Who hunts with a handgun for big game?
10-21-2019, 03:42 PM
#3
Spike
Join Date: Feb 2019
Location: Winchester, Wyoming
Posts: 35
Many years ago I hunted with a S&W 629 (44 Mag). Got an Antelope and a bear, should’ve taken a mule deer (was too picky), and “muffed” a shot on a moose ( finished him with a rifle). That was 1989, and am now trying to get back into using a handgun....under certain circumstances. Now using a S&W X Frame 460, with a Burris Fastfire II. Trying for a deer and or cow elk this year! Heck.....it could happen! memtb
10-21-2019, 03:44 PM
#4
Spike
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2019
Posts: 62
10-21-2019, 03:47 PM
#5
Spike
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2019
Posts: 62
Many years ago I hunted with a S&W 629 (44 Mag). Got an Antelope and a bear, should’ve taken a mule deer (was too picky), and “muffed” a shot on a moose ( finished him with a rifle). That was 1989, and am now trying to get back into using a handgun....under certain circumstances. Now using a S&W X Frame 460, with a Burris Fastfire II. Trying for a deer and or cow elk this year! Heck.....it could happen! memtb
Good luck in getting back into the swing of all things handguns
10-21-2019, 05:36 PM
#6
Spike
Join Date: Feb 2019
Location: Winchester, Wyoming
Posts: 35
10-21-2019, 06:20 PM
#7
Spike
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2019
Posts: 62
10-22-2019, 04:53 AM
#8
Spike
Join Date: Feb 2019
Location: Winchester, Wyoming
Posts: 35
I know that to be untimely successful,I need to go all in....but, just can’t quite make the commitment. Maybe, if I’d been successful on some of my dream trophies. If I totally commit, I know that the trophies of my dreams will be “just” beyond handgun range! Decisions.....decisions!
memtb
10-22-2019, 07:59 AM
#9
Super Moderator
Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: texas
Posts: 1,201
I purchased mine in about 1983 , used it almost constantly ever since.
YES IT REQUIRES a shoulder holster to use comfortably
it may not be popular but its incredibly accurate and I know a few dozen deer and hogs and an a couple elk regretted its introduction
the front sites got four independently adjustable heights allowing you to accurately zero the pistol at four different ranges each of the 4 front site positions on the 10 5/8" barrel S&W is INDIVIDUALLY adjustable and the front site height can be almost instantly swapped by spinning a selector wheel in the site base
Ive got mine set on
50 yards
100 yards
150 yards
200 yards
once you site in, its dead on at the range selected, I generally leave it set at 100 yards, its close enough to be used in 90% of my shots set like that
btw
you can get really close by sighting in to hit 1.5" high at 25 yards =100 yard zero
you can get really close by sighting in to hit 3.2" high at 25 yards =150 yard zero
you can get really close by sighting in to hit 5.3" high at 25 yards =200 yard zero
I used a 21 grain charge of H110 under a LEE 310 grain hard cast 44 cal. bullet seated out to the lower crimp groove
https://www.midwayusa.com/product/5...cf-430-diameter-310-grain-flat-nose-gas-check
MOLD DC C 430-310-RF
Ive also used and own a 10" dan wesson 445 super mag
http://www.sixguns.com/tests/tt445sm.htm
30 grains of h110 with the same hard cast 310grain lee bullet
the 445 DWSM has a marginally flatter trajectory, hits a bit harder as its 1500 fps vs about 1350 fps with the 44 mag
either revolver shoots clear through any deer , the 44 mag has killed 2 elk
think archery , get in under 50 yards if you can and precisely place your first shot
do that and you have zero issues
the 445 DWSM is significantly heavier, noticeably more accurate
3-4" 100 yard groups with the 44 mag off a bench rest
the dwsm is about 2"-3" off a bench rest
Last edited by hardcastonly; 10-22-2019 at 08:43 AM.
10-22-2019, 09:32 AM
#10
Typical Buck
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: fairview park oh
Posts: 657
love hand gun hunting mostly use t/c 's especially the contender in 45-70 think i will be using the hand cannons moer now that my shoulders are really starting to give me fit's & a lot of pain lately