Deer Hunting Handgun.. yer thoughts..

[faceman_19]

:confused: I am looking to purchase a handgun that I can mount a scope on for deer hunting. I am completely new to handguns and am looking for your thoughts on what kind, caliper, etc. Not looking to spend a fortune, but I have saved up a few hunderd dollars in Cabela's points to toss at it. Any info will be helpful. Thanks.

[SgtSabre]

For the non-handloader:

Ruger Redhawk or Super Redhawk .44 Magnum. An extremely robust handgun with an integral scope-mounting system. They're even supplied with rings.

Or A Smith & Wesson Model 629 .44 Magnum. Without question a fine revolver. Will require the additional purchase of a Weaver scope base and suitable rings.

For the handloader:

Ruger Super Redhawk .454 Casull. This revolver offers the handloader a degree of versatility that is hard to argue with. Load data is available for extremely light powder-puff loads that amount to nothing more than .45ACP ballistics up to rip-snortin' 350gr dragon-slaying-uber-magnums. I would not recommed it to the non-handloader, however. I have not heard of any factory loads that are anything short of palm-stinging.

[mparks]

Another good one if you into single-action handguns is the Ruger Hunter model Super Blackhawk. It also has the intergal-scope base and comes with rings.

Contender or Encore in .44 and up is another one.

[Ferg]

:confused: I am looking to purchase a handgun that I can mount a scope on for deer hunting. I am completely new to handguns and am looking for your thoughts on what kind, caliper, etc. Not looking to spend a fortune, but I have saved up a few hunderd dollars in Cabela's points to toss at it. Any info will be helpful. Thanks.


If in fact you are 'completely new to handguns' I STONGLY urge you, when you puchase one, to put a couple of thousand rounds through it BEFORE you even think of hunting with it.

Not meant ugly - only that it is an entirely different type of shooting -


ferg....

[Outdoorzman]

Faceman19,
Welcome to the site.
I prefer Ruger revolvers for thier strength and affordability.
Single action will be in the blackhawk family.
Double action will be in the Redhawk family.
If your starting out, and are not familiar with shooting handguns, you may want to look into a semi-auto or revolver in .22 caliber.
Shooting 44 magnums on a regular basis to become proficient can become damaging to your pocket book, and if you develop a flinch when just starting out, can be very difficult to overcome.
A 22 on the other hand is affordable for ammo (10 bucks for 500 rounds), has minimal recoil, and you can get your feet wet by hunting squirrels.

Good Luck,
And happy handgun hunting!

[A-plus]

You have gotten some great information from the previous posters, now here is my opinions. Decide what type of action you are most interested in and first pick up a good quality 22 with that action and start practicing. When you are good enough, start hunting small game to get your feet wet, not to mention being able to shoot a squirrel in the head at 25 yards is a real confidence booster when that buck shows up. Then step up to your deer pistol and you will be ready to really enjoy the sport. I started with a S&W K-22, then went with a 629 44 magnum which got me the biggest deer of my life this fall, a nice 10 point at 60 yards. The Thompson/Center Contender is also a good choice, allowing you to just switch barrels so the 22 and centerfire are nearly identical in feel.

[yooperkenny]

I did a lot of research on this before I bought including searching this site for threads similar to the one you've started.

Being new to handguns at the time, I became convinced that jumping right to something like a S&W Model 629 44 caliber or bigger was a mistake - handgunning takes a lot of practice and something like that will beat you up right away, instill poor shooting habits, and defeat the purpose. Read several accounts of guys finding used 44s for sale with boxes of ammo like new except for 6 rounds missing out of the box.

So without going on too long, I'll tell you that what I finally did is buy a new Ruger Blackhawk single action with 6.5" barrel and interchangable cylinders. One is a 9mm which is great for plinking and practicing relatively cheap and can double as a personal defense gun for home or field. The other cylinder is .357 magnum which you can also shoot 38 specials out of. Can use 38 specials like the 9mm and hunt with the 357. Have used it to finish off a wounded deer but haven't yet used it as primary deer gun yet - the best advice I've heard is to consider the 357 a "loud bow" and keep shots within 40 yards or less - I do not have a scope on this handgun.

Someday when I have the $$ and consider myself more proficient with handguns I may move up to 44 or some of the beefier calibers others mention, and will also pick up a smaller CCW carry gun probably 45 ACP but at least 9mm. But for now I have a reliable revolver that doesn't beat me up for practice and I can use for deer. But to do this I had to listen to reason and resist the macho temptation to "go big" right away.

Hope this helps - Good Luck and Happy Holidays to All!

[schopie4]

If you are completely new to hanguns, you may want to consider getting a smaller non-deer caliber for a year or so to get used to shooting a handgun. If you start off to big, you may develop a twitch that will be a ***** to get rid of.

[lwingwatcher]

Just hunting? Consider a Contender---that way you can swap bbls out as you please...

[Violator22]

Ruger Super Blackhawk or a Redhawk in 41 Magnum, bring it on, I am a firm beliver in this one, the 41 has less recoil and if you reload, you can get your rounds almost all the way to 44 Mag power. The 41 is also very tried and proven for Deer out west. JMHO, Les

[deepwoods]

faceman_19,

I took my first deer this year with a .44 mag at about 35 yards. It wasn't as easy as I originally thought. It is defintely harder to hold steady especially when your freezing. Like the others said I would start small and work my way up.

By the way the pistol I use is a Dan Wesson .44 mag revolver topped with a Leupold 4X scope.

[mparks]

Ruger Super Blackhawk or a Redhawk in 41 Magnum, bring it on, I am a firm beliver in this one, the 41 has less recoil and if you reload, you can get your rounds almost all the way to 44 Mag power. The 41 is also very tried and proven for Deer out west. JMHO, Les

I got one of each!

[Violator22]

Like them don't ya, I know my dad and I do. Les

[luv 2 bowhunt]

I have the Ruger Super RedHawk in .480.
I have taken two shots at deer with it and have two nice five pointers on the wall.
Both were shot at between 75 and 80 yards.
It is topped with a Simmons 4x32 scope, I use 325 gr XTP Mag.
Like others have stated however, if you are new to handguns you may not want this to be your first handgun.
I started with a .357 mag and think that would be an ok starter, just take much closer range shots at broadside animals.
Practice, Practice, Practice.

[Frantz]

I use either my Dan Wesson 357 Mag or my Ruger Blackhawk in the .30 carbine when I go hunting. I always have my rifle and one of those two pistols with me when I deer hunt. There are other 357 Mags out there, but I would suggest something that balances out well with a 6"-8" barrel. I hunt with the 8".

[faceman_19]

Thanks for all the info gentlemen... hope you all had a very Merry Christmas!!
Take care and shoot straight.. OC