100 yard handgun question

D

davlandrum

New member
I am starting to get interested in going to a handgun for hunting mule deer. All of the mulies I have taken with my 30-06 have been within 100 yds. Is 100 yds realistic with a handgun? I am talking about "traditional" handguns, not something chambered in a rifle cartridge.

Scope/no scope? Caliber? anything else you want to share?

Thanks,

Dave
 
I'd keep it with a scope. 100yds is a LONG shot for a handgun regardless of manufacturer.

If you really want to reach out that far with a pistol round, consider a Thompson Center Encore with one of the 15" barrels. They have a barrel for .500S&W, or you can get them straight from the factory with .44 mag. You may be able to get it straight from the factory with the .500, but I think you may have to make some calls.

If that's not what you'd consider traditional enough of a pistol... here's a monster of a wheelgun made for hunting.
http://www.smith-wesson.com/webapp/...angId=-1&parent_category_rn=15714&isFirearm=Y
 
For Mule Deer you don't need the S&W 500 - I used mine for Cape Buffalo. The S&W 460 is outstanding for your game at 100 yards. Scope it, using a Warne mount and a Bushnell scope with rainguard. The mount and scope will hold up to the recoil of the heavy loadings, should you need them for bigger game. Hornady makes an excellent round for deer at 200 gr with their SST bullet. You can also use the lighter .454 and .45LC in this revolver. I suggest the 8 3/4" bbl for hunting at 100 yards. These S&W X Frame revolvers are truely an incredible design and are a pleasure to shoot.

Uncle Mike's or Bianchi both make a soft shoulder holster to fit the gun with scope which will provide protection.
 
LionHunter, Thanks for the info. That gets me started in the right direction.

If you shoot the lighter loads for practice - say the 45 LC, how far off will you be when you move up to the .454 or the .460? I would assume a lot, with the step up, but that is just my assumption.

Thanks again!
 
I've taken whitetail here in Texas with my Model 29 8 3/8" barrel, no scopes at fifty to sixty yards. Have taken smaller whitetail (does) with my 686 8 3/8" barrel at around forty yards with a 180 bullet.

I carry one or the other in a shoulder rig when hunting in case a deer "pops up" at a range that I think would just flat be unsporting to shoot with a long gun.

Jeff
 
LionHunter (or anyone with personal knowledge) -

Do you have the integral base (compensated hunter) or the standard? On the website, I can't tell if the standard is tapped or not..

I would probably go with a Leupold scope, unless you have a reason not to.
 
I have the standard 8 3/4" in both the 500 and 460. I wouldn't pay the premium for the Custom Shop guns as these X-Frames are really accurate out of the box. The Warne mount is installed by removing the rear sight, putting the mount in place and re-installing the rear sight. A very simple operation and it allows you to remove the scope and use the iron sights, if necessary.

I have Leupold scopes on almost all my firearms and it would do well for you. I just like the firefly and rainguard features on the Bushnell. I use quick detachable rings and also have an EOTech I use if hunting in heavy brush where quick shots are required.

And yes, your point of impact will change with the different loads.

Good luck, and let us know what you go with.
 
I am mulling over the financing as I type and wondering what I have that I can part with to raise some cash...

I can see you are sold on the Warnes, and by your various posts, I can respect that. Do you have any experience with the S-W mount that can be viewed at

http://www.smith-wesson.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?langId=-1&storeId=10001&catalogId=11101&productId=50493

Looks as if you can shoot sights under the scope. Again, no experience in this game, so forgive the questions.
 
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When using a handgun at longer distances remember in handgun calibers the trajectory is like a rainbow. Bullet drop is significant when going beyond 50 yards. Best to select the range you're proficient at and find a mulie at that distance. Several ways to judge this, use a range finder or know what the deer will look like in relationship to the crosshairs. Practice at this range until you can consistantly get about 6-8" groups.

Elmer Kieth took game with a .44mag at 600 yards. I'm no Elmer Kieth, but I have taken Antelope and Mulies out to 200 yards with a .44 mag. It's all about your skill level and proficientcy. My favorites are the Desert Eagle and Performance Center .44.
DesertEagle14.jpg


PerformanceCenter44.jpg
 
The Warne base was recommended to me by the S&W Chief of the X-Frame design team. I used the Warne quick release rings so that I couls remove the scope quickly if needed or to replace it with the EOTech if desired. Many mounts and scopes would not hold up to the recoil of the heavy 500 magnum rounds, but the Warne did. He also spoke highly of the Bushnell 3200 Elite as a scope that also took the recoil without damage. He had a room full of damaged scopes that could not hold up. This was a few years ago, prior to S&W making their own mounts and rings. I have no experience with the S&W mount/rings.

