Last Thursday, I took my very first deer and with a S&W 460 XVR / Burris 2x7. I've hunted several times a year over the past 4 yrs but have not pulled the trigger. I've been target shooting a bunch and my most accurate load was 50.5 gr H-110 / 200 gr FTX bullets chrono'd at 2200 FPS.

I finally got comfortable enough with the gun to take a life. Not something I take lightly. I've been a S&W fan for years. When I started deer hunting, One goal of mine was to become skillful enough with a handgun to take a whitetail.

The deer was an odd ball with 3 points on one side and a big curved "cow horn" on the other. He had to go. I was in a ground blind, sitting on the ground and resting the big X-frame on short shooting sticks. I was also wearing ear muffs. The cuncussion inside the "tent" was enormous.

The deer ran 30-40 yds and piled up dead. I marked off a 90-100 yd shot. The 200 gr FTX bullet whent through the ribcage taking out the lungs. Entry was finger sized and exit was perhaps golf-ball sized. All I found of the bullet was a small piece of jacket material.

I gutted the deer that night and let it hang through the night. I took the straps and tenderloins and de-boned the rest to be made into burger and sausage. The hide is at the taxidermist to be tanned.

It was a great experience. I hope to take anouther one someday, but the first one was certainly special.

Congrats, duckloads. The first deer is special and with a handgun to boot! WTG!

You'll never forget your first kill w/ your pistol. Congrats!

Congrats on you first handgunned deer! It's the start of an addiction!

Well stated, duckloads. Amen to that code of ethics.

And congratulations on your first whitetail with a handgun.

Duck,

Congratulations on your first!

Congratulations on a job well done!

Congrats on your 1st deer & a clean kill!

Congratulations on your first, it's quite an experience.

Next year practice with a camera in your pocket.

Good shooting duckloads and a good story to go along with it. You will never forget your first deer. It's a great feeling isn't it?

Great job and congratulations.
Be careful with that load though and where you shoot deer. A friend used that boolit and shot a deer in PA at 140 yards. He hit bone and the off shoulder. I wish I still had the picture but if you think a .300 Weatherby makes a mess, it is a cupcake. I never seen such a mess from a revolver.

Congrats! I'm glad to hear it was a nice experience for you.

way to go!! Nice shooting. I took my first this year too after lots and lots of practice

Congrats!! Your hooked now and there's no known cure for it.

The best therapy is to keep doing it!!!

Shortgun

HHI # 8338

Good for you....

Congratulations on the successful hunt.
Congratulations on having ethics and waiting until the time was right to cleanly harvest an animal

Nice job, congrats!

Sweet. Congratulations. Hard work pays off.

Congrats on the accomplishment! Yes, the XVR has substantial percussion. A few years ago I was having an Illinois hunt with my .460 XVR filmed out of a ground blind. I warned my cameraman but he just grinned and reminded me "this ain't my first rodeo". About 10 minutes later I dropped a doe in her tracks at 100 yds and I knew it would be great footage. One problem--the flash fire and percussion of the blast startled the guy so bad he fell off his stool and got only footage of the roof of the blind! Had to fire him LOL. I now have a TC Encore .460 and it is a pussycat,recoil wise, compared to the XVR. Here's to your continued success and enjoyment of that bad-boy wheel!

nice shooting!

Good work, and nice shooting. Looks like all your practice and hard work paid off. Now to start prepairing for next season.

congrats on that deer. great shooting