ANY HANDGUN HUNTERS OUT THERE?

o1paw · October 17, 1998, 05:16 PM

I currently hunt with a T/C ENCORE with a 30-06 bbl. Any other handgun hunters out there and what do you use and why?

**Rich Lucibella** · October 18, 1998, 10:06 AM

I've been waiting for Ty to get back before noticing the hunting boards of our existence... one reason why traffic here is so light. If you are on any of these Boards or Lists, please let your friends know we're here.
Rich

Rob Pincus · October 18, 1998, 03:52 PM

I've hunted with a Model 29 for years and I am going to use a Glock 20 this year.
I enjoy the increased challenge of hunting with a handgun. I've always been one to do things a littel differently anyway....

o1paw · October 19, 1998, 01:09 AM

Rob,
What bbl length is you 29? I've got a 5" 629 thats been my constant companion in the mts for many years. What made you decide to go with the glock? Just a change of pace?

Rob Pincus · October 19, 1998, 02:26 AM

I have the BIG one, 8 & 3/8ths.
I am going to try the Glock out this year for several reasons. The first, to be honest, is to try it out. I have been shooting Glocks for about 3 years and I've thought about hunting with the .45 or 10mm for a long time, on one platform or another.
I have gotten to know the guys (and gals (incase they're watchin') at Glock pretty well over the last year and the word is that the future of the Glock 20 here in the US is almost entirely dependent on it being adopted as a hunting weapon.
So, I sent a G20 off to get a Realtree Advantage Camo coating and we'll see how it works.
My wife is actually going to use it first, on a boar in Texas, she takes better pictures anyway.....
then I'l try for a whitetail later in the year.
I have full faith in the gun and the caliber, it is just a matter of actually hunting with it and getting the word out. put a few pictures in the Mags, etc.. And the realtree coating will make it look more acceptable to hunters I think. I'd hate to see the G20 discontinued...

[This message has been edited by Rob (edited 10-19-98).]

o1paw · October 19, 1998, 10:53 AM

Rob,
Real-tree camo? Boy! Talk about a conversation piece!

I'm usually an auto-guy, and I carry an auto CCW, but when I hunt elk, I'm out there for 9 days straight in bad weather, usually. So I opt for a revolver where maintenace is at a minimum. Besides, I dont really get to carry/use the 629 except for my hunting/camping/hiking excursions and I'd hate for it to be "retired" to my safe. After all, its such a pretty gun.........

Good luck on your hunt,
o1paw

Rob Pincus · October 20, 1998, 12:14 AM

I hope it generates a lot of conversation. In fact, I'll be ahving a conversation with a gu y from Austria with a one syllable last name about getting a whole slew of them made at the SHOT show this winter....

I agree 100% on the revolver in the field deal. But most handgun hunters are day trippers, especially the 10mm crowd. Whitetails and boar are the main targets.

o1paw · October 20, 1998, 10:29 AM

Never had the opportunity to hunt wild boars. I've heard they can be nasty. Sounds like fun!!!!! Any close calls? Had one with a lion once..........no, I missed........

Hey wouldnt it be great to get a "HANDGUN HUNTING" board here?
Talk to you later,
o1paw

Rob Pincus · October 20, 1998, 12:35 PM

yeah, then the two of us would have our wn littl epiece of the firing line!.. I've not had anything really exciting happen on a boar hunt, but a buddy of mine was gouged by a supposed-to-be-dead Whitetail once.....

How do you let yourself have close call with a Lion ?? Sounds like either a really cool hunting trip or a really stupid circus prank....

Kodiac · October 20, 1998, 02:41 PM

I have hunted game of various types with a RUGER BLACKHAWK and have always had good success with it. I hunt with Iron Sights, I think scopes on a single action are bit off. .44 Magnum has the best energy levels outside .454 country. And you can buy .44 hunting loads pretty easily. The Blackhawk is the only revolver I own. I got it after the first time I saw "Silverado" which made me want to be a Cowboy... I dont shoot it much anymore as I am too busy to go hunting. Even for squirls. I am interested in the new Winchester Supreme hollow points with the Nolser partition gold whatever that is... It looks like the best of both worlds in terms of bullet concepts. Should be a golden BB for Deer or Pig. Any one hunted with it yet?

