The American Beagler Forum

Thinking about purchasing a pistol for deer hunting next year for something different and a new challenge. Dont know much about pistols and I think Illinois has a maximum and minimum caliber size but im not even sure what it is without looking. Just wanted to see what everyone recommends. Like I said I dont know much about pistols but I think I want one with a fairly long barrel. Nothing fancy and something that is realible. Any recommedations?

Here is the regulations for pistols in IL.

Centerfire revolvers or centerfire single-shot handguns of .30 caliber or larger with a minimum barrel length of 4 inches.
For handguns, a bottleneck centerfire cartridge of .30 caliber or larger with a case length not exceeding 1.4 inches, or a straight-walled centerfire cartridge of .30 caliber or larger, both of which must be available as a factory load with the published ballistic tables of the manufacturer showing a capability of at least 500 foot pounds of energy at the muzzle.Note:There is no case length limit for straight-walled cartridges.
Non-expanding, military-style full metal jacket bullets cannot be used to harvest white-tailed deer; only soft point or expanding bullets (including copper/ copper-alloy rounds designed for hunting) are legal ammunition.

i use a ruger red hawk 44mag. good take down gun. my buddy use a 500 s&w

encore by tc you can get a lot of different barrels for them. i like the 270

i have contender in .45-70, it shoots great havent got to shoot a deer with it yet, but it is legal here in ohio because it is a straight walled cartridge......lots of power....BOOOOOOOOMMMMM

hey stony- if you want a good basic setup get a S&W 686 with a 6" barrel in .357 mag. put a BUSHNELL HOLOSIGHT on it if you want to jazz it up... otherwise just use the iron sights. use 125gr. JHP and you would have a pretty sweet setup.

44 Magnum - 5" or 6' barrel.

i have a remington xp-100 custom in a 7mm-08 that shoots unbelievable

Ive been looking at the Tarus "Raging Bull" in a .41 or a .44 caliber with a 8" barrel. Whats everyone thoughts? Anyone shot one or does anyone own one?

ive owned a few taurus revolvers in the past and had no troubles... but on some of the other boards there is a LOT of people who arent as lucky and their customer service sounds very slow and not real helpful. spend an extra $100 or so and get a S&W-colt-or ruger.

TC Encore with 15 in bbl in 7mm08 with a 2 pwr scope

i have a handi rifle that is chambered in s&w 500 bad azz cartridge, it will knock them down at 250+ yards,,,,,,,,but what is legal in indiana may not be legal in ill, or vise versa,,,,,

No doubt in my mind, Ruger Redhawk 44 Mag. Killed deer and Hogs with it. They don't go far when you hit right!