What's the biggest thing you've shot with a handgun (less than .44)?

Macchina

Macchina

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Hello,
We see the threads pop up every now and again about deer hunting with a 9mm or something like that and they are always met with criticism. My grandpa used to hunt deer with a .22 magnum :rolleyes:. I started this thread because I carry a .40 S&W when hiking in Michigan and may need to use it some day for woods defense (small black bears, stray dog packs, etc.) or to gather food if it ever comes down to that. I can shoot it well and I can look at the ft-lbf it generates, but I don't know how it'll do on deer or the like. I am not looking to upgrade my gun, or to discuss the pros and cons of different cartridges. I'm simply trying to get some facts on paper from other members here. Please list your gun and bullet type used.

To start:
I have shot a few large raccoons, possums, and squirrels with my Sig P239 shooting 180gr. FMJ.
 
There was a groundhog that was charging me, death was in his eyes. Thankfully the 230gr 45ACP stopped him in his tracks!
 
I've killed one deer with a S@W Classic hunter in .357mag, loaded with 180gr. hollow points, and a couple with a Contenter in 7x30 Watters.

My father killed many deer with a .22 short, but only at close range when he knew he could put it in there ear. He was a far better shot than me, or anyone else I've known. He used the .22 short because thats what he was raised to hunt with(only ammo they could afford in the great depression), and he was also hunting on posted land owned by a Collage.

You have to use a 6" barrel here for pistol hunting, but a compact .40 would kill deer with proper shot placement. I wouldn't shot at a deer with my 229 in .40 or .357 sig even if it was legal though. There probably not going to drop in there tracks with a lung shot, and a spine/brain shot can be tricky with a smaller handgun, or for me at least.
I was with a buddy once that killed a deer with a 9mm( it took several shots, and not very humane IMO). He has killed many with his .22mag. Like my dad did, he hunts in areas that are posted.

I don't shot deer unless I know it will fall in his tracks, or at least only go a short ways.
 
To clarify, I hunt deer in season only with 12 gauge slugs, 7mm-08, or my lever .44. Just trying to get some feedback on what you CAN do hunting with a handgun.
Thanks for the replies guys, it's amazing what the last 2 generations used to hunt with...
 
Well whenever a cow or horse needs to be shot i generally use a .22lr or .22 mag mostly because thats whats on my saddle...used my .45 once when one broke its leg near the barn, that worked a little better. Point being that shot placement is more important than caliber in my opinion. Anyways the .22 i usually keep on my saddle is a heritage rough rider loaded with whatever was the cheapest ammo at the time.
 
I have used a 40 cal to finish off a friends bow wounded deer. from 15 yards.I was loaded with 180 grain black hills hollow points. The bullet entered the nose just under its eyes and exited out the back of the skull. I live in the U.P. and never worry when I am out with my 40 cal. And I have quite a few larger handguns to chose from.
 
rabid raccoon with what used to be my Ruger .45. took 5 rounds to kill him, this includes a shot in the head. craziest thing ever, he would climb the tree only to jump on the dog that was trying to kill him. never seen anything like it.

had to put down one of our horses as well. same .45 for that. FMJ
 
bigcountry1315 said:
I have used a 40 cal to finish off a friends bow wounded deer. from 15 yards.I was loaded with 180 grain black hills hollow points. The bullet entered the nose just under its eyes and exited out the back of the skull. I live in the U.P. and never worry when I am out with my 40 cal. And I have quite a few larger handguns to chose from.
Click to expand...

is that legal there? just curious,, its not legal here. i do take a handgun most times with me when i bowhunt and thats not legal either. i just want to be safe you know? however, i have never used it to finish off a deer. i just waste another arrow or i wait for the critter to die on their own.
 
I've killed large (225 lbs.) mature whitetail bucks with a .44 mag. handgun at ranges out to about 50 yards. The key with handguns is to choose a bullet that will penetrate. Any legal handgun cartridge shoots bullets as large in diameter as most rifle bullets after they expand, so don't worry about expansion. Hard cast semi-wadcutters cut a large hole and penetrate clean through to allow perforation of vitals and a good blood trail. Limit your shots to ranges where you have at least 400 foot pounds of terminal energy and the accuracy to hit a 6" circle and you will be fine.
 
A clothes washing machine, with a .22.

It's disgraceful what people will leave at an unattended public range but since it was already there, might as well shoot it.
 
I shot an antelope at about 30 feet once, with my Glock G23... 40 cal..... DRT.

Also, I shot a mule deer doe at about the same distance, in the noggin'..... with a Ruger SP101 4" 22. DRT.

I know, I know.... these are not big game rounds, but, I was in the right place at the right time with guns I can shoot.

So there ya go!
 
I've taken a few whitetail deer with a 44 and a "Keith" style load, a 250 gr. bullet pushed along by a healthy dose of 2400. I switched several years ago to a 180 gr. JHP which gives me better performance in the field and less recoil in a shorter/lighter gun.
I have taken a few deer with my Contender in 7x30 Waters using a 120 gr. JSP. The penetration was excellent and bullet expansion was better than I expected.
I love carrying a 22 and stalking small game. I have taken many squirrels and grouse with a Ruger Single Six and Federal hollow points.
I've heard rumors of deer being killed with the same Single Six using the 22 mag and Winchester ammo but can't swear to it because that is illegal for deer in the Commonwealth of VA.
 
Abandoned junk car at the gravel pit with a .38
It looked like a one shot stop, center glass, er, mass.
 
Whitetail deer with a Ruger Security Six, .357 from about 25 yards, headshot.

It is legal here to finish a bowshot deer with a pistol if the bow hunting coincides with a gun hunt season. Otherwise, not.
 
Old abandoned bus alongside a river. Early production Colt Trooper MKIII with 6" bbl. Factory .357 Magnum 158gr JHP.
It didn't even twitch.
 
MikeH said:
A clothes washing machine, with a .22.

It's disgraceful what people will leave at an unattended public range but since it was already there, might as well shoot it.
Click to expand...
Ain't that the truth? :D

When we have a hog roast, we use a 22lr, works well, most of our hogs are in the 250 - 300 lb range, but a good shot in the head does the trick.
 
Got a Woodchuck that was digging holes in my drive way. used a S&W Victory model in 38S&W, the next year finished off a white tail buck that got hit by a bread truck (also in my drive way) had a Tompson center super 14 contender in 223 rem. one round military ball in the chest did the job
 
Whitetail Buck with a 45 Colt (Corbon 200gr +P)

6-Ruger.jpg
 
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