Pistol Hunting for Elk

[steelyonfly]

Does anyone here hunt for Roosevelt Elk with a pistol?  It's an idea I've been comtemplating.  What would be your choice of pistol and caliber?  S&W makes some tempting looking revolvers. 

[bankwalker]

s&w 460 would be my pic. my neighbor carries a 44mag and does just fine

[markts]

I am sure that my SW 41mag would do the trick. Mark

[buckhorn2]

We have a scoped 500 smith and wesson that shoots really good. Only animal weve shot was a 4x4 mule deer in montana at 100 yards and it sure worked on him.

[6x6in6]

Consider a TC chambered in 7x30 Watters, 30 Harrett or 357 Harrett if a single shot handgun is an option.

[carpsniperg2]

i have a 454 casull and a cfp in 7mm-08 i would not ever be affraid to shoot a elk with i have only took deer with them because i archery elk hunt but if i can get a multi elk tag i would try to do it with one of my handguns probably the 7mm-08 because i have the 454 for sale.

[Huntbear]

Ruger Super Redhawk.  Comes with rings, and the integral mounts.  If you go with the .44 mag.  Let me know, I have a deadly 300 gr. load.

[whacker1]

at one time there were restriction to what was legal as a pistol load for elk.  I haven't looked at that section of the regs for awhile to see if it has changed.  But back in the day .44 mag with 320 grain bullet was the smallest one could use, but that info is going back to around 20 years ago. 

[carpsniperg2]

only a small cal restriction i think it is like 32 cal or larger now and use to be a min barrel lenght as well. not sure how it reads right now. i know there is no min weight on bullets.

[steelyonfly]

Thank you.  I'll probably focus on the S&W, Ruger, and Taurus revolvers. 

Here's what I see in the regs (2009-2010) on p. 62.:


Modern Firearm Regulations
Handguns:
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. Cougar may be
hunted with 22 caliber centerfire handgun. Rimfire
handguns are not legal for big game.

It's different for blackpowder, but I'll be shooting modern. 

I don't see that I would go any lower than 357 and probably 41 or 44.  I'm sure that'll be enough.  I tend to see a lot of elk in the under 100 yard zone.  I don't like the idea of shooting much further than that with a pistol ... I feel better knowing the bullet's going to do enough damage to make the elk drop soon.

[Bob33]

Remember that a 357 has about as much energy at the muzzle at a 30-06 does at 900 yards.

[carpsniperg2]

yeah in a handgun cal like my 454 i won't shoot over the 100 yard mark the only one i would be willing to put out a bit farther is the 460 which also shoots the 454 casull. in my cfp in 7mm-08 i would feel fine to 200 yards with it. and allot of the t/c single shots that shoot 30-06 and such if you can shoot well with it there is no problem shooting animals at 200-250 because the round has enough in it to take a animal clean it is just up to the shooter to find there range and be ethical.

[jelo45110]

Any of the Ruger, S&W, or Taurus revolvers in .357 or bigger calibers would be fine. If I am hunting in heavy brush I like to use my 10 inch barrel TC Contender in 45 Colt. I hand load my cartridges to give plenty of power and if I happen to find some grouse I can swap out the 45 slug for a 410 shell and have some fresh wild chicken too.
jelo45110

[madmack76]

had a buddy drop an elk with a .40 one shot thru the neck 2 years ago we went thru some thick stuff and it was laying behind a stump he shot it from 10 yards one and done it was pretty sweet