Hunting with Handguns

Sneakshot92 said:

I've got a temptation to do a medium bore rifle cartridge in a single shot pistol platform. Say maybe a 35 Whelen?

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That's quite a handful in a pistol. I have an XP-100 repeater in .358 Winchester and it barks quite a bit.
My favorite is an XP-100 in .250 Savage. I got 16 deer with it. Sweet shooter and very accurate.

Ttrl

I have used my .30-30 Contender for deer and hogs, but haven't picked it up in years. I should hunt with it here since range is generally 50 yards. I've hunted with a 6.5" Blackhawk in .357 and iron sights. Don't have a lot of time in the stand with it, just got a notion to hunt with it. Shot a pig with it once.

Contenders are my choice, though.

Sneakshot92 said:

Who all out there besides me enjoys the challenge of handgun hunting and what is your weapon/cartridge of choice.

For me the old standby has been an older Taurus in 357 Magnum.

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When one brings up the idea of handgun hunting, I first think about something like this and going for whitetail...,



Well here in the People's Republic of Maяуlaиd, we are restricted in handgun and rifle hunting when it comes to large game. The places you can use either are limited. Further, a minimum 6" barrel, and a cartridge that delivers 700 ft.lbs. at the muzzle is required for handguns. So,... the Redhawk as above would work, no doubt.

BUT..., an interesting option in my state might be an AR "pistol" in 7.62x39mm for whitetail, using a 123 grain Privy Partisan brand soft point bullet. Configured as a handgun with a 10.5" barrel, this round still is at 2200+ fps muzzle velocity. It meets the criteria for rifle hunting ft.lbs. too as that criteria is 1200 ft.lbs. and the ammo out of that short barrel provides more than 1300 ft.lbs.


And launched from something like this but with a 5 round magazine, in my state. I wonder if the DNR officers would know the legal difference between this and an SBR or rifle?




LD

I almost gave up deer hunting with firearms a coupla decades ago because it just didn't excite me anymore. While I still couldn't wait to for archery season, if it wouldn't have been for the camaraderie of family during deer camp, I would have quit. I still liked getting out in the woods before daylight and seeing deer, but shooting them with a rifle became just a "meh". Big antlered bucks didn't mean anything when shot by a rifle.....since anyone could do it. Stick and string was different. So are handguns I've found out. I'm not putting down anyone that hunts deer with a rifle....'ell, I did it for many decades myself. There was a time when opening day on stand with the old ought-six was pure bliss. But it just lost it's attraction to me. First I stated to pass on deer hoping they would go to the boys instead. Then I got so I didn't even go after the first day if one or both of the boys didn't come. I still find myself with a handgun caliber carbine sometimes, doing the sneak up to them in their bed thing. Even then I'm hesitant to shoot.

That said I've killed deer with the .357s, the .44s and the .460. Where and how I am hunting dictates what firearm I take. The .460 and one .44 are dedicated deer revolvers, P.C. models with long pipes, hair triggers and compensators. Nuttin' is scoped, just irons.

troy fairweather said:

I've been looking for a 14/141, wish I hadn't sold the ones had.

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Any particular caliber? I get some on consignment now and then. Know two friends who might have some.

Highland Lofts said:

I have been pairing up handguns with my rifles.
I have close to forty handguns.
Then I got into the T/C Contenders and Encore which really opened up the rifle calibers in a handgun.
I enjoy shooting the 35 Remington T/C Encore more then the old 35 Remington model 141 rifle.

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I need another Contender. I had one in 7mm TCU and took a couple of whitetails with it. My GP100 with 180gr XTP's have accounted for most of my handgun deer. Had a 221 Fireball in an XP that was fun. A groundhog or crow was dead meat if it was inside 150 yards.

Captcurt said:

Any particular caliber? I get some on consignment now and then. Know two friends who might have some.

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Prefer a 35
, We get them at the gun shows pretty often. I just done have money when I find them lol.

Ive hunted small game with my rugers, a 22/45 & a charger.

This is the gun that got me started down the handgun hunting rabbit hole, a CO2 pellet pistol I got when I was a kid:



This one is for every type of game up close or farther out - BFR in .460 S&W:



This .500 JRH BFR has accounted for a number of big animals to include Cape buffalo:

I just started getting into this form of hunting a few years ago. I started hunting small game with a 22 pistol and hunted hogs with a 45ACP, and then bought a 10mm last year for deer and bear hunting, but haven't used it yet. I enjoy the challenge of hunting with a pistol. I have yet to put any kind of optic on my pistols, and I think hunting with a pistol hones your skills for when its needed most.

I chose a Browning Buckmark 22 and a Glock G40, for the moment

My old Standard Ruger .22 started me on the handgun hunting road.




It bagged quite a few rabbits and even an alligator snapping turtle.

I haven't hunted with a rifle in 25+ years. For quite a while, I handgun hunted with a scoped Super Redhawk in .44 Mag. I've taken quite a few deer with this handgun. The last few years I've been hunting with a scoped T/C Contender in 7-30 Waters. I also have one in .44 Magnum, but it's still a virgin. In my collection is a non-scoped Super Blackhawk in .44 Mag.

