Why are people skeptical about the idea of hunting with a handgun?
- Thread starter Heir Kommt Die Sonne
- Start date
- Status
buck460XVR
Member
- Joined
- Feb 6, 2007
- Messages
- 10,078
Yep, and even good ones are only a modest investment.
Fine Figure of a Man
Member
Why are people skeptical about the idea of hunting with a handgun?
Because they can't shoot one accurately and therefore neither can you.
Because they can't shoot one accurately and therefore neither can you.
Double Naught Spy
Sus Venator
I can see there being a long list of reasons why people would have second thoughts about handgun hunting.
Less powerful (usually) than rifles
Harder to shoot well at distance for most folks
The need to get closer to game to make shots
Just plain harder for people to shoot well at any distance beyond 10 yards
Pistols not seen as being traditional/accepted hunting weaponry
There are all sorts of reasons. Some have validity for concern, but can be dealt with by a person that knows what they are doing. Some are hogwash.
A couple of the guys that I have seen try to take up pistol hunting were in the same boat at guys who got into deer hunting last year and now have a grizzly hunt booked in Alaska. In other words, they are neophytes into hunting and/or pistols, but have decided that they need to press the limits of their skill set. As guides for neophyte hunters will often tell you, things don't always go as hoped. Some people, as noted above, do much better with handguns than others. That is because they are already accomplished hunters and/or pistoleros.
Less powerful (usually) than rifles
Harder to shoot well at distance for most folks
The need to get closer to game to make shots
Just plain harder for people to shoot well at any distance beyond 10 yards
Pistols not seen as being traditional/accepted hunting weaponry
There are all sorts of reasons. Some have validity for concern, but can be dealt with by a person that knows what they are doing. Some are hogwash.
A couple of the guys that I have seen try to take up pistol hunting were in the same boat at guys who got into deer hunting last year and now have a grizzly hunt booked in Alaska. In other words, they are neophytes into hunting and/or pistols, but have decided that they need to press the limits of their skill set. As guides for neophyte hunters will often tell you, things don't always go as hoped. Some people, as noted above, do much better with handguns than others. That is because they are already accomplished hunters and/or pistoleros.
jmorris
Member
- Joined
- Sep 30, 2005
- Messages
- 24,148
20 years or so ago I frequented a public range a few days a week and switched my focus to handguns. I was told I had to “qualify” with them at 25 and 50 yards to shoot them at 100. I asked him what that meant and he said that 10 out of 10 had to be inside 6” to go from 25 and 10 out of 10 had to be in 6” at 50 to try for 100 then 10 out of 10 there, in 6” would have you “qualified” for that pistol.
So he followed me out to the 25 yard line where I quickly put 10 rounds in under an inch with my Leupold scoped MKII, so we went to 50 and I racked off another 10, a little too fast and a couple opened it up close to 2 inches. Then we moved to the 100 yard line and I put 10 into 3.5”.
He said, “That ought to do it”. After that he let me forgo the 25 and 50 yard drills with the XP-100 I also had that day, so I shot it at 100 as well.
He asked me to leave my membership card and the targets, the owner would sign the back where is was ok for me to shoot the handguns on the rifle range.
Next time I go there the fellow hands me the card and it says “XF-100 OK on rifle range no .22 pistol.” I asked the fellow what the problem was and he said the owner thought some rifle shooters wouldn’t like a guy shooting a .22 pistol next to them that well.
That was the last time I was there...
It’s funny you have to prove what you can do with a pistol and still get turned down yet more than a few rifle shooters I had seen in the past couldn’t even hit an 18”x18” paper target with every shot (sometimes any shot) much less put the first 10 inside a 6” bullseye. To think out shooting them (like anyone should care) would damage a crummy shooters self esteem so much to ban the practice, seemed absurd to me. Especially for that day in age.
Last edited:
Went to my private club.
Guys had several benches filled at the 25.
Gong set up by the bank.
Yuppie guys, some older.
All looked like insurance salesmen.
They couldn't hit w rifles. Handguns?
They were hitting the ground half way to the bank.
Benched, maybe 4 ft groups.
They were nice, safe gun handling (shooting?)...........and couldn't hit crap.
Seemed to have fun though.
Different strokes I guess.
Guys had several benches filled at the 25.
Gong set up by the bank.
Yuppie guys, some older.
All looked like insurance salesmen.
They couldn't hit w rifles. Handguns?
They were hitting the ground half way to the bank.
Benched, maybe 4 ft groups.
They were nice, safe gun handling (shooting?)...........and couldn't hit crap.
Seemed to have fun though.
Different strokes I guess.
Aint crap. Used to be decent.
