Handgun Hunting

[Fl0und3rz]

So I've been after a Ruger Bisley Blackhawk in .45 LC ever since I learned of them and decided it would make the perfect type of gun for the type of hunting I seem to enjoy most - close in, public land, brush busting, hiking/scouting with a gun during the season, follow the sign, etc.

I am happy to say that I picked up a new to me, Ruger Bisley Blackhawk in .45 LC, 5.5" barrel.  It will be my new woods gun, and I plan to hunt it almost exclusively, except when I choose to carry a rifle.

It fits my hand well, and I can't wait to get it out and see how it shoots.

I did the I594 transfer at Precise Shooter in Lynnwood.  What a PITA!  A straight retail sale would've been easier, but otherwise, I'd recommend Precise Shooter.  It was a very positive experience.

I picked up dies, brass, and some Hornady 250 grain XTPs, as well as some Buffalo Bore 255 grain Keith loads.

Pics up soon.

Please share any insight you have on loads, deer and elk hunting, etc.


Since there is no specific handgun hunting forum, feel free to share your stories, pics, and insight from your experiences with this or others platforms as well.

[syoungs]

Pics or it didn't happen! 

[jasnt]

You can't go wrong with any of the Elmer Keith style bullets

[Fl0und3rz]

My precious.

[syoungs]

That's art!

[jeepster]

I'd use a single shot like a contender or something....

I used to have a single action super blackhawk in 44 mag. I used to tromp around the bushes with it, and while I never shot a deer with it, I used to think it was a perfect hunting pistol.

That was until I had it snag on my jacket and blow my knee off. I had more misfires and accidental discharges even when "cowboy loading" after my accident. I finally chucked it off a cliff because it was too much of a liability.

While single action has a great base of calibers and ammo selection from a saftey standpoint I think anything single action is a horrible choice

Go double action, go hammerless, go automatic, go single shot, but by god don't go single action. That's one tree branch, shrub, jacket, or just about anything else away from a hospital visit.

I walked away from that one and kept the leg, took a 5x8 patch off the top of my.knee, the skin was just simply gone, fortunately it was nothing plastic surgery couldn't fix, and I was still able to go crab fishing in Alaska a few months later, but the point is single actions are no joke. I get reminded about it every morning when I gotta bend down to put my boots on. A 240gr hollow point 44mag from point blank has a way of.making you not forget

Unless you are an EXPERIENCED shooter, and can safley operate a single action under pressure (ie not quick drawing for that trophy buck) then I might suggest it, but for the most part u urge you to do yourself a favor and not go single action.

[Fl0und3rz]

I am sorry to hear of your accident, and thank you for the words of caution.  I'd like to hear more about what kind of holster you were carrying it in.

[jeepster]

Uncle Mike's

I had the 5.5" barrel

If I were to do it over again, id get a Calvary or officers style holster, something with a cover so the grip and hammer are completely covered , but make sure the cover falls outward, so there are not any obstructions


The cross bar saftey mechanism only prevents the hammer from dropping if the gun is fully cocked. There is no half cock, and even the slightest flub of the hammer will light off a round

Get yourself a hammer extension, make it big, so your finger won't slip, because if your hammer slips from your thumb before it is fully cocked, it will fire.

[Fl0und3rz]

I was under the impression that the new model with the transfer bar requires trigger depression to cause the transfer bar to come up to allow the hammer to transfer its momentum to the firing pin.  It seems like a pretty safe system, compared to say a rebounding hammer without it. 

I have a hunter leather holster that came with it, but I want the triple K leather Ruger branded holster. Both have a hammer strap.

I wouldn't expect to stalk with it in my hand, especially cocked, but probably more now so with your cautionary tale.

[jeepster]

Again, my accident happened coming out of the holster.

I was at the pit, put 6 in, returned pistol to  holster, put shells in jacket pocket... Drew pistol, hammer snagged just a hair, and kabloowey. Walked the mile from the pit back to my buddys house just to make sure my.leg wasn't.gonna get cut off.

Cross bar only prevents an accidental discharge while cocked ie, you drop your gun with the hammer back, otherwise, it's twice as dangerous because of the misconceptions

[jeepster]

I had a nice chat with the sherrif in the emergency room about it because by law, any firearm wound that ends up in the hospital needs to be investigated by LEO

[Fl0und3rz]

I guess I'll have to replicate what you are describing, with snap caps of course.  Based on my understanding of the action, I would assume that a partial hammer pull and realease would not result in a discharge.  Thanks again.

[jasnt]

I guess I'll have to replicate what you are describing, with snap caps of course.  Based on my understanding of the action, I would assume that a partial hammer pull and realease would not result in a discharge.  Thanks again.

Was this a new model SBH?

[JimmyHoffa]

agree, was the one with the accident an older model?  Older revolvers and lever guns would fire it the hammer fell and the trigger not pulled.  Newer models usually have the transfer bar that actually lowers from a trigger pull to even let the hammer strike.

[jasnt]

agree, was the one with the accident an older model?  Older revolvers and lever guns would fire it the hammer fell and the trigger not pulled.  Newer models usually have the transfer bar that actually lowers from a trigger pull to even let the hammer strike.

i have had mine get pulled back and dropped by a branch on a live round. Scared me but it did not fire and no mark on the primer