Author Topic: How many of you guys strictly handgun hunt? (Read 2549 times)

Bama76 · « **on:** July 08, 2003, 01:52:20 PM »

Just wondering? Is it the challenge of the hunt or the love of the guns that draws you in? Both?

Mike

les hemby · « **Reply #1 on:** July 08, 2003, 03:08:09 PM »

have loved handguns all my life but this will be my first year to hunt exclusively with one . i cant wait will hunt squirrel,rabbit with 22 & 410. deer with 44,30-30,&7-30. varmint & turkey 223 all contender will carry a ruger redhawk 44 or S&W686 for close range i cant wait

REH · « **Reply #2 on:** July 08, 2003, 03:08:49 PM »

Bama76, :-)
In Fl.it's handgun all the way. I have 5 that I use. A T/C Contender 30 Herret, XP100 7MM IHMSA, S/W 41Mag, XP100 221 Fireball,357 Colt. So now you know why I hunt Fla. with a handgun. It's all pretty well covered.
REH :lol:

wyote · « **Reply #3 on:** July 08, 2003, 03:53:15 PM »

I hunt bear, deer, antelope, rabbits, grouse, and turkeys with a handgun.

The exception is elk.......if I haven't got an elk by the last week of the season with my handgun, I switch to a rifle

KYODE · « **Reply #4 on:** July 08, 2003, 04:10:11 PM »

i now hunt exclusively with handguns. it's the challenge, the thrill of some acomplishment, plus i've always loved handguns. i even traded my very nice browning a-bolt .270 in on one, if that tells how much i really like it. very enjoyable, but much more demanding in practice, field position, etc.

myronman3 · « **Reply #5 on:** July 08, 2003, 04:10:44 PM »

not me. i like shooting all different kinds of guns. could never restrict myself to handgun only. but there are days where i take the pistol, and only the pistol. i also find myself using my pistols more and more. just made a 30 yard shot on a rabbit with a 22 short out of my contender. i have to go see where i hit em. was aiming for the heart. i think thats where i got em, cause he ran about10 feet after the hit. i will check in on this momentarily...

44 Man · « **Reply #6 on:** July 09, 2003, 07:43:34 AM »

I'm 57 years old. I used a rifle until I was 21 (legal age here to buy a handgun). Hunted with an old 1873 winchester in 32-20 from my dad. He always said it didn't have a lot of power, but if you got close and placed your shot right, it would do the job. He hunted with a man who used to sneak around the woods with an old colt in .38 spl with warm handloads. He always said it didn't have much power, but if you got close and placed your shots right, it would do the job. Bought a pistol and never looked back!

Questor · « **Reply #7 on:** July 09, 2003, 09:07:46 AM »

I hunt birds with a shotgun. Occasionally I'll pick up a rifle for special purposes. Hunting with a handgun is the biggest thrill.

Gregory · « **Reply #8 on:** July 09, 2003, 12:04:21 PM »

When I lived in upstate NY I could choose between a rifle or handgun for deer, and over the ten seasons I lived there I hunted exclusively with a handgun for the last two seasons. Here in IL a handgun is not legal for deer during the general firearms season, must use either a muzzleloader or shotgun with slugs. We're restricted to an anterless only season in January, for handguns.

JOE MACK · « **Reply #9 on:** July 09, 2003, 03:20:45 PM »

Yeah, I've gotten rid of quite a few rifles in fact. I've killed everything from 'dillers to wildebeeste with a .41Magnum handgun. Due to karma, I can't pull a bow anymore and took to handgun hunting over 30 years ago. I find it fun and alot more challenging than a rifle. I handgun hunt like I used to bowhunt. The closer I get the better I like it. Looking to take my first cape buffalo with a handgun in two years. Nothing like hunting DG to get the juices flowing. RKBA! :wink:

Bullseye · « **Reply #10 on:** July 09, 2003, 05:29:58 PM »

I prefer the handgun for deer and squirrel. However I always take a handgun and a shotgun (no rifles in this state) with me for the weekend when deer hunting. Sometimes I take a shotgun in the morning and a pistol in the afternoon or any other combination depending on my mood.

