Hunting: Rifle or Handgun?

Use whatever you want. either will kill. Just depends on what you're more comfortable with.

(less than 50 yards)ocassionally across a field (100 yards).

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If you can consistantly keep all the shots on a standard paper plate with a handgun at 100 yards, go for it.

(Most people can't.)

Otherwise, best get the Marlin 30-30.

rcmodel

either will work i would use the .35 rem but thats just because i love that round

Being partial to handguns I would say if you can shoot one as accurately as RCModel suggests - go for it. If you haven't bought the handgun yet I would advise you to get one with a 6" or 7" barrel instead of the longer one.
That long barrel won't help significantly in the power or accuracy depts. but will be a pain in the arse to carry.

If you decide on the rifle, either the 30/30 or the .35 Remington will be fine. My choice would definitely be the 30/30.

When I hunt I'll take both. A S&W 629 classic 5" and either a Marlin 1894 in .44mag or Remington 700CDL in .30.06.

Inside 100 yards, on deer the 30-30 Marlin with open sights is just a tough combo to beat. I have shot a few good handguns over the years, but I have yet to see ANYONE shoot a handgun better than a rifle out to 100 yards. Not saying that no one can, but (and I am not trying to be smart) if you have to ask which to use, then you really probably need to go with the rifle

Even if you're a good handgun shot, if you aren't hunting from a stand with a good rest, if you're going to have to shoot off hand, you're probably better off with a rifle. If I'm going to be still hunting or spot and stalk, I'll use a rifle. If I'm stand hunting or blind hunting with a good rest or set up with shooting sticks static, the handgun is viable.

Maybe the S&W 629 is more accurate than my Redhawk. What I know is that my 44 Mag. Redhawk does not have what it takes to give acceptable 100 yard hunting accuracy. At 50 yards it would work on deer but just barely.

My choice for hunting handguns so far has been Encores and Contenders. With the right cartridge and load, they're good to at least 200 yards.

How can you people tell him what gun to use? He does not even say what he is hunting.

How can you people tell him what gun to use? He does not even say what he is hunting.

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That's elementary my dear Watson. He's hunting deer. How do I know:

1. If he didn't have some knowledge of firearms, he wouldn't know there was such a thing as a S&W 629 and, rather than choose the relatively obscure 35 Remington cartridge, would have been inquiring about a 30/30 or 30/06.

2. He must be hunting big game or he would have specified some smaller cartridge.

3. Deer would be the most common big game hunted in the U.S.A. The fact that he didn't mention the type of big game hunted means that type of hunting seemed so common to him that it was too unimportant to mention.

Besides, even if his intended target were bear or pig, the cartridges he mentions would work fine for them as well. It's probably hard for someone from Montana to understand (JOKING) but unlike Montana he probably won't be hunting pronghorn, moose or elk in South Carolina.

I look at a handgun hunting the same as I do as archery hunting. Keep the shots within 30 yards. Any thing past that and I am going to a long gun.

I would rather shoot an animal in the heart/lungs as accurate as possible for a humane kill.

Game snobs

I guess we montana guys are game snobs growing up in PA, it was deer and black bear, no variety really. Forget how lucky we are here in Mt to have it all so to speak. Of course having it all keeps a guy broke applying for all the tags every year as well!

But back to the question at hand, anything a person can shoot accurately is going to do the trick on deer in reality.

Buy the Marlin.

Maybe the S&W 629 is more accurate than my Redhawk. What I know is that my 44 Mag. Redhawk does not have what it takes to give acceptable 100 yard hunting accuracy. At 50 yards it would work on deer but just barely.

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Then you're not using the right bullet. Try a Hornady XTP, very accurate in all the calibers I've fired 'em in and an excellent hunting bullet. My Ruger .357 blackhawk gives me 4" (center of paper plate) accuracy with the standard iron sights at 100 yards off sand bags. The Redhawk should work with a good load at that range. I do most hunt with my scoped Contender, but the revolvers can do the job accuracy wise, especially with a scope.

