Thinking of getting into handgun hunting, what to get?

Status
Not open for further replies.
Well I like what was said about adding a .357 carbine to the mix (I prefer my pump action Pedersoli as it is easier to maintain point of aim with a pump and that beefy heavy barrel can handle some very hot loads), but the OP specified "handgun" hunting and for that I actually prefer a .41 mag or a .44 SPL over .44 mag.

Whatever the OP HAS trolled a lot of back and forth here.
 
When someone answers a question about hunting with a cartridge, it almost convinces me they don't have any experience hunting at all. Killing animals with a handgun maybe, but probably not hunting.



It will be evident when Fordtrucks answers.

Seriously? Who might you be talking about? Don’t pull any punches.
 
When someone answers a question about hunting with a cartridge, it almost convinces me they don't have any experience hunting at all. Killing animals with a handgun maybe, but probably not hunting.
Wow, for someone who said.....
I don't really know whether a bigger magnum is more effective at killing or not.
You sure make a lot of judgments and bold statements. Why do you even post in these threads, except to ask honest questions? Do you have an axe to grind?

Since you seem to be wandering around in the dark, I'll provide a flashlight.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/1440246076

https://www.amazon.com/gp/video/detail/B07W3NRXLS/ref=atv_dp
 
I notice the OP has not responded to any of this. I can only assume he intentionally set us at each other and is now off laughing about it. ;)

No. Been busy. I’ve really appreciated the feedback from everyone.

Regarding scope questions, I was really leaning towards starting simple. Iron sights.

44 magnum in a blackhawk seems where I’m headed. Or 45 colt if can’t fin 44 local.

What length barrel?
 
Regarding scope questions, I was really leaning towards starting simple. Iron sights.
44 magnum in a blackhawk seems where I’m headed. Or 45 colt if can’t fin 44 local.
What length barrel?

Kind of a personal preference thing, I believe. With open sights, there's no denying the advantage of the longer sight radius that a longer barrel provides. For me, a 4" to 5.5" barreled revolver is the most practical overall, but most folks probably would prefer a 6" barrel for hunting. The other advantage of a longer barrel is a bit more performance from your cartridge, generally. At the 50-75 yard distances you mentioned, it's moot.

On the not-so-practical side of things, I also think a single-action revolver "looks right" with a 5.5" barrel. A double-action looks good to me with a 4" tube...
 
No. Been busy. I’ve really appreciated the feedback from everyone.

Regarding scope questions, I was really leaning towards starting simple. Iron sights.

44 magnum in a blackhawk seems where I’m headed. Or 45 colt if can’t fin 44 local.

What length barrel?

I like a 5 1/2- inch barrel in most situations but am fond of red dot sights so sight radius isn’t really an issue for me. But 5 1/2-inches balances really well.
 
I like a 5 1/2- inch barrel in most situations but am fond of red dot sights so sight radius isn’t really an issue for me. But 5 1/2-inches balances really well.
Second 5.5" . Handy length and not to bad to carry if you decide to take it as a side arm while out with your rifle aswell. But enough length to have decent sight radius and keep up the velocity.

I say for for a Ruger Blackhawk convertible with the bisley grip. 5.5" 45 colt/acp. Can handle stout 45 colt loads that are on par with 44 mag and have a second cylinder for cheaper 45 acp fun.

https://ruger.com/products/newModelBlackhawkConvertible/specSheets/0472.html
 
No. Been busy. I’ve really appreciated the feedback from everyone.

Regarding scope questions, I was really leaning towards starting simple. Iron sights.

44 magnum in a blackhawk seems where I’m headed. Or 45 colt if can’t fin 44 local.

What length barrel?

I think either caliber would serve you well. The .44 has an obvious track record and is available everywhere. For the handloader - or the fellow who doesn't mind spending a buck per cartridge on "boutique" loads - the .45 Colt is even more effective.

WRT barrel length, I prefer to shoot a 7.5 and carry a 5.5. Because I spend so much more time carrying than shooting - at least while hunting - I have settled on 5.5 in general, but again, either will do the job.
 
