Handguns for Whitetails!
 

I have recently become the owner of a S&W 38 Special, and also a Colt .357 Magnum. I was wondering if either of these would be good for hunting Whitetails in Wisconsin, and if so which loads I should use. I have plenty of experience shooting pistols and revolvers, I have just never used them for hunting. Please help, I am supposed to leave for Wisconsin in 2 weeks.

Thanks
Chris

RE: Handguns for Whitetails!
 

My first handgun was a Colt 357 it was ok but I was looking in a magazine at balistics between a 357 and 44 and the 44 was so much more impressive as far as nock down power so i bought a Ruger Super Redhawk 9 1/2" barrel and shoot 180grain never tried 240grain I think you would like this gun theres a big differance hunting with these two guns but hey the 357 agood gun to I wasjust sharing my experiance
with these particular guns.

I also have a Thompson Centerfire rifel pistol 7mm08 another good option in handgun hunting check it out.

Good Luck
Oneida1

RE: Handguns for Whitetails!
 

Based on everything I have ever been told or read about handgunning for whitetails; you would be undergunned using a .357 mag.. The .357 just does'nt deliver enough ft. lbs. of energy beyond the muzzle to produce clean and consistant kills. I would recommend that you sell your .357 or .38 and buy a .41 mag. or .44 mag.. Which model Colt is it? I might be interested.

[Deleted]
 

[Deleted by Admins]

RE: Handguns for Whitetails!
 

use the colt 357mag. definatly not the 38 spl, but the .357mag will undoubtable do the job. Im hoping you reload? also hoping you have a 6in barrel or more on the 357.
If you reload then get some 180gr hornady XTP some Hodgdon "lil'gun" powder some magnum primer and start reloading. the max charge is 15gr producing 34,500cup if memory serves me correctly. start lower and work up to the 15gr. look for signs of pressure. My accuracy was 1" at 25 yards with 15grs of lil'gun. you could also try heavy doses of H110 or 2400 but they produce higher pressures. Also reload some practice ammo, youll need it to hit targets effectivly with a handgun unless you are very good and practice a lot.

If you dont reload get a couple boxes of ammo to practice with of whatever generic 357mag you can find the cheapest. Then buy some Winchester 180 supreme partitions gold. these should give you the penetration you will need. I believe remingtion makes a core-lokt with similar charateristics (might be a 165gr bullet).
Penetration needs to be good (at least in my opinion) so a hardcast would also work. Try for lung-heart broadside shots only, dont try to bust the shoulder. only good steady shots, dont rush it.
This morning i used my load on an 8point buck weighing 160field dressed, the shot was perfect broadside at 25 yards. the deer ran only 25 yards beyond that. the bullet enter at .357 and exited at .65" to .70". on the way in it hit a rib and busted thru it like there was no tomorrow.
Here is something to remember about foot-lbs of energy, they mean nothing. a good shot thru the lungs with 250 foot-lbs (though the 357 more than doubles that) is worth more than a 2500 foot-lbs in the guts. and thats a fact

propmahn
save the world, reload your brass



Edited by - propmahn on 11/19/2002 13:32:22

RE: Handguns for Whitetails!
 

I could'nt agree more propmahn. I will be the first to agree that bullet placement is evetything when it comes to downing game. You are obviously an experienced handgun hunter with very good skills, both shooting and hunting. Unfortunatly not everyone is highly skilled and therin lies the problem. The inexperienced need to stack the deck in their favor as much as possible as failure to do so results in wasted game. A fine whitetail buck deserves nothing less.

RE: Handguns for Whitetails!
 

actually emlaur im not very expirenced at all with handgun hunting as this was my first deer, but i do have lots of expirience shooting, at least for someone my age.
The key is patience, that is all that is needed, and also self control, while i am a good shot compared to most people, i do hunt an area where shots are limited to 25 to 40 yards max. If you set your self up in a good spot with a decent rest then shot placement is easy as long as you wait for those good shots. you have to wait, wait and wait. my buch required me to wait 45 mins before a suitable shot has arrived. I do not recommend casual shooter take up handgun hunting but caldunc said he has plenty of expirence with autp and revolvers and i trust that at 25 yards with a good rest and a capable gun that he can shoot at max 3 inch groups. my gun will shoot 1" groups but i found a good load for it, and i can do 2.5" at 25 yards 2 handed. waiting is the key though, the shot must be almost perfect. no "its almost good enough" shots, no deer trotting shots, walking slowing would be ok i think.
i choose the .357 because with it i could afford the practice to get good (espeically with reloaded ammo). though if he cant do the pre requisites or is unwilling to do then, grab a rifle and good luck, because it is more of a challenge.

propmahn
save the world, reload your brass

RE: Handguns for Whitetails!
 

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My first handgun was a Colt 357 it was ok but I was looking in a magazine at balistics between a 357 and 44 and the 44 was so much more impressive as far as nock down power so i bought a Ruger Super Redhawk 9 1/2&quot; barrel and shoot 180grain never tried 240grain I think you would like this gun theres a big differance hunting with these two guns but hey the 357 agood gun to I wasjust sharing my experiance
with these particular guns.

I also have a Thompson Centerfire rifel pistol 7mm08 another good option in handgun hunting check it out.

Good Luck
Oneida1
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RE: Handguns for Whitetails!
 

Oneida,
How do you like your 7mm 08 hand gun? What barrel length is it? What do you shoot thru it? I like the shorter barrel lengths.I have a contender with one of my favorites being a 10inch in caliber 7-30 waters.I have an Encore 30-06 in a 15inch barrel and it's a bit long to my liking.I have thought about getting a 7mm08 with a muzzle tamer.Do you think one is needed?
Jack Magnum

RE: Handguns for Whitetails!
 

iv allways herd that the 357 is way to week for deer..but were i come from they use 22's one shot in the head there dead but with a 357 shot placement will be the factore of killing it or wounding it good luck and i hope your barel is long