[thegrandenigma]

I'm fascinated by handgun hunting (probably the whole "forbidden fruit" thing) and I got thinking, what can you take with various handgun rounds? There are some VERY powerful handguns out there, like the .500 S&W, but I'm curious about the other staples. Rounds you may not think about when you think handgun hunting. Are there any hunting applications the following cartridges could be used for? What would they be good for and at what ranges? Would it make a difference if it was from a pistol/revolver/contender/carbine?

9mm Luger
.40 S&W
10mm Auto
.45 ACP
.357 SIG
.45 GAP
.45 Colt
.357 Magnum
.44 Magnum
.41 Magnum
.50 AE
.454 Casul
.327 Federal Magnum

There's others that I am forgetting for sure. A bunch of .32 or .38 caliber rounds for example. I expect that rounds like the 9mm would not be used for hunting at all, and rounds like .45 ACP only from close range, but if I knew, I wouldn't be asking.

What can you tell me?

 

[dmsbandit]

If I was hunting at bowhunting ranges [less than 40 yds], I'd have no problem taking a whitetail deer with any load listed. I've seen what a 1300fps 115gr HP will do to a raccoon, and have no doubt it would kill a deer ASAP if hit broadside thru the lungs.

When you get into 41mag, 44 mag, 45 Colt [modern HP loads], and the like, you can honestly kill deer out to 100yds if you and the gun are up to the accuracy needed. I killed a fat 4 pt buck a few years ago with my 41 magnum, and he only went about 50 yds before flipping head over hoofs.

 

[broom_jm]

Matt,

The key to hunting with most traditional handgun rounds is to consider the velocity, distance and the critter being hunted. For example, a 9mm is perfectly adequate for squirrels at almost any distance you can hit them, but inappropriate for deer at all but the shortest ranges, imho. The 454 Casull is, of course, powerful enough for virtually any game animal, but the distance must be kept within reason.

As a general rule, even the most powerful straight-walled handgun loads are only good out to around 125 yards, largely because their bullet shape does not retain velocity well and they run out of energy. A longer barrel or a stronger action can give higher MV, but even still, when you get out around 150 yards, my 44 Remington Magnum is dropping quickly, both in trajectory and energy.

In general, for straight-walled cases, I would consider 35 caliber and under appropriate for small game, at short distances. Larger bullets are better for big game, as long as the yardage is kept under 150 yards, for the best of them, and a maximum of 75, for the shorter cases. This does present a self-imposed limit and challenges the shooter to get closer, but I would say many of the pistol rounds should be enjoyed for plinking and employed for their primary purpose of self-defense. With the exception of the more powerful rounds, in specialized guns, there are many tools better suited to the harvesting of game.

The 357Magnum is unique, in that it is sufficient out to around 75 yards on big game and with 38 Special loads, would be good for small game, plinking, etc. It is very useful for self-defense, of course, and overall, it's probably the most versatile handgun chambering available.

Now, when you bring bottle-necked cartridges and single-shot actions into the equation, things change very quickly, since these are frequently smaller caliber rounds, offering much higher velocity. Powerful actions like the Encore and XP-100 offer rifle-like performance out of "pistol" configurations...but these are really not pistol cartridges, in the sense you were referring to them.

 

[dmsbandit]

I find it curious broom_jm that you would rate the 357 good out to 75 yds, but don't even think the 9mm, 40S&W, 45ACP, 10mm, etc are capable at 40 yds or less. The 9mm 115grain HP at 1300fps is a 93% one shot stop ender on people and I know it will kill a deer at bowranges. It blows 3" exit holes in 'raccoons, so it will scramble lungs in any deer in a hurry.

 

[leverite]

& the 10mm gives up little to the 41 mag.

 

[fcfirearms]

Here is a rule of thumb: NC allows hunting whitetail with handguns with straight wall ammo at least .357Mag (excluding 38SPL) with a barrel at least 5.5". All handgun hunting must have the 5.5" or better. I'd choose a heavier caliber for hogs or bear (41Mag, 44Mag, hot 45LC). The auto-loaders are left out pretty much due to barrel length restrictions, except the Desert Eagle. Handguns with necked cases must be at least 24 caliber with same barrel restrictions. Small game (squirrels, rabbits, etc.) are allowed to be taken with .22 rimfire with a minimum 6" barrel. Take your pick within these guidelines. They are meant to ensure a kill, not wounded animals.

