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?

Why not the best deer hunting  weapon ever invented?6.5 grendel AR pistol  obviously.

Ruger “Redhawk”, 44 magnum with gold bead front sight and rear “v”notch sight, ideal.

Chinook3

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.

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.

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.

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.

My wife killed a lot of deer with a S&W Model 29............

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

Super redhawk master race. kills wild boar, deer, chipacabras... Attached File

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.

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.

JTAC ELF OWL 300 BLK Bolt Action Pistol

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.

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.

I have primarily used my S&W 629-2 ( 8 3/8" ) with 240 grain Hornady XTP's for whitetail deer.  In all honesty it's a heavy pistol to shoot unsupported from a treestand.  I have a rope tree step covered with pipe insulation that I attach to the tree loosely in order that I can rotate it.  It allows me to shoot supported from most positions except a shot facing the front of my stand.  

I like .41 Mags but similar guns in .44 Mag would be easier to find and you already have the carbine.

Attached File


CD

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.

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 like the challenge of (iron sighted) handgun hunting deer.

I like a 240gr JHP with a max load of H110 powder.

I have also used 45ACP, 45SUPER and 357magnum.

My 629 has put a lot of meat in the freezer.
I reload 240gr. Swift A-Frames and XTP’s. both group very well on the 100 yard bench.
It’s topped off with a Leupold 2.5x8 scope.

I have one too. Substantial(heavier than .44) but not intolerable.

A good bit less than the same frame with my 12".45-70.

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.

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.

I'm really loving my G40 MOS, about 100 rounds so far with no mount issues.

With Contender prices where they're at, I got a 14" 44mag CVA Scout pistol for under $400.

Liked it enough that I got a 45/70 rifle also for under $400.  

Both came threaded.  Together they cost less than a Contender.

That said, I loved my 30-30 Contender.

44 magnum hard to beat.

629 or Anaconda

Load them mild to wild.

1911 in .45 will do it, but they did classify ar pistols as expressly permitted.