MaxP said:

This is the gun that got me started down the handgun hunting rabbit hole, a CO2 pellet pistol I got when I was a kid:

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Not too many of those around, the pellet version of a 7 3/8" Smith and Wesson Model 41. I have one with the original box....great shooters.

Rembrandt said:

Not too many of those around, the pellet version of a 7 3/8" Smith and Wesson Model 41. I have one with the original box....great shooters.

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You are the first person to recognize it! They are great guns!

MaxP, unlike many airgun copies, I was always impressed that those replicas were actually made by the Smith & Wesson air gun division, complete with serial numbers.

I had a 41 co2 when I was a kid, fun but dad had a real one. I had a luger and python copy.

Rembrandt said:

MaxP, unlike many airgun copies, I was always impressed that those replicas were actually made by the Smith & Wesson air gun division, complete with serial numbers.

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Very nice!

Im just beginning to get comfortable enough with my handguns to start hunting with them regularly. I havent taken any animals that werent in traps, or dumb enough to let me walk up on them, and all of those were with my .22 buckmark.

Its fun seeing all the pictures you guys have, hopefully i can add a few eventually.

Loyalist Dave said:

When one brings up the idea of handgun hunting, I first think about something like this and going for whitetail...,

View attachment 915911

Well here in the People's Republic of Maяуlaиd, we are restricted in handgun and rifle hunting when it comes to large game. The places you can use either are limited. Further, a minimum 6" barrel, and a cartridge that delivers 700 ft.lbs. at the muzzle is required for handguns. So,... the Redhawk as above would work, no doubt.

BUT..., an interesting option in my state might be an AR "pistol" in 7.62x39mm for whitetail, using a 123 grain Privy Partisan brand soft point bullet. Configured as a handgun with a 10.5" barrel, this round still is at 2200+ fps muzzle velocity. It meets the criteria for rifle hunting ft.lbs. too as that criteria is 1200 ft.lbs. and the ammo out of that short barrel provides more than 1300 ft.lbs.
View attachment 915916

And launched from something like this but with a 5 round magazine, in my state. I wonder if the DNR officers would know the legal difference between this and an SBR or rifle?


View attachment 915917

LD

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Discussed something like that with a local game warden, (he comes out to my place to call coyotes) he is a "gun nut" like me and was immediately forthcoming with agreement yes it's legal. He also admitted that few of his co-workers were as enthusiastic as we were so I MIGHT have to be prepared to patiently explain the difference and why it was legal (including help them look up definitions) but that any of his co-workers would be respectful and listen and learn if the situation arose. I don't know bout the guys in your neck of the woods, but I feel lucky I guess that we have a good crew out here!

I've shot a few squirrel with my TC Contender and a .22LR barrel, VERY accurate. I've taken a few with the .410 barrel I like to carry in spring when I'm out back to discourage the cottonmouths. The .30-30 gets 'er done during deer season if I want a handgun. I do carry my ear muffs with it, though. It's compensated and LOUD! Most big handguns are loud, but that one does instant damage. It hurts! My hearing is still good, but I have a decided ringing anymore. It's not all the Contender, though. Shotguns have a lot to do with it. I always remember the hearing protection on the range, but never think about it in the duck marsh or dove fields.

Loyalist Dave said:

When one brings up the idea of handgun hunting, I first think about something like this and going for whitetail...,

View attachment 915911

Well here in the People's Republic of Maяуlaиd, we are restricted in handgun and rifle hunting when it comes to large game. The places you can use either are limited. Further, a minimum 6" barrel, and a cartridge that delivers 700 ft.lbs. at the muzzle is required for handguns. So,... the Redhawk as above would work, no doubt.

BUT..., an interesting option in my state might be an AR "pistol" in 7.62x39mm for whitetail, using a 123 grain Privy Partisan brand soft point bullet. Configured as a handgun with a 10.5" barrel, this round still is at 2200+ fps muzzle velocity. It meets the criteria for rifle hunting ft.lbs. too as that criteria is 1200 ft.lbs. and the ammo out of that short barrel provides more than 1300 ft.lbs.
View attachment 915916

And launched from something like this but with a 5 round magazine, in my state. I wonder if the DNR officers would know the legal difference between this and an SBR or rifle?


View attachment 915917

LD

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Definitely have to be careful with state handgun definitions when it comes to handgun hunting. Cartridge restrictions, action requirements (some restrict semi-autos), and individual COs understanding of rifle/handgun differences.

I started with the .45 Colt. Like so many handgun hunters, Ross Seyfried's 1980s articles on hot .45 Colt loads got me started.

I also have used the .44 Magnum and the .500 S&W. More recently I have gravitated to the .44 Special with fairly warm loads. These are effective on the hogs that are my preferred game, and easier to carry and shoot.

Overall I have not been doing very much hunting these days. Here in Southern California hunting has become a bit of an ordeal, as it involves a good deal of travel, and either great expense (guided hunts on private land) or great effort (death marches on public land, with little chance of success, especially with a revolver).