Hello All,
I am new to the forum; actually this is my first post. I am also new to handgun hunting. I have been hunting with a bow or a muzzleloader for many years. I enjoy the hunt, getting close an animal before a harvest can be made. That is one aspect that attracted me to handgun hunting, you have to get close. I have most of the equipment to get started. I have a Ruger Super Red Hawk with a 7.5” barrel. I also have a Thompson Center Pro Hunter Muzzleloader. Changing it over to a hunting handgun would not be a problem. I want to build a handgun for deer hunting in Ohio. The regulations require a .357 caliber minimum; it must be a straight walled cartridge. And considering the size of some of the farms the gun must be accurate, and have enough punch at 100 yards. So I think that eliminates a .357 caliber. With the distances I don’t know if a .44 magnum with a hunting load will reach far enough. I am curious about a .41 caliber. I don’t mind having a barrel built. I plan on buying the reloading equipment (lee loaders in the beginning) to load my own ammo for whatever caliber I choose. I am trying to avoid the real big calibers like .454 or a .460.
So I guess my question is would a .41 magnum perform well for this application?
Any help you folks could give me would be greatly appreciated.

Thank
Alaskan Hunter

A .41 would perform well, as would the .44 SRH you already own. Just a matter of whether or not you can :-)

Sighting options come in to play here as well. With irons, that would be difficult (certainly not impossible).

Howdy and Welcome Aboard Alaskan Hunter!


Just thinking out loud so take it for what it is worth...


1st, Do you handload?

2nd, Do you want to go with a Single Shot or Revolver platform?

3rd. Handgun: with 5-inch minimum length barrel, using straight-walled cartridges .357 caliber or larger.

Would you consider hunting with a 357 Max, 375 Win, 414 Super Mag or 445 Super Mag?

If you have your heart set on a revolver, you can still find very nice D&W revolvers in 414 and 445. I have TC's in all the rounds I listed. They are very underestimated rounds IMHO. My 14-15in 357, 375, and 414 pushes their respected weight bullets at 2000 fps. I have not worked with the 445 yet... LOL


Duane

If you load I would look at the 357 Maximum. If not, then the 44 Mag will work to 100 yards and a little beyond. Is there a maximum cartridge length in your state?

And, welcome to HH

Hello Tex,
I plan on using the TC platform. My Ruger is currently my backup for hunting moose. I certainly don't want to change that right now. The reason for the choices of .357 mag, .41 mag and the .44 is the availibility of brass and bullets up here. We only have one store that carries reloading supplies and they dont do special orders. I don't want to waiste hunting time reloading when I am down in Ohio. I planned on going down with at least 50 rounds to check the gun after travel and hunt with.
Whatever caliber I deside on I will be ordering a custom barrel for the TC. As far as the reloading goes I haven't ever tried it before, thats why I will be starting with the lee loader. Its a less expensive starter reloading kit.

Thank
Alaskan Hunter

The 357 maximum is probably going to be your best bet as far as range vs recoil goes. The S&W 460 wouldn't be a bad choice either. You should be able to order any reloading supplies you need yourself. It is usually cheaper to buy the powder and primers at a store because the hazmat fee is the same whether you order a little or alot.

I'm suprised I didn't already see the comment, if it's there I missed it but if your TC was sold new as a muzzeloader I'm pretty sure you can get in big trouble with a pistol barrel on it. Sounds like BS but I'm pretty sure you can put rifle barrels on the tc's sold as handguns all say long and swap back and forth. If it was sold as a long gun it has to stay that way.

Unlike its 445 and 414 counterparts, the 357 Max brass is more readily available…
http://www.midwayusa.com/product/1601729225/remington-reloading-brass-357-maximum
The Super Mag brass is just seasonal. But it is still made by quality manufactures.

As for reloading, the 357 Max is one of the cheapest rounds you can reload. With my 15in barrel, I am getting 2000+ fps with multiple powders shooting 180gr projectiles, both cast and jacketed.
The 414 SM I have is shooting a 210gr XTP at 2050fps out of a 15in barrel.
The advantage of the 357 Max, 414 SM, and 445 SM is simply that you can shoot the “Mag’s out of them. Just like shooting 45LC’s out of a 454 you are going to suffer a little on accuracy, but still doable in a pinch.

Just throwing it out there, the 375 Win is an awesome round. My 14in Contender barrel launches a 220gr Hornady bullet at 2000 fps. When sighted in at 170 yards it is 3.5 high at 100 and 3.5 low at 200 yards. The advantage is that 375 Win ammo is more readily available. The down side is that it can cost 40.00 a box. In fact, the 375 Win is what sparked my casting habit. My bullets for it now cost 3-4 cents apiece.


Lee makes a good product, especially for the price. The majority of my casting equipment is Lee and I am still getting MOA with cast bullets. LOL


Some of my comments were just scatter brain thoughts, I hope you can decipher them…


Duane

yes indeed , don't overlook Eric's comment, we have debatedd this ad-nauseum, and it is definitely a no-no., and as for Lee equipment, I use their clamshell type hand loader quite a bit because it is so portable.

I would choose the 44 mag due to your requirement of readily available components.

Darrel is right about the 44. You already have the ruger SRH in 44 so one ammo for both would be good. The 44 has alot less problems with the hundred yard mark then most of us do. With expanding bullets you can probably get reliable expansion past 140. With the right cast bullet you could expect complete penetration way past that. Your SBH in 44 is probably capable of 100 yd shots.

As far as legality concerns I just wanted to mention it. I don't think anyone would ever check it unless something happened.

Good luck.

Alaskan hunter:
I'm a new bee my self, to the forum.I have several handguns including all the large bores. The 41 has a faltter trajectory than the 44. The power is fairly close. If your have the money to blow buy a 41. Leadhead bullets sell heavier bullets then other vendors but with heavier bullets you will loose your trajectory advantage

I don't want to start an argument on my first post, I'm just trying to clarify something. I recently got into the T/C platform and was worried about the need for two frames. 1 for the long guns, and 1 for the pistols. However, in my search to find the truth, and not rely on someone elses opinion, I came across a document reversing the pistol/rifle converting law. Google it, or go on the FAQ page of the ATF website and you will see that in July of 2011 the ATF said as long as it's a "kit" gun manufactured with the original intent of being used as a pistol or a longun, you can readily change back and forth at will. It even lists T/C in the document as an example.

Anyway, I like this forum.

This would be an intriguing law. Not sure how that would work with the other laws.

Welcome aboard Thadf!!

That is a debate that has gone around in circles several times.

The answer, well, it unfortunately depends on who you ask sometimes...

Not trying to be a butt-head about that answer, I am just simply trying to state that we have gotten different answers from different law enforcement agencies…

I hear you TCTex, and we can leave it at that, just for the sake of not arguing. I'll continue to enjoy my Encore either way.

As far as the 44 or 41 goes, I'd go with the 44 and load it to meet your needs.