Handgun for hunting elk ?

I have hunted with a 357. Magnum, what do you use or suggest for deer or elk? I have heard of so many different caliber's, what say you?

I have a buddy that has a .460 Ruger. He has shot around 2 inch groups at 200 yards with it. I'd say that it will work for elk. mtmuley

I hunted with a Freedom Arms 454 Casull in a 6". Could put a cylinder full inside 12" at 100 off-hand.
Only took one elk, a cow, at about 80 yards.

With the right bullet and in the right hands anything 44 Mag and up will work in a conventional revolver for elk. For the average deer I'd add the 41 Mag and a properly loaded 357 or 10mm. I'm partial to the 480 Ruger these days since a wrist injury has limited my ability to shoot chamberings like the 454 and larger for the most part. Range is based more on shooter skill than anything. With good shot placement and a hard cast lead bullet, you should go clean through the chest of an average sized elk at 100 yards with something like a 454. I'm confident to about 75 yards with my iron sighted 480 Ruger and shot my deer at 64 yards with it this year.

If you get into guns like the Contender/Encore or some of the Specialty Pistols like the XP-100 or Striker then everything changes. I'd shoot an elk at 600 yards with my 338/375 Ruger Striker without hesitating. They kill more like a rifle where a conventional bigbore handgun kills more like a muzzle loader.

I've hunted with a Ruger Super Redhawk in 44 mag with 2X Leupold. With the slightly longer cylinder in that gun I figured a way to run 265 gr FTX bullets without cutting down the case. They barely fit if you use a normal crimp. Was able to crank them up to 1,400 fps with 21.8 grains of W296 but have since backed down a grain as that was a pretty stout load.

If you are talking about using a revolver, I would recommend a 454 casull or a 460 S&W with 250 to 300 grain Bullets. Lessor cartridges will work, but limit the distance.

If you want a pistol to perform like a rifle the single shot bolt action pistols or the Encore have many rifle cartridge selections to pick from.

Bigger is definitely better IMO.

J E CUSTOM

While a great choice for elk there is one caveat with the 460 S&W - it is basically a slightly shortened 444 Marlin - in a pistol. Recoil is brutal. I can do 44 Mag but the 460 is out of my league. A buddy of mine has the 460 and all the closer I want to get to that is watching him shoot it.

We have a Remington XP 100R in 260 rem that will be fun to take critters with....been busting rocks at 400 yards....be a fun one to pack on an any weapon hunt....just in case...

Those S&W .460's look impressive! I saw a show where some guy from the Performance Center took several animals in Africa with one.
I have no doubt it would be great for Elk at a range you are capable at?

Killed my Musk Ox with a .500 S&W. That's the only things I've ever hunted with the heavy beast. Carried it a lot for backup in AK. and fortunately never needed it.

Engineering101 said:

While a great choice for elk there is one caveat with the 460 S&W - it is basically a slightly shortened 444 Marlin - in a pistol. Recoil is brutal. I can do 44 Mag but the 460 is out of my league. A buddy of mine has the 460 and all the closer I want to get to that is watching him shoot it.

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I guess I am brain dead because I really enjoy the 460 and the recoil is more manageable than my 454 because the 460 comes in the x frame (The same as the 500 S&W) and is heavy. I also have a 444 marlin in a 3.5 pound contender and it "IS" brutal.

I also built a rifle in 460 that would comply with the new Michigan rules and it is very impressive (Over 500 ft/sec faster in the rifle with the 200 grain flex tip hornady ammo.

J E CUSTOM

J E Custom said:

I guess I am brain dead because I really enjoy the 460 and the recoil is more manageable than my 454 because the 460 comes in the x frame (The same as the 500 S&W) and is heavy. I also have a 444 marlin in a 3.5 pound contender and it "IS" brutal.

I also built a rifle in 460 that would comply with the new Michigan rules and it is very impressive (Over 500 ft/sec faster in the rifle with the 200 grain flex tip hornady ammo.

J E CUSTOM

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I want just one more custom build, if I can find someone to do the gun smithing. Ruger #1 in 500 S&W 20" pipe. I think that would be a biting sow but oh what fun it would be

Alaska2006 said:

I want just one more custom build, if I can find someone to do the gun smithing. Ruger #1 in 500 S&W 20" pipe. I think that would be a biting sow but oh what fun it would be

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There is an outfit named Big horn armory that makes a fine rifle in 460 and 500 S&W

http://www.bighornarmory.com/catalog/1/big-horn-armory-products/

I know it is not a Ruger #1 but it is a repeater. We also have built muzzle brakes for the beast that really tame it down.

The rifle comes threaded to 3/4 x 28 TPI if you go this route.

J E CUSTOM

26Reload said:

We have a Remington XP 100R in 260 rem that will be fun to take critters with....been busting rocks at 400 yards....be a fun one to pack on an any weapon hunt....just in case...

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I handled the Remington xp today and I must say it's a keeper.