Sooooooooo not looking for cartridge wars, platform contests etc, I've hunted my whole life, but other than small game, always with a long gun. I run a .41 Blackhawk, the missus is planning on a 10mm 1911 and a .357 or .41 redhawk. I plan on adding a 10 mm or two as well. In other states regs are more or less forgiving but in Nebraska, minimum of 400 ft-lbs at 50 yds, according to everything I've looked up thus far, my .41 has no issues with several loadings making this threshold, the .357 also handles the threshold decently can't recall the 158 numbers but definitely doable with a 180 pushed harder. The 10 mm for the missus will likely be a single stack 1911, whereas I favor double stacks. At this point, anything heavier than .41 is not likely to be considered. Distances will be determined after field testing for loads vs media and accuracy. The advice I'm looking for here expansive I suppose. ..
1. In a semiauto (10mm) which platform suits hunting well? Eaa? Sig? 1911? (No 10 mm revolvers)
2. How often are scopes truly needed or is this user preference? (I like the look of a scoped revolver) (considering a reflex sight backed up by irons, but if only 1 is an option, which one?)
3. Especially in the .357/10 mm arena, using top loads, (10 mm 220 1200 fps types, equally heavy in .357) how heavy of game is the limit? (I.e. what s.d. do we put per game animal? In my .41 210 rem factory loads are harder than preferred for deer sized game)
4. I see plenty of references to hard cast for serious business, but even a 158 non bonded hp performs nicely on deer, what is the ideal bullet shape for a healthy mix of penetration and expansion? (Different critter examples acceptable)
I'm not wandering into the Rockies or Alaska with only a .327 for firepower, I plan on always having a rifle handy, can't help it. I like a good challenge, as does the missus, but we both believe in doing something properly, so trying to learn the smart not hard way here....
1. In a semiauto (10mm) which platform suits hunting well? Eaa? Sig? 1911? (No 10 mm revolvers)
2. How often are scopes truly needed or is this user preference? (I like the look of a scoped revolver) (considering a reflex sight backed up by irons, but if only 1 is an option, which one?)
3. Especially in the .357/10 mm arena, using top loads, (10 mm 220 1200 fps types, equally heavy in .357) how heavy of game is the limit? (I.e. what s.d. do we put per game animal? In my .41 210 rem factory loads are harder than preferred for deer sized game)
4. I see plenty of references to hard cast for serious business, but even a 158 non bonded hp performs nicely on deer, what is the ideal bullet shape for a healthy mix of penetration and expansion? (Different critter examples acceptable)
I'm not wandering into the Rockies or Alaska with only a .327 for firepower, I plan on always having a rifle handy, can't help it. I like a good challenge, as does the missus, but we both believe in doing something properly, so trying to learn the smart not hard way here....