Does anyone still hunt with a handgun?

[WoodlandCritter]

I don't as of yet, but plan to eventually. I currently don't own a traditional style hunting rifle, so getting one of those is my top priority. But after that I would sure like to get a SRH in .44mag for hunting. I do a lot more handgun shooting than I do rifle so I like the idea a lot. I have went and shot a friend's SRH in .454 Casull and was able to keep a full cylinder on a paper plate at 50 yards, so with a milder recoiling cartridge I feel pretty confident I could push that distance a fair bit.

 

[Eship]

Takes a particularly well trained horse to put up with that.

lol, I meant from a saddle in tree. I’m not a well trained enough person to do it from a horse, but I can sure shoot a pistol well

 

[Joshk358]

I used to hunt only with handguns when I was gun hunting. 358JDJ TC contender, 35 Rem, 45-70, 44 mag, 45 colt. Encores etc. Since kids umpteen years ago, I just don't have the time to practice and be proficient with a handgun like I use to be. I do have a Ruger Blackhawk 41 mag that I'm dying to shoot a deer with though......so, maybe later this winter.

 

[dtrkyman]

Illinois had a hand gun season for antlerless deer years ago, I took a group of guys each year for a while, was quite the comedy show, rarely heard one shot, typically hear one with delay then a volley of shots after!

I shot a deer one year with a S&W 629 I believe in 44 mag, 40 yards or so, was fun but I shot my bow better, lol.

One of only two deer I have ever shot with a gun, other was a cap lock muzzle loader.

 

[Jon C]

I’ve shot a couple with a contender in 45/70. Really accurate but punished the hand

 

[K9kodi]

Used to hunt a .44mag super Blackhawk and a 30 herret in a tc contender

 

[Hardly_Hangin]

357 mag vs 44 mag ?

 

[K9kodi]

I prefer the 44. I know others will agree and others will disagree, but given the choice, I’m takin a 44mag

 

[Jpsmith1]

357 mag vs 44 mag ?

I mean, the 357 has taken most game world wide. I know it's taken all north American game and been used extensively in Africa as well.

Does that make it equal to the 44? No, but it’s quite capable especially with modern bullet technologies.

 

[Hardly_Hangin]

it’s quite capable especially with modern bullet technologies.

Right- handgun velocities and bullets are different than rifles, but i wondered if the "small caliber" argument with had an application here. And, maybe the lighter recoil would make it more shootable?

I have no experience here, but want to learn.

 

[Jpsmith1]

Right- handgun velocities and bullets are different than rifles, but i wondered if the "small caliber" argument with had an application here. And, maybe the lighter recoil would make it more shootable?

I have no experience here, but want to learn.

Might do just as well shooting 44 spl out of a 44mag just like you can shoot 28s out of a 357.

My practice loads out of my 44 are roughly equal to a hunting grade 357 load.

 

[BAKPAKR]

These photos are all from a long time ago. I should have at least a doe to add this year.

 

[thadf]

15” encore in 7-08 and a 10” encore in 41 mag. Very fun

 

[K9kodi]

Yes, I’m sure you can get a good stout loud, correct barrel for the barrel length and have a 357 operate at is optimum and do very well w it. But a 44mag, with optimal power choice for barrel length and the right bullet will operate at its optimum, and id choose a 44at optimum perf over a 357 at optimum performance. If you have a 357, it doesn’t mean drop it for a 44, it means be smart and do it right, but if your starting from scratch, why not start at a place that offers you the best all around performance for your needs,

 

[Aaron-in-CO]

My one and only with a handgun so far. G40 10mm. Hope to do more handgun hunting sometime in the next couple years.

 

[Maverick1]

@FredH - Used to be shotgun only in a great part or all of a few states. At that time rifles were not allowed, but handguns were.

Because of that, many guys used encore or contender pistols in rifle cartridges. So handgun hunting with rifle cartridges was somewhat popular in those areas. Lots of 7mm-08, 243, etc encore and pistol hunters in those days.

Then they went to rifle across the states and the use the of handguns dropped considerably.