I love the .41 but I would also vote for the .44 because even Walmart has a good selection of bullets for it.

Ruger Blackhawk in .38-40 WCF, loaded with 180gr. Speer Gold Dots ahead of a magnum-level load. Shoots like a bolt of lightning with very little felt recoil. Stomps Bambi. Ear protection advised.....

Paladin

i have heard from some (experts )that a .357mag is all the handgun you need in north america.anyone have thoughts on this? i dont hunt with it but i believe my model 27 s&w would take care of about any situation that arises. i do handload tho and pretty hot too, hardcast (cast em myself)150gr swc over 6.2grs bullseye. my 6" smith dont do too bad once i got the right load/ bullet size combo going.please respond if you think this cal. is too light.

a .357mag can be your best friend....

I have several handguns that I like to hunt with, 8" Colt Python Hunter, 41 mag RH, 44 mag SRH, and I guess my favorite is a 308 Win Encore. I have scoped the srh with a 2x leupold and the Encore with a 2.5X8 Leupold. I'm very impressed with the Encores accuracy and shoot better groups with it than some do with rifles at my local range. I have me allot of shooters because of this gun and have flung a craving on some of them to buy one for themselves after shooting mine. The only thing I can say bad about the Encore is that after one barrel you alway's want to add another and another and another.
May you all have a great & Safe Hunting Season this Year.

I shoot a 629 and a TC in 30-30 I love both of them but have only hunted with the TC. It is great. Last kill was at 160 yards, used 135 gr spitzer over 26.3gr of IMR 4198. If you pick a TC you will have to learn to reload. It is the only way you can get the bullets that you need. What ever you deside I know you will enjoy.

Tasco 74 there is nothing wrong with the 357 for hunting and the S&W 27 is a fine piece. I would use 180 gr bullet, to get the most out of it. As long as you do your part with bullet placemet and keep your shots under 100 yards you should have no problems. The thing of it is that no matter what you use there will always be some one that will tell you there isn't enough power in it. That is why we have the 50 ae and 4570 in had guns. When you can keep your shots in a 5" circle at 100 yards it's time to go hunting.

For me --.454 Ruger 2x Bushnell with 250 XTP for my dad 5.5 Redhawk .41 2x Bushnell 230 Keith from Dry Creek or Leadhead-- he loves those .41s

here is a place were you scn get more info. on the 454 http://www.reloadbench.com/cartridges/p454c.html

44 mag in my Super Blackhawk 7 1/2", 45 Colt in either a 5 1/2" SS Bisley, or a 4 5/8" Blackhawk, or the 454 in my Super Redhawk, I love them all. For a non-reloader, if deer are on the menu, the .44 everytime, with Federal Cast-Core bullets, even bear and elk aren't safe. For a reloader like myself, all of the above mentioned are great, very flexible in your applications.

if you can afford it get freedom arms 454w 45colt/45acp etc.. cylinders you can shoot any level you want.i have fa 475 linebaugh w/480 cylinder they are exellent guns.also ruger srh are good guns 44mag with good scope setup leupold 2x eer

My pick is the 41mag. Obviously i reload but would still pick one if i didnt!! Federal has the Cast Core 250 grain load for deer/hogs. Winchester has the 175 Silvertips for smaller game. I am sure that you would be able to purchase quality reloads from a gunshow/local shop for plinking, if not, you could always start reloading yourself with a very basic set up.

As for guns, my first pick is a S&W 57 6" and a close second is the Contneder in a 10". Midway actually has some TC 10" "Special Run" barrels http://www.midwayusa.com/rewriteaproduct/789150 for $202.49!

Good Luck with whatever you choose!!

I'd have to go with the 44 mag in a 6" - 6 1/2" stainless, perferably in a SW 629.

Tough combinatinon!

The last Deer I shot was with a 357mag with 125JHP, the shot was 80yds and went in behind the sholder, took out both lungs and ended up in the offside sholder. At the shot this little 2point, jumped and kicked then went about 40yds and piled up. I know this is considered marginal, it's just what I had with me at the time. I have a pile of guns in various calibers. My favorite would probably be my Ruger MKII Stainless target 22. I wish Ruger would produce something similar to this in a highpowered round. I have a 4 5/8" Blackhawk in 45colt that is light and packable, the accuracy is good and with handloads or custom ammo should do well. I have a Raging bull in 454 that is very accurate with winchester factory ammo. It'll group 5shots inside of 2" at 50 yds from a sitting position. the recoil is quite managable. In the quest for something larger, I picked up a BFR in 45-70. It's really heavy and would be slow to draw. I'm getting used to shooting it offhand and it doesn't seam to ungainly now. This is a very accurate revolver. I shot a group with Rem 300JHP factory loads. At 50yds, it put 3 shots touching and 2more slightly out for a 1.75" group. Not bad for open sights. and the recoil with these loads is almost non existant. On the handloading scene I have pushed 405's to 1750fps without any pressure signs. I'm having a problem with cast bullet loads grouping well. The cylinder throats are .456" while the bore is .458". I'm going to ream the throats out to .4585 or .459 and see if this helps things. For the money, I'd say that the Raging Bull is quite a buy and a very accurate revolver.

My Ruger Redhawk in 45 LC, 6.5 inch barrel, real handy ,points well and shoots very well. I roll my own or shoot CorBon loads, as all the others I have found in this part of the world are slow. I have owned several 44,s in the past but I really like the old Colt..

[ 12-23-2002, 20:42: Message edited by: TwoSixty ]