Virginia Gun Owners Forum - VGOF

I didn't find any threads on hunting with handguns. I am seriously contemplating it since most of the shots I saw last year were < 75 yards and many were less than 20 yards. Why lug around the long gun???

What do you/have you used for deer hunting here in VA? I am leaning toward a large caliber revolver in .44, .454 Casull or .460 S&W. Long barrel of at least 8" I suspect. Lend me your experience!

Thx.

I have over the years hunting with my 44 MAG with 7 inch barrel, I have gotten 1 but most of the times I have the handgun the deer never get closer then 150 yards. but let me carry my 308 and my last 2 deer were dropped at about 50 yards. But it is so much nicer walking through the woods without 8 lbs pulling on my shoulder.

I have successfully used 357 (180gr), 41 mag, 44 mag all at what I call archery distance (50 yd or less). All of the above where 6 inchers.

I fish with a 30:06...............

It has been awhile since I looked it up, but I believe that for handgun hunting deer in Virginia you need a weapon of over 350fps energy. Hot 9MM, all .45, .40, 10MM .357, .44, 41 and any of the "monster" loads should qualify.

I have hunted for the better part of 35 year's with a handgun. A 357 Mag. with handloaded 180 gr. slugs and any number of .44 magnums in bbl. lgth's. from 4" to my current favorite my S & W 10 5/8" mod. #29 in .44 mag.
Bill
NO HENRY, YOU CAN'T HAVE IT !

SgtBill wrote:I have hunted for the better part of 35 year's with a handgun. A 357 Mag. with handloaded 180 gr. slugs and any number of .44 magnums in bbl. lgth's. from 4" to my current favorite my S & W 10 5/8" mod. #29 in .44 mag.
Bill
NO HENRY, YOU CAN'T HAVE IT !

That is indeed a beautiful pistol Bill...

I have a Ruger Super Redhawk which I plan to use for deer in Virgina. If a county or hunting area does not allow rifles you cannot use a handgun. Cartridges must be .23 caliber or larger with at least 350 foot pounds muzzle energy. No one uses anything less on deer so that is not a problem.

Everything you need to know about the use of handguns is in the Virginia Hunting and Trapping regulations.

http://www.dgif.virginia.gov/hunting/regulations/

Happy hunting.

http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v637/ ... C01551.jpg

This is my baby. A Smith & Wesson model #29 .44 Magnum with a 10 5/8" barrel that is Mag Na Ported along with a Leupold 2 1/2 power pistol scope and an action job that I did years ago. Many a critter has fallen to this weapon.
Bill

I have a Taurus Raging Bull 44 Mag...need to put a scope on it then I'm ready to go.

Hunted 20 yrs in NY w/ S&W 29 44 mag 8 3/8" barrel w/ 180 gr bullets. I had one deer that made it 20 yards but most dropped where they stood. Once hit a buck and doe that were traveling together. A whistle stopped the doe after I hit the buck and a tree rest made a 85+ yard hit possible on her. Buddy had given me flack for not getting a deer the year before and suggested I should skip lunch. They went off to lunch and I was real proud of myself for getting the two. Then realized what an idiot I was because I was at the bottom a long steep hill and had to drag two deer up the hill after cleaning both.
I probably won't use a rifle again but eyes might make me go to a scope. Bought a 44 barrel for my Thompson TC a few years back in anticipation. Think distances might be longer here and a scope would solve both problems. Any suggestions out there???

Never handgun hunted down here. I used to squirrel hunt with my Ruger Mk1 5.5" bull barrel in WV. Pretty darn exciting trying to sneak up on a squirrel close enough to head shoot it with the Ruger. So exciting (for me anyway) that one time when I had a really big buck in my cross hairs I knew what that noise in my ears was (heart going THUMP, THUMP, THUMP and bouncing the cross hairs all over the place) and realized I needed to calm down before taking the shot.

If you don't think squirrel hunting is exciting, try it with a .22 handgun.

Can you small game hunt in VA with a .22??

Sure you can hunt 'em with a .22. I have used my MK11 5 1/2" bull barrel on squirrels, rabbit, a few groundhogs, one crow and one fox.

I too have a scoped Ruger MK ll w/ bull barrel. Squirrels are a blast with it.
Have a Thompson w/ scope also for squirrels when I'm in a tree stand.