If you can shoot a three inch group at 50 yards with it then you should have no trouble out to 50 yards. You want to be sure you can place that bellet within an inch or two of where you aim to use that small caliber handgun. I think I would stay with a good 158 grain jacketed bullet. I carry mine when I deer hunt but have only used it for finishing off a few critter. I like a 44 mag for handgun deer hunting.