Their 135-grain MonoFlex Handgun Hunter load (518 foot-pounds) will push to about 15 inches, their 175-grain Critical Duty load (523 foot-pounds) will drive a bit deeper, and their standard 180-grain XTP load (650 foot-pounds) will out-penetrate both. If you’re going to stretch the distance, Hornady has three good options. Of course, the goal is to find a bullet that does not over-deform and sacrifice penetration.Īt sensible bow hunting distances, most any quality 10mm self-defense load should work, just avoid the gimmicky rounds. The hottest of the 180-grain loads will carry more than 1000 fps to 100 yards, and that kind of velocity on impact is what’s needed to ensure bullet upset. Of all the auto-pistol cartridges the 10mm is clearly the best suited for deer hunting. Place this bullet correctly and it will deliver your deer. Testing has shown good results with Hornady’s Handgun Hunting load for the 10mm. The bullet will not deform, but with its flat meplate, it will damage lots of tissue and you can shoot through two deer at the same time if you like. The other is the +P Outdoorsman load with a 255-grain hardcast bullet at 925 fps. This bullet will fully mushroom at velocities between 9 fps, which will take you well past 50 yards. The first is the +P 160-grain Barnes TAC-XP load at 1250 fps, and with more than 550 foot-pounds of muzzle energy. I think Buffalo Bore has the two best options. It’s never been known as a high-velocity cartridge and at 50 yards most loads are lumbering along, and bullet upset can be questionable. 45 Auto has the gusto to get the job done but its problem is reach. Good terminal performance with the right load.The 160-grain Barnes TAC-XP bullet is not, and the Buffalo Bore +P load is a screamer. 45 Auto loads have bullets that are sensitive to velocity. Bear guide Phil Shoemaker killed a grizzly with several shots from the latter.40 Smith & Wesson Federal’s Syntech Solid Core +P 147-grain load and Buffalo Bore’s 147-grain Outdoorsman load will shoot through any deer. Federal’s 135-grain Hydra-Shok Deep load, with less than 400 foot-pounds of energy at the muzzle, will drive almost as deep. You’ll struggle to achieve 500 foot-pounds with the 9mm, but Buffalo Bore’s 115-grain +P+ load with a Barnes 115-grain TAC-XP bullet at 1400 fps does, and it will penetrate more than 16 inches. For best results, keep shots at bow range. This reduces velocity and makes them harder to shoot accurately. This is partly because a lot of 9mm pistols are itty bitty and have short barrels. There’s no question you can kill deer with a 9mm, but things can get tricky with this cartridge. Go with a hardcast bullet or a deep penetrating load like Buffalo Bore’s +P+ 115 gr TAC-XP bullet. The Best Semiauto Pistol Cartridges for Whitetail Deer 9mm Lugerĭedicated big game loads for the 9mm Luger are hard to find as unicorn poop. The Best Handgun Cartridges for Hunting Whitetail Deer It will at least deliver enough penetration. When in doubt, go with a hardcast bullet.Strive for 500 foot-pounds at the muzzle. Kinetic energy does not equal killing power but can be an indicator of potential.Avoid bullets that deform into wide mushrooms, they limit penetration.Avoid quartering shots and use loads that will deliver at least 14 inches of penetration.For best results, the bullet should perforate the heart or both lungs.Just as when hunting with other kinds of guns, you gotta make a good shot bullet placement matters most.But there are some sensible guidelines along with a few things to keep in mind when using a handgun in the whitetail woods. Richard Mannīeyond the legal requirements, there are no hard and fast rules for selecting the best handgun cartridge for hunting deer. Minimum Requirements For a Whitetail Deer Handgun Cartridge For hunters using conventional handguns and cartridges, when in doubt go with a hardcast bullet to insure adequate penetration. 500 Smith & Wesson, and 480 Ruger are plenty powerful, but what about more common cartridges that won’t wrinkle your wrist and blind you with beach-ball-size fireballs? Here’s a look at seven popular handgun cartridges and how they can work for deer hunters who don’t want to hunt with hand cannons. If you want to hunt deer with a handgun, what cartridges will work? The big boomers like.
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