 

[broom_jm]

I find it curious broom_jm that you would rate the 357 good out to 75 yds, but don't even think the 9mm, 40S&W, 45ACP, 10mm, etc are capable at 40 yds or less. The 9mm 115grain HP at 1300fps is a 93% one shot stop ender on people and I know it will kill a deer at bowranges. It blows 3" exit holes in 'raccoons, so it will scramble lungs in any deer in a hurry.

I wrote the following:

"In general, for straight-walled cases, I would consider 35 caliber and under appropriate for small game, at short distances. Larger bullets are better for big game, as long as the yardage is kept under 150 yards, for the best of them, and a maximum of 75, for the shorter cases."

If you were to analyze the data involved, and not just offer an anecdotal reference to the size of exit wounds in an animal that is perhaps one tenth the weight of a mature whitetail, you might not be as curious. For the record, I stated that the shorter-cased cartridges, shooting bullets larger than 35 caliber, were effective out to as much as 75 yards.

I agree that a 9mm would get the job done at the same distance one might use a bow, but would you really recommend it for deer hunting, especially if larger rounds are readily available? Are you debating that a 9mm is just as suitable for short-range deer hunting as it is for small game?

The OP asked a fair question and I will not turn this into a debate about what each handgun cartridge is capable of doing. I offered my opinion and expressed it clearly. Frankly, the limit of most handguns for hunting is determined by how consistently lethal shots can be placed where they need to go, as we all know it is shot placement that seals the deal, not caliber or velocity alone.

 

[thegrandenigma]

Alright, so a 9mm *could* take a deer at short range but probaly better with something bigger? .40 S&W or is that too small? If I were to actually go handgun hunting, I would likely use a revolver but I'm curious about pistols as well (not like I"ll get the chance anytime soon).

I heard (ah, what's the guy's name? Musician, famous or perhaps rather infamous gun advocate) uses a Glock 10mm. Would that be good for whitetale out to say 100 yrds?

I just don't know what the relative powers of these pistol rounds are.

 

[Old Grump]

If I had a good shot and a good rest with the 10MM I would have no problem with a 100 yard shot. Ditto with the 41 and 44 mag. I have done it with the 357 but I was younger then and a little slow to learn, I keep my 357 shots under 60 yards now.

 

[jmortimer]

Depends on what you are hunting, how heavy of a gun you want to carry and how much recoil you want to deal with. The .45 Colt, my favorite, will kill anything on the earth but you could need something heavy like like a Ruger Redhawk to shoot at the high end. For the lower 48 you could use a Blackhawk at under 40 ounces and take anything out to 100 yards. The 10mm has less sectional density than a .357 but is comparable in performance. I like revolvers so I'd stick with revolver calibers.

 

[William Iorg]

The 32 H&R Magnum and the 38 Special will take deer cleanly at ranges under 50 yards if you demand perfect bullet placement. While I do not believe either gun is suitable for deer I have seen it done with both cartridges. The 38 Special loaded with wadcutters is quite effective on un-alarmed deer when the range is under 50 yards. A shot just over the heart will cause a doe to “hump-up” and quite often they do not take a step. The 32 Magnum loaded with 100-grain Hornady XTP bullets ahead of 9.8 grains of Hodgdon 110 will do the same thing. This load is not for the light frame guns but in the Ruger Single Six Bisley this is a “magic load.”
Many of our West Texas does and spike bucks weigh less than 125 pounds on the hoof and the key to killing them quickly is phrase: “un-alarmed.”

 

[Cheezywan]

Gotta be fair to the critter first!

If I was hungry enough, a pointy stick would work!

All good calibers listed Matt.
Need better hunters more than we need better cartridges.

