Handgun Hunting?

[Arnold T.]

Are there any hunters out there who currently, or would like to start, hunting big game with a handgun?  I live in Kitsap County, Olympic Peninsula, and would be interested in getting together with hunters who share a desire for BIG Bore revolver hunting.  I hunted with a handgun some thirty seven years ago then got out of it due to raising a family.  Now I'm ready to get back into it and want to go after elk, bear, deer, either on DIY or guided hunts. Look forward to hearing from any and all who may be interested.

Practice Perfect,
Arnold T.

[chef bama]

Is .357 a "big bore" ?

[STIKNSTRINGBOW]

The last modern firearm I hunted with was my T/C Contender, then I discovered archery...
Still have a T/C, but it only shoots small game now... (.22 barrel, or .45LC/.410 barrel)
Might shoot a bear with it, if drawn for spring bear , but hard to leave the recurve at home...

[Arnold T.]

CB, big bore starts at .44 cal and goes up.  But with the right bullet and placement a .357 could do for Blacktail and Black Bear. If you're serious about handgun hunting give me a PM and we can chat about it.  Where are you located?
Stringbow, that .45 Colt barrel is gathering dust could be time to dust it off.

[Sportfury]

I am definitely interested. I am seriously looking at a Ruger Super Blackhawk Bisley Hunter in .44 mag. I have taken deer with modern, blackpowder, and archery and would like to add a handgun to the mix.

[carpsniperg2]

I have done a good bit of handgun hunting and really enjoy it. From big bore revolver's to single shots to bolt action handguns. I have hunted with them all and enjoyed them all.

[Arnold T.]

Hey, are any of you planning on attending the Sportsmen's Show this January at Puyallup fair grounds?  I'll probably be there on Friday the 24th and would like to meet any or all of you guys.
Practice Perfect,
Arnold T.

[CAMPMEAT]

I have a T/C Encore 450 Marlin and a 454 Casull. Both have a 15 inch barrel with muzzlebrakes. The 450 is a huge big bore, handful mutha !!
I forgot I have a T/C Encore 308 also.

[STIKNSTRINGBOW]

Stringbow, that .45 Colt barrel is gathering dust could be time to dust it off.

I used to have a 30/30 barrel, harvested a 3pt deer in Alpine Lakes Wilderness during the "high country" hunt the last year I hunted modern. Same trip while playing around with a diaphragm I called in a 6X6 bull (not open for elk at time) that experience ruined me.
I hunt elk in September, until there is a general modern season (fat chance) in September, I can only see me bear hunting with my T/C, only not sure what barrel.

.44
.45 Colt
.357
.30 M1

but want to get one with my recurve first...

[HighlandLofts]

I bought a T/C Contender and have to pick up some extra barrels. I did buy a 14 inch 410/45LC ventilated rib. I might be picking another on up that hasa 22lr,a 41mag and two 222 Remington barrels. If they still have it tomorrow I'll be putting it on lay-away. $699.
I did buy a stainless Ruger Redhawk 44 Mag with a 7.5" barrel last summer to use while out in the woods. I think I paid $499 for it. I'd like to get a new set of wood inlay grips like I have on my GP100 - 357.I need to get out next year and do some hunting, haven't went hunting for about ten years now.

[Arnold T.]

Thank you all for your replies.  Sounds like you all have the makings for some good handgun hunting.  Are any of you interested in "handgun Hunting" exclusively ?  I mean put the bow and rifle in the closet and fire up the handgun for bear, deer,& elk .  Think about it.

[Arnold T.]

Sportfury,
that Ruger Hunter in .44 mag would be a good one to start with.  May I suggest getting a Ruger Bisley Hunter in .45 Colt.  If you do not handload then go with the .44 mag but if you are willing to handload then the .45 Colt is the way to go.  In either case the Bisley grip will handle recoil better that the standard plow handle.  Good Luck.

[CAMPMEAT]

Does my new Rock Island 1911 A-1 10mm 5 inch count ? ...........for close up work

[stryker]

Im with Campmeat in the 10mm camp. I use Underwood Ammo, 700+ ft lbs energy should do well.

I would like to pistol hunt more, some days I just dont want to pack in a rifle. I tend to leave it at the truck when Im in heavy brush or in the thick undergrowth.

[Arnold T.]

If you believe that your 10mm will be effective on the game (elk?) you are going to hunt and not end up with a wounded animal then by all means use it.

