What will you be using this season?

What handgun(s)/bullet/load combination will you be using this deer/bear/whatever-else you will be hunting season?

I will be trucking out my 6.5-inch BFR in .500 JRH stocked with a 440 grain truncated cone (430man's design) over a stiff charge of 296. An Ultradot 30 will be perched topside.

6.5 Leopard with 130 grain Berger
7mm SAUM XP-100 162 A-Max
338AX XP-100 300 grain Berger or SMK

Im going with my Ruger .44mag SRH with an Aimpoint red dot and 240gr. Hornady XTP ammo. My second is a Ruger .44mag SBHH with Garrett 310gr Hammerheads.

44 mag Bisley BH w / 2X Leupold--240 XTP on 2400
45 Colt Bisley BH w / 2 x Weaver 250 XTP over 2400
629 CDX w / 2 X leupold 240 XTP on 2400
Long range-choices
Encore 356 Win w 2-7 Burris 180 SSPB on H4895
Encore 257 Roberts 2-6 Trophy 100gr NBT on Varget

FA 83 in 475 Linebaugh running a 375gr LFN at 1050fps for elk here in Colorado. It shoots better than I can and I have been shooting it much better lately. Shot a 5 shot 90 yard group on a 12" steel plate Sunday that I could cover with the palm of my hand from feild positions.



If I get a chance at a leftover doe tag I will probably carry my 5 1/2" 44sp Bisley Flat Top with a 260gr LFN at 1000fps. But that appears to be a long shot at best...

Great photo, Fowler!

30-06 Lone Eagle
300 WSM Striker
6mmx284 XP100 I hope.Being built right now.
Coyote Gun IM ashamed but AR15

A smith and wesson 629 from performancs center 7.5" 44 mag. 240 winchester unless I can get some 300gr. cast 4x leo
308 tc....150gr winchester..... 2.5x8 leo
Backup gun smith and wesson...29, 6" barrel, iron sights......

I will be starting with my 6.5JDJ Contender, 120grn Sierra Pro Hunters.
If Apache Machine finishes my XP in 284 Win with Berger 140grn VLD Hunting bullets by Nov 20, I will be using it for deer gun here in OK.
After that it will be a bodark stick bow with rivercane arrows and stone points. Not long range but up close and personel.

Mike

A 454 SRH loaded with 335 cast over 2400 topped off with a Weaver 2x.

It's looking like I will be sitting this season out. BUT by some slim chance I can sit in the blind it will be the Striker in 243 with an 80gr Sierra SSP bullet over Varget. Or the XP 100 in 35 Rem with a 180gr Hornady SSP bullet over H322.

Sorry to hear about you having to sit it out Tig,sure hope you'll be able to get in a few.As for me it will be the 45 colt exclusively,all year.

short range the 500 s&w with 440gr cast bullet will get used with 2x7 burris

long range i will have to pull out the encore with custom 284win bull barrel with burris 3x12

muzzleloader calls for the fox ridge custom 15in 50cal barrel top with red dot

if lucky enough then i break out the 480 ruger superedhawk with 400gr cast bullets or the superblackhawkhunter 44maggie with 310gr cast bullet top with burris 1x4 posi-lock

sounds like you got it all under control ahandgunhunter lol.i willuse 500 s&w as well 44 mag backup bear and deer .

Revolver's, my SRH 44 mag with a 240 gr. cast and 2400 powder, also my SRH 480 with a 325 gr. cast and lil gun powder.Long range, my encore's,308 & 30-06 with a 130 gr. hornady sp.

Sort of cool to see guys describe regular handguns for hunting, then list the ones for LR

44 SBH shooting 300 Gr Hornadys topped with a 2x weaver

My BFR 500 mag. 6" barrel, Magnaported, Buffalo Horn grips. I will be pushing a 370 grain gas check at 1650 fps. A medium powered load. The quarry will be white tail deer.

I will be using one of three guns. My favorite is an Encore in 460 S & W. I also will be carrying a BFR 475 in case a closer shot presents itself. On other occasions when I hunt timber I will be taking my S&W 500.

Alternating between 6" and 4 3/4" FA .500 WE's.

What loads will you be using, Ken?

Encore 15" 7mm-08 120 NBT at 2600. S&W 1911 .45ACP if I can get a 20 yard shot.

my Father is using a .243 15" encore 100 Gr HDY BTSP I think I loaded them to 2500 or so.

Encore Customer 15" Barrel .260 Rem with a 2.5 X 8 Leupold using 120 gr. Barnes TTSX and .480 Ruger Encore with a 4x Leupold. Mite also blood up the .460 S&W Encore some!!

I'm going to use my new Encore in .500 S&W magnum loaded with Lee 440 gr.WFN AT 1270+F.P.S. and of course my SRH in .454 Casull will go along too, both guns wearing Ultra-dots(1 inch).

I'll use probably a half a dozen different guns each season ranging from revolvers to single shot t/c's in 44, 454, 475 & 30 cal.

