So, what's too heavy?

[Hookeye]

75 yards for a hunting handgun, aint that far IMHO.
A pistol scope might make things harder.

I found a red dot on a Contender made things way easier.

Do think the "eagles" in rimfire and field pistol IHMSA to be a bit of a pain.
(75 yard turkey targets) LOL

 

[CraigC]

75 yards for a hunting handgun, aint that far IMHO.

It is in the dark hardwoods where I hunt, or when critters never stop moving.

Fast shooting (or lack thereof) with a 2x scope is a matter of practice and familiarity. Like anything else.

 

[doubleh]

What's too heavy. It depends on your age, physical size, and physical condition. At this point in time I find what used to weight 5 pounds feels like 10 or more.

 

[silicosys4]

I had brief moments where I fancied taking my DE hunting.
My personal decision was that if you can't shoot it well offhand and have to use a rest anyways, you might as well be using a rifle.

My personal take is that a 5lb handgun with a scope is pushing the boundaries of what i consider handgun hunting too far for my interests.
Same reason I don't have a .460 or .500. I'm even giving my scoped SRH the side-eye these days, thinking that I can really do what I need to do with my 629 and a red dot.
They don't grow anything around here that isn't deathly allergic to a moderate .44 mag load out of a 4" barrel.

 

[drk1]

If it pulls my pants off in less that six steps, it's too heavy. Don't want to frighten the neighbors or scare the horses!

 

[CraigC]

I made an executive decision and my .41 Desert Eagle is going down the road tomorrow by way of Gunbroker. For me, it's not so much the weight as the size of the damned grip. Just too big to be comfortable. Thinking I'll replace it with an Anaconda.

What's too heavy. It depends on your age, physical size, and physical condition. At this point in time I find what used to weight 5 pounds feels like 10 or more.

Sometimes it's not just the weight. I can never seem to get away from the aggravation and pain of tendinitis in both my elbows.

 

[doubleh]

I made an executive decision and my .41 Desert Eagle is going down the road tomorrow by way of Gunbroker. For me, it's not so much the weight as the size of the damned grip. Just too big to be comfortable. Thinking I'll replace it with an Anaconda.




Sometimes it's not just the weight. I can never seem to get away from the aggravation and pain of tendinitis in both my elbows.

Mine is arthritis. I have something like 50% of normal movement in my right elbow and a little more in the left. You DO NOT want to do anything that causes more flex. After getting your breath back you will use it up saying bad words for awhile.

 

[Rodfac]

Mine is arthritis. I have something like 50% of normal movement in my right elbow and a little more in the left. You DO NOT want to do anything that causes more flex. After getting your breath back you will use it up saying bad words for awhile.

I've got the big "A" as well, in my upper thumb joints....line drives into both thumbs playing baseball in the early 60's started it, board kick back from a table saw progressed it, and heavy loads that began with a "4" pretty much finished the job. But not all is lost as I've rediscovered the wonderful world of tgt loads and .22 handguns. Shooting these in our side meadow range while Mrs' Rod takes here afternoon siesta is a non event...she can't hear 'em!!

I don't know of any suitable way to preclude damage to thumb joints....confirmed by Jerry Miculek in one of his videos, who commented his nerves in his shooting thumbs have been destroyed long ago and he just puts up with the pain. Tough guy there...I have days when I can't write my name legibly. Best regards, Rod

 

[buck460XVR]

75 yards for a hunting handgun, aint that far IMHO.

......not for the handgun, but for the many handgun hunters, it can be. Amazes me the amount of folks that claim to be handgun hunters, yet they still carry a long gun when they hunt as their primary weapon. Along with this, is the amount of folks that never practice regularly at 70 yards with their handguns. The closest target I have at my personal range is 40 yards, and yet most folks when shooting their handguns want to move closer because, "it's too far". While there are folks out there proficient at shooting one handed at 100 yards with a heavy caliber handgun, IMHO, there ain't many. Where I hunt, 70 yards is a long shot. Yet even @ 40, I prefer to use a rest of some kind. As I said before, I feel we owe it to our prey to use every advantage we can for a quick and clean humane kill. I've seen far too many deer with their jaw blown off because a chest pounder wanted to brag about shooting all his does in the head....as if a proper shot to the boiler room on a 100# doe is going to waste a lot of meat. Use a rest and a scope or a longer barrel is not going to be an weight issue. Same goes for having the proper holster for the gun.

 

[Rodfac]

I feel we owe it to our prey to use every advantage we can for a quick and clean humane kill. I've seen far too many deer with their jaw blown off because a chest pounder wanted to brag

Well said. Limit the range to whatever ensures a quick clean kill, be it handgun or rifle. best regards, Rod