Screw barrel pistols as a finishing shot?

[brazosland]

This thread could just easily be in the hunting section.

Was thinking about a screw barrel to put in my shot pouch. For those who have used them are they powerful enough to finish a deer or hog with a close range shot to the side of the head?

I’d also use it for the occasional **** that wanders by or the squirrel that sits 10 feet away from your tree stand and won’t shut up (a squirrel makes a fine meal, as does a dog).

Opinions?

If you want to lecture about carrying in my shot pouch, just mind your business and move along to another thread and flex on someone else.

 

[TDM]

This thread could just easily be in the hunting section.

Was thinking about a screw barrel to put in my shot pouch. For those who have used them are they powerful enough to finish a deer or hog with a close range shot to the side of the head?

I’d also use it for the occasional coin that wanders by or the squirrel that sits 10 feet away from your tree stand and won’t shut up (a squirrel makes a fine meal, as does a dog).

Opinions?

If you want to lecture about carrying in my shot pouch, just mind your business and move along to another thread and flex on someone else.

Don’t have a screw barrel, but I’d feel fairly comfortable using my .41 derringer at close range 10’-12’ for a head shot. I recently shot mine again after many, many years. Once you train your wrist to hold the correct angle mine does fine. But please don’t shoot the dogs. Tasty yes, but too greasy.

 

[bang]

That one time you have expended it but need another will be interesting. I use a side arm for finish and had several deer flinch just at the wrong time. Little sheriff in 36 or 44 if you prefer.

 

[PathfinderNC]

“If you want to lecture about carrying in my shot pouch, just mind your business and move along to another thread and flex on someone else.”
Well,except those opinions

 

[Nobody85]

Those screw barrel Queen Anne’s we’re apparently high velocity pistols. The bore squeezes the ball towards the muzzle increasing pressure.

 

[user 48702]

This thread could just easily be in the hunting section.

Was thinking about a screw barrel to put in my shot pouch. For those who have used them are they powerful enough to finish a deer or hog with a close range shot to the side of the head?

I’d also use it for the occasional coin that wanders by or the squirrel that sits 10 feet away from your tree stand and won’t shut up (a squirrel makes a fine meal, as does a dog).

Opinions?

If you want to lecture about carrying in my shot pouch, just mind your business and move along to another thread and flex on someone else.

For hogs you would want to shoot them between the eyes for a quick kill. Both my grandpappys used to dispatch them that way before butchering. Hogs are some of the hardest animals to kill, that's why many hunters end up getting their fanny handed to them by a hog that's having a bad day.

 

[Old Hawkeye]

I have a Liege screw barrel 44 cal & have test fired it into various targets. The powder chamber holds 9 grains of BP. It will barely pentrate a pumpkin @ 7 feet, let alone an animal skull no matter the range. If you need a second shot, just load your rifle. As far as accuracy, forget shooting a squirrel at 10 feet. Would be easier to kill him with a rock! They make cute wallhangers in a man cave. I have several & love the way they look on the wall! YMMV!

 

[cynthialee]

just watch the animal as you reload your rifle
if it is still moving, shoot from 5-10 yards away
I wouldn't want to walk up on a dying deer close enough to deliver coup de grace with such a pistol.

 

[Old Hawkeye]

For hogs you would want to shoot them between the eyes for a quick kill. Both my grandpappys used to dispatch them that way before butchering. Hogs are some of the hardest animals to kill, that's why many hunters end up getting their fanny handed to them by a hog that's having a bad day.

Hogs aren't any harder to kill than any other meduim size game. I just shot two last week in Oklahoma. One @ 40 yards & one @ 70 yards. Took one shot behind the ear & both fell dead in a heap & never even twichted. Can you refer us to a list of the "many" hunters that ended up getting their fanny handed to them? Bogus stories about "mean ol' hogs" make me laugh. Shooting them "between the eyes" is the worst possible way, as the severely sloping skull can cause the bullet to glance off in some cases. Not to mention the small target it offers. Shooting a domestic hog at point blank range in the brain prior to bucthering is not a good analogy. Thanks for the chuckle!

 

[TDM]

That one time you have expended it but need another will be interesting. I use a side arm for finish and had several deer flinch just at the wrong time. Little sheriff in 36 or 44 if you prefer.

While I am impressed with just how accurate a small derringer can be. I would have to follow bang’s advice. I’ve become quite a softy in my older age, I used to blaze away at deer without a second thought. Now, I’m very, very particular on making a quick, clean kill. I pass on many more than I shoot. If I did have a wounded animal thrashing around I’d want more than one shot.

 

[GBG]

Brain shooting an unsuspecting animal that is standing still at a safe distance is also very different from a finishing shot. Killing a wounded but still moving animal (domestic or wild) at close range makes CNS shots much more difficult - at least in my limited experience.

My back up handgun is an unmentionable with considerably more power than most BP pistols - again JMHO.

