Deer pistol

[MCgunner]

Maybe by definition, but I prefer a handgun that can be carried in a holster, even if just a bandoleer type. To me, that's a hand rifle. I sorta draw the line after Contenders and it took me a while to warm up to Contenders. JMHO, though. We all have our "thing", I guess. Just that if I'm going to carry something that danged big, I'll carry my rifle.

See that XP-100 above. I have one as well in 7mmBR - If I do my part (getting harder as I get older), that 7BR will kill a pronghorn to 250 + and a mulie to at least 200. While not as versatile as the Encore or Contender, it can be rebarreled if so inclined to 7-08 or larger.

(I think that gun, legally made into a rifle with 16" barrel would make an ideal "predator gun")

I believe that was called the "mohawk" by Remington. Actually, my M7 in .308 is on that action, I believe. It's quite short, anyway. It's got a 20" barrel, though.

 

[buck460XVR]

IMO, the single shot and bolt action pistols chambered in rifle cartridges kinda defeat the purpose of handgun hunting, as they are essentially stockless rifles with slightly bobbed barrels. But to each his own. For me, the sport is in using a conventional handgun in a handgun chambering, albeit a potent one.

I agree.

By definition a handgun or pistol is a gun that does not have a stock which in use does not mount to a shoulder. IE, a pistol grip without a buttstock.

so, by definition a rifle with a folding buttstock is a handgun once the buttstock is folded? Does shooting a rifle from the hip and not mounting it to ones shoulder make it a handgun also? Then pistol grip shotguns are really handguns? If this were true why is it most states that have a legitimate handgun season require the use of handgun calibers....and why do many states that don't allow the use of rifles for hunting allow the use of rifles chambered in handgun calibers? I suspect it has more to do with the power, trajectory and limitations of the ammo used than whether or not it mounts to your shoulder. The ammo is what determines for me, what is a rifle and what is a handgun.

I have no problem with Contenders, they are nice guns and very accurate. Chambered in straight walled handgun calibers, I consider them Contender handguns.....in bottle-neck rifle calibers, I consider them Contender rifles. Others disagree I'm sure, but this is how I feel. Can't see how cuttin' the stock off my M1917 '06 at the pistol grip and puttin' a bipod on it changes it from a rifle to a handgun. Still the same gun, shooting the same cartridge using the same sights. Not being able to shoulder the gun is offset by using a bipod resting on the ground or a table. Many say the same could be said about the X-Frame .460 I use for deer and shooting off a shooting stick. As powerful as it is, it still is limited by it's ammo and will never match the power and range of any popular rifle round used for deer. Put a buttstock on it and it's still a handgun round and still won't be effective out past 200 yards.

Again, I'm not putting down folks that don't feel the way I do....they are welcome to hunt anyway they want and to use whatever weapon they wish. But IMHO, like painting an apple yellow don't make it a banana, just cuttin' the stock off a rifle don't make it a "handgun".

My question to the OP is, why do you want to hunt with a handgun? Is there a special handgun season in your state? Or do you seek the challenge of hunting something with the limitations of a legitimate handgun? The latter is why I hunt with a handgun. I know there will be no 300 yards shots thru a 12 power scope. I know there is not enough power and velocity to compensate for a poorly placed shot. But, to me, success does not always mean coming home with venison and altho they were miles from the record books, the deer I shot with my 6'' .357 were some of the biggest trophies of my hunting career.

 

[Arkansas Paul]

With game animals intended to be eaten, and especially small game, there certainly is such a thing as overkill. Someone who shoots Bambi with a 7mm RUM at 42 yards will quickly find out why seasoned hunters are using cartridges better suited to the game size and range. Nothing like losing the whole brisket to bloodshot and bone fragments.

You know as well as I that bullet selection has more to do with meat destruction than caliber choice. The worse mess I've ever seen inside a deer was made by a .223, and while I've not seen as many as some here, I've seen more than a few. The destruction of meat can usually be minimized with a good controlled expansion bullet that expands a little slower and retains much of it's original weight.
But you're right, it was a little off topic and I'll refrain from discussing it further here.

 

[The Lone Haranguer]

I am sure you could get such a cartridge in a single-shot, long-barreled pistol like the Thompson/Center Encore or similar. But these stretch the definition of "handgun," IMO. The only thing separating them from a rifle is the lack of a buttstock. You will also not gain the full potential of the cartridge - as it would be if fired from a rifle - in a short barrel.

