Handload for deer

[dale53]

Handgun hunting absolutely REQUIRES lots of "trigger time" to become proficient with a powerful handgun. My choice is .44 magnum, but the .45 Colt works as well.

If you don't reload (I certainly do) then you better have deep pockets. It is a rare individual who can effectively handle a powerful big bore handgun under field positions unless a lot of practice is involved.

I HAVE spent the necessary shop time (casting bullets and reloading) range time (extensive practice) as well a much match shooting (adds pressure to the equation) that I feel quite confident at usual woods hunting ranges. ALL of my deer have been taken with a handgun and I found a good handgun to be quite effective. The kill zone on a deer can be considered about the size of a volley ball. If you can keep ALL of your shots on said volley ball at woods ranges with full power loads then you are "good to go"...

FWIW
Dale53

[jforwel]

Well said Dale. I have taken one antelope with a T/C Contender (scope), one Javeline with the same gun but different barrel, and one Javelina with a BH .41 magnum. The T/C's are certainly in a class by themselves and I caught the fever by reading Bob Milek in G & A years ago. I just got my first set of glasses and I took one of my revolvers to the office with me in order to try them on iron sights. Haven't had much range time yet but I am confident there will be much improvement.

Maybe I'll be able to dust off some of the olders guns and enjoy them once again. I will admit though that most of my deer and antelope were shot with rifles.

[Sarge]

I used to take that approach and lost a couple of deer, over 25 years of handgun hunting. I have since shrunk my volley ball down to a 'good-sized grapefruit' from field positions. In my case this generally means 50 yards or less; I am happy with that.

[Bowenbuilt]

I was sort of taken back recently and had to re-think my loads for deer. About 3 years ago A young little squirt about 16 years old came by my office with his Dad, they had purchased a used .45 Ruger Vaquero with a 5.5" barrel and he wanted to know what he would need to go deer hunting with the gun. I explained they needed to buy some reloading equipment, which one of my buddies donated when he found out about the quest. I went by and set him up with a 500 box of 250 grain flat nose, Oregon Trail bullets, some brass and a can of Unique. I set the powder measure for 8 grains just for practice loads. Not long afterward I received a call from an out of breath adolescent screaming I killed a 6 point buck this morning! When I inquired about the load, the same 8 grains of Unique I set him up with months earlier. He has since killed his limit every year shooting from 35 to 50 yards and has yet to recover a bullet. I think I will try that same combo this year and reduce my world shaking, bark splintering loads and try to make the woods a calmer place this season.

[dmize]

The first deer I dropped with a sixgun was a 255 RNFP in front of a Cowboy dose of WW231 in a 4 5/8 Blackhawk at 25 yards.
THAT was back when I was listenin to gunshop expert.....only use pistols for finishing off critters and 45's are weak.....
Nowdays after I have killed a boxcar load of deer,logic tells that a 255 grain chunk of lead at a repectful but sub 4 figure velocity only need to be put in the proper place at a realistic distance .

[ward01]

In the past I had access to a nice little patch of timber and I had a little game I played for hunting practice. I would start on one end of the timber and walk thru carrying a staper and some paper plates. I would indiscriminately staple a plate on a tree every now and then. When I got to the end of the timber, I would turn around and start walking back and whenever a paper plate would come into view I would attempt to place a killing shot. It gave some pretty good experience in dealing with branches and such that always seem to get in the way.

Ward

[don44]

I love to hunt with a handgun (44 Magnum)!

[derekr]

Nov 11, 2011 11:33:16 GMT -5 ward01 said:

In the past I had access to a nice little patch of timber and I had a little game I played for hunting practice. I would start on one end of the timber and walk thru carrying a staper and some paper plates. I would indiscriminately staple a plate on a tree every now and then. When I got to the end of the timber, I would turn around and start walking back and whenever a paper plate would come into view I would attempt to place a killing shot. It gave some pretty good experience in dealing with branches and such that always seem to get in the way.

Ward

This sounds like a great way to practice. It is hard to duplicate the variable that exist in the woods.