Anybody hunted deer with a handgun?

[emelizabeth]

p 78 of the regs: "Big game, except cougar, may be hunted with handguns with a minimum barrel length of 4 inches per manufacturers specification, and fire a minimum .24 caliber centerfire cartridge."

I'd like to hear from anybody who has done this. Share the story and tell me about the gun.

[jeffro]

Drew a doe tag over by Grand Coulée a few years back.
I knew I could get close and there were houses about 500 yds. from where I was going to hunt my friends property.
So I put an Burris red dot on my trusty Desert Eagle 44 mag.
Practiced with it out to 50 yds. and had it shooting dead on.
One shot to the neck at 15 yds.
Dropped her in her tracks, with no meat loss.

[jackelope]

My dad mostly hunted with a T/C Contender Super 14 in 7mm TCU. Might as well have been a rifle I guess. It would not be legal here in a firearms restricted area from what I understand as it is considered a rifle cartridge.
 
Anybody have any personal experience with the last part of that?

I spoke to a guy 1 time who claimed to have hunted with a Glock 20 and killed an elk with it.

[Mike450r]

Saw a buck go into some reprod a few seasons back and decided to go in after it with my .357 instead of my rifle.

About 50' in I saw him looking at me from about 20' away.   Shot him through the lungs,  ran in a small circle almost back to where was shot.  158gr Buffalo Bore JHP

[headshot5]

My dad mostly hunted with a T/C Contender Super 14 in 7mm TCU. Might as well have been a rifle I guess. It would not be legal here in a firearms restricted area from what I understand as it is considered a rifle cartridge.

Would that mean you could hunt in a firearms restricted area with a T/C contender in 44 mag (pistol cartridge)?   

[blindluck]

Went to Montana shot an antelope at 250 yards with my tc contender 35 rem. got it all on video. Then shot a 4x4 mulie at 150 yards. Super accurate if you work up a good load

[jackelope]

My dad mostly hunted with a T/C Contender Super 14 in 7mm TCU. Might as well have been a rifle I guess. It would not be legal here in a firearms restricted area from what I understand as it is considered a rifle cartridge.

Would that mean you could hunt in a firearms restricted area with a T/C contender in 44 mag (pistol cartridge)?   

Yeah, maybe....that's why I was asking. Really I don't know as I've never looked into it. I've just hunted with my muzzleloader in the restricted areas.

[headshot5]

Gotcha!  Something I need to look into I guess, I generally use my revolver 44 for restricted area hunting, but using a contender in a revolver cartridge would be the bees knees if it is legal. 

[Smoke]

in my younger days hunted with Ruger Blackhawk 357, and then with S&W 29 in 44 mag...  lot like bow hunting.... ya gotta let em get close... anymore tho, I just use the bow

would like to get a bear with a handgun tho... that would be fun

[Igor]

p 78 of the regs: "Big game, except cougar, may be hunted with handguns with a minimum barrel length of 4 inches per manufacturers specification, and fire a minimum .24 caliber centerfire cartridge."

I'd like to hear from anybody who has done this. Share the story and tell me about the gun.

My plan is to someday take a deer with my handgun........It's a Ruger Super Blackhawk in .45 Colt.  I would like to take a bear, as well, and hope to be out there looking for one when the general season opens later this year.

[CAMPMEAT]

p 78 of the regs: "Big game, except cougar, may be hunted with handguns with a minimum barrel length of 4 inches per manufacturers specification, and fire a minimum .24 caliber centerfire cartridge."

I'd like to hear from anybody who has done this. Share the story and tell me about the gun.

My plan is to someday take a deer with my handgun........It's a Ruger Super Blackhawk in .45 Colt.  I would like to take a bear, as well, and hope to be out there looking for one when the general season opens later this year.

I just bought a 44 mag Bisley.........nice gun for sure.

[300rum]

Last year I finally completed my personal quest of taking a deer with a Bow/ML/Rifle and a pistol.  I have been kicking around the idea of taking a deer with a .380 ACP for awhile.......

[tonymiller7]

Last year I finally completed my personal quest of taking a deer with a Bow/ML/Rifle and a pistol.  I have been kicking around the idea of taking a deer with a .380 ACP for awhile.......

I hope you're joking... 
 