[boneaddict]

I've killed a bear, deer and elk with my Contender.   It was a TON of fun.   Not currently hunting with one as I do Traditional, but it sure was fun.  I guess I have hunted cougar and killed one with it as well.  I've killed a couple coyotes with a handgun as well.  ALL fun!

[Holg3107]

Like Bone I've shot a few animals with my Contender .44 mag. A few deer and a few south Texas hogs. Sorry though like many I have transitioned to archery and don't plan on putting the bow down anytime soon. Good luck though.

[stryker]

If you believe that your 10mm will be effective on the game (elk?) you are going to hunt and not end up with a wounded animal then by all means use it.

Well, last weekend (while NOT hunting) was the first time I have ever seen Elk in the wild. Impressive!

I have only bought an Elk tag once and typically just stick to Blacktail

I can see where the energy (+40%) from a .44 over a 10mm  would be useful for a knock down, especially for a larger animal, but I have a hard time believing that it wouldn't drop an Elk at pistol ranges. 25 yards max Im guessing.

Im rather new to hunting and still trying to it all out. 

[stryker]

Are you using a revolver or semi auto pistol?

Scope or open sights?

What distance are your typical shots?

This interests me to the point I'm considering more powerful hardware.

Thanks

[BKMFR]

Love the handgunning! Just shot buffalo with .454 Casull last week. Have shot Mule Deer, Whitetail, Black Bear, Cougar, and Antelope with handguns.
Not Big Bore, but have 13 coyotes this year so far, with a .222.Contender!
Wish we had a Handgun only Season....
Are you thinking of getting something going for handgunners?

[JohnVH]

Id like to take something with my contender...

Screwing around
45/70 Thompson Contender one handed

[CAMPMEAT]

Id like to take something with my contender...

Screwing around
45/70 Thompson Contender one handed

I have a T/C Encore 450 Marlin 15 inch barrel w/muzzlebrake. That pig hurts.  I didn't know a Contender could handle the 45/70.

[JohnVH]

Im only reloading 300-350gr bullets, working up something accurate, yet some speed. Ideally Id love a 6.5 grendel barrel for this thing

[CAMPMEAT]

Im only reloading 300-350gr bullets, working up something accurate, yet some speed. Ideally Id love a 6.5 grendel barrel for this thing

Try these guys www.denverdiscountmart.com

[stryker]

Holly Cow   Buffalo..... 350 grain.... 

That's twice what I shoot from my .30-06 

[Arnold T.]

I currently hunt with revolvers Rugers, and Freedom Arms in .45 Colt, .454, and .475 calibers.  Bullet weights run 300 grs. to 410 grs. The shorter barrels (4.75") use open iron sights and with the longer barrels (6"-7.5") I mount a red dot or a scope, at 64 yrs old my eyes aren't what they used to be..  I took a nice white feral ram many years ago with a contender at 110 yards along w/ some hogs.
I would be interested in getting together with other like minded handgun hunters, maybe we could get something going here.

[Arnold T.]

Hello All, Sorry I was off line for a while and unable to continue this thread.
Thank you all who chimed and shared their 2 cents on the subject of handgun hunting.
But I refer back to my original opening post, please reread.  I was hoping to find other hunters who shared an interest in BIG BORE handgun hunting and were interested in getting together to hunt as well as share loads and experiences.  In my opinion Big Bore starts at .44 caliber as in .44 magnum and progresses up from there to .45 Colt (hand loaded), .480,.475, .500, etc.
Yes a lesser caliber may and has taken game animals.  On slaughter day I kill 800 Lb. steers with a .22 LR, but under controlled conditions.  Steers are all in a small corral, I walk in wait for a frontal head shot at 10 ft. and place a .22 between the eyes, they are DRT (dead right there).  But its unlikely that a hunter will find his game 10 ft. away and waiting there while he takes careful aim for a bullet to the brain.  We as sportsmen owe it to the animal we're hunting to kill it as quickly as possible and not run the risk of wounding to have it run off.  To carry this out we need a more than adequate caliber, and practice, practice, practice.
Over time and with enough interest, we handgun hunters could petition for our own season, WOW!  Anyone seriously interested?

[beninchelan]

I have shot 3 black tail with a .357 shot placement!

