Pistol Caliber for Deer
#11
Spike
Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 90

I have a scoped Ruger .480 super redhawk and an 11-87 slug/shotgun...I much prefer hunting with the shotgun. The long eye relief on the handgun really makes it much more of a challenge...I am probably good out to 100 yards but I still like the shotgun far better if I want to kill something.
#12
Typical Buck
Join Date: May 2006
Location:
Posts: 585

Not that there is anything wrong with the TCE, but I agree with the others. I'd use a rifle for 200 yard work.
To me, handgun hunting is a revolver without a scope. I have a 44mag. It does the job.

To me, handgun hunting is a revolver without a scope. I have a 44mag. It does the job.

#17
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location:
Posts: 58

I have a 45/70 in two different models. The 45/70 is an outstanding deer pistol. It is extremely accurated when it is topped with a Leupold pistol scope. Some models have almost as much power a muzzleloader. The recoil is quite stiff, but it's not as sharp and painful as the .308.
#18
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: SC USA
Posts: 1,434

I am new to pistol hunting and still have a lot to learn. But I went with an Encore .308 pistol with a Bushnell 3200 2x6x32 scope.
I got humbled quickly and it took me a good 3-4 shooting sessions to get it on good . But I finally got it shooting fist size groups at 100 yrs with 10-12 Ballistic Silvertip 150's. Recoil is managable to me..........pretty brutal while sighting in but not very noticable on one or two shots hunting. I really never thought that I would be able to shoot real long shots(200 or so), but it is amazing how quickly it started coming together (however Idid get the trigger worked). But after some practice............I ended up shooting a small hog at 163 yrds with a crappy rest and rilled it. So I am thinking.......in a shooting house with a sand bag ............200 may not be "all" that impossible !!
I like this gun so much I just orered some custom laminate grips and a Leupold 2x8x32 for it . Supposedly the Leupold is the absolute best pistol scope ..........so we will see !!
Good luck !!!
I got humbled quickly and it took me a good 3-4 shooting sessions to get it on good . But I finally got it shooting fist size groups at 100 yrs with 10-12 Ballistic Silvertip 150's. Recoil is managable to me..........pretty brutal while sighting in but not very noticable on one or two shots hunting. I really never thought that I would be able to shoot real long shots(200 or so), but it is amazing how quickly it started coming together (however Idid get the trigger worked). But after some practice............I ended up shooting a small hog at 163 yrds with a crappy rest and rilled it. So I am thinking.......in a shooting house with a sand bag ............200 may not be "all" that impossible !!
I like this gun so much I just orered some custom laminate grips and a Leupold 2x8x32 for it . Supposedly the Leupold is the absolute best pistol scope ..........so we will see !!
Good luck !!!