Do I need something else for handgun hunting?

goldeneagle76

I have a S&W 686 w/ 8" barrel (.357mag). Is this ok for whitetail hunting as long as I mount a scope or would I be better off getting something like a Ruger Super Blackhawk in 44mag and 10.5" barrel?

ddhotbot

keep your shots under 75yds with a good heavy bullet and the 357 is fine.of course if your looking for an excuse too buy a new gun the 44 is far superior!! i really like the hornady xtp 180gr bullet in my 357.good luck

William81

With the right loads. the .357 is a decent calibur for handgun hunting for whitetail. I usually carry a Colt Anaconda in .44 Mag. but do not feel undergunned when using my 686 instead.

Dak To 68

Enough practice with the weapon of your choice so that you have the confidence to make the shot at crunch time.

goldeneagle76

half of me is looking for an excuse to buy another gun...the other half sees the prices and says just get a scope for the 686. We'll see which of my split personalities wins!!! Another thing to add...single or double action?

dfletcher

Sounds like a good excuse to buy a T/C Encore.

William81

Just another possible thing to look at....Check out some Dot sights before you settle on a scope. I had a Leupold M8-2X on my Anaconda for the first couple of years of handgun hunting.

I had a shot at a deer from less than 15 yards and all I could see was brown...Not good for anything real close IMHO...I settled on a Tasco PPII Red Dot sight.

As I have aged and my eyesight has dimished, I find the dot sight to be faster on target and easier for follow up shot. JMHO....

1022man

I hunt with a Dan Wesson 357 with a leupold 2x scope. And love it. I hunt with 200gr Corbon. I like the double action better than the single.

nards444

you dont need a scope, but it would give you better accuracy. Another thing with hand gun shooting is your probably looking at around 50yds as being as far out as you can go. Im sure some people would say they can do this and that with hand guns. But remember its not a rifle ur using

MIKE WISKEY

"We'll see which of my split personalities wins!!! "... THERE IS ENOUGHT CONFLICT IN LIFE...JUST BUY BOTH[}:)]

gandj arms

you really don"t if you are half descent; with the pistol' i have taken quite a few with my 4in python. all with 1 shot. one time i had my pre 64 model 7o in 270 hit a buck spent have a day tracking him. fired 5times; got so pissed off pulled out the python it only spoke once. later a fellow neighbor had a friend hunting with him; and had a story to tell about a guy that pulled a pistol out and dropped a deer with one shot. later on i got to hear the story and laughed; i informed them who the guy was; the neighbor went out and bought a ruger 357 4in the next day. i used hollow points and have never needed more than 1 shot. no scope.