Handgun Effectivness?

[stubby]

I just gotback from helping my brother track a nice buck that he stuck with an arrow this morning. We tracked and searched (four of us) for over four hours and covered 3/4 mile through very tight timber before we could no longer find any sign. We eventually had to give up since we had no indication where he had gone from our last blood. Anyway, this is the second deer my brother has stuck and we could not find in the past two weeks. He feels terrible as I do. Is a handgun cartridge (41 Magnum) with 250 grain wide flat point bullets more effective than an arrow? I have never hunted with a handgun before but intended to do so this season. I am having second thoughts, fearing that a handgun may not be up to the job and lead to unnecessary suffering and extended tracking problems. I want real life experience regarding the effectivness of handgun cartridges (not rifle cartridges in single shot pistols) THANKS Stubby

 

[Puddle Pirate]

Evidently the state of Indiana doesn't believe a .41 is effective enough for deer hunting, because it isn't one of the approved cartridges. Most of the people I know who hunt with an actual handgun use either .44 mag or .45 long colt.

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I gotta get a cheaper hobby.

 

[EQUALIZER]

Can't speak from experience, but I know of those who harvest white tail w/ .45ACp, .357Mag (yikes!), and .44Mag. .41Mags ballistics w/hot rounds sound like they about equal 44 in ke. With handguns, from what I've gathered, its like bow....placement is everything. For bow ranges and a little beyond, I see no reason why hot 41Mag would not work well. I'm sure that there are some veteran handgun hunters over on the hunting forum that can speak to this much better than me. BTW, I'm going to use 45 Super, (same catagory as 41Mag more or less), to hunt white tails next year if all goes as planned.

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"But now, he that hath a purse, let him take it, and likewise his scrip; and he that hath no sword, let him sell his garment, and buy one." -Jesus Christ (Luke 22:36, see John 3:15-18)

 

[4V50 Gary]

I did a head shot on a deer at 50 yards with a scoped Thompson Center. The caliber? 22 Hornet. He dropped like a rock.

I also harvested a buck with my Browning Bow. Hit him right behind the right shoulder (lung area). He ran about 100 yards and dropped. He was still breathing when I came across him.

The lesson is that shot placement, whether with bow or bullet is everything. If you're good enough with a head shot, go for it. While a body shot will kill them, it takes longer.

BTW, if you can't find you're deer, look for the vultures. Them buzzards will find him for you.



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Vigilantibus et non dormientibus jura subveniunt

 

[Ankeny]

I certainly don't want to stir the pot, but I am going to throw my 2 cents worth in. I have killed dozens of big game animals with head and neck shots, but I no longer shoot for any hit other than a double lung. I have seen too many animals with their jaws shot off or shot through the snout. According to a friend of mine who is an enforcement specialist with the Wyoming Game and Fish Dept., one of the leading causes of crippled game animals are failed head and neck shots that result to hits in the face. The animal then dies from infection or starves to death.