I get it, and agree your Ruger would not fit the task well, but isn't 50+ yards an abnormally long distance for small game with a revolver ? I grew up the son of a share cropper who shot a lot of small game for the table. I used a single shot open sight .22 RF Remington Target Master but do not recall shooting much of anything beyond 30 yards with an accurate rifle (mostly head shots). I do not mean to criticize your hunting habits, it just seems a little far for taking small game in my opinion.
Yes, I'd say 50 yards is the longest I'd want to shoot game for the table. My grandad sharecropped before War 2 and kept a .32rimfire Stevens "Crack-shot" above the back door for grackles, rabbits, raccoons and other critters that oughtn't be in the crops or at the garbage bins. I think that's probably why my dad got soured on hunting and never bothered teaching me or going hunting with my uncles when we all went out for deer, pig, fishing and such. He had enough as a kid. Protecting crops and putting meat on the table are the business of a rifle, not a handgun anyway. The use of a handgun is for when you're not close to a rifle and bringing one along isn't practical. Just my opinion but, that's what discussion are - matters of opinion.
The OP was asking about ranges of 100-150 feet and introduced the question about ethically hunting deer out to 30 or so yards. Hunting and protecting crops, cattle, chickens, domestic pigs, and other farm animals are also two different things. Most of the discussion has been about bunnies, critters, varmints and vermin at 100-150 feet - which is more like it, in my opinion, and that's the range the most vermin and varmint handgun shots are taken. Then again, 100 to 150 feet
IS 30 to 50 yards.
ft/3=yds. Math: It's a wonderful thing.
For me and my awful eyesight, arthritic hands and older guns handloaded for punch, not paper, 50 yards isn't all that long a shot on anything about piggy size or smaller, if I'm just trying to keep a coyote or a Congress of buzzard from filching chickens, not hunting. Down to large hare size I'll want to be closer and frankly I'm not all that fond of wild rabbit meat so I'll probably pass - unless they're into the kitchen garden, then out comes a bang-stick.
For a 6" .32-20 Official Police or Third Issue Hand Ejector, even with fixed sights, 30-50 yards just keeping predators and garden grubbers at bey isn't that long a range. The birds head grip and wide sight picture disqualify the Ruger, in my experience. With Single-Six style sights and hand-filling Army-style grip, it'd be fine. I dont' have one of them in .32H&R Magnum, tho. Kind of wanted one for a while but, I've got four .32-20 revolver and they're plenty for general critter range. And that is why I am recommending it to the OP versus a .327Federal. In a good, solid gun with a good grip and decent sights, handloaded to take advantage of the cartridges better qualities, yes the .32H&R Magnum is every bit the equal of the .32-20. Just my opinion. I await your educated and reasoned rebuttal. There's bound to be one.