I like a 5 1/2- inch barrel in most situations but am fond of red dot sights so sight radius isn’t really an issue for me. But 5 1/2-inches balances really well.

Is a red dot an easy add-on to a blackhawk or is there a sub $1000 single action that comes ready for one?
 
Regarding bullets- I don’t reload or plan to. I have limited time in life and can’t allocate any to reloading. I just buy what I need/use and am willing to buy boutique cartridges for the impressive specs.
 
Is a red dot an easy add-on to a blackhawk or is there a sub $1000 single action that comes ready for one?
Here is my Blackhawk with a raptor mount and a reflex. Just mounted it so I haven't shot it yet. There's a few similar options where you remove the rear sight and use the factory tapped hole to attach the mount. There are also a few no drill rails availible if you want to use a tube style. Here's an example .

https://www.jackweigand.com/Ruger-Super-Blackhawk-No-Drill-Scope-Mount.html
 

Attachments

  • KIMG1343.JPG
    KIMG1343.JPG
    92.8 KB · Views: 15
  • KIMG1344.JPG
    KIMG1344.JPG
    55.4 KB · Views: 15
Regarding bullets- I don’t reload or plan to. I have limited time in life and can’t allocate any to reloading. I just buy what I need/use and am willing to buy boutique cartridges for the impressive specs.
Than it sounds like a 45 convertible would be ideal. Underwood ammo is usually 20-25 bucks for 20 rounds of 45 colt, very reasonable for a hunting round. They have stuff ranging from 255gr@1000 fps all the way to 325@1325 ,with a few in between. Buffalo bore is nice stuff but it is almost twice the cost. Than with the 45 acp cylinder you can plink with much cheaper bulk 45 acp stuff you an find anywhere. I wish my 45 colt was a convertible,but it is a discontinue d model I got for a really good price so I couldn't pass it up.
 
Than it sounds like a 45 convertible would be ideal.
If you're not gonna reload, there's a lot of merit in the .45 convertible. Because you surely cannot buy anything .41, .44 or .45 that's cheaper than .45ACP.


Is a red dot an easy add-on to a blackhawk or is there a sub $1000 single action that comes ready for one?
As Max suggested, the BFR is ready for a mount. There are short mounts from Weigand for the Ruger intended for the micro reflex sights like the Burris Fastfire.
 
No. Been busy. I’ve really appreciated the feedback from everyone.

Regarding scope questions, I was really leaning towards starting simple. Iron sights.

44 magnum in a blackhawk seems where I’m headed. Or 45 colt if can’t fin 44 local.

What length barrel?

If you are going to use iron sights, I suggest 6" minimum with 7.5" being better. Ime, sight radius does matter and the extra velocity doesn't hurt. Optics make sight radius moot.

Perhaps just a meaningless factoid, but Ruger 45 Colts have been more prone to dimensional inconsistency and thread choke than 44s in the past.

No need to ignore the Super Redhawk, they are good hunters, as are BFRs, Freedom Arms and S&Ws.

Regarding hunting, and within reasonable parameters, accuracy is king, bullet construction is queen, and caliber is jack (pun there, but a 4" 357 still isn't a hunting gun).
 
I dont hunt (not by choice but never had anyone teach me) but I will toss in a opinion. I would strongly consider a contender in 357 or 44 mag. Longer barrel will give more velocity. I warn you though, they're highly addictive.
 
My Contender barrel selections include a .41mag and .44mag , that beat the heck out of my wrists (though not as bad as the .30-30 which I save for the macho guys who usually take a pass when I offer another round);)

So I got a Wyatt Earp length barreled stainless Super Blackhawk that not only tames those magnum loads substantially, but the longer sighting radius permits me more accuracy than any of my other .44 handguns.

I like to shoot at tin cans because they move around and you have to chase them, but with the big super sometimes the second hit makes it fly over the 100yd berm!

Back when I shot at the local range somebody asked me if it was a .50 cal.
 
what should I start with for handgun hunting?

Deer or hogs, 50-75 yard max distance, but will possibly have some opportunities for longer shots if I want. Preferably much closer, like 25 yards.

Already have a 4.2” sp101 in 357.

