Suggestions for a good hunting handgun

[pendentive]

I've started saving my pennies and need some suggestions as to what to get for hunting purposes. I'm not talking about bears, now......just deer and smaller game.

I'll take all suggestions (big or small).

What I want is decent accuracy and speed.

Since I'm starting to save now and hunting season's a ways off.......price is not a problem.

Dan

 

[DigMe]

I really enjoy my Ruger Blackhawk. The one I have is .357 mag and I'd be comfortable using that for deer and I regularly use it for hogs with great success. You can get it in .44 mag.

brad cook

 

[Josey]

Cheap choices would be a Commanche IVin 44 Magnum or a old JP Sauer 44 Magnum. The S&W 629 in 44 Magnum is a reasonable priced choice. A S&W 625 in 45 Long Colt is a nice choice too. The best choice would be a Bisley Blackhawk Hunter from Ruger. The choices of caliber are still good.

 

[M16]

price is not a problem

In that case you may as well get a Freedoms Arms. Get a 7.5 inch barrel in either .41 .44 mag or .45 colt and you will be all set.

 

[Ky Larry]

My friends daughter has used my Model 29 .44 mag with a Gilmore red dot to fill her deer tag. Now that she's all set to graduate from college she 's going to be in the market for a Model 29 . BTW, she's 5'6'' and weighs 120 lbs. Shoot well and often.

 

[Ala Dan]

I got's to go along with the choice of the Smith
& Wesson 629 "Classic", but with a 5" tube.
Its ideal for comfortable, all day long holster wear.

Best Wishes,
Ala Dan, N.R.A. Life Member

 

[litework]

I prefer Freedom Arms to any revolver out there. Yes, they are expensive, but they hold their value and they have a custom feel. My Freedom Arms is a Premier Grade .454 with 7.5" barrel. I like the Colt Anaconda, too. The action is very smooth and the cylinder rotates in the "correct" direction.

 

[ducktapehero]

The Ruger Super Redhawk is awfully nice.

 

[halfacop]

Yes Freedom Arms is the best when it comes to revolvers. A bit on the pricy side but well worth it.

The TC Contender/Encore is the best when it comes to versatility, I love mine (old model contender) and you can get barrels in any caliber you desire to hunt whatever you desire.

Ruger's you can't go wrong with - well made and durable. My 44 mag. Blackhawk was a tack driver and can take anything you dish out.

Its a personal choice. I say put your hands on some and go to a range and shoot a few to help make up your mind. Have Fun!!

 

[ID_shooting]

I absolutly dig my T/C contender. You can get any caliber for it from .17 for varmints to 30-30 or even 45-70 for big game. A good used frame will run form about $175.00-$250.00 for a new one. Barrels generally run $200.00 and down. Due to the versatility and cost, my vote goes for the T/C every time.

 

[jem375]

Ruger Super Blackhawk Hunter with a Bushnell 2-6x or a Leupold 2x scope and you are all set..............

 

[dairycreek]

Handgun hunting is a really fun pursuit!

What kind of gun you use is a function of what kind of hunting you intend to do. What kind of shots will you (in general) be taking? Up to 50 yards(about my personal limit)? Over 100 yards or longer? Will you be wanting/using a scope? Give these kinds of questions some thought.

Freedom Arms makes incredibly nice stuff. But they also charge incredibly stiff prices I have found that Ruger makes an excellent handgun and is hard to beat at any price. I do not opt for a scope and my choice is a Redhawk with a 5.5" bbl. and in 44 magnum. If you are going to be shooting at longer distances (say over 50 yards out to 150 yards) I'd look at the Super Redhawk. It has built in scope mounts. You might want to look at the 480 Ruger or the 454 Casull as far as calliber is concerned. Both are very effective at longer ranges. Good shooting

 

[Smaug]

Another vote for the S&W Model 29

I just picked up a very nice one used for $455 out the door.

8 3/8" barrel. Heavy enough that it's not too punishing to shoot magnum ammo through. Easily scopeable. Long enough barrel to take advantage of the pressure buildup for higher velocity.

Aside from that, it is also a real blast to shoot at the local range. I handload light loads (slower than 44 Special) in magnum cases and I can shoot them all day long with astounding accuracy.

For deer, I think 44 Magnum is PLENTY powerful enough. 357 Magnum is even enough. 454 Casull is overkill, and punishing to your wrists and wallet. The plus side is that you can shoot light 45 Colts through it if you want, or even handloaded Colts.

The Freedom Arms revolvers are very nice, I agree. But... they are not a classic, in my opinion as the S&W 29 is. Classics tend to stay in one's collection longer. The classic designs tend not to bore us as quickly.

 

[Sean Smith]

.44 Magnum is plenty for anything in the lower 48. And of course there is 10mm if you want an autoloader... A Glock 20 with a 6" match barrel or new Dan Wesson Global Hunter 6" longslide would do the trick. Load it up with some fast 200gr XTPs @ 1,200+ or 220gr hardcast at 1,100+ and you have a very credible critter gun out to 100 yards.

 

[CZ-100]

S&W .500

I handled one of these at a recent gunshow, Very Nice.

 

[Ultima-Ratio]

Cowboy Guns For Hunting??

Chortle!
Checkout HHI/J.D. Jones (the unquestioned KING of handgun hunting BTW) who uses the TC guns.
FYI, there ain't a cowboy gun made (Freedom included) that'll come close to the accuracy of the TCs..

 

[Mannlicher]

Handgun hunting requires the best possible woods skills. When you can track, and walk up on bedded deer, you are read to hunt them with a handgun. For me, deer and hog hunting with a revolver is always a close, but not unexpected encounter.

 

[Rembrandt]

Another vote for Freedom Arms revolvers......second choice, Smith & Wesson Performance Center.....Deer?, .44 mag would be a good choice.

 

[Baba Louie]

http://www.ruger.com/Firearms/FAProdView?model=862&return=Y
Ruger's Super Blackhawk Hunter in .44 mag, stainless, Bisley grip, scope cutouts, 7.5" bbl, S/A...
sweeeeeet. cowboy deer sniping pistolero you can also get it in .45 Colt or .41 mag.

 

[LCSNM]

Welcome to the High Road , Dan. Good site and good folks.

Dale AKA LCS37

 

[WonderNine]

I'd like a Freedom Arms if they could make a 6 shot revolver in a larger caliber than .357. Seems to be a problem for them.

 

[ruger357]

Ruger Super Blackhawk.

 

[Tom Bri]

Not to completely hijack the thread, but, someone mentioned 10mm autoloaders. Since the general opinion I have heard is that .45 ACP is a bit low for clean kills on deer, how is 10mm? If .357 is OK for deer 10mm should be a bit better, right? Or is it still on the low side?

 

[stans]

10mm works as well as 357 Magnum.

 

[azrael]

Gonna go against the grain somewhat...

I use a 4" Ruger Security Six as my "hunting" weapon...Normally I use it to back up the rifle and to administer the "coupe de grace" to wounded deer...

last year I had a deer "sneak" up on me while my rifle was leaning against the stand...reached over and pulled the .357 and shot it in the head...Deer fell..

Please note..Before I get flamed for using a .357, the shot was VERY close and I can shoot that pistol very well...it was also a "smallish" doe, so a 44mag. would have been overkill...