deer pistol poll

[rugersol]

With the limited number of options, I'll try to combine a few as best I can!

In case someone was otherwise unaware, couple years ago MN DNR purdy well removed any restrictions on deer pistols (.25 Jennings is legal ). However, as most folks wouldn't use less 'n a .40 S&W ... if that ... there's only one option in the poll ... lumped with atypical auto calibers. Can't fathom someone carryin' .38's in a .357 fer deer ... but, there's a "other" revolver category, too!

I wasn't lookin' to snub Taurus 'er Freedom arms 'er no one ... jest that, with the limited poll options, it don't make sense to list 'em separately fer the 1 'er 2 votes they'd get!

I'm guessin' the S&W .357's gonna run away with it ... probly all 686's, at that! But, I've been wrong 'fore!

I've shot my Ruger Bisley Hunter in a "deer pistol" league ... did well with it. This year, after draggin' out a few other options ... as well as the Bisley Hunter ... my S&W 657 is my current favorite! I remember when I got my first one ... not too many years ago ... right 'bout when the first wave, hit! I wasn't really plannin' on buyin' factory ammo ... but I figured I'd check it out ... maybe it was a good way to get brass? ... IIRC, 'bout $65/20rd at Sportsman's Whorehouse! If I git up to the show today, I'll hafta see if anyone's got any ... jest fer grins!

Nothin' quite like the feel of a recoilin' magnum pistol ... as ya sorta make out the faint sound of a ball-peen hammer strikin' an anvil!

[Holland&Holland]

What are you trying to gain out of this poll? If you wanted to know what S&W pistol to take then just list them. Some of your other groupings are like asking whether people perfer a compact hybrid or a 3/4 ton pick up and only giving the option of Chevy.

[rugersol]

What are you trying to gain out of this poll? If you wanted to know what S&W pistol to take then just list them. Some of your other groupings are like asking whether people perfer a compact hybrig or a 3/4 ton pick up and only giving the option of Chevy.

Thanks fer logging in, today!

[Holland&Holland]

What are you trying to gain out of this poll? If you wanted to know what S&W pistol to take then just list them. Some of your other groupings are like asking whether people perfer a compact hybrig or a 3/4 ton pick up and only giving the option of Chevy.

Thanks fer logging in, today!

Whatever, come back when you have a real question.

[Cuda66]

Personally, I usually carry my Anaconda in .44.

If you truly just want a Smith, a 29/629 would do well. Same thimg for a Redhawk/Super Redhawk, if you've got a woody for Ruger.

[rugersol]

Personally, I usually carry my Anaconda in .44.

Ouch! ... one of my first guns ... first revolver! ... traded it off on some shiny damn new thing!

I've got a REALLY nice semi-drop-loop x-draw rig made specifically fer it!

Stoopid, stoopid, stoopid!

[cobb]

I have taken deer with Freedom Arms model 83, Ruger Redhawk, Ruger Super Redhawk and Magnum Research Lone Eagle.

Calibers in .358, .41, .44 and .454.

I know a .357 magnum revolver will work, same as .243 rifle. I own both, but will not hunt deer with either.

[rugersol]

I have taken deer with Freedom Arms model 83, Ruger Redhawk, Ruger Super Redhawk and Magnum Research Lone Eagle.

Calibers in .358, .41, .44 and .454.

I know a .357 magnum revolver will work, same as .243 rifle. I own both, but will not hunt deer with either.

Fair 'nuff!

FWIW, Redhawk's on there ... Freedom'd be "other revolver" ... Lone Eagle could go under "T/C" (that's the .358?)

I sure wouldn't mind havin' a Freedom! ... BFR's no slouch, neither!

[tman]

I know a .357 magnum revolver will work, same as .243 rifle. I own both, but will not hunt deer with either.

Why not?

My wife and #1 Son have shot ALL of their deer with .243. Farthest we've had to go to pick them up is about 50 yards.

[cobb]

FWIW, Redhawk's on there ... Freedom'd be "other revolver" ... Lone Eagle could go under "T/C" (that's the .358?)

Don't take this in the wrong spirit, but the poll is a mixed and makes no sense to me. It is a mix of manufacturers, models and calibers. Take the Ruger Super Redhawk for example. So do I vote "other revolver" because it isn't listed? Do I vote "Ruger Redhawk/GP100", that is close, same family, but not the same. Do I vote in "S&W .44, it is that designated caliber.

So that is why I didn't vote and described my choices to be a bit more accurate.

[Seismic Sam]

And you didn't sell the holster with the gun for WHAT reason??? Now you have an empty holster to haunt you and no gun to go in it...

And as far as the poll, the brands need to be eliminated and just go with calibers:

44 Mag - Yes - Double yes!!
357 Mag, Yes
45 ACP - No
440 Corbon - No, and too funky
50 GI - I don't hunt deer - probably 5 of these in the whole state
41 Mag - Yes, but kinda rare
38 Super - No - 9x23 Winchester maybe, but again very rare
38 Special - No - too weak
460 Rowland - Yes, but very rare
460 Smith - Yes, but kinda overkill, unless you're taking deer at 200 yards, and this isn't Wyoming
500 Smith - Works better for elk and moose
10mm - Yes
45 Super - Yes
40 Short & Weak - No - the name says it all
.25 Jennings - only suitable for bagging rival "Urban Fur Traders" who are trying to steal your ho's... fo' shizzle!!

[tman]

Thinking about it, I've killed WAY more deer with a 9mm pistol in the last few years than with my rifle...

[EJSG19]

Thinking about it, I've killed WAY more deer with a 9mm pistol in the last few years than with my rifle...

during a highschool football practice, we watched some local LEO's try to off a deer that had gotten its head stuck in a barbed wire fence. They had 9's or 40's.

I heard one shot, then after a 10 second pause, 8 more shots. 4 officers, and not one knew where to put a kill shot on a deer. Made you feel more than a little concerned that they "were the only ones professional enough."

[cobb]

I know a .357 magnum revolver will work, same as .243 rifle. I own both, but will not hunt deer with either.

Why not?

My wife and #1 Son have shot ALL of their deer with .243. Farthest we've had to go to pick them up is about 50 yards.

You know, the best answer I can give is that it is a personal choice, I like to give myself an edge. Same as self defense, many people have successfully used a .22 rimfire, .25 & .32's, many feel today that the .380 is one of the best balance of small size and power. My preferred carry for self defense is a .45 acp, if I have to go small, it is no smaller than a 9X19 by necessity of that situation. My current preferred rifle for the northern parts of the state is Remington 700 chambered in .35 Whelen, it has performed flawlessly for me and none of the deer have complained that it was too large of caliber.

Back to handgun calibers, I have taken deer with a .41 magnum out of a Ruger Redhawk and was not impressed with its initial performance. Did it work, hell yes it did, but I have much more confidence in a .44 magnum or larger, based on my observations.

But my opinion, if everyone had the same opinion as me, Ford would have been out of business back in the 80's. I bought a brand new 1985 Ford pickup, biggest piece of new junk I have ever owned and the local Ford service department was the same.

[Vlad]

I chose the AR as that is what I used last year. I have also used a TC in 35 rem and a redhawk in 44. The AR pistol is in 300 whisper/fireball/WTF. I will be using that again this year.