Rob Pincus · October 20, 1998, 03:11 PM

I haven't hunted with partition bullets in a handgun yet, but they definetly work Very well in Rifle bullets.

o1paw · October 20, 1998, 06:43 PM

Rob,
The deal with the lion is kind funny, in retrospect, I had read that guys were calling in lions. So i went out, bought the cat tag, bought a cow elk call, took my T/C and my 629 up into the mts and started snoopin around.up above a rocky point I cut some tracks of deer, and sure enough there was a cat followin them. Now I was fairly certain the tracks were pretty fresh, probably a day or so old by my estimation, and I knew I couldnt sneak up on a lion, so I sat down on a log to try this call I had no idea how to use. I blew on it for about 5 min or so tryin to emmulate the bleats of a fawn. I musta done something right......heard the soft thumping of padded feet from BEHIND me, and quickly turned around. I think the cat was more surprised to to see a human than I was to see him. He was coming straight at me until I turned around, then it was as though he turned on a dime to my right and took off like a shot! i got 1 shot off with the T/C (went high, of course) and killed a tree nearby, but by the time I put the T/C down and grabbed for the 44, he was long gone. Saw 8 mule deer does and yearlings head for cover, too. After it was all over I just sat there trying to figure out what had just happened. It took a few moments to,ah, compose myself, if you know what I mean. To this day, I have no idea how big he was, but he sure LOOKED big to me! Next time, I'll bring a friend(if I can find one brave enough) so we can watch each others backs. I think it'll work better that way. I really didnt expect him to charge in like that, but I know better now!
Stay safe,
o1paw

Rob Pincus · October 20, 1998, 07:21 PM

Okay, sorry I was on the wrong continent. I had pictured you investing $15,000 in an african safari, out on the serangeti with guides, a range rover, the whole package and still not getting the big Lion King type lion that they let get too close to ya! hehe

o1paw · October 20, 1998, 10:29 PM

Rob,
Only in my dreams!!!!! I'd love to hunt an African lion. Course, in my dreams, i dont miss! Maybe someday. I'll keep dreamin til then. I guess I should have been more specific, huh?
o1paw

Kodiac · October 23, 1998, 10:24 AM

In my dreams Salma Hyak is my hunting partner... but some how we lose or guns.

8-D

chargar · October 29, 1998, 11:53 AM

I have hunted with hanguns off and on for 40 years taking varmints, small game, javalina, turkey and deer. I even shot a mountain lion out of a tree once with a 45 ACP. For anything smaller than deer a good .357 mag will do the trick. For deer I use an old three screw Ruger Super Blackhawk (44 mag). I have spruced it up a bit with Bowen sights and Adamovitch grips. It will do anything I want a handgun to do. When just out knocking about the brush..I carry one of several S&W 45 ACP revolvers I own. I shoot a 240 grain cast SWC at 950 to 1000 fps, depending on bbl length, from these revolvers and this will do the trick on anything I point it at up to deer.

Spectre · October 29, 1998, 07:53 PM

I've been itching to try out a .45 Super for a couple of years now. (I've also bugged Ruger and Kel-tec about making a carbine for it.) Has anyone here hunted with a .45 Super? I figure a 230-grain Gold Dot or XTP (J.D. says Gold Dot is sturdier) @ 1300 fps should be about ideal...

Plainsman · October 31, 1998, 04:40 PM

Hi all!

I'm new here and I like to hunt with rifle, bow and HANDGUN! I have a Ruger Redhawk in .44, and a T/C Contender in .223. I'm currently watching for a 12" Hunter barrel for the T/C with open sights in .44 magnum and a .45/.410 barrel. I want to try hunting hogs down here in TX with the .44. Anybody have recommendations for BULLETS? I'm thinking 300 grain Sierra FPJ's at the moment. Mainly since I have some loaded already! I've thought maybe some 240 JSP's would work well!?!

I have an Auxiliary Cartridge from Alex Inc that puts .22 LR out of my .223 well! At 25 yds. the zero is close to the same. It makes my .223 barrel VERY useful.

Hope to post chat more on handgun hunting later!

Plainsman

Rob Pincus · October 31, 1998, 07:00 PM

welcome plainsman... Your choice of bullet would be great for some of those killer boars, but a texas for a texas boar it might be a bit much, we are going to use 180grn hydrashoks (I think...) out of a 10mm.

