There are some great pictures here!
So here’s a question for youse guys who have way more experience with this…is a 4" 629 going to give me far less performance on deer? The reason I ask is that I have a 3" and a 7.5" and I kinda need some extra cash to fund another AR build. I like the 3" for outdoor stuff like hiking, canoeing, etc and I use the 7.5" for hunting. Will a 4" 629 do me wrong on deer or is it not as big a concern as I tend to think?
What are your states game laws concerning barrel length? Here in NC minimum length is 5.5". If I remember right this is due to a hundgun cartridge being at least a min caliber and obtain at least a certain MZ velocity. That is how they came up with the min barrel length.
As far as performance I would think that the shorter length will decrease max effective range and accuracy.
High Tower,
i don’t think you are going to lose to much going to a 4" for most deer hunts. i’ve taken six deer over the years with a Glock 21 and the longest shot was about 60 yds… most of them didn’t go to far one or two were recovered with in 25 yards or so from the first shot. hope this helps.
Yes it does - thanks! By my figuring, it should work just fine, but I thought I would check to see what others had experienced.
Watrdawg - MI does not restrict barrel length. It just has to be at least .35, a straight wall cartridge, and cannot have more than 9 rounds total. Good point though - when I lived in WI, they had a law about that.
I remember that for MI now. I’m from the UP and I was astounded when my uncle came to deer camp with a short barreled .357.
Rugers work for me, 44’s and 45 colt!!
I’m a bit late to the party but…
The minimum barrel length requirements were removed quite some time ago.
I tried elk hunting a couple times using a 44 magnum Ruger Blackhawk and Garrett hard cast bullets. Never filled a tag though:(
i’d like more info on THIS!
did it survive a fire, and a new lower half put on?
Those restrictions only apply to the Shotgun Zone. If you’re in Rifle Zone then any cartridge with any caliber greater than .22 rimfire (.44 rimfire is legal) and any barrel length is legal. No capacity restriction.
See page 28 right hand column.
My hunting pistol is a 1911 10mm Commander. Great for small game and deer at close range.
Good to know - thanks!
I’ve been a handgun hunter since I was a teenager. My best friend and I used to hunt rabbits and squirrels with our Ruger Single Sixes nearly every weekend. Somewhere I have a picture of us, both younger with a lot more hair, and a pile of game. In the years since I haven’t done it nearly as often as I would like. To date I have only killed one deer with a handgun, a fork horn whitetail. It is a real rush.
I got confused when I moved here, but got it straightened out with a call to the DNR.
I used the 45 Colt for this buck. I took him with a 35 yard shot at 10:00 this morning.
Lost River, what grips are those on that Smith in post #19?
I’ve shot a Texas whitetail doe with my Ruger 357 mag. 6 1/2" barrel, factory trigger and sights at 25 yards. She dropped right there.
A couple years later I happened to see a hog crossing the road at our lease, so I hopped out of the truck and shot it with my G19, also at approx 25 yards. I admit it was luck, but the gun pulled smoothly from my CompTac and I didn’t hesitate a bit. Just got the job done.
Took two this past season with this guy:)
I’ve switched exclusively to handgun hunting. I prefer the 41 Magnum and either iron sights or an Aimpoint or Primary Arms Micro.
lots of does (whitetail, fallow, sika) - Glock 10mm, LAR Grizzly 45 Win Mag, 657 41 Mag, Ruger Super Redhawk 44 Mag
Japanese sika - Desert Eagle 44 Mag
nilgai - Glock 10mm
oryx - Ruger NM Blackhawk Hunter 41 Mag