Handgun Round for Deer Hunting

.50 Desert Eagle

I used a S&W 629 Powerport in .44 for one season many years ago. Ammo is readily available and the .44 is good for short and sub-50 yard shots.

I used iron sights for the entire season and I missed a few because of it. Handgun hunting is a real challenge and is a lot of fun once you get the hang of it. If you are going to go the handgun route the only ethical way to do it is with a low power scope a good shooting rest and some discretion when shooting in densely wooded areas. The Federal Castcore rounds performed beautifully.

A friend of mine uses the .41 mag and 10mm in wheelguns and loves them.

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I always thought that a .357 would be big enough for deer. Am I wrong?

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I'm sure the .357 would do great and given my preference I would have much rathered a Colt Python over the S&W. Alas, my pockets werent deep enough..

The real consideration is where are you hunting and is the gun legal there? I was living in GA at the time and the GA Regs say the round must produce 500 ft/lbs at 100 yards to be legal. Thus, in GA using a .45 or even a .357 Mag would be illegal as they dont meet the ft/lb restriction. TV personality O'Neill Williams hunted GA illegally on national television some years back and did a quick public service announcement a week later after the DNR gave him a call.

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I always thought that a .357 would be big enough for deer. Am I wrong?

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Choirboy can report back on this in the near future. He texted me a pic of a new box of hopped up ammo yesterday. He is planning on taking out one with his 686 this year.

He got one with a 1911 a couple years ago so I have faith in his abilities.

I would go .44 mag. of those choices.
Definately the most common, and least kicking of the bunch.
For my hands, even the 44 is a bit too rough.(I can admit I'm a recoil wuss. It will make me flinch.)
So if I would pick from ANY pistol round it would be the .45 Long Colt. 255 gr around 1000 fps should do the trick on a deer. 357 as my #2 pick.

I killed a whitetail with a S&W Mod 10 .38 special 2" barrel with a bobbed hammer. Double action.

Of course it was at about 7 yards in the back of his head but hey, it's still more about bullet placement than performance.

I kill a bunch of deer with a .44mag Super Blackhawk with the 10 5/8" barral. Best shot was right at 100 yards. I did work up a hand load for it though that was real hot. Gave a couple to someone with a S&W 629 that like to blow it apart.

So, the old 629's CAN'T handle the pressure that a Blackhawk can. The bridge is the weak point on those guns. If I were to buy another, I would go with the Blackhawk with the 7 1/2" barral and a 2 power red dot scope,30mm tube. Don't go any higher in power. If you do, you will miss everything. Don't ask me how I know.

I like your style.

And to Boats, as a rule of thumb..you generally don't need an excuse to buy a .44 mag.

"Shoot something with a Glock, and they're dead"

Hell, I killed a doe with a .38. It can be done. Also killed one with a .40 S&W at 35 yards.