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.