44mag for hunting

I have never seriously hunted with any type of handgun, however the upcoming opening day of deer season in PA I'll be out there with my 44 mag Ruger SRH revolver. I have been practicing with this revolver shooting off hand all year long and can't wait to try my luck with it.

Ron
 
PALongbow.......I was out yesterday shooting my SRH out at the PGC range off 118. I'll be carrying it for bear and deer....can't wait till the season starts. My SRH really loved the 300 grain HP-XTP's, with most of my shots staying well inside a 3" circle from a bench. I think I put about 100 rounds of .44 mag down ran range....he, he, he....wrists are feeling it today.


Also sighted in the .30/06 just in case. Dead on at 100 yards. Could have covered 4 rounds with a dime :D
 
I used my SBH and M-29 for rats, cats, groundhogs, dogs. crows, deer and boar. The 44 Mag. is a very good all round sixgun. I carried one for 8 years loaded with the L-429421 and 20 grs. of 2400. This was my everyday gun. Before that I used the Ruger SBH for hunting mostly, same load only an extra grain of powder.
 
I have killed several whitetail deer in Michigan with a 44 Redhawk.

I have always gotten complete penetration with the 240 Hornady xtp bullet. the only shot I would pass up is a rear ender.

Longest shot was about 100 yds.

Power in not a problem at any reasonable range--shot placement can be a problem.

Practice by shooting at a paper plate from a hunting position. The farthest that you can consistently keep your shots on the plate is the farthest that you should shoot at deer.
 
Steve,

Sounds like your having fun with your SRH and those 300 grain XTP's.

I have the 240 grain XTP's with H-110 Powder working great with good looking groups. I have shot 1/2 inch groups off a bench at 50 yards. My off hand practice has not been as close to my bench shooting but with lots of practice at a paper deer target my shots out to 35 yards off hand have mostly been in the lung area.

I'm confident that out to 35 yards I could take a deer but much beyond that I wouldn't want to gamble on the shot. I'm an avid traditional bowhunter so I know about limiting my shots to close distances and being patient waiting for the best shot possible.

I have a question for the veterans that hunt with a revolver. How do you practice for hunting situations?? Do you shoot off hand or use sticks to rest the revolver on??? I would think using a limb or day pack to rest the revolver on would be the way to go to keep the revolver steady.


Ron
 
PALongbow.......I started out shooting the 240's that day, shot 50 of them, wasn't impressed with my groupings. Broke out the 300's and really liked the groupings. My SRH seems to like the 300's a little better than the 240's.......although I've gotten some outstanding groups with them. I just decided to stick with the 300's for both bear and deer this year.

I usually just shoot from a bench.......the longest shot I will have, in the area I hunt with the SRH is only about 75 yards if that.
 
How do I pratice hunting with a sixgun? Walking in the woods and shooting rocks. I mostly hunt sitting, so pratice from that position.
 
Run 20 feet or so, then try to hold your gun steady from various positions.
You'll find out quickly what positions that you can shoot from.
 
Steve,

Are you using H-110 powder with those 300 grain Hornady XTP's? I have been thinking about trying them for hunting.

Ron
 
Carried my Ruger Super Blackhawk this year for the first time, mainly as a backup gun. I would have taken a shot at any deer that I was willing to shoot and that stood still within range. Just didn't have the right opportunity. Nest year I might try a hunt dedicated to this gun.

I did take one ruffed grouse with it. (Yes, its legal here.) Head shot at twenty feet. Worked well. No misses. Yummy dinner. :cool:
 
I was told by some veteran handgun hunters to leave the rifle at home if I intend to shoot a deer with the handgun because the first sighting of a deer the rifle will be used. I would shoot a deer at close range with the handgun, but a deer beyond 50 yards the rifle will be used. I'm just not that comfortable with shooting a handgun beyond 50 yards at animals.

Ron
 
The hardest part of handgunning, which I took up several years ago, was leaving the rifle home that first time. I was hunting with a S&W 686 6" .357.........didn't take anything with it, but sure was fun :D
 
PALongbow.......yes, all I use is H-110......and I usually go through lots of it. Been using it since I started reloading (several years ago) and it works just fine for me. 24.0 grains for the 240's and 20.0 for the 300's.
 
Steve in PA

I'm taking my 686 out on Friday myself. I'm pretty comfprtable with shots out to 35-40 yards, but beyond that, I'm not taking a shot. If I can't get a shot off, I'm taking the shotgun next time. :)

Cheers!
Glen
 
I have a 2X scope on my SRH. I'm comfortable shooting out to 40 yards off hand but thats about it, especially on live animals. I quess with more practice and as my confidence rises I would extend that range because the 44 mag has more potential than me.

Ron
 
Last weekend I took a deer at 75 yards. I had my SRH with me (loaded with Hammerheads), but in the end I felt like I had not put in enough practice to guarantee a kill shot at that range, so I used my rifle instead.

Oh, and I top my SRH with a B&L 2-6X. I usually keep the magnification at 4-5.
 
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