Hunting grouse with a handgun question

[Evoac05]

I was curious if anyone knew what the regs for hunting grouse with a handgun might be? I found this regarding to hunting big game with a handgun, but haven't found anything yet about small game.

Handguns:
Big game, except cougar, may be hunted with handguns with a minimum barrel length
of 4 inches per manufacturers specification, and fire a minimum 24 caliber centerfire cartridge The minimum for cougar is a 22 caliber centerfire handgun Rimfire handguns are not legal for big game.

I'm thinking of getting a Taurus Judge and hunting grouse with .410, but the gun that I'm looking at has a 3" barrel. I want to make sure before I get it that I would be able to hunt with the 3" barrel. Any help with this is greatly appreciated. Thanks

[Stilly bay]

your gonna need that grouse to be perched on your arm to effectively kill it with a 410 pistol with only three inches of barrel. buck shot in a 410 shell might be better but, I would just as soon use the 45 ammo so you know where your lead is going to hit more or less.

[bobcat]

I'm pretty sure it's legal. Here are the two relevant pages out of the 2011 Game Bird reg's:

[elkinrutdrivemenuts]

I think you can shoot them with just about anything.  If you wanna leave meat then I suggest a small caliber.

[Cascader74]

I use an old hand me down Smith & Wesson Kit gun revolver in .22.

[winshooter88]

From what people who have them tell me about the Judge pistols you would be better off throwing rocks at them. The Judge pistols have an extremely short effective range with the 410 ammo. Using the 45 would propably kill some birds but the resulting damage could render the bird unusable. If you want to use a pistol for grouse a .22 lr would be a far better choice. preferably a very accurate one.

I forgot, you can legally hunt grouse with just about any gun you choose, except as stated above. During modern firearm deer or elk season to hunt with a gun that is legal for deer or elk you have to have a valid tag for the big game season that is open

[netcoyote]

From what people who have them tell me about the Judge pistols you would be better off throwing rocks at them. The Judge pistols have an extremely short effective range with the 410 ammo. Using the 45 would propably kill some birds but the resulting damage could render the bird unusable. If you want to use a pistol for grouse a .22 lr would be a far better choice. preferably a very accurate one

Wouldn't waste money on a Judge. A good, accurate .22 would be best if you want to go the pistol route for grouse. Something like this would work fine and be fun to target shoot during the off season.
http://www.ruger.com/products/markIIIHunter/models.html
An older Mark II can usually be found if you want a cheaper version.

[longashes]

Last season, put three down using .45 shotshells. I could have used a rock just as well. 

[goosewhacker]

My favorite grouse gun is a T/C Encore with a 10" 45/410 barrel. Very fun!

[Dhoey07]

I bought a judge for partially that same reason.  I now own a .22/.22 mag combo revolver. 

Maybe if you really practiced a lot, you could be a little more accurate than what i was, but have you priced .410 shells lately?  It would cost you a small fortune to be effective with that thing.  In my opinion, don't buy a judge 

[Shoffy]

I would'nt get the 3" barrel if survival/hunting is what you are using it for. My dad has the Judge with the longer barrel (I think it's 6"). We were able to break clay targets tossing them by hand (No thrower) and it was hard to hit them, but possible. I shot a pop can on the ground about 20 feet away and using #8 shot and it didn't even knock the can over. The shot did lightly penetrate the aluminum but I don't think it would cause enough damage to be fatal for small game. The problem I see is that the barrel has no choke so the shot spreads too far. I see the Judge effective with game loads only at ranges inside 30ft. As the other guy said buckshot loads might be a good alternative. I would use the smallest buck shot available in .410. I think you can get 4 pellets max in .410 buckshot loads, but then the question is why send 4 9mm lead balls at a grouse and risk damaging the breast meat when you could shoot it's head off with the .45LC

[Evoac05]

Thanks everyone for the help. I think I'll just use my .22 then, since that seems to be what the majority of you guys are using. I was going to trade a few guns for a judge, but now think I might pass on it.

[high country]

I use whats in my holster.....

[CP]

I use whats in my holster.....

Me too:

[high country]

Make sure you don't aim too low.....