Have been reading with interest regarding the numerous threads regarding these S&W super magnums. From the numerous posts here-in it's apparent these guns are real thumpers at typical revolver handgun ranges. However, are these revolvers, with appropriate sights, capable of 200 yard or better hunting accuracy? Just asking to expand my understanding of these weapons' capabilities. I'm pretty new to these revolvers. Thanks.

200 yards is completely reasonable provided you can see what you are aiming at. Personally, I like to get closer if possible. But, to answer your question, 200 yards is a reasonable range.

And welcome to the forum, Mike!

Without a doubt both can be 200 yard hunters. Having a good rest and scope and shooing ability is all that is needed.

I routinely made 150 yards shots with my S&W 460 Mag using 300 gr. hard cast bullets. Accuracy was very good. I could consistently hit a 4 inch clay target at 150 and 175 yards with the 460 Mag. I also did some long range shooting with some 275 gr. Barnes bullets in my 500 Mag, with equally as good of results.

wow, i am in awe... i am currently pleased with 50 yards of hunt accuracy, with a revolver... now, my old 708 striker was MOA at 200, with a 7x scope... not really a packable hunting rig, but it would deliver the goods...

right now, today, with iron sights, i am 12"x12" at 100 yards.. but i'll get mo' better soon

Jeff, I don't regularly practice out to 200 yards, but I do a lot of 100 yard shoot with my revolvers. I do stretch it out to 200, but not frequently -- sometimes I just like knowing I can if the need arises.

that's why i started practicing to 100 .. not only does it FREAK rifle shooters out, that i can hit the target with a 4" ironsighted pistol, it makes hitting at 50 all that much easier!

quote:

Originally posted by jeffeosso:
that's why i started practicing to 100 .. not only does it FREAK rifle shooters out, that i can hit the target with a 4" ironsighted pistol, it makes hitting at 50 all that much easier!

It is indeed fun to embarrass the rifle guys!

quote:

Originally posted by Whitworth:

quote:

Originally posted by jeffeosso:
that's why i started practicing to 100 .. not only does it FREAK rifle shooters out, that i can hit the target with a 4" ironsighted pistol, it makes hitting at 50 all that much easier!

It is indeed fun to embarrass the rifle guys!

50 yards with open sights or a 100 with a scope is it for any handgun. To many variables come into play under hunting conditions to risk a shot on a live animal at any father distances. Persoanly i think smith should be booted in the ass for saying these guns are capable of hunting distances out to 200 yards. I shoot a ton of big bore handgun and know for a fact that theres not two hunters in ten thousand that are capable of placeing kill zone shots EVERY time under field conditions at 200 yards. Im sure not one of them.

Lloyd, I don't make a habit of long shots, but I practice at long ranges -- it has made me a much better shot up close as a result. I wouldn't hesitae to take a hot past 100 yards as long as I have a solid rest. You are correct in that most folks shouldn't attempt long shots, but if the revolver has good optics, is sighted in correctly and the shooter has a solid rest.....I don't see a problem. Like any shooting, it takes practice, and lots of it.

Lloyd, I don't make it my priority to shoot my handguns at 200 yards, or over 100 yards for that matter. But like Whitworth, I have practiced with my S&W 460 Mag at 150 and 175 yards, and have became very proficient at the range with my S&W 460 Mag.

The only way I would consider a shot at them distances is, if I had a very good rest and, it was the animal of my dreams.

But realistically, 98% of my handgun shots have been 75 yards and under.

But you are right in one respect, there is a lot of people that should not shoot handguns past 100 yards. Because most of them don't practice at those ranges. Hell most should not shoot past 50 yards. But there is a handful that do.

Exactly. I can do it, but I don't make a habit of it. I would have to want the animal really badly to take a long shot like that.

Elmer Keith is probably rollin in his grave at the blasphemy!!!

quote:

Originally posted by MikeD:
Have been reading with interest regarding the numerous threads regarding these S&W super magnums. From the numerous posts here-in it's apparent these guns are real thumpers at typical revolver handgun ranges. However, are these revolvers, with appropriate sights, capable of 200 yard or better hunting accuracy? Just asking to expand my understanding of these weapons' capabilities. I'm pretty new to these revolvers. Thanks.

