What do you think of using a 40 sw cal for deer hunting?

Its not powerful enough..... You need at least 1000 foot pounds of energy to adequately drop a white tail deer...... The 40 S%26amp;W isn't up to the task......





Take a look at this ballistics table to see what I mean....


http://www.shootingtimes.com/ballistics/鈥?/a>What do you think of using a 40 sw cal for deer hunting?
Essentially the .40 S%26amp;W was developed to emulate the performance of the old .45 acp in a smaller frame pistol. Even the .45 acp is way too underpowered to hunt with. Both are only defensive weapons against 2-legged predators, not 4-legged game.





If you must hand-gun hunt get something that is up to the task. The minimum handgun deer caliber is the .357 Magnum preferably with the 6'; barrel. And this is only for experienced hunters. Next up would be the 10mm or older .41 Magnum. But you really are better off with a .44 Magnum or .454 Casull if you intend to deer hunt with a handgun.





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What do you think of using a 40 sw cal for deer hunting?
I don't think of it at all, because I would NEVER subject an animal to the needless pain and suffering they would endure being shot by a firearm that is far too underpowered for the task. There are dozens of different rifle calibers that are perfectly suited for hunting deer. Choose one of them.





(Why do these people keep wanting to use pistol caliber firearms for hunting??)
The first deer I ever killed (near a half century back) was with a 38-40, and that was too little cartridge. 40 S%26amp;W is even less, and has a poorer selection of bullets. It's dismaying to see how many great choices there are out there now and how many people try to use something too small, for no good reason.
I shot a steer recently with my .40 ( it was my steer, and I was planning on butchering him), and I was amazed at the lack of impact that .40 had on the bovine. I was trying to save the horns/skull, so i shot him in the neck. I really didn't seem to phase him. Shot a second time and it again did not break the neck and put him down. I said to heck with the skull and put it in his ear and then he went down.





He was between 700 to 800 LB, and I tell this story to demonstrate the lack of effectiveness of that .40 cal round. I'm even rethinking carrying it as my primary CCW and moving up to a .45 or .357
That's not ethical hunting. You need a clean kill.





John and Metro are right. Go for something more powerful.





Having to track wounded game is cruel to the animal and a royal pain in the rear for the hunter.
No, the best Caliber for your purpose is the tried, true, tested, and proven 357 Magnum.* Maximum shooting range is 50 yards.* Use a revolver with a minimum barrel length of 6 inches.*
You would have to get extremely close and pick your shot extremely carefully, and, even then, the deer might not be cleanly killed. Please use a bigger gun!
Not enough gun. The minimum handgun is a 10mm with at least a 6'; barrel.