Pond Boss Forums GENERAL QUESTIONS Wildlife Management anyone deer hunt with a handgun?

I am happy if my wife just lets me go hunting without complaining...

Where is that "like" button???

To the original question, I think knowing the individual bullet and how it will react is more important, after the gun is chose.

I carry a .357 and had it loaded with home defense loads. Had the opportunity to Finish an elk as such happens when elk hunting with friends. 3 rounds never broke the skin at point blank.

Used .38 specials and they worked great on a different friends hunt.

I once owned a Raging Bull Casual also!! that gun was awesome and very accurate. I carried it for bear spray in MT but in SD now and dont have many of those.

Any fans of the .460?? that is a cool round.

I've shot a lot of deer with handguns over the years (26?) and have used one exclusively many times. So far, just .44 mag - either Ruger Redhawk or S&W 629 PC v-comp. Got a S&W 69 Combat Magnum .44 and a S&W PC .460 Bone Collector this year. Not sure I'm even going to have time to go though and still have most of three deer in the freezer from last year.

7mm Dakota anyone? 180g Berger Hybrid VLD shoved by Retumbo.

That should do the trick. Don't think it would be legal to deer hunt with in Illinois though...

Used to hunt with aThompson Contender .44 mag with 14" barrels . Good deer medicine out to 100 yards. Very accurate

I'm using a crossbow this year but don't know whether I'll stay with it once rifle season starts. The bow is accurate. I'm not and that bothers me. Practicing a lot in the back yard and think that, for the deers sake, I'm going to build a bipod.

My friend beat my distance record on my place with a Contender. Shot at zero feet straight down from the stand. My best was 12 feet from the ground (nice 10-point buck during rut with a .44 rifle). I am using a crossbow for the first time this year after shoulder surgery. I don't think I'll go back to my compound except when it is raining to protect the expensive crossbow. The crossbow is extremely accurate out to 50 yards if you know the distance. At 55 yards, windage can be severe. Took a doe on opening day with a well placed shot at 35 yards. The crossbow was flawless. It is just heavy and awkward to carry and hold in the stand compared with a compound bow. During gun, I carry my .44 rifle which is good to 100 yards and a pleasure to carry and shoot.

.41mag

S&W .41mag


Taurus .41mag

What models and makers?