Any handgun hunters out there ?

[Drycreek]

If so, I’d be interested in your equipment and I’m sure others would too.

 

[Raven]

Morning. Occasional HG hunter (not as frequent as I use to be). S&W 657 in .41 Mag is the tool of choice these days.

 

[Davek42]

If so, I'd be interested in your equipment and I'm sure others would too.

As small as most deer are here, I was thinking about trying to kill one with a 357. In shooting a 686 with 6” barrel. I have killed deer before with a handgun in Ohio, but not her in Texas. I’m in The SA area if anyone wants to get together

 

[Raven]

Nice rigs. I love those full lug Smiths.

I have a Ruger 6'' GP100 357 and I wouldn't hesitate to deer hunt with it.

 

[Drycreek]

I had one, it was my first .41 mag. When I went all-in on single actions I sold it. It was a great gun !

These days my Ruger Blackhawk does duty as my hunting handgun. Through the years a Ruger Super in .44 mag, a Smith & Wesson 629, a Ruger Super Hunter in .44 mag, and a Glock 20 have all accompanied me in the woods.

Like you, I used to handgun hunt much more, but the archery bug bit me for twenty years or more and I stopped. This year I’m going to hunt more with a handgun and less with a rifle. My Blackhawk in .41 mag (heavily modified by Ronnie Wells) is pictured.

 

[Raven]

That Black Hawk looks awesome. I bet its a shooter.

I took an Aoudad Ram a couple years back with a different 657. Complete pass through with a hard cast. Fun hunt and great challenge.

 

[Drycreek]

I’m afraid it’s limited by the operator ! A 25 yard rested group.

 

[shooter1911]

When I was lots younger I hunted South Texas with a 5" Ruger Super Single 6 44 Magnum. I'll have to admit when I needed meat the .243 or 30-06 rifle came out, but the Ruger was always carried in the field for that special opportunity. These days I carry a S&W Mountain Gun in 44 Mag just because. The heavy Ruger is long gone.

 

[41 Mag]

Started with a BH 3 screw flat top in 41 mag, traded that off on the RH I still have, and have added several more over the years. My primary woods carry is the 41, but I have an identical 44, and 45C so I rotate them out once in a while. I've taken deer an hogs with them all, plus a raging Bull in 454.

First handgun deer was back in 90, at 73 steps with a GP-100 and using the now discontinued Speer 146gr SWC SJHP. I sure hated they dropped those they shot awesome out of my GP.

Like mentioned above,I got into archery, and well it all slowed down. I still carry the 41 most times when I am out on our property especially when mowing. Been more than once when a fat hog just waited until I was darn near running over it to get up out of tall weeds or grass and make a break for it.

 

[Raven]

I'm afraid it's limited by the operator ! A 25 yard rested group.View attachment 66

Same issue I have. Operator limitations......

 

[Drycreek]

Sometimes I do better, actually I’m still testing different loads. Looks like the Speer Deep Curl is gonna be a shooter. The next step is to shoot some more cast bullets.

 

[Raven]

Sometimes I do better, actually I'm still testing different loads. Looks like the Speer Deep Curl is gonna be a shooter. The next step is to shoot some more cast bullets. View attachment 115

That one tightened up quite a bit. Never tried the Deep Curl. I'll have to get a box and give them a try. Thanks for sharing with us.

 

[Drycreek]

Bumping this up to see if it generates any more interest. You guys that have .357s and up, and can shoot good groups at handgun ranges, give them a try. It’s kinda like archery with smoke added !

 

[Alan]

When I was lots younger I hunted South Texas with a 5" Ruger Super Single 6 44 Magnum. I'll have to admit when I needed meat the .243 or 30-06 rifle came out, but the Ruger was always carried in the field for that special opportunity. These days I carry a S&W Mountain Gun in 44 Mag just because. The heavy Ruger is long gone.

That’s a great evolution in gear. Those Mountain Guns carry so well.