Question about pistol hunting

[wraithen]

My glock is a 40, but a 9mm travels faster and is already larger than a large group of hunting rifles. I don't actually intend on hunting with it as the barrel would stick out over 2 inches from the end of the slide. At close ranges a 9mm would still be plenty effective. Bullet selection is key.

[Atroxus]

Knowing what you and your handgun are capable of are key in terms of accuracy and selected bullet performance. There is no need to practice out past 50yds if you can't consistently hit the ten ring off hand at 25yds. If you can't do this at 50yds, please keep practicing before you hunt big game with a handgun.
 
-Steve

I do agree that knowing your own limitations and that of the weapon used are key. I do find it odd though that you say you have harvested game with a hand gun, yet advise others not to do so unless they can meet the same level of skill you exhibit at 50 yards. I say use a handgun at whatever range you can consistently hit the vitals. If someone can do that at 25 yards but not at 50 I don't see a problem with them using a handgun as long as they limit their shots to their capabilities. I doubt I could shoot that group offhand at 50 yards with a handgun. If I had an opportunity to take a deer at say 15-20 yards I wouldn't hesitate to use a handgun, anything beyond that and I would pass unless I was using a rifle.

[JackOfAllTrades]

I do find it odd though that you say you have harvested game with a hand gun, yet advise others not to do so unless they can meet the same level of skill you exhibit at 50 yards.

Lets face it, MOST people will not be within 50yds during modern firearm season.  I am a realist not an optimist. I was addressing some of the previous posts about shooting well behond 50yds.  That is not the subject of the OP so I'll leave it at that. My measage is to know the gun, the shooters capability and the performance of the cartridge/bullet, to put the shorter barreled hand guns as a 'non-optimal' tool to harvest big game. -even if it is 'legal'.
 
-Steve

[CHUCK S]

I drew a 2nd antlerless mule deer tag this year and IF the possibility arises, which is pretty likely I plan on shooting it with my S/W model 19,357 magnum with a 6 inch barrel.  I can stay inside the 6 ring at 100 yrds and plan on shooting no more than 50 yrds.  I'm using open sights and find it's pretty comfortable to carry and shoot.  There is plenty of velocity at that distance.  I'll be shooting Hornady rounds made for a lever action, still works fine out of my pistol though. 

   Muzzle              50               100
1440/644     1274/504     1143/406

[copasj]

I do find it odd though that you say you have harvested game with a hand gun, yet advise others not to do so unless they can meet the same level of skill you exhibit at 50 yards.

Lets face it, MOST people will not be within 50yds during modern firearm season.  I am a realist not an optimist. I was addressing some of the previous posts about shooting well behond 50yds.  That is not the subject of the OP so I'll leave it at that. My measage is to know the gun, the shooters capability and the performance of the cartridge/bullet, to put the shorter barreled hand guns as a 'non-optimal' tool to harvest big game. -even if it is 'legal'.
 
-Steve

My experience has been that most deer are within 50 yards.  2 years ago we passed on a shot at 2 spikes during modern at closer to 15 yards.  That's just my experience, can't say how it compares to most.

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[Rdnkgirl88]

Thanks for all the replies. I do believe I got my question answered.

I myself use a 30-30 but my dad is disabled and has a hard time hiking and was hoping he would have an easier time with the pistol.

Do i dare ask you all if there is any limitations as far as hollow point bullets and maximum grain bulet you can use?

Thanks again everyone!!

[JackOfAllTrades]

There is not a maximum gn bullet to use. I believe that the regs say mushrooming or expanding bullet.
 
-Steve

[Rdnkgirl88]

Ok when he told me they were 240 grain I was a little concerned but they are hollowpoints.

Thank You

[Atroxus]

I seem to recall my hunter's ed instructor saying that FMJ ammo was not allowed, but I can't find it in the regs. I can't find anything about what bullets can be used other than caliber restrictions, or restrictions on what you can use rimfire cartridges on.  Was it taken  out of the regs or something?

[wraithen]

No, FMJ's are allowed, they just have a much higher ricochet tendency than hunting bullets.

[Atroxus]

No, FMJ's are allowed, they just have a much higher ricochet tendency than hunting bullets.

Any idea where that is in the regs now? I couldn't find it. 

[wraithen]

It's legal to use them so they wouldn't put it in there.

[JackOfAllTrades]

FMJ's used to be specifically listed as not allowed. That nomenclature seems to be removed from the regulation pamphlet.  I would advise anyone against using them on big game. There are solids, that are not regarded as FMJ though.

[Atroxus]

It's legal to use them so they wouldn't put it in there.

Oh I missed the comma in your other response. I read it as "No FMJs are allowed." My bad.

PS I wouldn't use them for hunting, I was just curious.

[Bob33]

at hunters ed they stated 243 or larger was the law for big game so call it ridiculous all you want im just repeating what was stated, they also said big game is illegal with a hang gun.

Your instructor got it right. Hang guns were outlawed in the 1930s by the HANG act of 1937: "Hang guns Aint No Good".

Hand guns, on the other hand, are legal as long as they are .24 caliber or larger and have a 4" or longer barrel.