Big-game handgun hunting

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Action_Can_Do

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Hello everyone. I was wondering if anyone here has used a handgun to take big-game (grizzly, cape buffalo,ect) and just what they learned from it.
I read an article about someone using a 500S&W magnum to take an elephant (Wow!) awhile ago but now I can't find it. Has anyone else seen it? As you can probably tell I'm very interested in big-game handgun hunting but have never done it. Any information or stories of personal experiences would be great.
 
If you go to sixgunner.com, Linebaugh has taken big game with a .45 LC among other calibers IIRC. Been year's since I read the articles.
 
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This is a Black Wildebeest I took with a Thompson/Center Contender in 357 Herrett shooting Hornady 158 grain XTP hollowpoints. It's not as big as Elephant but is still considered "big game."

Mark Hampton has written books about big game handgun hunting. There are certainly big enough handguns out there to take anything that walks.
 
There are only a very few countries in Africa that allow handgun hunting. South Africa is one as is Mozambique. South Africa has become increasingly difficult to hunt with handguns as the new firearm regulations are becomng more and more prohibitive.

As far as dangerous game goes a handgun, any handgun is a very minimal tool for hunting. They'll get it done but it is an edgy affair at best on thick skinned heavy boned animals.
 
265 lb. wild boar. . . 1 shot. . . distance 7 feet.
Dan Wesson .44 magnum (44VH-4) using Hornady 240 gr JHP handload.

Crossville, TN.
 
Grumulkin,

What was the range on your White Tailed Gnu?
 
The White Tailed Gnu, also called a Black Wildebeest was taken at a range of around 35 to 40 yards. The Mountain Reedbuck was 80 to 100 yards away.
 
The Black Wildebeest was taken from a sitting position with no shooting sticks. The Mountain Reedbuck was taken off shooting sticks.

When shooting an accurate handgun at a large animal, off hand works for me (though I'd rather have a rest if conditions permit) for ranges up to 50 yards. An animal at 100 yards would be in real danger if I was shooting off hand but I don't like to shoot that far without some kind of rest. For anything over about 100 yards away, I want an excellent rest (something better than shooting sticks) or the prone position. Bipods, rocks, trees, the side of a building, etc. are all rests you can use depending on the situation.

Some handguns are much more capable of accurate shooting than others. My 357 Herrett is capable of 2 inches or so off the bench at 100 yards. Many handguns aren't capable of less than about 2 feet at that range. In fact, some handguns don't have much more potential for accuracy than a good bow. You need to know the limitations of your gun and yourself.
 
handgun hunting book

i picked up a book a while ago on handgun hunting, i think its still out.

"Handgun Hunting", How to Travel the World in Pursuit of Wild Game. By, Mark Hampton. Krause Publications, 2002. ISBN: 0-87349-364-8

it covers everything from small game with .22's and 17 HMR's all the way up to Large, Dangerous game in noth america and Africa. he talks about NA deer, Asian animals, african big and small game, and even handgun hunting in Austrialia. It make for a great readand really got me enthused in handgun hunting. now if i hunt squirrels in the mountaians, i mostly only carry my Ruger 22/45 .22 Lr pictured below.

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best of luck, -Eric
 
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