Does anyone still hunt with a handgun?

[FredH]

I have two I get out once in a while but my favorite is a Contender with a Ten inch barrel in 44 magnum. It seems odd how popular hunting deer with handguns once was and now so little is posted about doing so.

 

[NRA4LIFE]

I think I am finally going to get back to it. Only weapon I haven't killed a critter with yet. I have tried. Got shotgun, bow, muzzy and rifle notched off. If successful, onto spears and atlatls.

 

[03mossy]

I do a few times per season. Ruger Super Redhawk .44 mag with an UltraDot 30. Extremely fun way to hunt. It is a skill that requires frequent practice to stay proficient at tho. I didn’t hunt with it this fall at all because I wasn’t able to practice all summer due to health issues. Next year I will again tho.

 

[FredH]

I like to use a handgun where the brush is thick and I can carry the pistol in a holster while I clear trail with a machete. 60-70 yards shots are really long where I am talking.

 

[BAKPAKR]

I am going to try for a deer with a new to me S&W 629. I had it out this evening but none of the possible targets were within my revolver range.

 

[pods8 (Rugged Stitching)]

There is someone on here (I forget who) that hunts “handgun” rifles (like a TC contender type gun) out to rather long ranges.

 

[Jpsmith1]

We're out there.

Meet the fam...

 

[Eship]

I was just imagining the other day of using a handgun from a saddle. Would be super convenient with a holster

 

[ZAK13]

My buddy showed up to deer camp with his TC chambered 375JDJ. He has taken many game animals with his other TC pistol chambered in .414 Superman. Made me wish I had brought my .480 Ruger.

 

[Jstumbaugh]

I've gotten an 8 with my 629 44mag and a doe with my Contender 7-30 Waters. Definitely fun to hunt with and I need to make a better effort to carry them more.

 

[sierracharlie338]

I do when the opportunity presents itself. Made kills with my 9, 40 and 45s. I really want a 357 lever action to go with my Vaquero set up.


I’m extremely intrigued by the xp100 style pistols and will probably be building one soon as well.

 

[Samson7x]

I’ve taken several with my 10mm 1911. Set up my 629 with an RMR this year but haven’t been yet.

 

[TaperPin]

With all the interest in short barreled 223 rifles I’m surprised long barreled pistols aren’t more common. A super 14 contender/Encore is such an accurate cool pistol in 223 many would love how accurate they are. A 6 Arc or 6 BR XP-100 is on my wish list, especially with how well they seem to work with tripods.

 

[Floridave]

I connected with my first handgun whitetail last month. S&W 44 mag 7.5 inch barrel at 30 yards from a ground blind. He walks up behind me, passed about 6 feet to my left while I’m sitting on the ground. Was 30 yards out before I was able to get gun up and him to give me a little angle to shoot. DRT.

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[RazinKane69]

I took a 10 pointer a few years ago with a Smith 460 from about 35 yards. Didn’t move an inch. Wish I hadn’t lost my pics from it.

 

[Anschutz]

I've never been successful on big game with a handgun but I hunted the entire season in Virginia back in 2019 with my 627 Pro. I killed a few rabbits with a Ruger 22/45.