Suck at everything anymore.
And I still PO most everybody at the club w my targets.
Don't get it.
I just shoot.
Used to shoot a LOT, for years.
And paid attention while doing so.
Most think making noise w a gun (esp handgun) is shooting.
Heck, myu dingbat ol lady shot my Superblackhawk . w hot 255 gr cats loads a few times.
Years later she was all about how she could "shoot" a .44 magnum.
She didn't even scare the target at 10 yards.
LOL
I thought that just wimmin thinkin'.
But evidently quite a few club members subscribe to the same.
Lots of noise and no wear and tear on the targets. Gotta save money for more ammo somewhere
Suck at everything anymore.
And I still PO most everybody at the club w my targets.
Don't get it.
I just shoot.
Used to shoot a LOT, for years.
And paid attention while doing so.
Most think making noise w a gun (esp handgun) is shooting.
Heck, myu dingbat ol lady shot my Superblackhawk . w hot 255 gr cats loads a few times.
Years later she was all about how she could "shoot" a .44 magnum.
She didn't even scare the target at 10 yards.
LOL
I thought that just wimmin thinkin'.
But evidently quite a few club members subscribe to the same.
Lots of noise and no wear and tear on the targets. Gotta save money for more ammo somewhere
Like others have said, people base things on their abilities.
My ol lady was HS and college athlete. I wasn't.
Therefore anything I can do, she can obviously do better.
She thought (wrongly) that shooting was for schmucks.
We aren't allowed to discuss how she worked her butt off to barely beat me in tennis and I didn't play in HS or college.
They must have just handed out tennis scholarships to women back in the horse and buggy days LOL.
My ol lady was HS and college athlete. I wasn't.
Therefore anything I can do, she can obviously do better.
She thought (wrongly) that shooting was for schmucks.
We aren't allowed to discuss how she worked her butt off to barely beat me in tennis and I didn't play in HS or college.
They must have just handed out tennis scholarships to women back in the horse and buggy days LOL.
Kid I know got some special edition SIG.
Went to Thunder Ranch too.
Met by happenstance at local indoor range.
I had my SBH w screamer 180s (max charge WW296).
He shoots 21 ft and it's bad, but he's proud.
I'm at far side (as to be polite- we the only ones on range).
Flash and roar gets his attention
He asks to shoot it.
On his target, BOOM..........and no kidding, he's trembling.
Hands the gun back.
Asks me to show him how.
So I shoot his target. He had one off the paper on the cardboard.
So I shot that bullet hole.
He laughs, claims I can't shoot it either. Missed the X on his bullseye.
Told him I was aiming at his far right off the paper bullet hole.
He calls BS. So I make the .40 cal into a Mickey Mouse w .44 ears.
Geeesh, it was 21 friggin feet. No big deal.
But he learned something I think.
Went to Thunder Ranch too.
Met by happenstance at local indoor range.
I had my SBH w screamer 180s (max charge WW296).
He shoots 21 ft and it's bad, but he's proud.
I'm at far side (as to be polite- we the only ones on range).
Flash and roar gets his attention
He asks to shoot it.
On his target, BOOM..........and no kidding, he's trembling.
Hands the gun back.
Asks me to show him how.
So I shoot his target. He had one off the paper on the cardboard.
So I shot that bullet hole.
He laughs, claims I can't shoot it either. Missed the X on his bullseye.
Told him I was aiming at his far right off the paper bullet hole.
He calls BS. So I make the .40 cal into a Mickey Mouse w .44 ears.
Geeesh, it was 21 friggin feet. No big deal.
But he learned something I think.
Weather has my sinuses jacked. Tinnitus was raging last night.
Work messed up my wrist again.
No way I could shoot boomer handguns today.
And last nights ear fiasco................again, as stated by myself earlier in thread, and by others.............
electronic ear pro.
Always.
Handguns are fun, but unless all precautions taken, can be costly.
Had a lot of fun shooting/hunting (always wore earpro when target shooting)...........and last night sucked.
Bet I could shoot .357's OK............guess that just means I'm ready for velcro shoes.
Work messed up my wrist again.
No way I could shoot boomer handguns today.
And last nights ear fiasco................again, as stated by myself earlier in thread, and by others.............
electronic ear pro.
Always.
Handguns are fun, but unless all precautions taken, can be costly.
Had a lot of fun shooting/hunting (always wore earpro when target shooting)...........and last night sucked.
Bet I could shoot .357's OK............guess that just means I'm ready for velcro shoes.
Art Eatman
Moderator In Memoriam
Four pages, now, and as usual the thread is drifting away from the original question.
- Status
