User Panel
Posted: 11/27/2021 1:11:34 PM EDT
I'm thinking about buying or building out a handgun for deer hunting. I recently learned that handguns are permitted in Missouri's muzzle loader deer season, so it has me thinking of getting a more powerful handgun.
Hunting parameters. I've recently started hunting again on my fiance's historical family farm. It is roughly 200 acres, and has a series of what I call "luxury blinds" and tree stands built as permanent structures. At the stand I normally use, it overlooks a meadow around 100 yards across. One of the other stands has a theoretical maximum range of 220 yards. 99.9% of shots will be within 100 yards. The ranges are sufficiently short that I'm building an SBR tacticool AK in 7.62x39 to be my main hunting rifle. But I digress. 99.99% of my shooting experience is with Glocks. I once owned a J-frame, but sold it because I could shoot a Glock 42 more accurately at 25 yards than I could shoot a j-frame at 3 yards. I am abysmal at shooting revolvers in double action. My main carry handguns are RMR equipped Glock 19s, which I can easily make head shots at 10 yards and body shots at 25 yards quickly, and can make body shots at 50 yards if I take my time. Here are guns I'm considering. 1) 10mm Glock 20 with a red dot, etc (i.e. just like my G19s). I am confident I can shoot this well. I used to own a 10mm, and know I can easily handle the recoil of the nuclear loads. Since I know this setup works for me, I'm tempted to go this route. My first main question is, is 10mm "enough" to kill a deer at 50 yards? I'm hoping to get shots more like 25 yards and in, but figure 50 is my absolute max, and want to be able to take that shot. 2) 10mm Glock 40 with a red dot. I'm shying away from this because my dad has one, and has issues keeping the red dot secured with the MOS system. I much prefer milled slides. 3) 460 Rowland converted Glock 21, also set up with an RMR and the other goodies. I am also confident I can shoot this well, for the first few rounds anyway. I also have some experience testing this out. I was quite impressed with it. It is a heavy recoiling Glock, but overall wasn't unpleasant to shoot. As I recall the concussion was ten times worse than the felt recoil. 4) Bite the bullet and get a revolver in 44 magnum. I know 44 magnum full power is probably overkill, but I also recently acquired a Winchester 94 carbine in this caliber and am planning to hand load for it anyway, so that kills two birds with one stone. Having not owned a full sized revolver, I have little experience shooting them and would need to practice a lot to get comfortable with it. But I think there is little doubt a full power (though not "nuclear") load will kill a white tail at 50 yards. What handguns do you guys hunt with? |
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What's the difference between a nuclear weapon and a grenade launcher? I don't own a nuclear weapon.
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If you have a 94 in 44, I would get a Ruger in 44: Super Blackhawk or Redhawk depending on whether you want a single vs. double action.
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Blessed be the Lord my Rock, who trains my hands for war, and my fingers for battle.
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Why not the best deer hunting weapon ever invented?6.5 grendel AR pistol obviously.
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Ruger “Redhawk”, 44 magnum with gold bead front sight and rear “v”notch sight, ideal.
Chinook3 |
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Killed a few deer with a super-Blackhawk in 41 magnum, it’s a joy to shoot and plenty of power to kill whitetail deer at 50yd, better be a handloader but it’s worth it. Henry levergun in same caliber is a pleasure for the whole family to shoot.
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I’d recommend finding a S&W model 29 if you like blued guns or a 629 if you’d rather stainless.
Another option is a lighter L-Frame 5 shot model 69 if you don’t mind the Hillary Hole. Great hunting guns for deer and general knocking about the woods. |
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I have killed several deer with a Ruger SBH 7.5 inch barrel. Be sure an d get plenty of range time, they hit hard on both ends.
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Cunnilingus and psychiatry brought us to this
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For maximum effect, I’d go AR pistol in something like 6.5G.
Revolver gets the cool factor. Nothing wrong with a 10mm glock. At legit pistol distance, I’m plenty comfortable with 230gr HST .45s. Also suppresses very well. |
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Nut coal is best coal. Now available in 87lb bags.
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My wife killed a lot of deer with a S&W Model 29............
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Endowment Member NRA,Life Member 2nd Amendment Foundation,NRA certified Personal Protection and Basic Pistol Instructor.
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Back in the day, I used a S&W 629 Classic with a 6.5" barrel. It worked very well.
I later changed up to a TC in 35 Remington, it worked even better. That was over 20yrs ago though. LOL |
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Originally Posted By swingset: Just head on down to your local "Shit Normal People Shouldn't Fuck Around With Supermart". Isle 3, next to the menstruating porcupine. |
Super redhawk master race. kills wild boar, deer, chipacabras... Attached File
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I enjoy the challenge of keeping shots relatively short and the convenience of having my hands free while holstered.
