Handgun Hunting?

[Willie Rip]

Any of you guys hunt with hand guns? I didn't know there was such a thing.

[Aknative]

I pop a lot of small game with a Ruger Single Six 22. Much easier to always carry then a rifle, less range, and very satisfying. I’ve resolved to try to get moose, caribou, and bear with a pistol as well, eventually. Can’t let a moose walk away though, so I’m sure the rifle will be handy.

[Willie Rip]

So what caliber would you use on moose and caribou in a hand gun?

[Aknative]

I carry a 10mm or 357 magnum when in the woods, loaded with heavy soft nose solids or hard cast. That's the minimum I'd use.

[Croaker]

Any of you guys hunt with hand guns?

22 rimfire revolvers on small game. 44 Mag revolvers on hogs and whitetail deer up close and a bolt action single shot handgun in 308 x 1.5 for longer range on the same. In the late 70's, I hunted with Thompson Center Contender handguns in 30 Herrett and 357 Herrett.

[Willie Rip]

Nice! I wondered if .357 would get the job done. Would a .44 mag be too hard to hold and aim without flinching? Do .41 mags work well for hunting?

[Aknative]

Caliber is a personal thing. I can shoot a 44 magnum fine, follow up shots are a little slower then my 357 but more lead down range per shot.

It's about what you yourself can shoot comfortably, and more importantly (at least I think) what you WILL carry. My 44 has a 6 inch barrel, I'm too lazy to lug all that around. If it was a 4 inch I would, and will one day own one. So I settle for what I WILL carry EVERY time I go out and not leave in the truck. But this is for safety, not for hunting. Haven't needed it yet, but I'll have it when I do.

Have you don't much hand gun shooting? Anybody own a 44 or 357 or 10mm you can shoot? If you're purpose is to hunt down south, and you stay in ranges you can hit your target, 357 and 10mm will likely do it. 44 is considerably more powerful, with equivalent recoil, but it's a much heavier slug. From what I've read, the 41 magnum is a nicer shooting but still heavy bullet.

There are people that can shoot the 55 magnum quickly and accurately. There are people that get PTSD from a .223 AR15. Or they write in their slanted article they do anyway. You have to figure out which one is going to work for you and your purposes.

[Willie Rip]

Na, I don't own any firearms, nor do I plan to. I just though the concept of handgun hunting was interesting.

[sunshine]

I have a Ruger Super Blackhawk Bisley in .44 mag with a 7.5" barrel. When well practiced, I'm comfortable out to archery ranges with it. Keep thinking about throwing a red dot or low power scope on it. Haven't killed anything but bayed up hogs with it though.

I also have a Ruger Single Six (1971, unconverted, sweetest trigger ever) in .22lr/mag that I keep in the truck and occasionally carry for popping small game....or shooting bayed hogs in the head with. It's a lot lighter than the .44 mag so I tend to prefer carrying it when running dogs.

I used to have a S&W 686-2 .357, but I watched a buddy shoot a hog in the shoulder at about 15 yards with one, given it was poor ammo selection for the job (hollow point), but we went and got the dogs and caught the hog half a mile away, very much still alive with the bullet mushroomed out in his shield. I traded up to the .44 mag after that.

I also reload my own ammo, so I can load down the .44 for more pleasant shooting/practicing. Keep thinking about having my marlin lever gun's barrel threaded and getting a suppressor, load some subsonic rounds for real fun shooting and close in hunting...plus novelty of course.

[JD]

The only game I've ever taken with a handgun would be squirrels & rabbits with an old .22 cal High Standard Double Nine.
At the other end of the spectrum, I have a 44 magnum S&W Model 629-1 first generation for backup bear protection in Alaska.
It's meant for fighting my way to a long gun. I've never used it for hunting.
All my other handguns in between those calibers are for dangerous two footed critters who pose an imminent threat of death or serious bodily harm to others or myself.