Hunting with 40 S&W

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colz2003

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hey everyone,

I just purchased a cx4 storm 40 S&W. I went through the whole re-barreling process and got it to non-restricted status.

I was wondering if this would have sufficient stopping power/if it was legal to hunt whitetail with this gun (I live in Sask). I realize that it is def on the small side for power and I would only use it as a bush gun (close range shots). I bought it for coyote's/gophers/hares but being able to hunt deer would be an added bonus.

Also, I know by using the pistol mags i can have 10 rds but is that legal for hunting as well? Or is the law 5 rds for big game and 10 for coyotes? or 5 rds period for hunting?

Again I'm not trying to hunt unethically but as a bow hunter I understand the importance of shot placement, just hoping for some other opinions on the matter.

Thanks
 
A head shot is a head shot.

(Unless you're talking .25ACP. Then, maybe not so much.)
 
While definitely not the ideal choice for deer, it will do the job if you stick to close shots, place them well, and use good JHP bullets. The .40 S&W is more or less a ballistic twin to the old .38-40, which accounted for many deer in its day.

Personally, I would prefer a .44 magnum levergun as a pistol calibre carbine for this sort of thing.
 
In Alberta you can't hunt with anything less than .243. It is based on calibre and case length. Basically it has to be centrefire rifle ammo, but like I said check your provincial regs, it may be different.
 
Grover6 said:
In Alberta you can't hunt with anything less than .243. It is based on calibre and case length. Basically it has to be centrefire rifle ammo, but like I said check your provincial regs, it may be different.
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Not quite: the case length restriction was repealed a few years ago with the introduction of Winchester's .243 WSSM (1.67 inch case length).

On the calibre restriction from this year's Alberta game regulations:

It is unlawful to set out, use or employ any of the following items for the purpose of hunting big game: ammunition of less than .23 calibre.

Back to the original topic: As long as the original poster is able to get within the effective killing range for the 40 S&W and complies with Saskatchewan game regulations, go hunting!
 
jamiejaf said:
You're limited to five rds in a semi, no matter what your hunting.
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He is not limited to five rounds in a semi. It does matter what he is hunting. It matters even more where he is hunting. Hunting regulations are provincial. Yours don't work here.

Federal regulations that limit the size of magazines for semi-auto long guns aren't about hunting. If he's allowed to have that ten round mag at all, the Federal regulations don't prohibit using it for hunting. If his CX-4 isn't restricted, the Federal regulations don't prohibit using it for hunting.

Sask hunting regulations on calibre don't prohibit pistol calibres being used in carbines or rifles, as long as they comply with the specification of being not less than .24 diameter, which the .40 does. Sask hunting regulations don't limit the magazine capacity of carbines or rifles, semi-auto or otherwise, for big game hunting.
 
Yep!

Should be good to go as long as it's not a .223.

If it were a .223, the ethics police would be all over you about how yer ####'s gonna fall off and yer karma will be all screwed up, and 'ethical' (insert angelic choir here) hunters will say bad things about ya fer usin' an unethical caliber.

But since it's not a .223, it should be good!



:D



Stick to clean, broadside, boiler room shots on deer that are not spooked or running, and you'll eat venison.

I put a 45 caliber round ball through a WT doe (entered behind left ribs, exited through right shoulder) outside Moose Jaw with a muzzle loader. I was not loaded hot, so I figure anything with energy levels around a decent modern pistol round is lots, if you are reasonable with your shot selection.

Head shots are not MY fave, but I'm not there looking at what you will be, so choose what you gotta.

Cheers
Trev
 
I would use a 40S&W for deer/bear and I would load it with either a Bullet Barn 180gr RNFP designed for the 38-40 or a 180gr Gold Dot my velocity goal from a 4.6" handgun would be 950fps.

I have spoken with many CO's that have had to put black bears down with their G22 40 S&W handguns and they say that with a cross lung/chest shot the 180gr Gold Dot's will exit.
 
.40 super would work as well. I had a guy make a dew loads with differing powders using 165 gr HP (using his loading skills, mine suck). Pulled 1300 + fps on one load. All the powders were bulky (all he had), so it was told to me that he (the loader) could expect upto 1500 fps on other powders.
 
Camp Cook said:
I would use a 40S&W for deer/bear and I would load it with either a Bullet Barn 180gr RNFP designed for the 38-40 or a 180gr Gold Dot my velocity goal from a 4.6" handgun would be 950fps.

I have spoken with many CO's that have had to put black bears down with their G22 40 S&W handguns and they say that with a cross lung/chest shot the 180gr Gold Dot's will exit.
Click to expand...

Granted that, he's using a much longer barrel, so he'll have even more velocity.

While it probably isn't the ideal cartridge, the general consensus is that it'll work.
 
I got a CX4 Sorm non-restruicted as well. Hunted deer with it but never actually shot one with it. Usually in Sask all my shots are over 200 yards. Awesome little toy to push bush with. I would highly recommend bringing your reg certificate with you. I have never met a CO that has ever seen one before and they get kinda antsy. Also the only limit for ammo is as already stated cartridges must be above .24 caliber. Anything larger counts. No limits on mags. Enjoy its a awesome toy!!!
 
A couple of summers ago a police officer ended up shooting a bear in self defence with his handgun, and it killed the bear. Not sure if he only fired a single shot. The bear was trying to attack him, and it had killed a man earlier in the day. Pretty sure the police would have been carrying either 9mm or 40S&W. This was around East Selkirk, Manitoba.
 
Thanks for all the reply's. I have read the wildlife act, wildlife regulations, and the hunting synopsis and have not found anything about magazine capacity limits for hunting big game in sask.

Deer season is closed this year in my area but maybe next year I'll give it a try.

Thanks again!!!
 
Use a quality bullet and no problemo. Out of a carbine length barrel, the 40 should be a deadly close range gun. Use it, it will drive any lieberal who sees you crazy. That should be reason enough.
 
I have the same gun, but the 9mm version. Granted the 40 has more power, however I would not recommend using it for deer. I attempted shooting a coyote with mine just to see what kind of stopping power it had and it I won't bother trying again. Sure a well placed shot would be lethal... but your asking for a whole lot of work and time if you hit the shoulder or rump... which is highly likely as they aren't the most precise shooters. It had a hard time downing the coyote. Thank goodness for a 10 shot mag. In my experience you are better off sticking to gophers, groundhogs and such - which is a lot of fun ;-)
 
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