Anyone breaking out a wheelgun for whitetail?

[djones]

I'm currently developing a load for my new SBH 44 mag.

265 grain flatpiont GCed with 2400. I'm pumped to get my first deer with a handgun.

As I sit here bow hunting, passing on doe after doe, I shouldn't have any trouble this year gathering some jerky meat.

life is good!

 

[Hookeye]

I'll take either my Python or old model Ruger SBH out as a sidearm, primary will be rifle.
If I can line one up on video I'll blast her with one of the little rigs.

I have no 180 or 200gr stuff loaded up for the SBH
Like to push those as fast as possible

 

[Fishersjohn48]

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<------------- This One!

plus a new Nikon scope

 

[tem375]

686 as a backup. But if I get a doe in close I am gonna take my first with a handgun this year.

 

[Mgderf]

I've taken whitetail with my ,
Taurus 607 .357mag
Ruger Super Blackhawk .44mag
Taurus Raging Bull .454 Casull

Those are all still possibilities, but this year I want to hit a deer with something new (to me) and I have a few of those I want to check off the list.

In the line-up this season are,
Desert Eagle .44mag w/6" barrel
Savage Striker bolt-action "Pistol" 16" barrel in .308 Winchester
Thompson Contender "Super14" 14" barrel in .30-30 Winchester

 

[wolfman]

Work is going to keep me out of the woods this year, but my SRH .480 has taken several over the past few years.

 

[Mark 1911]

I've shot two deer with a handgun, .44 mag at close range. On one I missed the heart but the lungs were both hit. The second deer I dropped it with the first shot but had to shoot it again. Both deer took a while to die, and that really turned me off to handgun hunting. I wish you a better experience. I would like to hear how it goes for you, I might try it again if I thought my experiences were not the norm. I like hitting them with a 12 ga slug or muzzleloader, they die very quickly.

 

[williamnewman1]

nice one last year and hope for a good buck this year with the 500mag, feeling really comfortable up to 75yds

 

[spainy79]

My first deer kill was with a 500 mag. That gun has moved on though. Still got the DE in .44 and the King Cobra .357 that I would like to take a deer with someday. Doubtful it will be this year.

 

[djones]

Thank you all so much for the input. My gun seemed to like 17.4-17.6 grains of 2400. I went up to 18 with no pressure signs in my SBH. My dads marlin 1894 did show a bulge at 16.5.


Here are some pics of recovered bullets at 10 yards through a cardboard box full of cardboard and into wet mud. I am new to the44 mag so I wanted to see what factory ammo felt like.


The 180 grain Remington ammo was downright nasty. Flames, recoil and poor bullet construction. The 240 winchester was not too bad still a bit much in the recoil dept. I really liked my cast boolits. They seemed to hold together great and yet expanded nicely too. Recoil was much lower and actually fun! I need to get the chrono out after I practice some more.

I would not suggest the Remington for hunting deer.

 

[Cam]

I take either a .44 Magnum SBH, a .45 Colt SBH, or a GP100 with me. Unfortunately, it hasn't been in the cards for me yet to take on with a handgun. I'll get one someday!

 

[Hookeye]

Funny, one of my favorite deer loads is a 180 gr on top of a maxplus charge of WW296. I've even used Rem 180's in reloads as hot as I can make 'em ( but usually use another brand of JHP).
Shoot great, from a couple of Ruger SBH's and a couple of 629's.
They are annoying though, as it feels like somebody is slapping you in the face with a cookie sheet (is worse with longer bbls).

I've shot maybe 6 or 7 deer- all recovered- with 180's, but they were mostly broadside. In and out 'cept for one.
The one that it didn't pass through was a doe, from a treestand, at 30 yards. It hit the spine going in at the neck and fragged 2 vert.
Her head flopped on her back like her neck was on a gate hinge and she crumpled.

Honked me off as I like movers, had 5 more for making noise/having fun.

Buck tag was filled with 870 Wingmaster with extension mag. That too was a on shot deal, dropped right in his tracks.
Most times deer go a little ways before expiring, but that year.............both down at the shot, dead. And I had more ammo avail than normal. Crazy.

200's seem a little less nasty..............but I kinda like the 180 blasters. Leaves a grin on my face the rest of the day ripping those.

 

[nickman54]

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Will be taking my new Redhawk out as a sidearm.

 

[snapping turtle]

I have a model 29 smith. I only carry it once the buck tag is filled. I like the rifle better offhand.

i do use handguns in deer season but normally find myself taking a tc 14 inch contender in 7-30 waters. It rocks at long distance field hunting. It might be the best round in a contender for deer

 

[hammer24]

.44 Bisley Blackhawk

 

[wolfman]

I've shot two deer with a handgun, .44 mag at close range. On one I missed the heart but the lungs were both hit. The second deer I dropped it with the first shot but had to shoot it again. Both deer took a while to die, and that really turned me off to handgun hunting. I wish you a better experience. I would like to hear how it goes for you, I might try it again if I thought my experiences were not the norm. I like hitting them with a 12 ga slug or muzzleloader, they die very quickly.

I shoot 400 grain cast lead, which is .997 oz, only about .003 oz lighter than your 1 oz 12ga slug, and probably way heavier than your muzzle loader projectile.

 

[Hookeye]

So the 400 grainer makes how much bigger of a hole than a 180 when both pass through?

Broadside, out to 75 yards, I have no complaints with a double lung 180.
Now for breaking down a bigger deer, with a shoulder shot, no- I wouldn't use that bullet.

But for doe tag filling, 180-200 seem to work pretty well for me.
I did one time way back try some 300gr max'd out in a 4" 629.

No fun, no fun at all. Broke my trigger pivot too (but Smith fixed it fast and it cost me only 5 bucks).
I wouldn't run hot n heavy (over 240 gr) in a non endurance package Smith again.

I might try some old Norma 236gr in my SBH this year.

 

[Throwsstones]

I've take several deer over the years with a .357 Mag using 158 gn HP. 50 yds on my property is a long shot down by Madison. My main gun is a Ithaca Deerslayer 12ga but being right handed if a deer comes up on my right side I use my handgun. I feel that shot placement is everything.