I have used a handful of different pistols to hunt whitetails with over the years. Glock 31 - 357 sig - 6" Glock 20 - 10mm w/ red dot S&W 686 - .357 mag - 6" S&W 629 - .44 mag - 6.5" w/ red dot S&W 500 - .500 Mag - 6.5" If I had to choose only one to cover all my hunts it would be the .44. It feels like the sweet spot to me; plenty of power and a big/heavy bullet, but still controllable and comfortable enough to shoot confidently. |
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I handgun hunted for years using a ruger red hawk 44 with a 7 inch barrel. Both scoped and iron sights.
Get a good load. My preferred load was made by Nosler factory load and a hand load that duplicated the same energy at range. Shot deer open sights out to 120 yards and 200 yards with a scope. Practice and good luck. |
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JTAC ELF OWL 300 BLK Bolt Action Pistol
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Braced scoped 10.5" AR pistol in 6.5G, 6.8SPC, or similar power caliber, good to 200 yards.
Braced scoped TC Encore or Contender in caliber of choice between .243 and .308, good to 200 yards. Scoped 629, good to 100 yards. |
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I use a Glock 20 for Missouri’s alternative methods season. Handloaded 180 XTPs haven’t let me down yet. Going to use a .357 that I recently inherited this year then I’ll switch back to the 10MM.
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I like .41 Mags but similar guns in .44 Mag would be easier to find and you already have the carbine.
Attached File CD |
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De Oppresso Liber
Iraq: 91,03,04,05,06,08,09,15&16' Afghanistan: 09,10,11',14',17',18',19',20'&21' |
Originally Posted By Pumpkinheaver: I use a Glock 20 for Missouri’s alternative methods season. Handloaded 180 XTPs haven’t let me down yet. Going to use a .357 that I recently inherited this year then I’ll switch back to the 10MM. View Quote I almost bought a Glock 20 specifically for MO alternative season. Instead, I bought a fixed power scope to mount on a .44 Mag T/C barrel for the Contender I inherited from my Step Father. I’m using Buffalo Bore and Underwood loads. |
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"There are two things we should fight for. One is the defense of our homes and the other is the Bill of Rights. War for any other reason is simply a racket." MajGen Smedley Butler, USMC
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Originally Posted By bigcraig: Back in the day, I used a S&W 629 Classic with a 6.5" barrel. It worked very well. I later changed up to a TC in 35 Remington, it worked even better. That was over 20yrs ago though. LOL View Quote How is the recoil on the .35 REM out of the TC? I’m a huge .35 REM fan. I own several Marlin 336’s in it. Killed my first deer with one. As my earlier post stated, right now I’m using a .44 Mag T/C but I’d love to pick up a .35Rem or .308. |
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"There are two things we should fight for. One is the defense of our homes and the other is the Bill of Rights. War for any other reason is simply a racket." MajGen Smedley Butler, USMC
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NRA Life Member
USPSA-IPSC Phuc cancer I liked this place a lot better when it was a gun forum. |
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I suggest we trade a question mark in for a maybe.
IA, USA
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Originally Posted By rocco1695: How is the recoil on the .35 REM out of the TC? I’m a huge .35 REM fan. I own several Marlin 336’s in it. Killed my first deer with one. As my earlier post stated, right now I’m using a .44 Mag T/C but I’d love to pick up a .35Rem or .308. View Quote View All Quotes View All Quotes Originally Posted By rocco1695: Originally Posted By bigcraig: Back in the day, I used a S&W 629 Classic with a 6.5" barrel. It worked very well. I later changed up to a TC in 35 Remington, it worked even better. That was over 20yrs ago though. LOL How is the recoil on the .35 REM out of the TC? I’m a huge .35 REM fan. I own several Marlin 336’s in it. Killed my first deer with one. As my earlier post stated, right now I’m using a .44 Mag T/C but I’d love to pick up a .35Rem or .308. I have one too. Substantial(heavier than .44) but not intolerable. A good bit less than the same frame with my 12".45-70. |
WARNING-this post contains words or thoughts that may at some point be discovered by the state of California to cause cancer.
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I use a Savage Striker in 243win, but that's because I shoot suppressed so revolvers are a no go for me. If I didn't have the striker I would probably look at a Contender Pistol.
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I used a G20 this season, it was my first handgun hunt and I had a great time. I killed a doe at ~40 yards.
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Signal-0 Productions Firearms Training check it out at Signal-0.com
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44 magnum hard to beat.
629 or Anaconda Load them mild to wild. |
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1911 in .45 will do it, but they did classify ar pistols as expressly permitted.
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