Anyone shoot small game with a 38 special
- Thread starter trekker73
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Define "pot shots".
mcb
Member
Killed a few Armadillos with my Model 10.
The Evangelist Cowboy
Member
Just snakes with my taurus 856
Ok. Wasn't sure. Some folks call just randomly "taking a shot", "pot shots". I've killed a few things with a .38, back when I carried one. Most were caught in the acting of raiding the chicken coop. Only ate one of them though, a raccoon. I don't recommend it.
Vern Humphrey
Member
I sometimes hunt squirrels with my Colt M357, using .38 Specials. My load is a 148-grain wadcutter and 2.7 grains of Bullseye. It hits like the hammer of Thor!
NIGHTLORD40K
Member
My buddy nailed a fish from the seat of his airboat with a M642 .38 snubbie.
Another one of the fellas present bet him $20 he couldnt do it again. My friend went home with two fish and $20.
Another one of the fellas present bet him $20 he couldnt do it again. My friend went home with two fish and $20.
bernie
Member
Last year while deer hunting I killed a squirrel with a Model 64 shooting 148 gr. wadcutters.
entropy
Member
I've shot squirrels and a grouse (flying, no less!) with .38's. The grouse was sitting on a downed tree, and as I lined up on it, I saw it do that 'dip' they do right before taking off, so I jumped the .38 up about 3 feet and fired. It dropped. My best friend (who was at the ready with his 1100-he never missed) said 'Betcha can't do that again!' I enigmatically blew the smoke away from the from the muzzle and holstered the Trooper.
Olon
Member
38s are probably my favorite for small game save 44 round ball out of my 1858 repro
"Or" is so difficult for me, I'ma "and" guy
!"Or" is so difficult for me, I'ma "and" guy
I agree.
Pat Riot
Contributing Member
Only ate one of them though, a raccoon. I don't recommend it.
Thank you for that early morning laugh.
When I was a teenager my friend and I trapped muskrats and raccoons. We found out real quick that a single shot percussion cap pistol wasn’t the thing to have to dispatch the critters so his dad loaned him an S&W model 10. We shot quite a few of them.
Yes, we had muskrat stew...once.
We didn’t consider eating the one raccoon that we got. He was a ferocious little disease ridden critter. I pretty much lost interest in trapping after that little guy.
.308 Norma
Member
I have no idea how many Ruffed Grouse and Dusky Grouse (“fool hens”) I’ve snipped the heads off of with loaded down 357 and 44 revolvers. For that matter, I’ve snipped the heads off a good many forest grouse (both Ruffed and Dusky) with big game rifles as well - which makes a lot more noise, but works.
It’s not that hard to snip the heads off forest grouse with a handgun or rifle. You just walk up to within 10 or 15 feet of them, aim where their head connects to their neck, and squeeze the trigger. And don’t worry - even if you miss, they usually won’t fly away. So you’ll get a second, or sometimes even a third shot. Ruffed Grouse are usually a little more wary than Dusky Grouse, but not much.
Both Ruffed Grouse and Dusky Grouse are species’ of forest grouse, and in Idaho, it’s perfectly legal to shoot them with handguns or rifles - during the season of course. And the season coincides with deer season. There’s no better dinner than “fool hen” fried on a Coleman stove in a tent, or even on a propane range in a camp trailer in deer camp.
The only thing is, you have to be careful to not shoot low when you’re shooting mountain grouse with a big game rifle or large bore handgun. A 270 Winchester bullet to the chest of a “fool hen” doesn’t leave much for the old iron skillet back at camp. I suspect a bullet from a +P 38 Special load wouldn’t either.
It’s not that hard to snip the heads off forest grouse with a handgun or rifle. You just walk up to within 10 or 15 feet of them, aim where their head connects to their neck, and squeeze the trigger. And don’t worry - even if you miss, they usually won’t fly away. So you’ll get a second, or sometimes even a third shot. Ruffed Grouse are usually a little more wary than Dusky Grouse, but not much.
Both Ruffed Grouse and Dusky Grouse are species’ of forest grouse, and in Idaho, it’s perfectly legal to shoot them with handguns or rifles - during the season of course. And the season coincides with deer season. There’s no better dinner than “fool hen” fried on a Coleman stove in a tent, or even on a propane range in a camp trailer in deer camp.
The only thing is, you have to be careful to not shoot low when you’re shooting mountain grouse with a big game rifle or large bore handgun. A 270 Winchester bullet to the chest of a “fool hen” doesn’t leave much for the old iron skillet back at camp. I suspect a bullet from a +P 38 Special load wouldn’t either.
Jackrabbit1957
Member
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Lots of Jackrabbits, don't need a license or be a resident of the state here. 5.4 grains of Unique behind a 115 grain cast bu puts them down out to 130 yards, haven't got a shot at one further...yet.
bannockburn
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- Apr 24, 2007
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While hiking in the backwoods I use to carry a Rossi Model 88 in .38 Special just in case a target of opportunity presented itself: small game (only if in season), and protection from feral dogs.
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