[WA hunter14]

i know a guy from alaska that said when he was a kid him and his family killed many moose with 22mag and i know a guy from canada thats go to gun for deer was a 22 hornet for years(until he moved here where it isnt legal

[jrebel]

Can't wait to buy a Smith and Wesson 460 10"....really would like to take my next bear with a this revolver.   

[Arnold T.]

Good to hear from all three of you.
Ben, you're right a .357 mag and a good man behind it placing the shot makes all the difference.  Black tail's are a good one for the .357mag.

WA14, you brought back a lot of memories, as a kid I remember my Dad and Uncles using .22 LR for the majority of their hunting of meat animals.  They had a  .22 Hornet and they referred to it as the "high power rifle".  I have a .22 LR Remington tube fed from way back then that was passed around between my Dad and Uncles its taken more meat animals than I'll ever be able to in my life time.  I'm passing it on to my grandson.

Jrebel, Get that hog leg and let's do some hunting this season!

[oldhuntere]

Arnold;
I live in Poulsbo and like you am an older hunter, I would like to be able to talk to you about handgun hunting. Your post was referred to me by Daniel (PD) on the forums. We would like to meet with you over coffee at your convenience. I tried to PM you but I seem to have failed in the sending. So if you get this twice please forgive me. Contact me at:
Terry Feather
360-731-6593
tlfeather@live.com

Thank you;
Terry

[CAMPMEAT]

308 T/C Encore from a few years ago............

[Arnold T.]

Campmeat, that's a nice buck you got with that T/C.  Are you planning on doing it again this year?

[CAMPMEAT]

Campmeat, that's a nice buck you got with that T/C.  Are you planning on doing it again this year?

I'm not a deer meat lover. BUT, I just bought a BFR 460 7.5 inch revolver a couple days ago. So, I might try again......

I want to shoot a bear with the 460 more than a deer though..

[CAMPMEAT]

www.matchgrademachine.com in southern Utah ( St. George I think ) will make any barrel you boys want. They're expensive.

[jrebel]

Campmeat, that's a nice buck you got with that T/C.  Are you planning on doing it again this year?

I'm not a deer meat lover. BUT, I just bought a BFR 460 7.5 inch revolver a couple days ago. So, I might try again......

I want to shoot a bear with the 460 more than a deer though..

Not a deer lover???  You obviously have not tried my jerky!!    Kill a deer and I will make you some jerky on the new traeger.  It is seriously amazing. 

[CAMPMEAT]

Campmeat, that's a nice buck you got with that T/C.  Are you planning on doing it again this year?

I'm not a deer meat lover. BUT, I just bought a BFR 460 7.5 inch revolver a couple days ago. So, I might try again......

I want to shoot a bear with the 460 more than a deer though..

Not a deer lover???  You obviously have not tried my jerky!!    Kill a deer and I will make you some jerky on the new traeger.  It is seriously amazing. 

Yes, I can't stand deer. My buddy and I went to go ground squirrel hunting a couple years ago. He said he made some deer jerky for us to nibble on.
He opened the bag and I could tell right away it was deer. I had a bad experience with the first deer I ever shot. Left the hide on, as instructed by my deer hunting expert, ex-friend (haha), for 5 days in Seattle @ 55 degrees in the garage. Should I continue............yuck is all I can say.

[Arnold T.]

Campmeat, sorry to hear about your deer meat/eating experience.  You may want to give it a try on some fresh stuff and don't hang it for 5 days.  My wife (city girl) and I have just finished up the last of the venison steaks from the Muley I shot last Sept.  She and I really enjoyed the meat and she told me to go out and shoot some more.  I plan on not letting her down and hope to add some elk to that too.
That .460 would be great on bear and elk as well.  I'm going after both this year with either my .454 or .475.  Good luck to you, and post some pics as you connect.

[CAMPMEAT]

Campmeat, sorry to hear about your deer meat/eating experience.  You may want to give it a try on some fresh stuff and don't hang it for 5 days.  My wife (city girl) and I have just finished up the last of the venison steaks from the Muley I shot last Sept.  She and I really enjoyed the meat and she told me to go out and shoot some more.  I plan on not letting her down and hope to add some elk to that too.
That .460 would be great on bear and elk as well.  I'm going after both this year with either my .454 or .475.  Good luck to you, and post some pics as you connect.

My wife loved that whitetail I shot. I even tried it and it wasn't bad, taco seasoning helps. I'll try it again, maybe. I like elk, so maybe that might be a better way to go since I have 12 points if I get drawn.........