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First Deer With A Pistol

7K views 30 replies 22 participants last post by  Carpe Diem 
#1 ·
Well I've been hunting over 40 years and have killed over 200 deer in my lifetime, but never hunted with a pistol. I've been on a Ruger Blackhawk kick lately and finally decided to start carrying one with me hunting. This afternoon I shot my first deer with my Blackhawk in 45 Colt. 250 grain JHP Hornady pushed with HS-6. It was pretty impressive, huge doe and she went about 10 yards, you could really tell the impact was impressive when it hit her. 40 yard shot and I only hit her about 4 inches back from where I had her pointed. Now I'm hooked.
 
#10 ·
Have killed 3 deer with a 45 Auto. Sadly all were ones hung up in fences - woven wire with a strand of barbed wire - basically mercy shots as they were too far gone to save. Was in time to free two that did recover - one that had a noticeable limp for at least the next two years, but bore fawns both years.
 
#11 ·
I'll never forget the first deer I took with my Super Black Hawk .44 mag.
I'd practiced with that dang thing for months, mainly from a sitting position.
This deer got up from its bed at about 30 yards.
I tried to sit, but I couldn't see it from there.
So, I stood up, took a two handed grip, and squeezed the shot.
The thing dropped in its tracks.
I thought 'Holy Crap" this thing works!
Very satisfying.
 
#12 ·
When it happens you don't have time to be surprised and that's for sure. I've killed a bunch of 'em with two different .357s, a SBH and an old .41 BH. Many hunters simply don't appreciate the killing power of these powerful revolvers. Congratulations and get pics next time.
 
#13 ·
Congrates on your deer with a handgun. Like you I also harvested a doe with my S&W 329PD. Hornady 240gr HP did the job at 37yards. This comeing season I want to take one with my new Kimber Pro Carry II in 45ACP. Anyone out there ever shot one with this handgun caliber? I have not decided on 230gr HP @ 900 fps or 200gr HP @ 1000+ fps. Any thoughts?
 
#15 · (Edited)
45 ACP deer loads

Congrates on your deer with a handgun. Like you I also harvested a doe with my S&W 329PD. Hornady 240gr HP did the job at 37yards. This comeing season I want to take one with my new Kimber Pro Carry II in 45ACP. Anyone out there ever shot one with this handgun caliber? I have not decided on 230gr HP @ 900 fps or 200gr HP @ 1000+ fps. Any thoughts?
I have used light fast JHPs and heavy slow JHPs in .45 ACP for deer, both work fine. The type of bullet gives some variation in performance. An old Speer Lawman 200 grain "flying ashtray" load, 950 fps+/-, exited with dime size hole. 165 grain Golden Saber Remington did one rib one the way in and fragmented, damaging the liver and backstrap with fragments. 230 HydraShok at about 850 fps kill just fine, no exit wounds. 200 grain Golddots are now my standard load, tending to hold together. Oh yes, Hornady 200 grain XTPs are fine too. I have only handloaded the Gold Dots, at +P velocities, the rest are factory standard. No real need to push handloads fast, but I do because I can and use revolvers for my ACP handloads. I load them in full moon clips so I don't inadvertantly load "revolver only" loads in a standard semiauto. They are all within 23,000 psi specs for +P but I don't like to batter the slide on an expensive "target" Kimber Gold Combat II or self defense aluminum frame Kimber Custom CDP 5".
 
#20 ·
Any deer taken with a handgun is a trophy. The first deer I took with a revolver showed up as I was climbing with my stand down a tree; I'd already lowered my rifle to the ground. I was carrying an S&W M19 with a 4" barrel. I had to finagle myself around the tree so as to draw the .357 and somehow aim with just one hand. The shot was about 40 yards and he dropped and rolled down the embankment.

That's when I started hunting with a revolver as my primary and only firearm. After one season in which I killed several I started playing around with my .44mag SBH and a .41 BH. I used handloads in those two and killed one buck with a cast bullet. Otherwise I used JHP handloads for all the rest. The longest shot was a buck at 90 yards with my SBH .44mag. The closest kill at about 8 feet was also with my SBH.

I decided after a few seasons that the perfect cartridge for whitetails was the .41mag. That is now my favorite and go to handgun for deer. I no longer hunt deer with a handgun as I have been strictly a flintlock hunter for some years, now. That's a challenge in itself with maximum distance being about the same for both. I favor JHP bullets in revolvers over any and all cast bullets. With the muzzleloaders it's round ball only.
 
#21 ·
I have hunted with a Ruger Redhawk in .44 Magnum for several years. I have taken several deer with it. It is a 7 1/2" barrel handgun with a fixed Leopold 2x scope on it. Mine came with the Ruger rings. The only change I have made is adding Hogue monogrip grips. When I take it, it is the main gun I am hunting.with, sits in a shoulder holster that goes from my armpit to my knee, it seems.
 
#22 ·
Like lobohunter, I've had a Ruger Redhawk for years - it was often a backup gun during rifle season, but at stands in thicker woods, it's my primary gun. At first, I used JHP's at magnum velocity; it killed cleanly, all shots went completely through, but I didn't care for the muzzle blast. Deer in NC where I hunt aren't that big, so a few years ago, I thought I'd try it with my target/practice load - about 6 gr. of Bullseye and a 240 gr. LSC at about 875 fps. - I've only shot at deer 3 times since, but all 3 still went through and killed cleanly. By the way, hunting with the .44 mag. or .45 colt will make you a believer in the TKO (Taylor Knockout) formula - the larger diameter bullets kill faster and cleaner than the ballistic charts and energy figures would suggest.
 
#23 ·
I feel the same way for the last 30 years,? Every Deer Season,? While Hunting with my S&W Model 29 44 Magnum,? And the Cast Bullets,? That I have made for it.? Nothing like Pistol Hunting,? Once you try it ,? You are hooked for Life.? BTW I still use the Open iron sights,? That are on the gun,? Never cared for Mounting any Scope on it at all.?
 
#25 ·
I don't doubt for a minute that a 45ACP will work, at bow-hunting ranges, but this is not legal in any state of which I'm aware. What state are you in, that allows deer hunting with a 45ACP?

I think one of those Hi-Point 4595 carbines would be good out to maybe 50 yards, given the increase in velocity you get from the longer barrel and +P loadings.
 
#26 · (Edited)
Mirage243, Congratulations. That must have been a thrill.

"I don't doubt for a minute that a 45ACP will work, at bow-hunting ranges, but this is not legal in any state of which I'm aware. What state are you in, that allows deer hunting with a 45ACP?"

It is certainly allowed in AL, but I agree with the "bow hunting range" thought. For longer ranges I would think a longer barreled weapon would be better.
 
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