Handguns and the 357

H

hube1236

New member
I have a Ruger GP100 that I would like to use more of. The weight makes it a little heavy for CCW, but Dotting it and using it for hunting would be a dandy. The problem is, is that I need a HG producing 500 ft lbs of energy at 100 yrds to hunt deer. This is the only rule in the bool that I could find relating to HG hunting. This just means that I will not hunt deer- which I don't hunt anyways.

Are there animals out there outside of rats that a charged 357 would handle ethically and lawfully?

Happy Fourth!
 
Ethically, yes; in Jawgia, lawfully, no. That is, with iron sights you'd limit your shooting distance to where you could hit the end of a beer can very reliably. That's probably inside of 50 yards.

My Sierra book sez that a 158-grain bullet at 1,200 ft/sec gives 505 ft-lbs at the muzzle; 360 at 100 yards. At 20 or 30 yards the package would be effective for a head, neck or heart/lung shot.

The Speer book lists hotter loads, for the Thompson Contender and "heavy-frame revolvers". Caution is advised, although such loads for hunting would be fired only for sight-in and the few shots on deer. Caution and good judgement is advised.

Art
 
Changes this year

This year in Georgia, there is no energy requirement or barrel length requirement for hunting with a hand gun. Any centerfire pistol is legal, yes any. The state web site has not yet been updated. Pick pick up a copy at any store that sells hunting license. The 500 lbs at 100 yards was dropped because it was not possible to enforce. The 6 inch barrel requirement was also dropped. Yes, a 25 auto would be legal, but the state, I believe, contended that hunters would have more sense than that. - Best
 
As much as it will start the "ethical" hunters to screaming, I agree with getting rid of the handgun energy regs. The number of deer that this might wound is a drop in the bucket when compared to deer populations in general, and deer highway injuries in particular.
There's worse things out there than the occasional landowner/hunter who wants to try out his .45 on the deer in his blackberry patch.
I hunt with a .44mag,BTW.
 
The same is true for rifles, any centerfire cartridge is legal this year. There has always been a lot of politics in Ga. hunting regs, and not much common sense. I rather like the approach that the hunter has enough sense to know what is deer capable and what is not.

I do not like the "because you are not smart enough to know what you need" syndrome that has been used in the past. Admittedly, many will still hunt with a .223, but even my Mac 9mm is deer legal now. Does this mean that I am going to let my 30.06 sit in the safe? Why of course not. Would I hunt with a 357? Only if it was the only thing available and I could get a very close shot. I don't even carry a pistol into the woods anymore, but that does not mean that I won't carry one in the future. For me, it is just extra weight. I certainly do not think that hunters will be hitting the woods in droves with their ccw pistols, or whatever is in the dash at the moment. I like as much gun as is practical, in as small of a package as practical, whether pistol or rifle.
 
Take a look at the CorBon loads for the .357. They have a 180gr softpoint that delivers 550fp @50 yds (which is the minimum req. for biggame handgun hunting in Colorado).

JohnDog
 
I've noticed that CorBon makes hot ammo for a lot of older rounds, meant to be shot in modern firearms. I use CorBon in my CCW 38 spcl. as well.
 
Easy, get a 357 maximum ;).

In all seriousness those regs are to keep every yahoo with a pistol from shooting up the woods, vs a dedicated pistol hunter with enough gun to do the job.

I'm no fan of Cor-Bon loads in general (too hot rodded for my taste) but if you have a strong gun like a Ruger, the CorBon might be the way to go.

John is right, most handgun loads have to be in the 41-44 mag range to be legal in Colorado, thought the .357 Max easily passes.
 
Yes, politics have taken over with GA hunting regs this year. Not only have they legalized any centerfire pistol, but they have also allowed crossbows. I have always contended that the .357 was more than enough for GA deer, especially considering most deer here average around 125 lbs. Most all 150-180 grain solids, including some hot 125 HP's, will cleanly take deer. That is, as long as range is considered. I would say the .357 is 50 yd deer gun, depending on the conditions. A lot however, depends on shooting ability, as a .44 to the gut isn't near as effective as a .357 to the heart.
 
Use Georgia Arm's "Deer Stopper." It's a 158 gr. GoldDot at 1475 fps for 763 ft/lbs from a 6" barrel.

Onlt $13.95 per 50 rounds. I've used this stuff and it a hoot to shoot. Your Ruger GP-100 will handle it with ease.

www.georgia-arms.com

Kilgor
 
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