Does anybody hunt with a pistol and if so what caliber??

I always carry a .44 mag to the woods with me. But usually in case I walk up on some Hogs on my way to the stand.
But I do plan on hunting with it this year.
Mine has an 8-3/8" barrell and it is extremely accurate up to 30 yards with open sights. Haven't tried any shots longer than that.

i carry a 10 mm in the field with me for the same reason. everyone ive talked to hunts with a 44 mag.

I used to hunt with an 8" barrel 44 mag and have taken a doe at 60 yards open sights without a problem. I sold that gun off but still have a Contender pistol in 30-30 (scoped), 35rem (scoped) and 45/70 (open sights) barrels. I have yet to take an animal with the Contender but it increases the range for me to right at 100 yards.

Love hunting with a pistol! My preferred weapon, when rattling alone. My favorites are 7 1/2 inch Rugers in 44. No scopes.

What calibers a legal for deer hunting ?

my favorite, Ruger Black Hawk Bisley .45 colt, 7 1/2 bbl. using 300 grain Buffalo Bore, will take anything around here down. open sights makes it more of a challenge.

i have a buddy that hunts with a 5 1/2 ruger vaquero 45 colt. he says its great for deer to about 100. any truth to that?

I shoot a ruger blackhawk 45 colt with some handload siera 240 gr JHC at about 1200fps. I havent shot anything with it yet but hogs in a trap, but it should do just fine.

matt

what length barrel red?

Two years ago I was in my blind on a Friday afternoon, and I was looking forward to a steak in town after sundown. Well, out come these three doe. I said to myself "man, I really don't feel like cleaning a deer tonite. If they come this way, I'll shoot the big one with my .45".

Well, they came directly toward my tree stand, so still not wanting to clean a deer I said to myself "OK, if I reach into my backpack and they don't spook, I'll shoot one". I lean down, make a racket getting into my bag, look back twoard the deer, and they're walking and looking right at me.

I finally say to myself, "OK, if I can rack a round and they don't spook, I'll shoot one". I rack a round into my Para .45, and they continue to walk.

I put the sights on the big doe at about 40 yards, and fire. She kicked and ran, but not far.

So, yea, I've hunted with a pistol, but the hunt did not start out that way.

Oh, and I still made it into town for a steak!!! LOL

I am looking fwd to hunting with my new encore pistol barrel.

I've hunted with pistols for over 30 years. At first Im used a .22 revolver for small game, then got a .357 revolver.


It's a challenge wheh deer-hunting, but we're lucky to have hogs to practice on. If you do decide to hunt deer (or large game) only one thing I suggest: Practice, practice, practice...

a .45 colt with the right ammo will get em at 100 yards, but I limit my shots to shooting out of a tripod at 30 yards, but at hogs I will try any range just to see what I can do with open sights. I know an old timer up north that hunts all over the country with a .45 and takes elk, mule deer at 100 yards, but he is one helluva experienced shot.

I have been handgun hunting exclusively for over 25 years. I have several 44 magnums such as S&W 629 and 29 and Ruger Redhawk and Super Blackhawk. However the pistols that I use most for my serious hunting are Freedom Arms 454 Casull, S&W 460XVR and TC Encore 30-06. I have scopes on all of these and have had a great amount of success with each.

Although these are considerably more powerful than a 44, a good 44 magnum will still do the job on a whitetail.

What is the smallest pistol caliber you would feel comfortable using on Texas deer within 50 yards?

Some people go with a 357, but not me, especially for the average hunter. I feel that a 44 magnum is the best "starting" gun for whitetail. I would use a good 240 grain bullet and it will definitely do the job. A 41 magnum is good as well, but ammo is more difficult to find.

So would a .40 s&w 180gr. be completely out of the question is that even legal?

Sorry i know thats a crazy question but hey u never know if you dont ask someone who does.

I personally would not recommend a 40S&W for deer hunting. Here are the approximately foot pounds of energy at 50 and 100 yards.

40S&W 358 50 yds 324 100 yds

357 416 50 yds 378 100 yds

44mag 877 50 yds 713 100 yds

I personally would not use a 357 for deer either and the 40S&W is not as powerful as a 357. The same applies for most autos such as 45ACP 9mm etc.

I forgot to put the bullet weights from the above post. the 40S&W was 180 grailn, 357 180 grain and 44 mag, 240 grain. This info came from the Federal website.