[tonymiller7]

One of the most irresponsible decisions wdfw ever made was changing the legal requirement for a pistol removing the minimum ft. lbs. of energy.

[300rum]

No, I'm not kidding.  Obviously I would have to be real close but I prefer real close rather then real far.  With the correct load it should be quite doable.  Many wouldn't blink at shooting their .44 Mag at 300 yards.  Elmer Keith said he shot/killed a buck at 600 yards with his .44.  A .380 loaded correctly should be just fine. 

[300rum]

There is no way to enforce this.  I think it was a pretty dumb law myslef. 

One of the most irresponsible decisions wdfw ever made was changing the legal requirement for a pistol removing the minimum ft. lbs. of energy.

[tonymiller7]

There is no way to enforce this.  I think it was a pretty dumb law myslef. 

One of the most irresponsible decisions wdfw ever made was changing the legal requirement for a pistol removing the minimum ft. lbs. of energy.

of course you do, because then you couldn't shoot a deer with a caliber that "should be quite doable" and "should be just fine"  These statements tell me that you would like to test a theory.  Testing whether or not a caliber will perform as you believe it "should" on a living creature is in my opinion very irresponsible.

[300rum]

It hasn't been done yet that I can find.  Correctly loaded a hopped up .380 will be ballisticaly fine at at a very close range.  I am thinking that it will have to be loaded as long as possible to get the most pressure out of the cartridge so you couldn't use the magazine.     

There is no way to enforce this.  I think it was a pretty dumb law myslef. 

One of the most irresponsible decisions wdfw ever made was changing the legal requirement for a pistol removing the minimum ft. lbs. of energy.

of course you do, because then you couldn't shoot a deer with a caliber that "should be quite doable" and "should be just fine"

[300rum]

The minimum ft. lbs rules eliminated the ability to use the .357 magnum which is more then acceptable at close range.
 

[tonymiller7]

The minimum ft. lbs rules eliminated the ability to use the .357 magnum which is more then acceptable at close range.
 

I agree with that but it kept people from trying a 380 simply because they can.  You should try the .25 acp while you're at it.

[300rum]

I thought of that too but a .380 could be shot out of a 9mm and loaded longer.  I don't know of any worthwhile .25's with a 4" barrel either. 

The minimum ft. lbs rules eliminated the ability to use the .357 magnum which is more then acceptable at close range.
 

I agree with that but it kept people from trying a 380 simply because they can.  You should try the .25 acp while you're at it.

[jackelope]

No, I'm not kidding.  Obviously I would have to be real close but I prefer real close rather then real far.  With the correct load it should be quite doable.  Many wouldn't blink at shooting their .44 Mag at 300 yards.  Elmer Keith said he shot/killed a buck at 600 yards with his .44.  A .380 loaded correctly should be just fine.

How close is real close?
I was curious so I looked at a ballistics chart and I can't find too many rounds that have more than ~1200 ft lbs of energy at the muzzle.

[tonymiller7]

I thought of that too but a .380 could be shot out of a 9mm and loaded longer.  I don't know of any worthwhile .25's with a 4" barrel either. 

The minimum ft. lbs rules eliminated the ability to use the .357 magnum which is more then acceptable at close range.
 

I agree with that but it kept people from trying a 380 simply because they can.  You should try the .25 acp while you're at it.

   Glad to know you seriously thought about doing something I was completely sarcastic about.

[300rum]

Like I said, I have been kicking it around for awhile.  We are talking out of the box load development.  Maybe using something like HS6 or Autocomp or something else, probably filled to the brim.  We aren't talking about a Ruger LCP and a box of Winchester white box ammo.  The load wouldn't even be close to sammi. 

The chrono will tell you how far but I am thinking anything around 1000 ft lbs would do. 

[Mike450r]

No, I'm not kidding.  Obviously I would have to be real close but I prefer real close rather then real far.  With the correct load it should be quite doable.  Many wouldn't blink at shooting their .44 Mag at 300 yards.  Elmer Keith said he shot/killed a buck at 600 yards with his .44.  A .380 loaded correctly should be just fine.

How close is real close?
I was curious so I looked at a ballistics chart and I can't find too many rounds that have more than ~1200 ft lbs of energy at the muzzle.

1200 ft lbs of energy out of a .380 acp?    Never gonna happen not even close.   You were seeing the fastest fps when you saw 1200.   The hottest load would be lucky to get 300 ft lbs of energy.