By way of experience, I have taken a new world record #1 Red Duiker, a #3 Puku, a #1 Chobe Bushbuck and a Cape Buffalo in Africa, all with the S&W X-Frame revolver.

Yeah, I really, really like the S&W X-Frame revolvers. Currently have 3 and thinking about another if I sell the 8 3/8" 500.
 
Your choice depends on your experience level with the bigger recoiling handguns. Lots of choices. I generally feel the 454 Casull is more power (hence recoil) than you need for deer or most 4-legged animals. I used a Smith Model 57 8 3/8" (41 mag) for a number of years. I always felt capable to 100 yds if I needed to. My current handgun is a Ruger Super Redhawk (SRH) in 480 Ruger. It is a good caliber. Check into it. The SRH is one of the least expensive of the big bore handguns. 44 mag will work, but I wouldn't choose a SRH for that caliber. I'm currently thinking about a BFR revolver in 475 Linebaugh/480 Ruger but I will probably shoot it mostly in 480. Enjoy.
 
AMT automag 3 might be what you are looking for. It is chambered in .30 carbine. Less recoil than my XD45
 
I owned and shot a Ruger .44 mag Super Redhawk for several years, but was not interested in using it for hunting back then and eventually sold it (:o). So I am not recoil shy. But how much more recoil is there stepping from the 44 Mag to the .454 or the .460?

Man, it never ceases to amaze me how many smart people are on this board!!

I started to do some preliminary work with WildAlaska on purchasing.....
 
Ruger Super Blackhawk hunter .44 mag at 100 yards

1000169lw9.jpg

This is a picture of my first group from my blackhawk hunter. I fired 2 cylinders (12 shots) at 100 yards from a kneeling position resting my none firing elbow on my knee. The 8 ring is 8 inches and all but one landed in it. The flier was the last shot out of the second cylinder and I felt myself flinch on it. I used the iron sights on it, I do have a scope but I can't get use to it and I find that at the average distance that I will be shooting at whitetails in my area I do not need a scope and I shoot better without the scope.

I was shooting pretty hot hand loads of 255gr gas checked cast performance bullets over h110 using mag primers. I have become a lot better with it the more I practice. I would rather shoot a buck at the 50 to 70 yard range but I feel confident enough that if I take my time and focus and make that first shot count I can kill a buck at 100 yards. I recommend the gun if you like single actions it handles recoil very well. There is also a bisley hunter too if you like that grip better. I was going to shoot my Maine moose last season with it but I never came across a bull.

I think the .460 and 500 are cool but are not needed at 100 yards for deer. Hey but if you like them use them.
 
The trajectory of a .44 Mag isn't particularly bad for 100-yard shots. Without looking at the tables, I'd figure on a 75-yard zero, giving approximately a 125-yard "point it and pull" capability.

240-grain, big meplat.

And practice with lighter loads until you can pretty much always hit a beer can at 100 yards. Get yourself "all married up" with the gun.

Art
 
NeverTooManyGuns - nice shooting!

Art - As always, on time - on target, Thanks.

BTW - what is meplat :confused:

I figure I will shoot the heck out of it with the .45 LC for form and function and then move up to the .454 and the .460s.

Looks like time to get some new reloading dies for my buddy...:D
 
There are plenty of revolvers capable of taking deer at 100 yards. Any S&W M29 or M629, or X-frame. Any Ruger Redhawk, Super Redhawk, or Blackhawk in an appropriate caliber.

The question is not whether the handgun is accurate enough. The question is are you accurate enough.

Lot's of practice. Some people may not be able to do it even with lot's of practice. Especially older folks whose eyes aren't what they used to be.

I've shot one deer with a handgun. One round at 92 yards with an iron-sighted M500 S&W. No, a .500 isn't needed on deer, but I shot very well with that particular handgun. No doubt the long sight radius and very nice trigger helped. Typical groups at 100 yards are 4" to 6" for 3 rounds. Not like shooting a rifle, but it's good enough for deer, at least if they are in the open.

I'd suggest whichever brand of revolver you like in .44 Magnum or .454 Casull and lots of practice. After a little while you'll find out just how far you can shoot well enough to kill a deer with it. I can tell you that it will spice up your hunting.
 
Bitmap - good reason to spend more time on the range!

I bow hunt elk every year, so understand the "know your limit" rule of shooting.

I am seriously in need of some "spice". Last year, my deer season lasted 1/2 hour: get up, cup of coffee, head out, see buck, 30-06, bang, done.

LionHunter - do you use speed loaders or ??
 
It's true Elmer Keith took game at 600yds with his .44 mag. He also was partial to open sights. :eek: I dont use my revolver for anything over 75-100yards. I suppose if it was scoped I might. My deer revolver is a ruger redhawk .44mag with open sights 5.5". It sure is handy for toting around the woods.
 
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