Best Calibers for Handgun Hunting

It is that time of year again, and as people across the
country don on their hunters orange, spray themselves down in no scent or deer
urine, they go back to the safe and pick out their “deer rifle” that their
grandpappy handed down from before the war. While I may be accused of doing the
same, what about trying something a bit different? Something harder than the
trusty 30-06, and get in a new dimension to a handgun, and use it for hunting.
Afterall, most of us have them to carry against 2 legged threats, but do we
know what are true capabilities are at distance, with a live target? Will that
$4 a shot ammunition really work to take down a deer sized animal? Here are
some that I would recommend and at least one I am going to try this year.

• 1..357 Magnum: This entry could easily be seen as
  a cop out as it is a natural go to for a woods backup gun, but there are so few
  people that have actually used it to shoot. While most common in revolvers,
  this cartridge packs a lot of punch and with a standard grain weight of between
  125 and 158, these projectiles hit with a lot of force. While I would recommend
  no further than you train to shoot typically, I think 25 yards is a doable and
  ethical shot, especially out of a gun with a barrel of four inches or longer.
• 2..44 Magnum: I know what you are thinking,
  another wheel gun, but this is truly the “standard” for most hunting or backup
  guns, especially if brown bear is a potential threat. This caliber surpasses
  the .357 in both weight of bullet and energy delivered and with typically
  longer barrels they can be reliable to a bit further distance. I am looking to
  take one out this year for whitetail and I figure about 40 to 50 yards is my
  comfort zone for it. Loaded with some good hollow points with flex tips (Hornady)
  they should more than do the trick. If
  the recoil is a bit stout, you can always tune it down to .44 special.
• 3.10mm Auto: There has been a resurgence in the
  10mm cartridge in the last decade or so, and it has been for good reason. The
  10mm has a lot of potential that some are just now seeing, throwing a .40
  caliber bullet at a high rate of speed, and as they are out of a
  semi-automatic, it allows for more ammunition capacity as well as theoretically
  faster follow up shots. There have also been great handguns trying to maximize
  this cartridge such as the Glock 40MOS, EAA Hunter, and even Smith and Wesson
  with their wheel-gun. Just be mindful of some of the laws that may prevent
  larger ammunition capacity.

While there are a few honorable mentions, mainly 45 Long,
5.7x28mm, and some that you could probably cheat and get a pistol in it like
300BLK, the three mentioned should more than suffice, and could help put some
much needed meat in the freezer.

Author: Ian Bolser