handgun for deer in Illinois

why so much gun for a skinny deer? A good 180gr .357 mag would do the job without putting quite as much a dent in the web of your hand or the folds of your wallet.
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A .357 is minimal for IL deer. You really wouldn't want to go less in caliber or power level. .41 and .44 will do the trick.
If a person hasn't seen IL deer then they don't realize their size. According to Buckmasters the next trophy whitetail will come out of west central IL. Every year there are deer taken that come close to the record. We're talking some big deer. Field dressed at 300+ lbs isn't uncommon in the "Golden Triangle" of west central IL. They're good corn fed deer.
Here are some pictures from previous years.

DEERD.jpg


DEERC.jpg


DEERB.jpg


DEERA.jpg
 
Just curious, why the blurred faces? Those are bragging size deer.
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Because those guys aren't me. :mad: I've seen them that big and bigger and with racks like the last one but never seen them either close enough or during hunting season. Those are bragging deer for sure. They didn't make record book tho. Just a shade too small.
The land between the Illinois and Mississippi rivers is called the Golden Triangle. Hunting leases are majorly big business for the land owners and outfitters. The TV shows come in about Oct 1 when bow season starts and they film all season.
The 2 guys in the first picture are now federally convicted felons. That deer was taken illegally and then transported across state lines. Cost them each in excess of $20K plus court costs and their hunting rights are revoked in IL and their home state.
 
How about a 10" PC model .460 S&W? Part of the problem is optics when shooting at 200 yards. To get a good ethical shot you need to get the power up. When you turn the power up you lose a lot of field of view, and also eye relief. I wouldn't want to get a hand gun over 30 caliber pushing past 2,000 fps that close to my face. Choose your optics wisely.
 
I've decided to go the 444 TC Encore route. Any suggestions as far as price and what to buy would be appreciated.
Thanks for all the suggestions.
 
500 S&W, 454 Casull are a couple I've been considering.
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I have the SRH in .454 with a 2x Burris and 7 1/2 inch barrel. It works good for me and is physically about as big a handgun as I'd like to pack. My big problem with the 500 S&W's is not the caliber, but the physical size. They are big enough, you might as well be carrying a rifle. If your hunting from a stand it probably doesn't matter. I'd suggest .357 on the low side, but 41's, 45 Colt's and 44's should work well for your needs
 
How much will I have to pay for an Encore frame? Anything special to look for in grips and such as accessories?

45/70 verse 444

Can someone enlighten me with a velocity, energy and trajectory comparison?
 
Check those links above for velocity and energy. Not too sure about trajectory, but Google is a wonderful thing. Although either 444 Marlin or 45-70 would be good beyond 100 yards, I'm thinking you're going to get significant bullet drop, and you'll have to do some serious research to know how much.
Most trajectory data you find will be based on rifle barrels. The 15" barrel on the Encore will produce somewhat less velocity, and a bigger bullet drop. Lots of shooting at different ranges would give you your bullet drop numbers, but I'd just limit my shots to 100 yds or less.
I picked my Stainless Encore up for $570 with a .223 barrel. Gunbroker was about the same with shipping and FFL fee, so I bought locally. Since then I've bought 3 more barrels at about $235 each plus shipping. The .22 rimfire barrel was a little more, requires more labor to build it.
Be careful, you'll get hooked!
 
Illinois handgun hunting regs

The only legal handguns are centerfire revolvers or centerfire single-shot
handguns of .30 caliber or larger with a minimum barrel length of 4 inches.
It shall be unlawful to take or attempt to take white-tailed deer by the
use of semi-automatic handguns, muzzleloading handguns, or handguns
altered to allow for shoulder firing.
The only legal ammunition for a centerfire handgun is (1) a bottleneck
centerfire cartridge of .30 caliber or larger with a case length not exceeding
1.4 inches, or (2) a straightwalled centerfire cartridge of .30 caliber
or larger, with no minimum case length; both of which must be available
with the published ballistic tables of the manufacturer showing a capability
of at least 500 foot pounds of energy at the muzzle.

I coulda & shoulda got what I was looking for when I first posted. I was traveling & working to much to bother with it then. Now I'm busted up & in a bind for time. I will not be able to shoulder a gun this year but I shoot out of a box blind so I can use a pistol off the boxblind rest.
I was informed that there is no maximum length for a pistol barrel. & from my blind barrel length is not an issue. I can see for a minimum of 1/2 mile in any direction.
Is there any straight walled cartridge that is better than the 45/70 or 444 Marlin out of an Encore heavy rifle barrel with muzzle brake & mercury reducer for shots up to 200 yards?
Does anybody have an Ecore psitol or pistol frame for sale? Or a suitable Encore rifle barrel or Encore rifle for sale?
I didn't realize I wouldn't be able to shoulder a gun this year til in the last week.
 