This year's battery will consist of my Contender 7-30 Waters, 120 gr. NBT;SRH .454 250 gr.DPX;629-1 .44 Magnum 180 gr. XTP. I will use the Contender for long shots and keep a revolver handy for close opportunities. All will be scoped.

7mm International rimmed in a Wichita silhouette pistol (WSP), Weaver 4x, Hornady 139 gr. IB, for long range; Freedom Arms 555, 50 AE with Zeis red dot for all other shots.

Doc

Mod 97 .41 Mag topped with the 4X Leupold has already had its' share and more, but will still get plenty of time in the woods. 210 gr Speer GDHP.

Mod 83 Casull 7.5 inch unscoped needs to play next, pushing 260 gr Partitions. If it gets action, its' Leupold-topped 10" brother comes afterwards.

And then there's the single shots - 6.5/270 JDJ topped with 2.5x8 Leupold wants to dance at distance, pushing a 129 gr SST over H4831SC. Short range thumper in 475JDJ to be brought out if I run across any wayward T Rex's.

Going to try to get first blood with my new ruger sbh hunter in .44 mag still trying to decide which load

depending on conditions Elk season will be Encore in 30-06 unless I finish my 300 win barrel before then, next is my .454 and 500L both ones I've built. The 454 wears a Bushnell elite and the 3.5" 500 will be on my hip regardless of the other two. Deer season will be the 454. The 06 I'm shooting 150gr Accubonds, the 300 will probably be 180gr Accubonds, the 454 I'm shooting 300gr XTP's, and the 500 is using 435gr CP WFNGC.

For deer in Wyoming and elk in Colorado, I will be using my Rod-customized Ruger SBH in .475 Linebaugh with 375 gr. WLNPB bullets cast by Fowler pushed by 24 gr. 2400. And going to try and get it on video... I think I should stack the deck a little more, what ya think...

Gonna give the Encores and Contenders a rest...

Dur
I am going to try to pull a rabbit out of the hat like you did!

I will be shooting my 45 colt Bisley topped with the 2X Weaver for opening day of deer season--the old stand by--If I had a 41 I would use it--in honor of you

Me and my son saw the bigest deer tracks I have ever seen on my new lease--they were huge--I will be hunting that stand opening day.

This trail looks like I-10 -- I am quite sure I will kill a deer--Just not sure if it will be the one my son wants.

There is a long range stand on my lease plan to use the 257 BOB in that stand.

TCMAN & Kim Ral get ready I may give u a call if I can not find a hunting buddy

We will talk west Texas next month

This year i'm taking out the FA 454 in 10" barrel with a 2.5x8 Leupold on top. It's pushing a 260 Partition 1800 FPS and shooting nice tight little groups.

My second gun is a FA Single Shot in 308 with a 3x12 burris and shooting 150 SST at 2600 FPS.

For deer in Missouri I am planning on using my Super Redhawk with 9.5" barrel in 480 Ruger with a 30mm UltraDot in factory Ruger Rings. Hogue Tamer Grips and Marble Green Fiber Optic front sight for back-up. My planned bullet will be a 400 grain Lee that I cast myself "hard". The carry case will be one custom made by Miss Connie using a Boyt Counter Matt for the construction material, and 1" OD webbing for the handles. It will be set up to carry under your Left arm with a 1" OD webbing detachable shoulder strap. This case will have a Flap Closure with a 1" FasTex Buckel. The material has been delivered, and I am waiting for the case to be completed at this time. (I could not find a case I liked that the 9.5" Super Redhawk would fit in. The Counter Matt is 12" X 48" with Quilted padding just like the Boyt cases. I figured rebuilding it into a case like I wanted was doable.) I should have the case by the end of the month.
For my second deer I may switch to my Super 14 Contender in 35 Bullberry with a 2-7 Burris mounted in 3 Burris Zee Rings with a TSOB 6 Screw base. Shell cases are fireformed from 375 Winchester, using 180 SSP bullets. Carried in a Boyt case with shoulder strap added.

My wife is out of civilization for the next month in California visiting the daughter in law and grandbaby, while the son is in Iraq. When she gets back, She will probably be hunting from a 17' TriPod stand with a Super 14 Contender in 6.5 X 30 JDJ with 129 Hornady spiral points. It has a Burris 2-7 scope with 3 Burris Zee rings on a TSOB 6 screw Base. Carried in a Boyt case with shoulder strap added.

Possible next choice would be a Super Redhawk 44 Magnum with 30mm Ultra Dot in Ruger factory rings, Hogue Tamer Grips and a Marble Green Fiber Optic Sight for back-up. Carried in a Boyt case with shoulder strap added.
She has not fired the 44 magnum so far, so this will depend on her getting back in time to shoot it some before season. I have a month to work out a new load for her to shoot using it. My normal 310 cast load will probably recoil a little to hard for her to shoot.

My brother will probably be using a Super 14 Contender in 7X30 waters shooting a 130 SSP bullet. The Contender has a 2-7 Burris scope with 3 Burris Zee Rings on a weaver base.
I have been trying to talk him into shooting my 44 Magnum Super Redhawk. He will love it if I can get him to try it.

Bring it on Bug!!

