I have always wanted to try deer hunting with a pistol, and was wondering if anyone else does. I use to care my .357 mag with me and used it once a long time ago to finish off a deer I had downed.

I was thinking of buying a Ruger Super Blackhawk Hunter in .44 mag. I have always liked the single action revolvers over double action. This is the only single action I have found that has a heavy barrel with notches for scope rings. Plus my gunsmith has one NIB that he as done an action and trigger job on and I fell in love with it.

I have never shot a pistol with a scope before, so feedback on which scopes and powers to buy would be welcome. How different is it shooting a pistol with a scope verses a rifle?

I hunt with a T/C Contender in 30-30 sometimes. It does make it more challenging and usually use it to take does. I have a 2 power scope on it but would rather have a 4 power since I can shoot confidently out to 120 yards with a good rest. If you are planning to only shoot out to 40-50 yards then a 2 power should be good enough. What ever scope you get try to get one with a bigger Field of View so your target is not so hard to find in the crosshairs. The 44 mag should be fun to hunt with but not sure what your maximum distance is on that caliber with a pistol barrel, I am thinking 40-50 yards max but could be wrong. As far as shooting the pistol goes if you are on the ground you can rest the gun on your knee if in the stand you can rest on the rail. It is alot harder to keep those crosshairs from moving so just do what comes natural and practice different scenarios before the hunt.

you MUST use a rest when hunting with a scoped pistol. i owned a ruger blackhawk stainless steel w/walunt grips, you know, the one you wished you would have never got rid of. it was a shooter and i would't have hesitated to shoot a deer with it opensighted at 40 yards. i hit a jackrabbit once with it at 80

A buddy of mine hunts with a pistol. He started with a .44 then moved up to a .454. Now he shoots a .50

He recovered the first buck he shot with the .44 two days later and immediately moved up to the .454. He says that his .50 does the job!

I have shot hogs with a pistol a .40 with some bad bullets that did the job, but I was in a tree and they were under me. I did shoot a doe right in the head with a pistol at 8 yards about 6 years ago. I was sitting in my blind, had my pistol cause we had seen lots of rattlesnakes and I did not want to shoot them with a 7 mag. This doe, walked right by the stand, wind was perfect, she stopped about 8 yards away and I dusted her. Not what I wanted to do, but it was there and I took it. Probably would not do it again nor entertain the thought of shooting one with a pistol again. This was a fluke, not the shot, just right place right time.

I would love to try to harvest a deer with a pistol. Problem is, I am in a wheelchair and can't get out and do the "spot and stalk" thing. I do carry my 1911A1 with me when I am out in the woods, just in case a coyote or bobcat decides to visit with me. Maybe if a deer gets within 15 yards, I might try to take him/her with a .45 ACP slug!!!

I have been hunting with handguns for about 20 years. I started out with 44 mag, then switched to the .454 Casull. I have shot several deer, hogs, bobcats and a black bear with these. I now switch back and forth between the .454 and a TC Encore in 30-06 for long range shooting. I was lucky enough to get a nice 9pt. last year with the Encore. The Super Blackhawk is a good choice. I use to use open sights, but now due to age and eyesight, I use mostly scoped revolvers. The scope will pretty much double your range right off the bat over open sights. Also, be sure and get a good variable 3x7 instead of a 2 or 4 power. Good luck!!

I've killed serveral deer with a pistol. I shot a para ordanance .45 with the .40 corebond barrel. Shot placement is key, but that gun did a number on them.

Well I went ahead and bought her. Now I guess I'll have to start shopping for a scope.


Ruger Super Blackhawk Hunter Bisley 44 Rem Mag w/ custom trigger and action work

Looks like you made a good purchase!! As for the scope I would recommend a good 3x7 variable. I have used a 2 power and a 4 power before and the variable is much better. Also, I like the 240 grain JHP bullet for deer in the 44 mag. With a variable and a little practice you should be good out to about 100 yards.

Ooh, that's nice. I have a Dan Wesson 44mag with a Burris 2-6x variable on it. It's a lot of fun to shoot. So far all I've taken with it are a Blackbuck and a Deer, both does. 240gr HP is a good recomendation for ammo. I shot my deer at about 20 yards with a hot 270gr JSP load that I had made and it did not give me the expansion I wanted.

I've killed a couple of small bucks with my Ruger Blackhawk 44 mag, open sights. It really flattens them

Good to hear you like the Burris. I think I am going to order a Burris 2-7x32mm for it. But the scope rings in the pic above won't work (the Burris hits the rear sight). I called Ruger and they'll swap out the rings for free, so I am packing them up and dropping the old rings in the mail today.

The Burris is an excellent handgun scope. I have the same 2x7 on my Encore 30-06 and it works great!!!

I have been hunting with Rugers and Contenders for about 8 years I guess.The pistol scopes have a smaller field of view.

I am seriously thinking of taking my .44 Bisley opening weekend instead of my rifle. I had so many deer with in 20 yds last weekend while bowhunting that using the rifle seems unfair. I will be shooting open sites which shouldn't be a problem at those close ranges.

To follow up - I did take the .44 and shot a cull spike Sat about 5pm. He is being turned into breakfast sausage and jalapeno & cheese summer sausage.