I don't know, but if you plan to sit in a blind or a stand like during the earlier seasons, I wish you much luck. Handgun season is way late, long after deer have ceased to move, at least in my little patch of Pike County.

The last time I tried it, I sat in a stand that's a guarantee during firearm season. Nothing. Then I walked all the draws and looked everywhere for sign . . . . still nothing. In that part of the state, I can't figure out where they were. Did deer start hibernating or something?
 
late season

not sure where pike county is, but in central il you can carry a handgun and longgun at the same time during firearm seasons. also, i could be wrong but last i checked you cant have a rifle barrel on a handgun for il deer hunting. gotta be 16 or less. 41 and 44 mag is what i hunt with.
 
I haven't heard or read anything about a maximum barrel length in Illinois. If anybody has any verified info please let me know.

This is all I could find. Nothing on a maximum length.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Illinois handgun hunting regs

The only legal handguns are centerfire revolvers or centerfire single-shot
handguns of .30 caliber or larger with a minimum barrel length of 4 inches.
It shall be unlawful to take or attempt to take white-tailed deer by the
use of semi-automatic handguns, muzzleloading handguns, or handguns
altered to allow for shoulder firing.
The only legal ammunition for a centerfire handgun is (1) a bottleneck
centerfire cartridge of .30 caliber or larger with a case length not exceeding
1.4 inches, or (2) a straightwalled centerfire cartridge of .30 caliber
or larger, with no minimum case length; both of which must be available
with the published ballistic tables of the manufacturer showing a capability
of at least 500 foot pounds of energy at the muzzle.
 
I've never heard of a maximum barrel length for hunting in IL. 4" is the minimum.

Handguns are legal in the general firearm season.
 
I just picked up a used Redhawk Hunter, 7.5" barrel in 44 Magnum with 4X Leupold that I was planning to use for IL whitetail.

However, since I don't see myself getting a second shot if I miss with the first one, a Contender would have been better.

Encores can handle bigger calibers, but Contenders are lighter.

One sweet thing about the T/C's is that since no space is "wasted" on the cylinder or bolt, it is like a "free" couple inches of barrel length. (and free velocity)

ISP - 300+ lbs. dressed!!?? Damn, I hope I don't get one that big. There's no way I'd be able to drag it back. I'd have to pass and take a small doe. :D
 
Don Gwinn
Staff


Join Date: 2000-03-09
Location: Virden, IL
Posts: 5,931 I don't know, but if you plan to sit in a blind or a stand like during the earlier seasons, I wish you much luck. Handgun season is way late, long after deer have ceased to move, at least in my little patch of Pike County.

The last time I tried it, I sat in a stand that's a guarantee during firearm season. Nothing. Then I walked all the draws and looked everywhere for sign . . . . still nothing. In that part of the state, I can't figure out where they were. Did deer start hibernating or something? " Quote

I decided on the T/C Encore 444 Marlin 18" ported barrel with brake & the Hornady Leverevolution 265 grain bullet 2325 muzzle velocity. It should be about the same as the new slugs or muzzleloaders. To bad I can't use the pistol for Muzzleloader only season.
Anybody have any ideas on how I can touch my muzzleloader off without shouldering the gun? I've heard of sometype of pad that greatly reduces recoil.
Do these pads work? Any links?

Last year we had 480 acres of corn still in the fields around us. I know where the deer were then.
 
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Please consider one more....S&W 460 Mag in the XVR or Hunter. Velocities are incredible (factory loads approaching .308 rifle energy) - flat shooting, incredibly accurate, truly a 200yd capable handgun. Recoil is totally manageable with the X frame and supplied compensator. Can shoot .454 or .45 Long Colt with the same gun for economy or entertainment....what's not to love? Need to kill a Bear/Moose/Elk? No problem - grab a box of CorBons and hurl some serious lead (say 360 grain at 1900+fps). This gun can do it all!
 
Please consider one more....S&W 460 Mag in the XVR or Hunter. Velocities are incredible (factory loads approaching .308 rifle energy) - flat shooting, incredibly accurate, truly a 200yd capable handgun. Recoil is totally manageable with the X frame and supplied compensator. Can shoot .454 or .45 Long Colt with the same gun for economy or entertainment....what's not to love? Need to kill a Bear/Moose/Elk? No problem - grab a box of CorBons and hurl some serious lead (say 360 grain at 1900+fps). This gun can do it all!

What is the X frame? XVR?
Tell me more about the X frame & supplied compensator.
 
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