I am hunting on the mil base and the best I can do right know is a Hoyt Compound and a custom 54 Flintlock.

Oh how I wish I could be using my shortguns. But, I still can hunt.

PS. I shot a 200 pound pig last night with my bow at 30 yards...

I am expecting a MGM 12 inch 44 Magnum barrel for my G2, I plan on mounting my 2X Leppy on it with a cast bullet. The 44 SBH will play second fiddle with the 200 gr. RNFP in it.

Good going Daune!

I am expecting to use my 454 Casull 7 1/2 inch Super Redhawk with a 250 XTP for deer season in PA.

My trusty Custom Savage Striker in 300 WSM. I use this from Antelope to Moose with no problem.

I didn't draw the mule deer tag I applied for, so my pastor talked me into buying a bonus doe tag for his property. I will be using an XP in 7-08 and he will be using his Smith in 44 mag with my hand loads. Once January comes hopefully the 7mm Dakota will be done and I can try and thump some yotes with it.

Good hunting to all, stay safe.

SS 308,

What are you using for loads in your SS 300 WSM. I've built an XP-100 in 300 WSM, just started working up loads with 150, 165s, 168s.

Doc

Lord willin', my .44 mag SBH Bisley. I have not had nearly enough practice or load development time so the shot availability will only be the very short ones (which isn't unusual). It'll likely have to be a backup gun to my Encore muzzle-loader rifle.

This deer season here in Pa., I plan on using my BFR in 454 topped off with a 4x Leupold scope. I have a couple of loads ready to try out when I get a chance.

A Ruger Super Blackhawk Bisley Hunter in .44 mag. with a 2x Leupold,and pumping out hornady's 225 grain Leverevolutions.

I'm looking forward to all of the hunting reports over the next few months!

no kidding, i will be using a FA83 454 casull, running federal barnes xpb's running 1740's out of that gun and a 7.5" this year with a great load of H110 over a beartooth 340 grain hardcast. hog backup for bows will be the alaskan with the beartooth 280gr loaded with hs-6 at 1250 fps out of that gun.

my oldest son is gonna use his SW629 44 mag with hornady leverevolution 225gr rounds for blackbear in NM in november. may switch to federal xpb or doubletap xpb rounds.

5.5 sbh 44 mag with one ragged hole sight

And what will your load be?

Attn. Doc,

I use 58.5 gr. of RL-15 under a Barnes 168 gr TTSX in my 300 WSM Striker. This is a Barnes recommended load and will group 3 shots into 3/8" at 100 yds. Another favorite is 67.0 gr of AA-4350 under a 165 gr R-P PSP for 2,743 fps.. This is a book load, and is under max.. These were shot with the 15" factory barrel with brake, which only provides 13.5" of actual barrel length. I have a 16.5" McGowen custom barrel waiting in the wings for a transplant date. Regards

Sawfish

I will be hunting whitetails with my Ruger Redhawk 44mag with a Bushnell red dot scope, 300gr Hornady XTP.

I think either my SSK 6.5JDJ (120 gr Nosler BT) or my Shiloh Sharps 45-70 with a 300 gr or a 405 gr Mt Baldy-cast handload. I will probably do my TC cuz I am a handgunner at heart, but I do looooove having this terrible choice to make!

Sawfish,

Thanks for the info. I chambered my XP fairly tight, 66.0 gr of
AA4350 and a 168 Prvi Part HPBT is max for my gun. I'll have to work up a load using RL-15 and the Barnes bullet. My velocities in the 15" barrel are about the same as yours, mid 2700s.

Doc

I'm useing my same ole, same ole. 7 1/2 in FA 454 with a 280 gr WFN LBT cast bullet. My other guns are a 14 in contender in 7-30 Waters, a 15 in Encore in 270, and a Savage Striker in 260.

All the guns have seen some action this year except the 7-30. I hope to remedy that in the next week or two.

Might as well stick with what works!

TC Encore 460 w/ SSK barrel & Pachy grips, Leupold 2X on top. 200 gr. Hornady FTXs finish it off.

Never having been one much impressed by the latest super-magnum, eargespliten, loudenboomers, I hunted with calibers that have stood the test of time: .45 Colt, .30-30, .300 Savage, and .45/70. I never saw where the latest and greatest creations could do anything these venerable couldn't do.

12" T/C Contender in 357 Maximum, G-2 frame with a 30mm Ultra Dot Scope. Hornady 180 SSPB under a load of AA1680.

44 Bisley 7.5 incher
250 gr Winchester silvertips
Killed a spike
Was Great!

Ill be going with a SBHH with Hornady ammo or a Encore 243 pistol topped with a Burris 3-12x32. Im really leaning to the SBHH Im waiting on the weather to brake to find the ammo.

Let's see, for 2011 I will be using 1 to 3 different chamberings.
May still use some of the current one too, but here they are:
6.5 SAUM and the 7mm WSM (It is all Dan's fault)

375 JDJ in a 15" SSK barrel. Shooting a 225 gr Hornady SP pushed by 54grs of RL-15. I might decide to go to a different scope, just haven't decided on which as of now.