 

[leadhoarder]

Bowie knife would get the job done too.

 

[TDM]

Bowie knife would get the job done too.

It certainly will, but I can’t move fast enough any more to safely do that. Even a doe can do damage with her feet. Much less a buck or hog.

 

[brazosland]

For hogs you would want to shoot them between the eyes for a quick kill. Both my grandpappys used to dispatch them that way before butchering. Hogs are some of the hardest animals to kill, that's why many hunters end up getting their fanny handed to them by a hog that's having a bad day.

As a Texan that kills a lot of hogs I will disagree with you here, the front of the forehead is sloped and very thick bone. I have bounced 45 ACP off them at handshake range.

The side of the skull between the eye and the ear is paper thin.

 

[appalichian hunter]

Hogs aren't any harder to kill than any other meduim size game. I just shot two last week in Oklahoma. One @ 40 yards & one @ 70 yards. Took one shot behind the ear & both fell dead in a heap & never even twichted. Can you refer us to a list of the "many" hunters that ended up getting their fanny handed to them? Bogus stories about "mean ol' hogs" make me laugh. Shooting them "between the eyes" is the worst possible way, as the severely sloping skull can cause the bullet to glance off in some cases. Not to mention the small target it offers. Shooting a domestic hog at point blank range in the brain prior to bucthering is not a good analogy. Thanks for the chuckle!

Dont know about that, killed a bunch of butchering hogs bye shots between the eyes never had a problem.

 

[appalichian hunter]

Got a bit off of Brazos question, If me I would be a bit laeary of a small cal. single shot for the finishing touch, A few years back dropped a nice 6 point with a 54 mountain rifle he went down hard between a big rock and a tree, at about 50 yards, as usual I watch the deer as I re-load the rifle it never moved as I approached the deer something told me to keep the rock between him and me, cocked the mountain rifle eased it over the rock and touched his eye all hell broke loose as he tried to come over the rock we were only a barrel length apart never remember pulling the trigger but when the smoke cleared he was sprawled half on me I scrambled away and put some distance between us, re-loaded the gun and approached again this time he was dead. Since then I carry a R.O.A. or a 58 remmy 5 from a large bore is in my opinion better than one from a small bore.

 

[morehops52]

Last week I shot a 45 derringer starting w/ 20gr powder into cardboard. That load passed thru 5 layers. Pretty anemic IMO. At 30gr the ball went thru 7 sheets and embedded on the far side of wood siding. I have no experience with hogs but based on other finishing shots I would consider that 30 gr charge the minimum I would use. I personally would not use a screw barrel for that purpose but I have to admit I do like the little buggers.

 

[user 48702]

Hogs aren't any harder to kill than any other meduim size game. I just shot two last week in Oklahoma. One @ 40 yards & one @ 70 yards. Took one shot behind the ear & both fell dead in a heap & never even twichted. Can you refer us to a list of the "many" hunters that ended up getting their fanny handed to them? Bogus stories about "mean ol' hogs" make me laugh. Shooting them "between the eyes" is the worst possible way, as the severely sloping skull can cause the bullet to glance off in some cases. Not to mention the small target it offers. Shooting a domestic hog at point blank range in the brain prior to bucthering is not a good analogy. Thanks for the chuckle!

I shall defer to you, Ol' Swine Expert

Louisiana Hunter Becomes the Hunted
Italian Hunter Killed by Wounded Wild Boar
Hunter in Germany Dies After Wild Boar Attacks
Hunter Attacked by Wild Boar in Colorado
Hunter Dies After Being Bit by Boar He Shot
Feral Hogs Attack and Kill a Woman in Texas
Wild Boar Attacks and Wounds Two Hunters in France
Hunter Killed by Wild Boar in Spain

 

[brazosland]

They can be mean as snakes if they know where you are.

90% of “hog attacks” are just being in front of them when they bolt. They will launch in whatever direction their nose is pointed. We hunt them in hardwoods thick with youpon underbrush. 20 yards is a long shot.

It gets pretty Western real quick if you have walked into a sleeping sounder and you wake them up with a gunshot.

 

[TDM]

I shall defer to you, Ol' Swine Expert

Louisiana Hunter Becomes the Hunted
Italian Hunter Killed by Wounded Wild Boar
Hunter in Germany Dies After Wild Boar Attacks
Hunter Attacked by Wild Boar in Colorado
Hunter Dies After Being Bit by Boar He Shot
Feral Hogs Attack and Kill a Woman in Texas
Wild Boar Attacks and Wounds Two Hunters in France
Hunter Killed by Wild Boar in Spain

I am very blessed to not have a hog problem on my property. I do get some game camera pictures of a young bore that will hang around for a while and move on, but nothing that’s a problem, yet. The Pearl River basin is only 10-12 miles to the east, where there’s hogs aplenty and the young males get chased out of the herd each year.