Plainsman · October 31, 1998, 11:41 PM

So a 240 gr. JHP would be sufficient I take it!?! Mainly I'll be backing up a guy with a bow the first time out and didn't want to be "undergunned." I've never hunted them before and would feel much safer with a lever gun and sidearm both in .44 the first time. I plan on eventually trying with my bow as well, just don't want to be the first guinea pig next weekend! :-)

Do any of you have rifle/handgun combos with the same caliber? If so, do you load one load for both or have separate loadings? I'm trying to get one caliber/one load so I never have to worry about grabbing the "wrong" load for the firearm. At the moment I'm working on a load for the .44 that isn't max. for the handgun and isn't min. for the lever...I have a Redhawk 7.5" and a Marlin 20" Any suggestions?

Thanks.

Plainsman

Rob Pincus · November 1, 1998, 12:46 AM

I had an .223 AR pistol, a .223 Contender bull barrel and a selection of rifles that used .223, same loads, NATO

.

I never messed with carbine and pistol in the same calibre, though I have been putting off the purchase of a carbine in .40 S&W. (secretly hoping all my friends in Smyrna keep lying to me and they will announce the Glock carbine at the SHOT show this year...)

fal308 · November 1, 1998, 09:26 AM

Plainsman
I've got the same 44 combo. Just don't use any 300 gr bullets in the Marlin. Gives a lot more recoil.Mine has just started to loosen up due to the 300's recoil. The marlin wasn't designed to handle that much. Sierra says right on the box that they are for handgun use only. So naturally I had to try some. Accurate #9 at 19 gr. with a 240-250 JHP seems to work pretty well for me. Also 19 gr of Vihta Vouhri N110 with a 240-250 JHP.

DC · November 4, 1998, 11:50 AM

RE: Pig hunting

Dad and I were hunting them one time (I was 16 maybe), we happened across a rare big ol boar....the biggest prior to this guy was maybe. 200 lbs. I cut loose with my 30-30, hit him and just PO'd him. Dad with his .280, and the bugger came after us. Ran out of ammo and he is coming in like a freight train. So we went to sidearms. I had a .357 and Dad a .45. My dad kept his head and just kept saying what to do. "Drop your rifle, use your pistol, slow, fire"....and kept up a cadence. Honestly, after my 2nd rifle shot I'm suprised I ever hit him again. I actually hit the bugger 6 times. One of dad's .45s actually did him in, finally dropped him about 20 ft from us, he had been hit 13 times.
Granted a few had simply bounced off him, those big guys have armor. He was around 430 lbs and made the best sausage and roasts you could ever have.
Needless to say, we never went so underpowered again.

gdeal · November 20, 2005, 03:49 AM

I don't hunt with a handgun but I have heard that the Ruger 44 Mag will do a pretty good job.

Firefighter14 · November 21, 2005, 04:39 PM

Been handgun hunting for 21 years now and have killed a many of animal. I guess my favorite as far as a single shot goes is the T/C chambered in the 309 and the 338 JDJ's just got a 257 JDJ and its supposed to kill way out of purportion to its size. A far as my revolvers go...well I will have to stick with my 41 mag blackhawk. For the folks that don't know about these guns check out SSKIndustries.com and Bullberry.com...I have purchased from both and very very reputable.

November 20, 2005, 03:49 AM	#24
gdeal Senior Member Join Date: October 30, 2005 Location: Southern California Posts: 748	Ruger 44 Magnum I don't hunt with a handgun but I have heard that the Ruger 44 Mag will do a pretty good job.

October 17, 1998, 05:16 PM	#1
o1paw Member Join Date: October 15, 1998 Location: Washington Posts: 62	I currently hunt with a T/C ENCORE with a 30-06 bbl. Any other handgun hunters out there and what do you use and why?

October 18, 1998, 10:06 AM	#2
Rich Lucibella Staff Join Date: October 6, 1998 Location: South Florida Posts: 10,229	I've been waiting for Ty to get back before noticing the hunting boards of our existence... one reason why traffic here is so light. If you are on any of these Boards or Lists, please let your friends know we're here. Rich

October 18, 1998, 03:52 PM	#3
Rob Pincus Senior Member Join Date: October 9, 1998 Location: Hotels Posts: 3,668	I've hunted with a Model 29 for years and I am going to use a Glock 20 this year. I enjoy the increased challenge of hunting with a handgun. I've always been one to do things a littel differently anyway....