I guess we montana guys are game snobs growing up in PA, it was deer and black bear, no variety really. Forget how lucky we are here in Mt to have it all so to speak. Of course having it all keeps a guy broke applying for all the tags every year as well!

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Hmmmm, I'm betting Montana ain't got squat on Texas for waterfowl, wild hog, or various exotics. There any Nilgai in Montana?

Yeah, I know, you don't need no stinkin' lease up there. <sigh> Love to hunt up there some day. Variety is the spice of life, they say. I'd love to chase pronghorns in Wyoming, elk in New Mexico, lots of things I'd like to do that may or may not get done before I'm gone or too old to mess with it.

hmmmmm

Ya might be suprised at the waterfowling here

Can't say we got any of them exotics running wild, but a quick list of tags to apply for and or buy.....

Elk, general
Elk, additional cow in some units
Deer, general, Whitetail or Mule deer buck
up to 6 more antlerless deer tags, white tail and mule deer
Mountain goat
Big horn sheep
Moose
Antelope
Mountain lion
Black bear
Bison

I hope we see a wolf and griz lottery soon as well.

then the bird hunting, pheasant, sharp tails, ruffs, blue grouse, franklins, hungarian partridge......

Haven't done any waterfowling since my old lab moved on to another marsh, but it is pretty good here, been thinking of another lab pup anyhow

Can't wait for the 26th of october, 2 elk tags and 3 deer tags burning a hole in my pocket right now, time to fill the freezers again!

Wife has an elk tag and 2 deer tags as well, and she fully plans to fill them this year i am told!

This year, maybe next...

my choice:387433[/ATTACH]"]

45acp ammo shown for comparison-THIS GUN is 270Win.

Good hunting, whatever you decide!

dang

Now that just might be the next 270 for me, sweet gun!

There any Nilgai in Montana?

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No but I would take the mountains and landscape over any kind of exotic, non-native species anyday of the week. I think you would be really surprised at the waterfowl up here in these parts for sure.

Noidster

jfDavis58:

You got that right on! For what it's worth, the .270 Win has about the most "bark" from the muzzle that I've ever heard. They are also extremely accurate.

Doc2005

No but I would take the mountains and landscape over any kind of exotic, non-native species anyday of the week. I think you would be really surprised at the waterfowl up here in these parts for sure.

Noidster

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Ah, I love the salt marshes and pot holes for ducks and the open prairies full of snows. Love this time of year when the first flights of snows come down, beautiful sight and sound, sky full of geese. But, had I been born and raised elsewhere, I'm be into something else, I reckon. Flatlanders all love the mountains, though, I know I do. I'm gettin' sorta old to be climbing around at high altitude, but then, gettin' stuck in the muck is pretty strenuous, too. ROFL

But, I guess I couldn't choose a .35 Remington or a .44 mag for waterfowl.

It really just depends on whether you want the extra challenge of the handgun or not. For me, hunting is tough - not that many deer and I ain't that good of a hunter. Although I love my bowhunting, I'm usually skunked, so when "gun" season rolls around, I want every conceivable legal advantage in my favor and that means rifle. I'm sure if I had 2 or 3 in the freezer between black powder and archery, I'd probably try a handgun instead. But what if "the big one" walks out at 100 yards? You'll be kicking yourself to no end - if he stops, then that's a gimme with a rifle, but not a gimme with a revolver, even the 8" one.

Man oh man am I jealous of you Montanans!!

"Sauce" (et al) is making a great point.

Hunting deer with a handgun is by no means a "Verson 1.0" sport.

To anyone interested in it (especially with non-Contender guns) I would heartily encourage them to first get involved in one or more of the "action" shooting sports (not CAS so much) like IPSC, plates, pins, Hogan's Alley etc.

Am not saying handgunning deer is a "quick-draw" sport - my recommendation is because involvement in such sports will cause the shooter to fire thousands of shots from (usually) unsupported positions or positions of "impromptu support", and that is what is needed to build the skill and habits and confidence it takes to have the ethical right to take handgun shots at living game.