Perhaps you are missing the point, the pleasure, of handgun hunting. Rather than think in terms of how distant your hunting handgun's bullet will kill -- much farther than it will "stop," and much farther than you can reliably hit your mark -- how about working to get as close as possible? Sport hunting is not really about target shooting at live targets, is it? It's not really about the kill. It's about the rush you get when you're within spitting distance of your game. My most memorable hunt was with a handgun, a Ruger Blackhawk 357 Magnum 6.5-inch barrel. My father helped me make custom fitted grips from pink dental acrylic; talk about an eye sore! It shot beautifully. The whitetail hunt occurred with the 357 being loaded with Remington 158-grain JHP ammunition. My buck, completely unaware of my existence, was shot at about 3 yards. Perfect shot at junction of cervical vertebrae and thorax. He dropped like a stone -- then jumped up! My second shot missed everything. Was I flustered? The third shot, still at 3 yards was a high lung shot. And the finisher was through its head. The hunt would have been ho-hum at 100 or 200 yards -- target shooting at a live target.

I respectfully submit that limiting your range will significantly improve the quality of your hunting experience. Your reliable accuracy will improve. The ability of your bullet to kill quickly will improve.

Just some thoughts.

Naphtali makes a good point. Getting as close as possible -- so close that you can smell the animal is a thrill and a half! Sometimes you don't have the option to get that close and you have to pop 'em from a distance.

quote:

Originally posted by Whitworth:
Naphtali makes a good point. Getting as close as possible -- so close that you can smell the animal is a thrill and a half! Sometimes you don't have the option to get that close and you have to pop 'em from a distance.

Yea I like that up close and personal myself. This year I will be bow hunting for my black bear, the guide said my shot will be 15 yards or less. And from the ground, that is up close and personal. I will have my 475 Linebaugh in the blind with me. If I can't get a good bow shot on a good bear, then out comes the 475 L
Pope and Young WHO...

I've hunted black bear with my 500
Chasing hounds through thick rocky timber I've had some very very close and personal scenes with bear.

As the S&W is accurate, and the loads are as accurate down range as they are up close I get plenty of power to either stop an aggressive bear up close or nail him down range as far as I'll ever get a good shooting lane.


Neat package for North American dangerous game or for hunting big game in rough country. My PC Hunter packs through heavy manzanita and oak much easier than my rifles. It's sturdy and durable too, to the point where I don't have to think about it riding in a belt holster or on a sling - I can just focus on getting where I need to go and get my shot.



Cheers
Tinker

Well, I may as well chirp a bit on this one as well. I agree with Whitworth and Redhawk. Loyd, both you and Naphtali both make true statements but you act as if that doesn't apply to one helluva lot of long gun hunters as well. I think I shoot relatively well and I like (1) tasking myself on MY capabilities and (2) tasking my gun on ITS capabilities. Whether it's a shotgun with #9 bird shot, a .460 XTR or a .300 Ultra Mag, the SHOOTER must know his or her limitations. "When you can do it, it ain't braggin"

I have a bear in my shop as we speak that was shot at 22 yards with a BAR chambered in .300 Win Mag using a Leupold 3x9x40 (he claimed it was set on 4). The bear has two bulletholes in it and they're about 2 inches apart. The only problem is, they're both in the bears ass broadside. Some people just shouldn't play with guns regardless of what TYPE they are.

quote:

Originally posted by george roof: Some people just shouldn't play with guns regardless of what TYPE they are.

LOL, George, you are absolutely correct!

My most memorable hunt was seeing a bull elk approx 100yrds across a park and snow flurries blanking him out off/on. He seen me. I started stalking w/the sparse growth avail ~ I could see him at each stop. Then I'm out of cover and I peep around, and he's running at me. I am pumped!!

Then I peeked again and he was less than 5yrds away. We were so close, he had to look at me out of one side. His eye was huge ~ his rack . . . not legal. Hunter/prey just stood there gazing at each other in the wonderment of the moment and then, curiosity settled we each walked away. Later did get an elk ~ ~ ~ but didn't have to cleanup after the first one tho ~ ~