Should I try something else or use that? I have no preconceptions on this. Just starting to think through my options and want some guidance.

I’m probably about an average shooter regarding accuracy.

Thanks for any input.
I became a handgun hunter much more than a few decades back.

THE reason was we only had the options of either shotgun or muzzleloader in my state.

When they opened it to handguns,I jumped on board with a .44 magnum Smith model 29 [ yes a real Dirty Harry model w 6 & 1/2" barrel that I still own.]

I then went to a Ruger super Blackhawk with 7 & 1/2" barrel and then onto to a Thompson Center Contender super 14 .35 Remington.

I can say with confidence that any deer I shot with that gun ,went DOWN and stayed down.

Yes, I did pass up shots that I was not 100% sure would be a sure and quick kill.

I still carry a Ruger SBH with a 4 & 3/4 barrel for rainy days when the pistol scope is useless,but that is reserved for CLOSE shooting.

Good luck with your choice.

btw = I am now 72 and still hunt with the pistol often !.
 
Our hogs are not all that big but I haven't had a problem with inadequate penetration with .357 Mag 180 gr loads out of a 6" barrel even when shoulder shot. Now if you shoot 400 lb hogs in the South Carolina Rice that might be a whole different deal.

I use the hog carcasses for ammo testing and I get adequate penetration even with some .380 but those are not shoulder shots.

For deer hunting I use 158 gr JHP and for selected shots at 15-40 yards they do just fine on our typical 140-200 lb deer (Southern State but Michigan and Wisconsin genetics).

However if I was buying a dedicated small hog and deer cartridge I would get a .41 Mag in a lighter pistol like a New Model Blackhawk or .44 Mag in a heavier pistol like a Super Redhawk. Big Hogs like SC 400 lb I would get a .454 Casull or .480 Ruger but having never shot the big guys that might be overkill.
 
Last edited:
Thinking of getting into handgun hunting, what to get?

Get a caliber that starts with a 4. Doesn't matter which one to start with, they all will work well for deer sized game with the proper bullets. Then get a handgun set up for hunting. Don't need a scope or Red Dot, but if it trips your trigger, go for it. I use irons only, cause that's why I hunt with a revolver. I have scopes on my handgun caliber carbines. Get one with a barrel long enough to give you a good sight plane and to make the most of the caliber's potential. Remember that how easily it holsters and carries at your hip is not important. I've yet to see a dedicated deer hunter than uses a handgun for their primary weapon, walk around or sit on stand with the gun holstered all the time. I have bandolier type chest and shoulder holsters that I use for my long piped revolvers. Easier to carry and good access. Hard to get to a hip holster sometimes when wearing a coat or vest. Whenever walking into stand the gun is in my hand and a shooting stick in the other. When I'm in stand, the gun is on the bench in front of me, within easy reach without making much movement. You also need to remember, odds are, if you are shooting past 25 yards, you should be resting the gun, to be fair to your quarry. I have range guns, I have fun guns and I have hunting revolvers. Some are all three, but not all make the best for hunting.
 
To the OP's question. I'd buy the biggest "hammer" you can shoot accurately and comfortably. The easiest path for most folks is either the .41 or .44 magnums. When I hunted I harvested deer with either and I wouldn't feel under gunned with either.

My Contender barrel selections include a .41mag and .44mag , that beat the heck out of my wrists (though not as bad as the .30-30 which I save for the macho guys who usually take a pass when I offer another round);)

In my barrel selections, I have a .30 Herrett..
Shooting gloves do wonders for the hand and nothing for the wrist. ;)

Contenders are a lot of fun..
 
Model 29-2 S&W = 44 Mag
Top with a good scope has done in a few deer for me.
I also have T/C pistols in 7mm08 & 223 which are as accurate as most rifles.
One little fellow took the 223 pistol out hunting rabbits & brought back his limit
in less than an hour one day. We were over run with them back then, which brought
on a fox -gang-herd-gaggle, whatever.
I have taken the a T/C 08 along while rifle hunting but never used it, wish I had.
Rifle kills seem to run together as I get older but pistol or revolver kills seem
to stay very clear in my mind.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top