Handgun hunting

[Xae289]

I'm interested in handgun hunting and wanted to see if you guys would be willing to share some experiences, tips, tricks, what handgun you use, what ammo used, etc.

I decided that I would like to try handgun hunting for whitetails next season. To me that means that I need some constant handgun practice and I've started shooting 42-48 rounds out of my S&W 629 every week for the past few weeks. I plan to keep this up until hunting season along with daily dry-fire practice. For now, I'm working on fundamentals and doing a bunch of load development, trying different bullet/powder combos, middling .44 Magnums and hot .44 Specials. My goal by November is to be able to shoot 6/6 on 6" plates at 50 yards off-hand. The last few times I've tried that, I'd regularly hit 4/6 on a good day. I'd also like to try 100 yard shots off the bench for fun, even though I definitely won't shoot that far.

 

[Carlos Hathcock]

I have a Ruger Super Blackhawk in .44mag. Red dot sight. I've been using Hornady factory FTX. Just can't see investing in reloading equipment. Haven't scored with it yet.

 

[turbobike]

Raging Bull 454 Casull …red dot..zero’d at 50yards…

 

[Xae289]

Raging Bull 454 Casull …red dot..zero’d at 50yards…

454 Casull is a whole different animal. That's an epic ring of fire out of that snub-nose. Have you taken anything with it yet?

 

[Shoots100]

I'm interested in handgun hunting and wanted to see if you guys would be willing to share some experiences, tips, tricks, what handgun you use, what ammo used, etc.

I decided that I would like to try handgun hunting for whitetails next season. To me that means that I need some constant handgun practice and I've started shooting 42-48 rounds out of my S&W 629 every week for the past few weeks. I plan to keep this up until hunting season along with daily dry-fire practice. For now, I'm working on fundamentals and doing a bunch of load development, trying different bullet/powder combos, middling .44 Magnums and hot .44 Specials. My goal by November is to be able to shoot 6/6 on 6" plates at 50 yards off-hand. The last few times I've tried that, I'd regularly hit 4/6 on a good day. I'd also like to try 100 yard shots off the bench for fun, even though I definitely won't shoot that far.

Do you hunt from a tree stand, ground blind or still hunt ?
While it's great practicing off hand, you should always look for a rest to make the most accurate shot.
Deer don't always play by the rules and offer a kill shot right away and you'll find that that Mdl 629 will get very heavy if you need to wait for a shot opportunity.
The movement of lowering or lifting the revolver will get noticed.
When still hunting, I get near a tree to use as a rest and cover.
If hunting from a tree stand, you need to practice down angled shots.
If hunting from a ground blind, you should use some type of bipod and not rest on the blind.
Did you settle on what type of holster your going to use in the field ?
Most use some type of chest rig for easy deployment.
I started handgun hunting 30+ years ago with a .357 mag and slowly graduated to a scoped 44 mag SRH, then scoped contender multi caliber as my income improved.
Now I carry a 500 S&W snubby or a .44 mag titanium as a sidearm for bigger critters, close engagements on deer drives and maybe a finishing shot.
I load medium hot 240 grn JHP's in the 44, as hot loads will only wear you and the pistol out.
100 yards is no problem for a 44 mag, if our eyes can see a target at that range clearly.
Handgun hunting is a lot of fun.

SJC

 

[S&W Fan]

Practicing will certainly help. I would suggest first developing the load that you intend to use for hunting . That’s what you should be practicing with. Me and a buddy of mine load up midrange magnum 240 grn. SJHP ‘s . I’ve killed a couple with my Ruger SBH .44 . Nothing yet with my 5” 629 with a red dot.
These days I typically won’t shoot much past 50 yards.

 

[Xae289]

Do you hunt from a tree stand, ground blind or still hunt ?
While it's great practicing off hand, you should always look for a rest to make the most accurate shot.
Deer don't always play by the rules and offer a kill shot right away and you'll find that that Mdl 629 will get very heavy if you need to wait for a shot opportunity.
The movement of lowering or lifting the revolver will get noticed.
When still hunting, I get near a tree to use as a rest and cover.
If hunting from a tree stand, you need to practice down angled shots.
If hunting from a ground blind, you should use some type of bipod and not rest on the blind.
Did you settle on what type of holster your going to use in the field ?
Most use some type of chest rig for easy deployment.
I started handgun hunting 30+ years ago with a .357 mag and slowly graduated to a scoped 44 mag SRH, then scoped contender multi caliber as my income improved.
Now I carry a 500 S&W snubby or a .44 mag titanium as a sidearm for bigger critters, close engagements on deer drives and maybe a finishing shot.
I load medium hot 240 grn JHP's in the 44, as hot loads will only wear you and the pistol out.
100 yards is no problem for a 44 mag, if our eyes can see a target at that range clearly.
Handgun hunting is a lot of fun.