October 19, 1998, 01:09 AM	#4
o1paw Member Join Date: October 15, 1998 Location: Washington Posts: 62	Rob, What bbl length is you 29? I've got a 5" 629 thats been my constant companion in the mts for many years. What made you decide to go with the glock? Just a change of pace?

October 19, 1998, 02:26 AM	#5
Rob Pincus Senior Member Join Date: October 9, 1998 Location: Hotels Posts: 3,668	I have the BIG one, 8 & 3/8ths. I am going to try the Glock out this year for several reasons. The first, to be honest, is to try it out. I have been shooting Glocks for about 3 years and I've thought about hunting with the .45 or 10mm for a long time, on one platform or another. I have gotten to know the guys (and gals (incase they're watchin') at Glock pretty well over the last year and the word is that the future of the Glock 20 here in the US is almost entirely dependent on it being adopted as a hunting weapon. So, I sent a G20 off to get a Realtree Advantage Camo coating and we'll see how it works. My wife is actually going to use it first, on a boar in Texas, she takes better pictures anyway..... then I'l try for a whitetail later in the year. I have full faith in the gun and the caliber, it is just a matter of actually hunting with it and getting the word out. put a few pictures in the Mags, etc.. And the realtree coating will make it look more acceptable to hunters I think. I'd hate to see the G20 discontinued... [This message has been edited by Rob (edited 10-19-98).]

October 19, 1998, 10:53 AM	#6
o1paw Member Join Date: October 15, 1998 Location: Washington Posts: 62	Rob, Real-tree camo? Boy! Talk about a conversation piece! I'm usually an auto-guy, and I carry an auto CCW, but when I hunt elk, I'm out there for 9 days straight in bad weather, usually. So I opt for a revolver where maintenace is at a minimum. Besides, I dont really get to carry/use the 629 except for my hunting/camping/hiking excursions and I'd hate for it to be "retired" to my safe. After all, its such a pretty gun......... Good luck on your hunt, o1paw

October 20, 1998, 12:14 AM	#7
Rob Pincus Senior Member Join Date: October 9, 1998 Location: Hotels Posts: 3,668	I hope it generates a lot of conversation. In fact, I'll be ahving a conversation with a gu y from Austria with a one syllable last name about getting a whole slew of them made at the SHOT show this winter.... I agree 100% on the revolver in the field deal. But most handgun hunters are day trippers, especially the 10mm crowd. Whitetails and boar are the main targets.

October 20, 1998, 10:29 AM	#8
o1paw Member Join Date: October 15, 1998 Location: Washington Posts: 62	Never had the opportunity to hunt wild boars. I've heard they can be nasty. Sounds like fun!!!!! Any close calls? Had one with a lion once..........no, I missed........ Hey wouldnt it be great to get a "HANDGUN HUNTING" board here? Talk to you later, o1paw

October 20, 1998, 12:35 PM	#9
Rob Pincus Senior Member Join Date: October 9, 1998 Location: Hotels Posts: 3,668	yeah, then the two of us would have our wn littl epiece of the firing line!.. I've not had anything really exciting happen on a boar hunt, but a buddy of mine was gouged by a supposed-to-be-dead Whitetail once..... How do you let yourself have close call with a Lion ?? Sounds like either a really cool hunting trip or a really stupid circus prank....

October 20, 1998, 02:41 PM	#10
Kodiac Senior Member Join Date: August 16, 1999 Posts: 1,173	I have hunted game of various types with a RUGER BLACKHAWK and have always had good success with it. I hunt with Iron Sights, I think scopes on a single action are bit off. .44 Magnum has the best energy levels outside .454 country. And you can buy .44 hunting loads pretty easily. The Blackhawk is the only revolver I own. I got it after the first time I saw "Silverado" which made me want to be a Cowboy... I dont shoot it much anymore as I am too busy to go hunting. Even for squirls. I am interested in the new Winchester Supreme hollow points with the Nolser partition gold whatever that is... It looks like the best of both worlds in terms of bullet concepts. Should be a golden BB for Deer or Pig. Any one hunted with it yet?

