Alt. method deer hunt advice

[grousemaster]

I'm headed down to Missouri next weekend for alternative method deer season (black powder, pistols, bows, etc.). My choices are my Ruger SP101 4.2" .357 mag that I'm somewhat effective with (can consistently hit 12" target at 25 and 50 yards, and fairly good even at 100 yards off a steady rest), or my dads .50 cal Hawken rifle that I have never shot? He would teach me to shoot it and check zero this week some time. Which would you choose? Why? I have a 180 grain hard cast .357 load chrono'd at 1496fps out of a 6" bbl.....that's almost 900 foot pounds, so I DO think the .357 is an ethical choice at close ranges.

[farmerj]

Considering the average deer kill zone is 9", I'd say get the Hawken.


Why the hawken? Because you'd be more accurate than with a pistol. You can only shoot a 12" group. When you can get it consistently under 9", use the pistol.

[grousemaster]

Considering the average deer kill zone is 9", I'd say get the Hawken.


Why the hawken? Because you'd be more accurate than with a pistol. You can only shoot a 12" group. When you can get it consistently under 9", use the pistol.

At 25 yards I shoot about a 3" group, I didn't measure groups at longer ranges.

[farmerj]

I didn't read that that way...

can consistently hit 12" target at 25 and 50 yards

To me, that means you can't hit a 12" target each time. It might be 8 out of 10 or so.


but if you are shooting 3" groups at 25 yards,

Either would be a good option. Especially if you can get a good amount of hawken practice in this week.

[grousemaster]

I didn't read that that way...

can consistently hit 12" target at 25 and 50 yards

To me, that means you can't hit a 12" target each time. It might be 8 out of 10 or so.


but if you are shooting 3" groups at 25 yards,

Either would be a good option. Especially if you can get a good amount of hawken practice in this week.

Tough choice. I would limit myself to 25-40 yards or so with the pistol. I'm hunting good private land, always see lots of deer and can be picky on shot.

[yuppiejr]

Any reason you can't take/carry both? I'll always opt for a shoulder fired weapon if given the choice, the .50 caliber muzzleloaders I've used handle along the lines of a 12 gauge break action shotgun chucking slugs with similar sights and vastly superior ballistics over a 4" .357 magnum. That 2" difference in barrel length between your 4" and the 6" you chronoed is significant when you're trying to hit that magic 1000 ft/lbs number for deer, if I look at the average of a spectrum of loads chronoed from BBTI.com I see a 150-200 FPS drop in speed and 150-200 ft/lbs less energy at the muzzle in the batch of .357 stuff which puts you down around 750 ft/lbs at the muzzle... the low BC of those hardcast doesn't help the energy numbers as range increases. Factor in some buck fever and I'd make 25 yards my longest shot and only on a perfect/profile target with the revolver.

[grousemaster]

Any reason you can't take/carry both? I'll always opt for a shoulder fired weapon if given the choice, the .50 caliber muzzleloaders I've used handle along the lines of a 12 gauge break action shotgun chucking slugs with similar sights and vastly superior ballistics over a 4" .357 magnum. That 2" difference in barrel length between your 4" and the 6" you chronoed is significant when you're trying to hit that magic 1000 ft/lbs number for deer, if I look at the average of a spectrum of loads chronoed from BBTI.com I see a 150-200 FPS drop in speed and 150-200 ft/lbs less energy at the muzzle in the batch of .357 stuff which puts you down around 750 ft/lbs at the muzzle... the low BC of those hardcast doesn't help the energy numbers as range increases. Factor in some buck fever and I'd make 25 yards my longest shot and only on a perfect/profile target with the revolver.

Nice take. Maybe I'll throw the .357 on my waist and carry the .50

[OldmanFCSA]

Altenative Method ??????????

I've done a pretty good job deer hunting with my truck.

[Rem700]

Any reason you can't take/carry both? I'll always opt for a shoulder fired weapon if given the choice, the .50 caliber muzzleloaders I've used handle along the lines of a 12 gauge break action shotgun chucking slugs with similar sights and vastly superior ballistics over a 4" .357 magnum. That 2" difference in barrel length between your 4" and the 6" you chronoed is significant when you're trying to hit that magic 1000 ft/lbs number for deer, if I look at the average of a spectrum of loads chronoed from BBTI.com I see a 150-200 FPS drop in speed and 150-200 ft/lbs less energy at the muzzle in the batch of .357 stuff which puts you down around 750 ft/lbs at the muzzle... the low BC of those hardcast doesn't help the energy numbers as range increases. Factor in some buck fever and I'd make 25 yards my longest shot and only on a perfect/profile target with the revolver.

Nice take. Maybe I'll throw the .357 on my waist and carry the .50

+1 Given your choices.

[yuppiejr]

I like the combo approach and used a revolver along with my Rem700 this year deer hunting up north, not sure weight is much of a factor with the 4" SP101 but with my 7.5" Redhawk and 2 crappy bandolier holsters I got the "buy good leather" religion and picked up a Galco when I got home. Good luck on your hunt!

[bensdad]

Cowboy-up and use a spear. Better yet, rope one and choke it out!

[grousemaster]

I like the combo approach and used a revolver along with my Rem700 this year deer hunting up north, not sure weight is much of a factor with the 4" SP101 but with my 7.5" Redhawk and 2 crappy bandolier holsters I got the "buy good leather" religion and picked up a Galco when I got home. Good luck on your hunt!

I've already got a nice holster for it from Lobo Gun Leather....

[45Badger]

Both . YOU can borrow my 6" Model 19 if you want a longer barrel...............

Or a TC Omega smokepole

[sgruenhagen44]

Tried the muzzle loader game for a year. Dirty, nasty, less shooting, more cleaning. Use the sp101. By the way I am still jealous you found that gun. They seem to be hard to find. Can only find the 4'' barrel in .22 lr. How about I just trade ya my bow for it and you can use that? Problem solved!!! I guess I don't know if ya have killed with a pistol before or not but I got my first pistol kills this year and it was just as cool as my first bow kill. Not saying black powder is not rewarding...

[grousemaster]

Tried the muzzle loader game for a year. Dirty, nasty, less shooting, more cleaning. Use the sp101. By the way I am still jealous you found that gun. They seem to be hard to find. Can only find the 4'' barrel in .22 lr. How about I just trade ya my bow for it and you can use that? Problem solved!!! I guess I don't know if ya have killed with a pistol before or not but I got my first pistol kills this year and it was just as cool as my first bow kill. Not saying black powder is not rewarding...

I found the pistol a couple days before Gunstop closed down (now it's re-opened), i couldn't believe my eyes. I really do want to use the .357, but I'd want to limit myself to 25-35 yard shots. I'd hate to see the "big one" walk by at 75 yards