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Old 10-29-2004, 12:37 AM
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driftrider
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Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Coralville, IA. USA
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Default RE: Semi-Auto Pistol, Range/Deer gun.. Suggestions?

I'm going to stand with Briman on this one. There just really aren't any "do-it-all" semi-auto pistols. Semi-auto pistols tend to be fairly specialized in their design, so you won't find one to do everything you want in one cheap compact package. Most semi-auto pistols are designed to be defensive weapons for taking down two-legged critters at close range. These defensive handguns are not, and never have been, intended as a hunting pistol. Defensive handguns are made to be, first and foremost, reliable. Accuracy and power are secondary. (If your gun doesn't go bang, you lose, and it's better to hit a target with a 9mm than miss with a .44 Mag). But for hunting, the opposite is true, accuracy and sufficient firepower are paramount, because we have the luxury of picking our shots, or not shooting at all, and our target animal isn't shooting back. And since the power levels of most semi-auto handguns are inadequate or marginal for deer sized game at best, shot placement is absolutely critical. Secondly, most defensive handguns have fixed sights regulated to be fairly close usually at about 25 yards, which is considered long range for a defensive combat encounter. But I'd argue that fairly close is not good enough when taking an optional shot on a game animal.

Of course, there is the option of stepping up to the Desert Eagle in .357Mag, .44Mag or .50AE. All will do the job well (some would argue that the .357 is a little light, but that's another topic). Of course, you're going to spend a bit more than you want to for such a gun, and it's not exactly a plinker either, but it'd be more than enough gun for deer hunting.

I think that your best bet is to reconsider what you want out of the gun and set your priorities. The first place to start would be to rethink the semi-auto requirement. Semi-autos are, for all practical purposes, not good hunting guns. You will be much better served by a 6"+ revolver in a caliber such as .357Mag, .41Mag or .44Mag, such as a Ruger Blackhawk, Redhawk or Super Blackhawk. Or if you want a real slugger, there is the option of .454 Casull (can also shoot .45Colt), .480Ruger or .500 S&W (a real bruiser to be sure). Sure, a revolver won't give you the high speed ***BANGBANGBANGBANGBANGBANGBANGBANGBANGBANGBANGBAN G*** thrills of a semi-auto, but it will put a bullet accurately where you want it and have plenty of power to spare when the bullet gets there.

Mike
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