Handgun For Dangerous Game

[.38 Special]

This comment makes me think you do kind of understand what I was getting at.

For damn sure.

You folks put up with all sorts of nonsense that I never could, and despite our little to-do about cartridge definitions, I appreciate both your opinions and your efforts as a moderator.

Now if you'd just ban all the people who are wrong about everything, you'd really have yourselves a website!

 

[The Glockodile]

A bit of a dumpster fire

Yeeeaaah!!!

 

[Jackiesman]

LOTS of good comments. Here’s mine. I actually do hunt with a handgun, a Ruger Blackhawk 44 magnum with 300 grain Sierra at about 1200 FPS. That gun has taken moose and elk and deer here in Idaho. But that doesn’t make it the “do all”, it just means that it works for me. Doesn’t make me an expert, just makes me an actual user. If what you have works for the job you’re doing, go for it.

 

[Gary W. Strange]

I don't care what pistol some northern European country issues their ski patrols. They also issue them rifles. Noting is going to make me knock my brains out and forget what I've learned from nearly 40yrs of actually killing stuff with handguns.

Razor Dobbs is a stunt hunter. He does stupid things with the 10mm in an effort to make a name for himself. I know lots of guys who've taken Cape buff with handguns and NONE used a 10mm. Why? Because it's stupid. Check back with us when that's YOU in the picture.

View attachment 1065481

Craig C, I made a comment, in a similar thread, about, a handgun being so big, it defeated the purpose of a handgun. You ask if I had ever hunted, truly big game, with a handgun, cape buffalo, etc. Well the answer is no, I have not. You pointed out, there was a use for such big handguns. I believe a lot of people, myself included, get hung up on their favorite caliber and see it as a do all, any location, any game caliber. For sure, that is not the case. People need to understand, the great .44 Special or that new 10mm 1911, will not take the place of or do the job, a 500 S&W would do on really large game animals. I guess it's like getting stuck in a rut, it works here, so it will work anywhere. Unless people are willing to think outside the box, their location and the size game, they hunt, as compared to what others hunt, you are peeing in the wind, trying to explain, your experience, with big bore handguns on large game. You pointing this out to me opened my eyes, to the fact, such large heavy handguns do have their place.

 

[3Crows]

@CraigC what is the bone handled stainless revolver you posted?

I do not understand this thread. If hiking or just out and about, I guess it makes sense to carry a side arm but if hunting dangerous game and have a closer than desired encounter I am going to throw my dangerous game rifle down and grab for a pistol or a revolver?

3C

 

[CraigC]

It's Dall sheep horn. That was originally a Super Blackhawk that I converted to a Bisley. Then sent to David Clements for a little spiffing up. Then later on sent to Jack Huntington for a complete rebuild. It's still a .44Mag but now has an oversized six shot cylinder that allows me to push it over 50,000psi (think 355's at 1350fps and 330's at 1450fps). It is also fitted with an octagon barrel out of a PacNor blank, custom Ruger #1 style front sight base, Bowen target rear and is completely hand finished. I did an article about it.

http://www.sixgunner.org/ultimate44-01.html

It's sort of a twin to my .500JRH.

 

[TomJ]

Carry what you can shoot with acceptable accuracy and practice with it!

This. A few years ago I purchased a Ruger 454 Casull to use as a woods gun for when we hike on vacation in areas such as Glacier National Park. I couldn't hit anything with it, making it pretty much worthless to me. I've learned that 10mm is about my limit in regards to what I can shoot accurately. I understand that a hit with the 454 Casull gives you a better chance at stopping dangerous game than a 10mm round, but again that's if you can shoot the 454 quickly and accurately.

 

[armedwalleye]

I have never used a handgun on dangerous game, nor even hunted or trampled in areas where there was a probability of getting eaten.
I have, however, studied statistics and probabilities sufficiently enough to make some money playing blackjack and understanding that I like the situation better when probabilities of any sort tip the scale in my favor.
Lots and lots of aces and faces coming out of a 4 deck shoe and carrying a 9 mm in bear country both have a negative effect on probabilities, some on more permanent bases than others, but, in the end, it’s a no win situation to me.

 

[Targa]

It's Dall sheep horn. That was originally a Super Blackhawk that I converted to a Bisley. Then sent to David Clements for a little spiffing up. Then later on sent to Jack Huntington for a complete rebuild. It's still a .44Mag but now has an oversized six shot cylinder that allows me to push it over 50,000psi (think 355's at 1350fps and 330's at 1450fps). It is also fitted with an octagon barrel out of a PacNor blank, custom Ruger #1 style front sight base, Bowen target rear and is completely hand finished. I did an article about it.

http://www.sixgunner.org/ultimate44-01.html

It's sort of a twin to my .500JRH.
View attachment 1067247

Good Lord man…those are beautiful!! Are the engravings something you designed or did you just let the engraver have at it?

 

[Jackiesman]

This. A few years ago I purchased a Ruger 454 Casull to use as a woods gun for when we hike on vacation in areas such as Glacier National Park. I couldn't hit anything with it, making it pretty much worthless to me. I've learned that 10mm is about my limit in regards to what I can shoot accurately. I understand that a hit with the 454 Casull gives you a better chance at stopping dangerous game than a 10mm round, but again that's if you can shoot the 454 quickly and accurately.

I really like your follow on quote. Just knowing what’s important is half the game.

 

[CraigC]

Good Lord man…those are beautiful!! Are the engravings something you designed or did you just let the engraver have at it?

I studied the work of the 19th century Colt factory engravers and determined I most liked the work of Cuno Helfricht. So I asked the engraver to do it in his style. The sunburst on the recoil shield is one of his hallmarks. I don't like full coverage but prefer 75% with the strategic use of negative space. I was very specific about the use of that negative space. There were areas I wanted done and areas I wanted to be clean. He followed through beautifully. This Cimarron Open Top .44Colt was the precursor for all of that.

 

[Targa]

They are stunning and very well thought out!

 

[CraigC]

They are stunning and very well thought out!

Thank you!

 

[Choctaw]

It's Dall sheep horn. That was originally a Super Blackhawk that I converted to a Bisley. Then sent to David Clements for a little spiffing up. Then later on sent to Jack Huntington for a complete rebuild. It's still a .44Mag but now has an oversized six shot cylinder that allows me to push it over 50,000psi (think 355's at 1350fps and 330's at 1450fps). It is also fitted with an octagon barrel out of a PacNor blank, custom Ruger #1 style front sight base, Bowen target rear and is completely hand finished. I did an article about it.

http://www.sixgunner.org/ultimate44-01.html

It's sort of a twin to my .500JRH.
View attachment 1067247

I need either you or Driftwood to adopt me. Y'all have the finest revolver collections I have seen.

 

[giggitygiggity]

I went with a SW 460V. Its 5” barrel allows it to be carried with relative ease. Its .460 chambering also afford the ability to use .454 and .45LC loads, which provides flexibility in cases when ammo availability is limited or when .460 loads are not preferred.