SJC

I hunt from a tree stand on private land and still hunt on public land. As far as carry method, I have a chest pack for it, but that'll be for when I climb into the stand or while my hands are otherwise full.

I'll definitely use a rest of some kind. Shooting sticks on the ground and the frame of the stand when I'm up in it. The off-hand shooting is so I can really work on my fundamentals. I figure that if I can shoot a tight group at 50 yards offhand, I'll be able to shoot accurately at 50 yards off a good rest when adrenaline is flowing. I'm definitely going to practice rested as it gets close to hunting season.

I did consider the idea of fatigue setting in while holding on a deer. I don't plan to hold on one for too long, but I do a good amount of lifting and added in handgunning specific weight training a few times per week. Dumbell arm raises, holding two 10lbs weights straight out in front of me until I can't anymore, arm circles, holding my revolver straight out until the red dot starts to shake, and a few others.

Practicing will certainly help. I would suggest first developing the load that you intend to use for hunting . That’s what you should be practicing with. Me and a buddy of mine load up midrange magnum 240 grn. SJHP ‘s . I’ve killed a couple with my Ruger SBH .44 . Nothing yet with my 5” 629 with a red dot.
These days I typically won’t shoot much past 50 yards.

I'm definitely planning for 50 yards to be my maximum range. Where I hunt, you really can't get clear shots past 50 yards, and I don't try to thread the needle or blast through brush with a rifle, much less a handgun.

As far as load development, my problem is that I don't know what would do best. I have 200, 240, and 300 grain Hornady XTP (JHP) bullets, 240 hard cast SWC and 300 hard cast WFN. I don't know if one will be more lethal than the other or which would do best. I'm thinking I'll settle on whichever I shoot most accurately.

I appreciate the advice to load to midrange, since I don't want to shoot a lot of full-throttle loads. What do you guys consider midrange? My 240 grainers are doing 1150-1200 in .44 Special cases and 1250-1300 out of Magnum cases. I only loaded the 300 grainers in Magnum cases, and they're doing 1075-1125 fps. I haven't shot the 200 grainers yet but I expect around 1350-1400 fps from them.

Thanks to both of you for your advice!

 

[repete]

I started out many many years ago with a .357 and still in love with them, with that said for the last 20 years use mostly a Super Blackhawk in .44 mag. I load all my own and use 240 gn XTP's for most deer and cast 240's for practice. I consider mid-range at 50 yards and long range 100, that seems to be getting a bit more difficult each year but I can still do it with a rest. I've got a bunch of 300gr XTP's loaded hot that I made for bear hunting and I'm not a real fan of them, recoil is to great and it takes your eyes off the target. I've taken deer out to 275 yard with a Contender in .35 Rem and rabbits and chucks out to 100yd with a Ruger single six in .22mag. Lots of fun to be had and a lot less weight to carry in the field!

 

[Xae289]

I started out many many years ago with a .357 and still in love with them, with that said for the last 20 years use mostly a Super Blackhawk in .44 mag. I load all my own and use 240 gn XTP's for most deer and cast 240's for practice. I consider mid-range at 50 yards and long range 100, that seems to be getting a bit more difficult each year but I can still do it with a rest. I've got a bunch of 300gr XTP's loaded hot that I made for bear hunting and I'm not a real fan of them, recoil is to great and it takes your eyes off the target. I've taken deer out to 275 yard with a Contender in .35 Rem and rabbits and chucks out to 100yd with a Ruger single six in .22mag. Lots of fun to be had and a lot less weight to carry in the field!

Rabbits at 100 with a rimfire handgun is some really incredible shooting. Have you chronographed your 240gr XTP load?

 

[repete]

Rabbits at 100 with a rimfire handgun is some really incredible shooting. Have you chronographed your 240gr XTP load?

The trick was tp find them standing still and use a rest, doubt very much I could do that today(even with the scope).
Never had chrono. but just used book data.

 

[stokes]

I've been using a Super Blackhawk .44 mag for over 20 yrs.I used to have an Aimpoint on it,on my first hunt with the aimpoint, 3rd day the battery died at the wrong time, had to shoot the deer with no dot.So I went to a scope.The fact that I aint taking a chance at over 50 yds and wanting to reduce the weight I ditched it all and went back to stock sights.I am on the move all the time when I hunt and use a hiking staff with a gun rest on top of the handle for stability.Tried various holsters and have been happiest with a simple cross draw leather holster.

 

[fresch]

Thompson Contender super 14 in 41 mag with 1.5x scope.