 

[jbkebert]

Wether you like them or love them. I don't know to many people that can pick up a Encore or Contender or XP-100 or whatever and make 200 yard shots. These gun take alot of practice to master or a very steady rest. Just because they are capable doesn't mean you can right off. I tend to hunt deer in this part of Kansas with a .357 blackhawk or a .44 mag with open sights. Most shots are taken within 50 yards. When you go to western Kansas its a whole other ball game. I have tried hunting mule deer but could never get closer than 150 yards. So the Encore provides the added skill and challenge of handgun hunting while maintaining the power and accuracy needed for longer shots.

 

[Arkansas Paul]

These gun take alot of practice to master or a very steady rest.

I would wager that they take both, especially at that distance.

 

[MCgunner]

I never shoot off hand at game with a handgun unless it's very close range, no matter my revolvers or my Contender. I very much like contenders and I hunt with a rifle caliber. ACCURACY and down range power. The things, though, just blow a revolver away for accuracy, more accurate than a lot of hunting rifles. I've killed game with my Blackhawk, but I just kinda prefer my Contender for deer and hogs. And, at least you CAN shoot a contender off hand. Those strikers and XP100s and such are strickly for shooting off a rest. I also carry that contender in an uncle Mike's rig. It's no more bulky than a revolver, much less bulky than X frames. Hell, I've even carried it in under my hunting coat when I bought coffee at the convenience store in a town on the way home. Imagine a guy whipping a scoped contender with 12" barrel out on ya. I hunt small game with the very same gun, barrel swap to .22LR. I also have a .45/.410 barrel that's fun and a 7mm TCU I shot IHMSA with for a while. If I thought I needed it, I could get a .45/70, have thought about it. The .30-30 kills anything I handgun hunt for, though. I think the contender/encore is the most versatile handgun hunting system available. You can hunt it all, from squirrel to big bear, with the right barrel choice. This is what I REALLY like about the contender/encore system.

The only reason there aren't bottle neck rounds available for revolvers is they don't work well due to set back. I doubt even the .357 Sig would work in a revolver. It's a bottle neck round, but no less a pistol round. And, let's face it, .460 and .500 Smith strain the definition of a handgun round, don't ya think, straight case or no? If you have a hang up about rifle cartridges in handguns, that's your problem.

 

[Arkansas Paul]

Hope this isn't too off topic. I appologize if it is.
I've always liked the T/C pistols and am intrigued by the 7-30 Waters. Anybody have experience with it? What do you think? I would think it would be the cat's meow for whitetails.

 

[cwbjaxfl]

my gun shop has a used mint .243 with scope x100 for $550. i was oh so tempted to cancel my layaway on my p239 and get it.

 

[MCgunner]

I don't own a 7x30 Waters barrel, but that never stopped me from having an opinion. I really don't think it has any more potential as a hunting round than does .30-30. It can shoot a lighter bullet for a little more velocity and still have good SD and BCs are better than 30 caliber. But, I don't get real hot about BCs in pistol loads. I'd probably shoot a 140 in it. It's as good as .30-30, might shoot a little farther, but you'll need to handload it, of course. My .30-30 sill shoot 200 yards just fine, given a steady rest. I just don't see that 7x30 Waters has that much on the .30-30.

Another load for which I do have a barrel that I've considered scoping and using on deer now that I'm not shooting any IHMSA anymore is 7mm TCU. It gets up there in the same velocity as .30-30 even with a 150 grain match king bullet. Pretty amazing. But, it works at higher pressures, having a small case head, based on the .223 brass which is ubiquitous as .30-30 brass. It must be fire formed after necking up. It is very accurate and efficient and standard deviations tend to be very low. It is also quite a bit less recoil than .30-30, in an uncompensated barrel. I'm getting over 2000 fps shy of 2100 fps with the 150 grain bullet and this from a 10" barrel. Pretty impressive. My .30-30 shoots about 2100 fps with a 150 Nosler BT and it's got a 12" hunter barrel, though the last inch or so is compensator.

 

[22-rimfire]

I tend to favor states including handguns (straight wall cartridges of 357 or larger) as part of the black powder season for deer. The definition of what a handgun caliber has somewhat blurred since BFR and TC Contenders came out years ago. I consider a Contender or similar handgun chambered for any necked cartridge just a short stocked rifle. If I had a Contender, I would choose the 30-30 win for deer hunting. I will eventually get one if I continue hunting.