Cheezywan

 

[MikeG]

Rabbits to Bison. .22 LR to .50 cal handguns.... lots can be done, if you have an open mind and take advantage of the experiences that others post.

Sorry you can't handgun hunt in Canada. It is somewhat addictive.....

 

[dmsbandit]

Alright, so a 9mm *could* take a deer at short range but probaly better with something bigger? .40 S&W or is that too small? If I were to actually go handgun hunting, I would likely use a revolver but I'm curious about pistols as well (not like I"ll get the chance anytime soon).

I heard (ah, what's the guy's name? Musician, famous or perhaps rather infamous gun advocate) uses a Glock 10mm. Would that be good for whitetale out to say 100 yrds?

I just don't know what the relative powers of these pistol rounds are.

Uncle ted is the man of which you speak. Ted Nugent is one of our best allies and has killed numerous animals with the 10mm Glock at ranges well past 50 yds.

Personally, once ranges get past 50 yds, I want some sort of optical sight on my handgun.

 

[cottonstalk]

"NC allows hunting whitetail with handguns with straight wall ammo at least .357Mag (excluding 38SPL) with a barrel at least 5.5". All handgun hunting must have the 5.5" or better." by fcfirearms


Not so anymore. There is no barrel length restriction except on 22s,they must be 5.5. And 357centerfire has been changed to .24 according to fish and wildlife book from 2009. Got to accomidate the sp and encores.

That said you never specify small game,varmits,big game or dangerous game,but you have calibers listed that at least one could do the job.

 

[jwp475]

9mm Luger- USed it on a samll hog and was not impressed

.40 S&W- Never used one on game

10mm Auto- never used one on game

.45 ACP- Have taken Deer and it does a good job, this is my personal
defense cartridge of choice

.357- SIG-never used one on game

.45 GAP-never used one on game

.45 Colt-Properly loaded the 45 Colt is an incredible taker of game

.357 Magnum- Have taken many hogs and light and fast bullets are not at the top of my preference chart in the 357. 160's at full power will work well
.44 Magnum- Have taken many deer and have seen it used on game as large as buffalo, not as high on the food chain as a properly loaded 45 Colt IMHO and experience

.41 Magnum- I realy like a 41 Mag properly loaded. In the field it is as good on game as a 44 Mag on Deer and such in my experience

.50 AE-Never used one on game

.454 Casul- Excellent on game see coments on 45 Colt

.327 Federal Magnum- Never use one on game

 

[wolfen]

I've used .40 s&w on hog with reasonable success, and I can tell you what happens when a skunk is hit with with a 180gr hp. Not pretty, VERY bad smell!!! VERY BAD!!

 

[Soontobewildcat]

.45colt

Don't get me wrong i have one and i love it and it is capable of hot loads but i have NEVER found a load that has a same weight bullet with more velocity or a higher weight bullet with more velocity or comparaple velocity so Visa Vi i have never found ANY .45 colt loads that are "way higher in the food chain" compared to a .44 magnum does anybody have some.

 

[William Iorg]

Follow the link to this thread on the 457122HP Gould bullet loaded in the 45 Colt.
The posts you are looking for are:
Page 2 #30, page 3 posts #47, #48 and #57. Page 4 post #61.
These posts will give you a number of links and magazine articles to look for which have high performance load data for the 45 Colt.
If you are looking for the “one” article on the high performance 45 Colt look for: “Turbo Charging the 45 Colt” by Ross Seyfried, the details in one of the posts. If you have not studied the modern, high performance 45 Colt you may be in for a surprise.

http://shootersforum.com/showthread.htm?t=22882&highlight=457122

 

[cottonstalk]

"not as high on the food chain as a properly loaded 45 Colt IMHO "quote by jwp475

"way higher in the food chain" quote by soontobewildcat

jwp didn't say way higher,he just said higher.I agree.Unless my eyes and ears lie to my brain there is visible differences on game and audible differences on steel.Maybe they do lie ,but the difference to me was enough to make me sell all but one of my 44s and revamp.And that 44 was a wedding present,and if everything goes good it will be WAY HIGHER on the food chain next year this time.