AJ52

JB,
Bought the 44 Super Blackhawk Bisley Hunter last year.Very Nice Gun! Scoped it with red dot.After about 40 rounds I got a good feel for gun and scope up to 35 yrds.

Only thing I would love to find is pair of nice grips.Apparently there are no OEM OR AM moulded/target type grips for the Bisely frame??

Took it hunting last Jan,our 1st ever hangun season in Delaware.
One evening had 3-4 deer come out in field about 110yrds.
One was a 10-12 point buck.Needless to say I didn't attempt the shot.

Can't go wrong with a Ruger Handgun.

hldeerhunter

The .357 is only good out to about 30 yards if you are lucky. I carry one as a backup gun only. If you want to use a hand gun for hunting get at least a 44 mag...however I would recommend the 454, 460, or 500. Smith and Wesson make both the 460 and 500. You can get the 454 from Ruger. If you are worried about recoil get the gun ported. It will take the kick out of it.

Clever User Name

Sounds like your talking about the .357 mag not the .357 Rem Maximum that I mentioned. Its more comprable to (or even better than)a 44 mag than a 357 mag IMO. My dad used to have one and considered it accurate to 50 yards free hand but capable of killing a deer to 75 yards with the factory load, 100 yards with custom load & dead rest. He only got rid of it after he injured his wrist (had a contender withthe longbull barrel some 15 years ago or more). Here is a pic, you can tell its a bit bigger than the common 357 mag:


Ridge Runner - your correct about the butstock. Ohio DNR replyed to my email and said if it has a buttsotck its a shouldered riffle not handgun. Oh well.I was hoping I could get handgun as lethal as a shotgun for deer season, but without a buttstock I can tell you my accuracy is 50 yards max. That just wont cut it - I'll look into getting a nice 20-guage perhaps. Thanks for all the discussion though, its nice that its atleast an option to hunt with a handgun here.

FWIW I did a quick ballistics search comparing the .357 mag, max, and 44 mag using the hottest loads:
357 mag 125gr 1450fps 583#
357 max 158gr 1825fps 1168#
44 mag210gr 1495fps 1042#
I dont really know how accurate the info was, just took it from a ballistics chart found with google.

bigcountry

I thought the 357max was done. I haven't seen ammo or guns sold for years.

Clever User Name

True, but I have no problems picking something up used, and the guns potential is so much greater using custom loaded rounds anyways. I'd definately consider getting something in production though, nice to have off the shelf ammo to practice with.

nksmfamjp

Well, I also hunt OH, although unsuccessfully. The think I see here is that you want something you can get out and get on target faster than a self defense gun! Really! For that, something like the Ruger/Accusport Bisley in 45 Colt with adjustable sights, 5.5" barrel and SS finish is great. I think they are readily available now days. You can shoot mild 45 Colt loads and still have good power, or you can shoot 320gr lead solids at 1300 fps like I do and feel it blow the 44mag away in terms of recoil! Normal 45 Colt HP loads should have much less recoil and should put the normal 15 - 50 yd OH deer down fine. With practice, you can safely get the hammer cocked when ripping it out of the holster in under 1s.

Dnk

Freedom Arms 44 or 454. The 44 can be loaded to a far greater intensity than than the factory loading or just use the 454. A FA 44 is just a 454 bored smaller which gives it more meat around the holes! I'm not a big guy by any means and I can shoot it accurately with a 2X Leupold to smack down any deer at 100 yards or more with either the 44 or 454. Both of mine are field grade wearing 7 3/4" bbls. Good luck!

ranger140892

XP100 in 308 Win or 7mm-08 Rem, if you can find them. Or an Encore with an amazing selection of barrels. Either of these will outperform any wheel gun.

nksmfamjp

Illegal in OH. Must be a straight walled pistol cartridge. We are backwards here!

Clever User Name

I dont beleive either of those are a straight-walled cartridge.

Oops nksmfamjp, didnt see you already replyed to that.