[300rum]

Yes, meant fps. 

[Special T]

Hunted with  357 in the western Wa thick and it was nice. Much better than lugging the shotgun around in the "restricted" area... I just bow hunt now tho...

[runningboard]

I shot a 3x3 whitetail with a XP-100 rebarrelled to 30 IHMSA which out of a 14" bbl was getting about 300 savage velocities. used willows for a rest and shot it broadside throught the lungs at 160 paces with a 2x scope on it. he took 2 jumps and was done.
used a T/C contender with 14" bbl in 7mm TCU to take another 4x4 whitetail at 125 yards with same 2x scope, 1 shot though the neck, no muss no fuss. used shooting sticks for that one. caryy a 45 long colt with HOT hornady loads when hiking and shed hunting in bear country but have yet to shoot it at anything breathing.

[jasnt]

I use a SBH in 44 mag. I bought the gun scoped but have since switched to open sites. I haven't taken any deer with it yet but I did use it to take my 2013 cougar(avatar pic). I'm shooting 429421 Elmer Keith slightly hp'ed.

I also hunt with my 9mm and have taken a rabbit and couple grouse. Shooting a 158gr LRN @ 1000fps. Have almost gotten several coyotes with it as well. Need more practice shooting running targets with it.

[Bob33]

One of the most irresponsible decisions wdfw ever made was changing the legal requirement for a pistol removing the minimum ft. lbs. of energy.

When did this happen?

In the 1990s. It was virtually impossible to enforce unless a LEO carried a chronograph with him everywhere he went.

Then as now, I blame the hunter who makes a decision to use inadequate equipment, not WDFW.

[jackelope]

No, I'm not kidding.  Obviously I would have to be real close but I prefer real close rather then real far.  With the correct load it should be quite doable.  Many wouldn't blink at shooting their .44 Mag at 300 yards.  Elmer Keith said he shot/killed a buck at 600 yards with his .44.  A .380 loaded correctly should be just fine.

How close is real close?
I was curious so I looked at a ballistics chart and I can't find too many rounds that have more than ~1200 ft lbs of energy at the muzzle.

1200 ft lbs of energy out of a .380 acp?    Never gonna happen not even close.   You were seeing the fastest fps when you saw 1200.   The hottest load would be lucky to get 300 ft lbs of energy.

Well. You're right. I put 280 ft lbs at first then thought I read the chart wrong. My bad.

[jdb]

One of the most irresponsible decisions wdfw ever made was changing the legal requirement for a pistol removing the minimum ft. lbs. of energy.

ft lbs of energy is a poor endication of lethality. That said the minimum requirement in this state are ludicrous

[luteai]

S&W 442 2 inch barrel ,38 spcl coyote @ 70 yards.  Wasn't going to but he was mocking me and on the trail of a fawn one fine spring day years ago...

.32 acp to the hear of doe v ford still kicking, worked just fine.

[magnumb]

I hunted the 'late buck' hunt several years ago with my open sighted, 4" S&W 629, .44 Mag. 

First day of the 4 day hunt I was fortunate enough to find a 2x2 blacktail buck frozen at a lasered 60 yards (Leica Geovids).  He offered a perfect broadside shot and the first handloaded 300gr. 'Beartooth' bullet was certainly enough as it was a double lunger, but since he insisted on remaining on all 4's, albeit drunken sailor style, I dispatched him with a shoulder shot.  I had always wanted to take a deer or elk with a handgun and getting this deer with my .44 Mag has just made me more dedicated to taking a bull with it, as well.

Every new season presents new opportunities........

As a plus, I took this 2x2 buck just after a couple of inches of snow had blanketed the ground.  The 'in and out' of that first double lung shot immediately made the snow on his offside look like a huge cherry snow cone.  One can much more easily visualize and appreciate such dramatic terminal effects when snow's on the ground.

[BKMFR]

I have taken Deer, Bear, Antelope, Cougar, Buffalo, and many coyotes with different handguns....  S&W 629 .44, Freedom Arms .454 Casull, but my favorite handgun to pack and hunt with  (I have a 80 yd max) is a Kimber Stainless Target in 10mm. It really does the job on deer and bear. I have had a lot better success with the Kimber 10mm than I have the .454, easier for me to shoot more accurately.

