HUNTING WITH A HANDGUN
Do you ever hunt with a handgun? If you do, what do you use?
John P., Michigan
I'm not a strong advocate of hunting with a handgun, although a fair number of people are fairly successful at it. I would recommend being equipped with plenty of power, because there is an effect that handguns impart that is totally false. For example, find someone who has a rifle chambered for the 44 Magnum and go to the range. Check that drop and impact at 100 yards. Surprisingly weak, isn't it? There really isn't much power there; at least not compared to a true hunting rifle cartridge. Some of that has been put into our heads by Hollywood. The black-powder 44-40 can knock someone off his horse at an incredible distance, and shoots just shy of as flat as a pancake. Right? Hell no. It has a trajectory only a little better than a rainbow, and a horse will likely get as mad as the dickens if shot with one at 50 yards. A hit rider, on the other hand, would probably turn the horse and run over you. An hour after Doc Adams patches him up, he'll be over at the Long branch.
Now, take the 44 Magnum and fire it in a revolver. Holy Toledo! Man, does that thing ever pack a punch! I bet I could stop a speeding locomotive with it! Well, don't try it. Just because it made a big "POW" and kicked like nothing you've ever shot before, it's best to come to terms with the facts and realize it has about 30% less power in the average revolver than it did in the rifle... not much. So, my minimum choice for a close shot (certainly not more than 100 yards) on deer would be a 44 Magnum. As a sidearm for hunting, in the event that I'm seriously threatened and am in a dangerous situation with, say, a bear in Alaska, I do carry a 4-3/4-inch barreled Freedom Arms 454 Casull Premier Grade without adjustable sights. I load it heavy with three rounds of solid 320-grain "Punch Bullets" (look 'em up) and two of hard cast 325s. Have never had to use it, because I work intelligently at avoiding confrontations. The bear or an ill-tempered bull moose are likely to be somewhat stronger than me, and might even be able to run faster, so I keep my distance when I'm in their country. The Punch Bullets will shoot right through a brown bear, and with their flat nose that's gotta sting like anything.
There's a whole informal fraternity of hunters who use break-open single-shot handguns for hunting everything from varmints to really big game. They're out of my league. I don't like scoped handguns because you can't really shoot them offhand. You need a rest, which may not be readily available. Also, they often require two hands, especially the very powerful variety, which makes them a hands gun rather than a hand gun. If I'm going to be using both hands anyway, I'll take a rife any day.
I prefer a nice Ruger single-action revolver over any double action (as a hunting revolver), because much of the recoil energy is dissipated in the rise and roll of the gun as the grip shifts downward in my hand. The Freedom Arms has a similar effect, but the Ruger is a little more comfortable where the back portion of the cylinder frame, at the top of the grip, meets the web of my hand. I have small hands. Fairly long fingers and a good span, but small hands. I'd need a helper to shoot a Smith & Wesson X-Frame Revolver, and a psychologist to get me back on track afterwards, so they are not part of my life. If you like the Ruger single action but would like more power than a 44 Magnum, there are a couple of customizers who make wonderful 5-shot conversions in 454 Casull, 475 Linebaugh, and 500 Linebaugh. These are outstanding handguns that carry and handle about, oh, maybe 50 times better than an X-Frame. Ruger needs to move on and offer their Super Blackhawk and Bisley in a 5-shot 454 Casull. I don't think that either the 475 and 500 Linebaugh offer a significant game-dropping advantage over the 454 Casull, and the Casull has the added advantage of being able to shoot all power levels of 45 Colt ammunition starting at Cowboy Competition.
JDC
I think a 375 Magnum is fine for hunting deer. It's legal, and wouldn't be if it wasn't powerful enough.
Ted M., Iowa
Think about what you wrote. I'd be careful about associating "legal" with "sensible." States that allow handguns as wimpy as the 357 for deer hunting have probably dealt with their share of petitions from the hunting community to allow whole categories of improper policy. Are you hunting for an immature buck? If so, let it grow another couple of years, at least. Are you planning on tracking? Do you have the skills to do so over ground not covered with snow? How will that deer be as table fare after a half hour or more of being chased while wounded?
The 170-grain bullet of a 30-30 rifle leaves the muzzle at about 2150 fps, depending on barrel length and other factors. The 30-30 is a good deer rifle within moderate range, but most responsible hunters who have considerable experience with it would probably agree that 150 yards is about the end of moderate. The maximum actual muzzle velocity of 158-grain bullets fired in a 357 Magnum revolver with a long barrel of at least 7 inches will be around 1250 fps. The maximum for 180-grain bullets will be around 1150 fps. There really is no comparison. If you're serious about humanely hunting deer with a revolver, step up to at least a 44 Magnum and keep the maximum range within reason.
JDC