Using a handgun for hunting is a challenge. It is a challenge the shooter has to work to meet within some reasonable definition of ability to shoot with some consistancy and accuracy no matter what caliber you choose.

I have chosen revolvers as my platform so far. I think the potential handgun hunter needs to consider their practical capabilities along with a match between a handgun and caliber whether it be 357 mag or 500 S&W. Shooting the big bores is a hoot. It hurts sometimes.

Jump into the sport and enjoy the challenge. 243 barrel in a Contender... sure. I would prefer something a little larger. I feel the same about a rifle choice for deer hunting even though a 243 from a rifle is much more powerful than shot from a short barrel platform.

 

[Scrapperz]

S&w 460 xvr

This works good for me.

 

[MachIVshooter]

And, let's face it, .460 and .500 Smith strain the definition of a handgun round, don't ya think, straight case or no?

Well, no, since they were designed and intended for handguns. But it's not just the cartridge that I'm considering. The XP and thompsons are rifle actions with near-rifle length barrels (12"-16") in most cases, and often equipped with bi-pods.

If you have a hang up about rifle cartridges in handguns, that's your problem.

I don't think anyone is berating them, just syaing that they really blur the lines between handgun and rifle, and to some of us, don't really seem like handgun hunting. To me, killing a deer at 150 yards with a 7mm-08 contender fired from a bi-pod isn't really much of an accomplishment. I mean, when I had a scope on my PLR-16, I could hold sub-2" 100 yard groups off a rest. The PLR is definitely not as inherently accurate as a Contender or XP-100.

But steadying a Super Blackhawk .44 mag against a tree and dropping Bambi at 85 yards shows some skill with a pistol. Especially if it's open-sighted.

 

[S&Wfan]

I once went the T/C route, but I've come full circle as a handgun hunter. I really don't see the need of a caliber larger than .44 Magnum in a handgun to humanely dispatch deer with consistent authority.

Then again . . . what does "need" have when we want a new gun!!!

Yep, I'll stick with my Model 29 . . . and 300 grain hunting ammo. Plenty of bullet to do the job right.

 

[358Hammer]

I have taken quite a number of animals with my Smith's. For "typical " close up brush country hunting my 44's and 45's are just what it takes to satisfy my handgunner needs.



I have been in the above situation more times than I wish to remember. Combine the lowland brush country traveling where these big guys spend most of their time, with the wide open spaces of the alpine country in Alaska and at the ranges one typically takes sheep,deer,goats and these old eyes just do not make me comfortable with the end results. I am sure if you ask the gentleman in the picture if the 454 was enough gun or if he would have rather had his 338 anything, I would bet he would have chosen the 338. Most people don't carry rifles walking down the street in or near town though.

Two August's ago two fathers with two twelve year old sons were walking down a logging road quite a distance from salmon filled streams when one son (following some distance behind) screech, dad. Both fathers hearing the terror spun with 300 Mags facing forward at the same time. Both simultaneously some a very large brownie and fired from the hip's from point blank knocking what later was identified a full grown sow brown bear sideways where she skidded to a stop twenty feet past them, turned to take up the fight again when both put 180 grain partitions in her head.

Needs very depending on the area you live.

Neal

 

[trickyasafox]

I have used a TC Encore in 7mm-08 w/ a 15in barrel- but frankly it was just not well suited to where I hunt. That long barrel and the cartridge, though effective- really aren't necessary for shots 50 yards and under (nearly all of what I see)

so I switched to a 10 inch 44 mag barrel, and couldn't be happier.

 

[flipajig]

IMO it all comes down to different strokes for different folks. one feller says that it dosent take much skill to shoot a tender or a encor at any distance 100 yds or better. I have shot a tender at 100 and even out to 200 -250 yds and it takes more than what you think. as for a 7-30 waters they are a great rd. I have one its 15'' made by Bullberry and when i do my part it will shoo sub moa at 100 every time. A 120 grn or 140 grn bullet works great my gun likes the 140's better and im getting 2200 fps with a 140 grn Nosler BT. it works great on deer and pigs. And its pure pleasure to shoot the recoil is less than my 30-30 barrel and i get the same results.