[buglebrush]

I haven't killed a deer with a handgun, but I have killed a nice black bear with my .44 Mag.

Was pleased with the performance.  Shot him in the chest at twenty yards, and blew an enormous hole out his backside.   

[magnumb]

One of the most irresponsible decisions wdfw ever made was changing the legal requirement for a pistol removing the minimum ft. lbs. of energy.

 ABSOLUTELY CORRECT!!

The WDFW's switching it's criteria on what handgun/limitations and so forth over the last several decades has been both arbitrary and irresponsible.  My first 629 was 6 inches because that was at one time the minimum legal length when all along I much preferred the 4" version.  But nope.....I went along with it and produced the appropriate ft/lbs. energy handloads for it (albeit, easily done with most any .44)''.

Then ft./lbs. became the main criteria years later and I sold the 6" and bought a 4" (which I truly enjoy so much more and shoot just as well).  Now it's come to this point where the criteria is so very irresponsible and actually misleading......misleading enough that a member here actually entertains the idea that a .380 is perfectly reasonable to hunt deer with because it fits the criteria........... .  There's hardly a metallic round produced that won't eventually kill most any game animal if given enough time to suffer for days on end.

I absolutely agree that the WDFW couldn't have made a more bone-headed decision if they tried. 

A .380..................geeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeez..   And to boot....if you could find a 4" .25 cal., you'd have no qualms about attempting to take a deer with that, as well.......your words, not mine!  An ethical hunter isn't the guy who can take a deer or elk with the smallest caliber, but the one who does it consistently and responsibly.  When this happens, we all win.  When we don't, those lurking (anti's and fence sitters) just have more reason to voice their issues to all others, about all of 'us'.  I, for one, don't like being lumped in together with 'hunters' who fully embrace bone-headed idea's and evidently endorse such an irresponsible pursuit that is in no way any better than this particular WDFW's irresponsible deer caliber criteria.  No dishonor in taking the 'high road' even when the 'low road' might be 'doable' or more accomodating. 

Sure, it's legal and if you want to use that as your only 'fall back/default' argument, it is certainly there to use, but that doesn't make it a responsible nor informed or intelligent decision....IMHO and obviously, at least a few others. 

[Bigshooter]

Growing up all my dad hunted with was pistols.   He has killed deer, elk, and bear with 44's.  He got into contenders for awhile also.  And when he would hunt out of state that is what he used.  He won the handgun hunter international big buck contest with a non typical mule deer he killed in ID with contender that was chambered in 358jdj one year.  I'm not sure if handgun hunter international is even around anymore.  Or if they do a big buck contest anymore.  But J.D. Jones was one of his hero's for awhile.

[gs1150rider]

I am a dedicated Western Washington Blacktail hunter. Due to my work schedule and access to a shooting range near my house, I can hunt everyday of season and wait for the right shot. I can also tinker with loads to ensure I have the best margins and test over a Chrony for real world results. I have had the good fortune of shooting a few deer with different handguns. I have used:

Smith and Wesson .44 Mag loaded with full 240xtp’s at 1400 fps
Glock 20 10mm loaded with 200 hardcast over AA #9 at a legit 1250 fps
Glock in .357 sig with 125 grain gold dots at 135 fps

All deer dropped cleanly. My pick for the future will be to sick with the Glock 20 and load 180 jhp a bit faster. Let me know if you have any additional questions.

[CAMPMEAT]

One of the most irresponsible decisions wdfw ever made was changing the legal requirement for a pistol removing the minimum ft. lbs. of energy.

ft lbs of energy is a poor endication of lethality. That said the minimum requirement in this state are ludicrous

We all know the WDFW doesn't do anything right.......at least not for the sportsman.

[MisplacedAlaskan]

.460 S&W, I have shot a few deer with it and one with the .500 S&W. Both worked great.

[timberfaller]

Why did WDFW do it?? 

As explained at a IST for Instructors, the year they changed it, "the commission, who makes the rules, deemed that the "Wardens" didn't need to be burdened with understanding ballistics" 

Obviously the "Commission" doesn't understand "Fair Chase" nor the fact that a lot of "Sportsmen/women don't practice their discipline enough to be proficient.   

The "change" can make for a good laugh during class!

I doubt they will ever change back, not enough brain power!