Newbie to Handguns - your max range?

[Twanger]

I managed to find a nice 41-cal muzzleloading pistol that slings a 400-gr slug about 1100 fps. More if I could stand it!
I plan to hunt with it in Maryland this year (it's legal).
What's a reasonable max range that you limit yourself to when hand-gun hunting for deer?
With a rest I can shoot 3" groups at 50-yds, so that's about the max I'm thinking about.
I was just wondering what other handgun hunters limit themselves to.

[Redhawk1]

I would have to say 80 to 100 yards MAX. With Handgun cartridges. If I step up to rifle cartridges in my Encore pistol, depending on the round used, I would try a 200 yard shot with a good rest.   :grin:

[rickyp]

Twanger, What part of MD are you in?

I use a 14 inch 209x50 Contender for deer hunting, My max range around 50 yards or so mostly due to the turin My load is 90 grs of pyrodex P under a 240 hornady XTP mag in a bulk sabot. I have not had good luck with the 240 XTP Mag bullets

I have a lee 360 gr. mini mold that at 50 yards the barrel puts the bullet in almost in the same hole as the 240 sabots with the same load and at 100 yards it is about 2 feet low

[Graybeard]

With that rig the maximum range is really what you can consistently place all shots into the kill zone. The bullet will do it's job much farther than you can do yours.

Shoot from field positions at a 9" paper plate with no aiming point on it. Deer don't come with black dot on white background targets, well at least not where I hunt them.

When you fail to place all bullets on the plate you've exceeded your personal range. Once for me that was easily over 100 yards even with iron sights. These days I won't push it passed 50 with irons and prefer less. I've stopped scoping revolvers and use them only with factory irons. If I feel like using a scope I'll use a TC.

GB

[44 Man]

Graybeard, it's the "old eye's" thing.  I too used to easily keep under 6" groups with an open sight pistol at 100 yards.  (They used to chase me off the 100yd rifle range at Williams in the 60s.  Said I couldn't be over there with a pistol, the berm wasn't high enough.  I showed them my groups and the guy just said, "Damn, but it is still in the rules")  The guns are still willing, but alas, the eyes no longer co-operate, and sometimes the hands shake a little.  A scope can help the eyes but if I am "shakey" that day it has to be a max 50yd shot.  That's a good reason to hunt down in the "thick" stuff!  The old "paper plate" standard is a good one.  You should also practice from "field positions".  Use any help you can find; an old log, or steadying your forearms against a tree, leaning your shoulder against a tree, etc.  44 Man

[palgeno]

I used to think the 9" paper plate target was pretty easy to hit and thought my scoped vs unscoped and rested vs unrested limites were pretty great! :-) Then I deciede to spray paint the paper plates a dull tan color to simulate deer hair. WOW! What a difference. :shock: The targets looked a lot smaller and getting on target fast was a lot harder! Then added shooting sticks and offhand shooting.My personal limits shrunk waaaydown.  pg

[Rmouleart]

When still stalking I carry open sites, good for around fifty yards, when at my stand I scope my revolver and a shooting stick,good for 100 yards clear of sight, every individual has his own limitations, every hunter should know his own. Many days at the range and a good load for your revolver will increase your accuracy, a good hold is a good start, the way you plant your feet before shooting is another, start from the ground up even before you shoot your handgun get your stance and hold down first, practice aiming, get use to where you lock in, then start in close 20 yards until you can keep them in the ten ring, then increase your distance bye only ten to twenty feet no more, until you can do the same as the yardage you started with.
sooner than later you will find where you start loosing your accuracy. Like GBO said keep them in the pie pan, this will be your breakoff point, most of the time its around fifty yards or so using open sites and shooting a revolver standing, then you have to really practice and pay attention to every move you make when shooting out beyond 50 yards free hand, bottom line know your limitations and you will do well. Aim small hit small. RAMbo.

[Twanger]

Thanks for all the replys everyone.
Sounds like 50-75 yds is pretty normal.
I'll probably stick with 50 for now.