Best handgun for hunting big game?

[BUCKMARK]

I have killed deer with the .357 mag, .41 mag and .44 mag. I like a 6" or 8" barrel and I have taken a real liking to the .41 mag for whitetails.

[BearTitan]

I agree with Rule10b5. A rifle is much easier to carry than most "hunting" handguns. Having said that, killing a deer with a pistol makes one heck of a good story. I carry a Taurus Titanium Tracker 4 inch barrel in .357 mag as a sidearm while I am hunting with my rifle. When I want to go pistol-only, I carry my Colt Anoconda .44 Mag. with red-dot sight. A friend has the Ruger SRH and it feels and shoots MUCH better than my Anoconda. I do think that anything larger than .44 Mag is overkill for deer.

I have killed deer with both the .357 and the .44.

[countryboy172]

I have killed deer with both the .357 and the .44.

So basically a .357 will get the job done for deer hunting?
What would be best for bear?
Im just asking he never hunts bear but i do and i think it would be fun to hunt one with a handgun and i would probably just use his gun for hunting.

[Holleta]

A 357 will indeed do the job for deer, within reasonable range.

A general rule that is often quoted for required cartridge power for deer at X distance is around 1,000 ft-lbs of energy as a minimum. This puts the 357 at a distinct disadvantage as it never reaches 1,000 ft-lbs, even with stout handloads at the muzzle. It's more in the 500-600 ft-lb range yet does quite a number on deer within 25-50 yds, perhaps it's high velocity helps with it's shock delivery.

I would feel under gunned with a 357 Mag for Bear. I'm sure it will/can drop Bear but I think it's pushing the capability of the cartridge.

I feel the 41 and 44 mags with heavier bullets should be the starting point for Bear with the bigger crazy mags just being icing on the cake as long as you can handle their recoil.

[roland]

I carry a S&W model 29 44 mag for bear, with a shoulder holster or side holster. I havn't found it too hard to carry, while carring a rifle all day. Proper shot placement, within pistol shooting distances, with this caliber, will kill a bear.

I disagree with Holleta on general rule of energy, and shock delivery. Shot placement is the most critical "rule" which leads right into marksmanship, etc.

I don't mean to argue this point, I'm just say'in.

[countryboy172]

Anyone ever hear of a Smith and Wesson .460 VXR?

[Holleta]

The 460 VXR is Smiths large frame pistol in 460 S&W Mag, it can also shoot 454 Cassull and 45 LC. I haven't heard a lot of good about it but haven't shot it myself.

I don't disagree with you Roland, shot placement/pistol marksmanship is paramount. I just assume that anyone attempting handgun hunting has that down pat already....otherwise they have no place in the woods with a hand cannon.

The general 1000 ft-lb "rule" I spoke of applies more to rifles for humane kills on deer. I brought it up for reference since most pistol calibers are much less effective than rifle calibers on deer or similar sized game.

[bogey1]

dont know if it is the best handgun to use, but if i were an animal i'd shit myself if i saw someone pointing a sw500 at me..

[countryboy172]

thats a big gun a .500 sounds like it would get the job done!!!!

[bogey1]

will a .44 mag 240 gn lswc with 7.5 gn green dot @ roughly 900-950 fps be sufficient for deer?