October 20, 1998, 03:11 PM	#11
Rob Pincus Senior Member Join Date: October 9, 1998 Location: Hotels Posts: 3,668	I haven't hunted with partition bullets in a handgun yet, but they definetly work Very well in Rifle bullets.

October 20, 1998, 06:43 PM	#12
o1paw Member Join Date: October 15, 1998 Location: Washington Posts: 62	Rob, The deal with the lion is kind funny, in retrospect, I had read that guys were calling in lions. So i went out, bought the cat tag, bought a cow elk call, took my T/C and my 629 up into the mts and started snoopin around.up above a rocky point I cut some tracks of deer, and sure enough there was a cat followin them. Now I was fairly certain the tracks were pretty fresh, probably a day or so old by my estimation, and I knew I couldnt sneak up on a lion, so I sat down on a log to try this call I had no idea how to use. I blew on it for about 5 min or so tryin to emmulate the bleats of a fawn. I musta done something right......heard the soft thumping of padded feet from BEHIND me, and quickly turned around. I think the cat was more surprised to to see a human than I was to see him. He was coming straight at me until I turned around, then it was as though he turned on a dime to my right and took off like a shot! i got 1 shot off with the T/C (went high, of course) and killed a tree nearby, but by the time I put the T/C down and grabbed for the 44, he was long gone. Saw 8 mule deer does and yearlings head for cover, too. After it was all over I just sat there trying to figure out what had just happened. It took a few moments to,ah, compose myself, if you know what I mean. To this day, I have no idea how big he was, but he sure LOOKED big to me! Next time, I'll bring a friend(if I can find one brave enough) so we can watch each others backs. I think it'll work better that way. I really didnt expect him to charge in like that, but I know better now! Stay safe, o1paw

October 20, 1998, 07:21 PM	#13
Rob Pincus Senior Member Join Date: October 9, 1998 Location: Hotels Posts: 3,668	Okay, sorry I was on the wrong continent. I had pictured you investing $15,000 in an african safari, out on the serangeti with guides, a range rover, the whole package and still not getting the big Lion King type lion that they let get too close to ya! hehe

October 20, 1998, 10:29 PM	#14
o1paw Member Join Date: October 15, 1998 Location: Washington Posts: 62	Rob, Only in my dreams!!!!! I'd love to hunt an African lion. Course, in my dreams, i dont miss! Maybe someday. I'll keep dreamin til then. I guess I should have been more specific, huh? o1paw

October 23, 1998, 10:24 AM	#15
Kodiac Senior Member Join Date: August 16, 1999 Posts: 1,173	In my dreams Salma Hyak is my hunting partner... but some how we lose or guns. 8-D

October 29, 1998, 11:53 AM	#16
chargar Member Join Date: October 15, 1998 Location: Texas Posts: 23	I have hunted with hanguns off and on for 40 years taking varmints, small game, javalina, turkey and deer. I even shot a mountain lion out of a tree once with a 45 ACP. For anything smaller than deer a good .357 mag will do the trick. For deer I use an old three screw Ruger Super Blackhawk (44 mag). I have spruced it up a bit with Bowen sights and Adamovitch grips. It will do anything I want a handgun to do. When just out knocking about the brush..I carry one of several S&W 45 ACP revolvers I own. I shoot a 240 grain cast SWC at 950 to 1000 fps, depending on bbl length, from these revolvers and this will do the trick on anything I point it at up to deer.

October 29, 1998, 07:53 PM	#17
Spectre Staff Alumnus Join Date: October 23, 1998 Location: ATL Posts: 3,277	I've been itching to try out a .45 Super for a couple of years now. (I've also bugged Ruger and Kel-tec about making a carbine for it.) Has anyone here hunted with a .45 Super? I figure a 230-grain Gold Dot or XTP (J.D. says Gold Dot is sturdier) @ 1300 fps should be about ideal...

