Results 1 to 10 of 25
Thread: 38 Special for catching deers?
-
November 13th, 2017, 08:44 PM #1
38 Special for catching deers?
Anybody use a 38 Special for catching deers?
-
November 13th, 2017, 08:52 PM #2
Re: 38 Special for catching deers?
When I researched this many moons ago, it was determined that 38 spl is underpowered for deer hunting. 357 Mag is the floor for hunting and with at least a 6 inch barrel. A good hunter wants a fast clean kill and the 38 spl is just not enough to insure this. If it was all I had and I was starving, it would work, but it is far from my first choice.
Illegitimus non carborundum est
-
November 13th, 2017, 08:56 PM #3
Re: 38 Special for catching deers?
-
November 13th, 2017, 09:00 PM #4
-
November 13th, 2017, 10:04 PM #5Active Member
- Join Date
- Apr 2006
- Location
-
Pennsylvania
(Allegheny County) - Posts
- 206
- Rep Power
- 0
Re: 38 Special for catching deers?
I am pretty sure the .38 special will catch a deer but I wouldn’t rely on it to kill a deer. 357 mag is the minimum, imho.
-
November 13th, 2017, 11:12 PM #6
Re: 38 Special for catching deers?
Deer are thin-skinned animals. A 125 XTP through the boiler room (behind the shoulder/leg bone) should do the job, if you are an accurate catcher. It is not uncommon to have to track a deer 50 yards or more, hit by a 30-30 in the heart-lungs. No reason a .38 special wouldn't create the same result, I would think.
Back in the 50s I read of Alaskan Indians killing large animals with .22LR rifles, simply because that was what they had. They relied on shot placement.
-
November 13th, 2017, 11:22 PM #7
-
November 13th, 2017, 11:37 PM #8
Re: 38 Special for catching deers?
Sever a coronary artery or cardiac chamber, any mammal will die. It is done with bow and arrow, why not a .355-.356 9mm or a .357 .38 spl? Same with perforating lungs. Death follows.
Even better. Hit the deer in the neck spine and it'll drop like a rock. Hit it through the carotids and it will drop in about 25 yards like one did when I shot an arrow through his.
Actually, the question is looking for anyone who has caught deers using a .38 special. I have not. I have used a .357 magnum, neck shot, dropped like a rock.
But not a .38 special, so I should not be posting.
-
November 13th, 2017, 11:41 PM #9Grand Member
- Join Date
- Jan 2013
- Location
-
Richboro,
Pennsylvania
(Bucks County) - Posts
- 3,069
- Rep Power
- 21474851
Re: 38 Special for catching deers?
A .38 will easily kill a deer. So will a .22LR.
The question is will it kill it fast enough for you to find it. The answer is generally NO.
Or why would you want to even try.
-
November 13th, 2017, 11:42 PM #10
Re: 38 Special for catching deers?
Possible and ethical are two different things. I will categorically state right now what .38 special is absolutely inadequate for PA whitetail, the chances of you just wounding an animal are far too high. .38 special is very weak, even with +p loads.
Bows do not kill the same way firearms kill, a broad head is designed to cause massive blood loss, a .38 hollow point is not.
Similar Threads
-
catching grief for cc?
By Sparxfly72 in forum Concealed & Open CarryReplies: 47Last Post: January 24th, 2014, 02:29 PM -
Catching Chrome
By InfiniteMotors in forum FeedbackReplies: 1Last Post: March 17th, 2013, 09:11 PM -
Can you hunt deers in Berks county with a Saiga 12 semi-auto shotgun?
By noyz25 in forum HuntingReplies: 22Last Post: November 16th, 2011, 05:18 PM -
Catching a bullet
By Warpt762x39 in forum Ammunition & ReloadingReplies: 27Last Post: February 24th, 2010, 11:25 AM -
Catching Chrome
By crlovel in forum GeneralReplies: 1Last Post: July 20th, 2009, 04:20 PM
Bookmarks