What are your thoughts on taking neck shots on whitetail at 50 yards or less with a handgun.

It's not for me on a whitetail, but if someone is confident in their ability, go for it.

I'd probably take a head shot on a hog at 50 yards though...

Actually...I know I would. I've seen me do it.

I'm not a big fan of neck shots either, however, if you can do it, go for it!

This is a hot button topic that comes up from time to time & there does't seem to be any middle ground, either you're for it or against it. I think most of us have had to do it from time to time but it's not a preferred shot by most hunters, handgun or rifle.
It can be spectacular or it can be a sad failure. Many use the argument that they don't want to ruin any meat, well you don't ruin much meat shooting a deer through the lungs/ribs & they are down & out in seconds.
If you do the head/neck shot often enough you're going to see them with a jaw blown off or a misplaced neck shot, doesn't matter how good of a shot you are, they can move at the same time you break the shot.
I'm sure not telling anyone where to shoot but I'll pass 99% of the time. Maybe if they are laying down, facing me, etc. Other than that I just won't do it if I have an option.

Dick

I think Dick said it well. It?s not really the preferred shot but it can be done. As a young hunter I used to shoot my does this way with 44Magnum revolvers just to show the rifle guys I could. I never crippled or lost one. Usually try to put it in or between the eyes. Better to lung shoot em though.

Personally don?t care for it, lungs has always been my preferred target.
If you do miss you?re still in the vital organs, if you miss the neck, you?re next hope is a major blood vessel and they are 1/4? to 3/8?

Trapr

I prefer neck (not head) shots on a close range deer with a scope sighted handgun (30/06 Encore). Over 40 yards or with iron sights lung shots.

Well the reason I brought it up is that I showed a friend of mine a photo of the small buck I took last season with a neck shot at about 50-60 yards(my personal limit)and he had some type of break down LOL. I did not bother to tell him that of the last ten or so deer I have taken over the last few years all but three were neck shots, did not want him to have some type of an aneurysm. I personally have no problem with it and have complete confidence in my ability to do so, I have taken many , many squirrels with head shots at these distances with a .22, although most are under 35-40 yards. Confidence and a steady hand(actually steady shooting sticks) go a long way. I would never try it offhand.

For me it's not a risk I'm willing to take. Actually I've never even considered it. Center of the front shoulder gets it done for me everytime.

Neck shots??? I`am lucky if I can hit the lungs on a broadside... I am not so good a shot and the lungs give me the largest target..
Kinda like the most bang for your buck...

... I don't like 'em.

P

For me a neck shot consists of shot placement at the base of the skull, top of the vertebrae juncture. Or, the base of the neck where the spine joins the shoulder juncture.

I have not done that with a revolver. But, several times with a scoped Specialty Pistol.

Provided a rest or stable platform, I have no issue with the shot within shooter/system capability.

My only issue with that shot...........there is no ballistic science to learn from it. Sever the spine, lights out instantly. You can do that with any chambering/bullet combination on whitetail. From a .22lr and 40gr LRN to a .500 S&W. There is no knowledge to be gained. It?s just skill and accuracy.

So, unless I?m specifically culling for meat, I try for body shots to learn more about a particular systems terminal ballistics.

This^^^

I?ve taken a lot of head and neck shots with a rifle. Took one small buck with my glock 20 from a little over 40 yards. Lost one really nice buck on a really close neck shot using a rifle. It?s all in how I feel when the shot is available. I prefer to shoot does through the ribs and lungs. If it?s raining or within an hour of dark I?ll sacrifice one or both shoulders. If it?s really close I may knock one in the head. With a handgun a lot of things come into play so I try to aim for the larger vital areas. They do seem to run more often with a lung shot at handgun velocities unless you?re hunting in a small kill plot and then they hit the dirt and kick around spraying blood everywhere.

Like most of us, I've done it in the past with rifles, but I won't take a neck shot with a handgun. Well, I shouldn't say WON'T, if a buck stuck his neck onto my barrel, I might squeeze off a shot. LOL

Personally haven't done it myself, but I've read quite a few opinions both in favor and in opposition to the shot. It wouldn't be fair to judge it without having tried it. Of course, I think I'd much prefer the larger target and margin of error provided by the heart and lungs.