Deer and hogs to 50 yards?

.357
.44 mag

only these two choices. My arthritic hands can barely stand either, but, you know.

Generally use either the S&W 629 PC hunter 44 Mag, Ruger 357 Max or the TC Contender 7-30 Waters. Have also used 44 Mag, 357 Max and 45-70 on the Contender and all worked well.

I have also taken a few with other handguns not specifically hunting them with those but when one came by close why not. 357 Mag, 357 Sig and 45ACP.

Of those I’d go 44mag. A lot depends on what gun is in each caliber. You would be surprised how little recoil my 460XVR has, and you can load down to 45Colt or 454Casull. The muzzle break and weight make a lot of difference.

Gee, it’s be cool if you had one of those BFRs in 44.

I prefer the 44, but if you do 357 go with at least a 6 inch barrel. Seven and a half or something would be better for either one really.

Either will serve within reason (and no, a 2.5" Model 19 ain't reasonable!).

In the .357, six inches of barrel and heavier slugs do just fine.

In the .44, any of the mid-weights and up will do.

In the handgun game, it's REALLY about getting your hits in the engine room because they're pretty feeble compared to even "anemic" rifles. Luckily, as my late father observed, "It don't take that much to kill a deer...".

If you ever wanted to entertain a Contender, a 6 or 7 TCU is a pretty painless means to get closer to "rifle" performance without taking a beating in the process.

Them's the cards I'm holdin'...

44


Or like 218 mentioned a single shot. I’d probably go with a 7-08 or 308 in an encore though.

S&W 657 .41 Magnum Hunter PC

Of those two choices, a 44 Mag hands down. Here’s my Freedom Arms 44 and a hundred yard target with 245gr cast gas check bullets. No way I could do that with iron sights with these old eyes. A scope really brought out its potential.

I have a Ruger SBH bisley. Nice handgun. 44 mag power in a 7.5” barrel. Not for the faint hearted. I have not put an optic on it. I should one day. THF member 71rcode has his scoped. Pig don’t stand a chance.

Here’s my SBH with a Dan 744.

Great replies and beautiful guns guys, thanks

wp75169, thanks for the reminder I know where that gun is and could probably buy it back and lose more money..

I came so close to getting a $3000 Freedom Arms for $1500 but I had to run home, call Freedom Arms to confirm what the gun was by its serial number. By the time I called the gun shop to hold it for me, The owner had come in, saw it and bought it for himself.

.44, you can always down load it or shoot .44 Spl

Everything a 357 mag can do a 41 mag can do better. Assuming you hand load and I know that you do anything that a 44 mag can do a 45 Colt can do better.

I grew up stalk hunting dear in Pennsylvania with a single action Ruger. Because my grandfather was a gun nut I had access to all of the calibers that I just mentioned and all of them were single action Rugers if memory serves me correctly. I finally settled on the 45 Colt because it seemed to have a slight advantage in penetration over the 44 Mag. This of course was with high pressure hand loads and not loads that were designed for earlier and weaker guns.

Holy hell that is a keeper. I'm an absolute hoarder when it comes to firearms but I've never stumbled across this model.

And shooting Skeeter loads in 44 Special is still plenty for Texas deer and hogs.

I deer hunt some with .357 revolvers. 158 XTP kills them dead but I don’t get an exit. 170 jacketed or 170’s I cast will exit on a double lung broadside shot through the ribs but neither get much expansion. I like the 170 SWC’s I cast best.

The answer is always.44. A heavy Ruger double action is easy to handle with standard 240gr loads. A smaller frame 357 Smith loaded hot is much worse.

Deer won't stop 44 Special hard cast loaded at target velocity. Blood trail not too great but they die as normal. Shoot low to let blood out.

see if I can squeeze one into my Santa Clause letter

Theres no replacement for displacement!
44 mag be my choice, but nothing wrong with a full house 357 mag

I have killed deer & hogs with a 357 MAX Contender and a 7 International Wichita. Wichita was a handful. Contender scoped but iron sights on the Wichita.

.44 Blackhawk at 50yds with handloads. She and I have done better.

I too would choose the .45 Colt loaded for a Ruger over the .429 magnum.

Thanks for the picture. I have always loved this Ruger. Glad to see they can shoot good.

Thanks, this one is an unfired safe queen LOL. I also have a 686 and 581 both with weighted and ported barrels and red dot sights that shoot very well.