoot are no longer being made...they were the Speer 3/4 jacket SWC HPs (225 grain in .44 and 146 grain in .357). Currently I am working up a 158 grain JHP load for the .357 to take it's place. I have a heavier (240 grain) load for the .44 using Hornady's XTP HP that I will use, as well as the 245 grain cast round.

Never had a chance to shoot a .41 magnum....always was interested in the cartridge (I have a penchant for oddball or underdog cartridges), but I never got a .41. Originally, was was supposed to buy a S&W 57, but when I went to buy it, the store had sold it already.....and the M29 was there in it's place, so it came home with me instead.

[Rapier]

Adam as a steel mover you know the gun is capable, it is the shooter that limits the range and it is the wise pistol shooter that knows his own limits. However, in the East we rarely get a 100 yard shot at anything. Probably truth be told, our average clear shot here bouts is around 50 yards.

I prefer a shooting house over food plots myself as in my old crusty, creaky condition I like all the advantage I can get, plus when it starts to drizzle, I like the sound of rain on a roof, not my hat. Oh, I will take my 357 mdl 66 with me but I do prefer my old standing and production class gun, the 30-30 Merrill, it is quiet and deadly with a 175gr Speer FP. I have killed a couple big hogs with the gun and load. For moving steel I used the 165 and 180 RCBS bullets over Unique when using the 30-30, other powders for other cartridges and barrels.
Ed

[skeet]

I happen to have a few handguns..the best for deer is probably the Contender with 14 inch 357 Max.. but it's scoped and a real 150 yd gun over a (good) rest.. If using the revolvers I use either a Smith 57 6 inch or a Ruger BH 41 mag in 4 5/8. I have a couple or 3 44 mags but prefer shooting the 41. My shooting with the revolvers is generally limited to no more than 40 yds. I have a couple of really good loads in the 41 with cast bullets but the factory 41 with 210 gr jacketed works really well in my Smith. The best 44 load is a cast 250 gr bullet over about 10 gr of Herco..if I remember the load correctly. Killed a coyote with the SBH earlier this summer at about 40-45 yds. DRT should be ok for a nice ol deer at the same yardage