Anyone using handguns for deer?

I know it's a bowhunting forum.......but I also know we have a lot of handgun owners here as well. This upcoming year I'm thinking about carrying the bow and a handgun during NY's southern zone rifle season.

Right now I have a healthy deposit down on a commander length 1911 in .45. I'd love to use this, but not really sure if a 230gr +P packs enough for up to 50 yards on a deer. I'm thinking about adding something to the safe before then that I can use for deer if need be. I don't intend to full time handgun hunt, I'd be more concerned with something that was compact and easy to carry since I'll primarily be bowhunting..........so an 8" Anaconda is probably more than I want to carry.

Any thoughts would be appreciated.

 

im not to up to date on my handgun ammo but i think a .45 is a little small. My dad just bought a .44 ruger this year and he loves it because its just alot more convienent to carry than a rifel in these wisconsin hills.

 

I've shot them with a .223 contender (10" barrel) but that more of a mini rifle.

 

I took a Ruger Super Blackhawk .44mag out while pushing for friends and family last year. I didn't really have any intentions on using it, but carried it anyhow. Had a few shot ops while pushing but never unholstered it.

 

I've shot a few with a .357 mag and went to a 44 mag just because the. 357 was a little too small for me. The 44 was much more effective. I used spitfire ammo but not sure about grain. Both were revolvers.

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I like your style buckeye. That'd be my choice if I were looking to do what Matt is.

 

I have killed deer with a Ruger Super Blackhawk .44 Mag using 230 grain hollowpoints. Shot a doe two years ago with it, and she dropped in her tracks.

I just bought a Para Ordnance 14-45 and have thought about shooting a deer with it, but I have not checked on the legality of caliber restrictions in KS yet. I believe a .45 is the lowest caliber, but I'm not sure if they classify ACP the same as an LC revolver.

 

I believe Rybo also handgun hunts.

 

I've killed a few deer with an 8 3/8" barrel S&W 629 .44mag with 240 gr. hollow points.

 

I have been handgunning for deer, for about 6-7 years now. From a 6" barrel 357 to a 14" barrel contender. But most with a ruger SBH hunter in 44 mag.
Since you sound like you aren't going to scope it, carrying both a bow & revolver is almost like carrying 2 bows, depending on how good you get with the revolver. And since it's more of a tag along gun, I'd go GP-100 in 6" barrel and choose your shot angles as if you were bowhunting. I prefer a 44 over 357, but if you are good about shot choice, a 357 kills deer dead. Next year my goal is to take one with Ruger Vaquero, fixed sights, 357 5.5" barrel. I should have carried it this year.

 

I personally would never use a .45 for deer hunting .... I'm not a .357 fan for it either, but that is from a research standpoint ... .44 mag is the way to go, Matt ..IMO