October 31, 1998, 04:40 PM	#18
Plainsman Member Join Date: October 31, 1998 Location: Grand Forks, ND, USA, NA Posts: 53	Hi all! I'm new here and I like to hunt with rifle, bow and HANDGUN! I have a Ruger Redhawk in .44, and a T/C Contender in .223. I'm currently watching for a 12" Hunter barrel for the T/C with open sights in .44 magnum and a .45/.410 barrel. I want to try hunting hogs down here in TX with the .44. Anybody have recommendations for BULLETS? I'm thinking 300 grain Sierra FPJ's at the moment. Mainly since I have some loaded already! I've thought maybe some 240 JSP's would work well!?! I have an Auxiliary Cartridge from Alex Inc that puts .22 LR out of my .223 well! At 25 yds. the zero is close to the same. It makes my .223 barrel VERY useful. Hope to post chat more on handgun hunting later! Plainsman

October 31, 1998, 07:00 PM	#19
Rob Pincus Senior Member Join Date: October 9, 1998 Location: Hotels Posts: 3,668	welcome plainsman... Your choice of bullet would be great for some of those killer boars, but a texas for a texas boar it might be a bit much, we are going to use 180grn hydrashoks (I think...) out of a 10mm.

October 31, 1998, 11:41 PM	#20
Plainsman Member Join Date: October 31, 1998 Location: Grand Forks, ND, USA, NA Posts: 53	So a 240 gr. JHP would be sufficient I take it!?! Mainly I'll be backing up a guy with a bow the first time out and didn't want to be "undergunned." I've never hunted them before and would feel much safer with a lever gun and sidearm both in .44 the first time. I plan on eventually trying with my bow as well, just don't want to be the first guinea pig next weekend! :-) Do any of you have rifle/handgun combos with the same caliber? If so, do you load one load for both or have separate loadings? I'm trying to get one caliber/one load so I never have to worry about grabbing the "wrong" load for the firearm. At the moment I'm working on a load for the .44 that isn't max. for the handgun and isn't min. for the lever...I have a Redhawk 7.5" and a Marlin 20" Any suggestions? Thanks. Plainsman

November 1, 1998, 12:46 AM	#21
Rob Pincus Senior Member Join Date: October 9, 1998 Location: Hotels Posts: 3,668	I had an .223 AR pistol, a .223 Contender bull barrel and a selection of rifles that used .223, same loads, NATO . I never messed with carbine and pistol in the same calibre, though I have been putting off the purchase of a carbine in .40 S&W. (secretly hoping all my friends in Smyrna keep lying to me and they will announce the Glock carbine at the SHOT show this year...)

November 1, 1998, 09:26 AM	#22
fal308 Staff Alumnus Join Date: October 12, 1998 Location: Missouri Posts: 1,992	Plainsman I've got the same 44 combo. Just don't use any 300 gr bullets in the Marlin. Gives a lot more recoil.Mine has just started to loosen up due to the 300's recoil. The marlin wasn't designed to handle that much. Sierra says right on the box that they are for handgun use only. So naturally I had to try some. Accurate #9 at 19 gr. with a 240-250 JHP seems to work pretty well for me. Also 19 gr of Vihta Vouhri N110 with a 240-250 JHP.

November 4, 1998, 11:50 AM	#23
DC Moderator Emeritus Join Date: September 30, 1998 Location: Calif Posts: 4,229	RE: Pig hunting Dad and I were hunting them one time (I was 16 maybe), we happened across a rare big ol boar....the biggest prior to this guy was maybe. 200 lbs. I cut loose with my 30-30, hit him and just PO'd him. Dad with his .280, and the bugger came after us. Ran out of ammo and he is coming in like a freight train. So we went to sidearms. I had a .357 and Dad a .45. My dad kept his head and just kept saying what to do. "Drop your rifle, use your pistol, slow, fire"....and kept up a cadence. Honestly, after my 2nd rifle shot I'm suprised I ever hit him again. I actually hit the bugger 6 times. One of dad's .45s actually did him in, finally dropped him about 20 ft from us, he had been hit 13 times. Granted a few had simply bounced off him, those big guys have armor. He was around 430 lbs and made the best sausage and roasts you could ever have. Needless to say, we never went so underpowered again.

November 21, 2005, 04:39 PM	#25
Firefighter14 Junior Member Join Date: November 21, 2005 Location: Brighton TN, just N. of Memphis Posts: 1	Been handgun hunting for 21 years now and have killed a many of animal. I guess my favorite as far as a single shot goes is the T/C chambered in the 309 and the 338 JDJ's just got a 257 JDJ and its supposed to kill way out of purportion to its size. A far as my revolvers go...well I will have to stick with my 41 mag blackhawk. For the folks that don't know about these guns check out SSKIndustries.com and Bullberry.com...I have purchased from both and very very reputable.