Lloyd Smale · « **Reply #11 on:** July 09, 2003, 11:57:48 PM »

strickly handgun except where its illegal

mrcasull · « **Reply #12 on:** July 10, 2003, 12:38:53 AM »

Here in southwestern NY where it's shotgun or handgun it's a no brainer.I gave up shotguns 15 years ago and have never looked back.

Ravenwolf · « **Reply #13 on:** July 10, 2003, 03:12:39 AM »

I made the switch to handguns about 15 years ago and haven't looked back. Even my custom Rem 700 280 Ack is lonely. I use everything from a T/C 410 and Ruger MKII for squirrel and rabbit, to a T/C 7mm Super Bower or Ruger SBH 44 for deer, to a T/C 17 Rem or Ruger Single Six in 22 Mag for woodchuck, to my big bore T/C 358 JDJ or 444 Marlin or 5-shot 45 LC Bisley and Redhawk for bear and elk. It's been a great ride and I don't plan on getting off anytime soon. The only long guns I use now are shotguns for Turkey, waterfowl and upland birds....Good shooting...RW

crawfish · « **Reply #14 on:** July 10, 2003, 09:28:52 AM »

Handgun hunter exclusively since a treestand accident in 1989 made longguns not an option for me. Handguns were the only way I could stay in the game. That has all changed this past fall with my latest round of surgery on my shoulder and neck, a new physical therapy program and renewd determination to be able to put my canes away for good has gotten me to the point where I can now shoulder a rifle and can even live through the recoil of a few .243 class rounds without ending up in traction. :grin: Maybe by this time next year I'll be able to get off the hard and flat and really get back into the woods. :-D

Jeff Vicars · « **Reply #15 on:** July 10, 2003, 09:36:29 AM »

I haven't hunted with a rifle in almost 18 years.

redhawk44p · « **Reply #16 on:** July 10, 2003, 11:38:57 AM »

If I can't hunt with a pistol I don't go. It is the only way to hunt. I don't get as much game with a pistol and the big bucks are hard to come by but it is about the thrills not the kills.
www.ruger454.com
www.pistolpacker.com

PJ · « **Reply #17 on:** July 10, 2003, 08:03:36 PM »

Well if you call this a handgun then.....ya I hunt with a handgun

It's a 16.5" 300Win Mag I also have a 16.25" 45-70Gov and a 480 Ruger and oh ya a 6mmBR and 444 and well you get it right

Bama76 · « **Reply #18 on:** July 12, 2003, 10:05:29 AM »

I'm with you myronman, I like all guns too much to restrict myself. If it has a trigger I like it ! :-) If it's fast I like it even more. :grin:

handcannon · « **Reply #19 on:** July 13, 2003, 07:43:28 AM »

Handgun for the last 12 years.For moles up to whitetails.Ever seen what a 475 Linebaugh in a FA at 4 feet does it kills him,fries him and digs him out.Someties it does bury him.I like my rifles but mainly for target work.The reason for hunting with a handgun is that I am a addict I need help.Or buy a new pistol.Can't help myself it started 13 years ago.

Hawkeye · « **Reply #20 on:** July 14, 2003, 08:36:27 AM »

Started last year with handguns. Never picked up a rifle. Took three deer with three different handguns. Took one deer with selfbow.
Wouldn't do it any other way now.

Mike

Old Griz · « **Reply #21 on:** July 14, 2003, 09:11:47 AM »

I've got too many long guns I love to shoot not to hunt with them. However, my scoped .44 Bisley is my primary weapon. That's what I use unless I just can't get that buck in close enough to use a hand gun. Never used those short rifles some folks call hand guns. If it doesn't have a cylinder and doesn't use pistol cartridges, it ain't a hand gun. (uh oh, just made some folks mad!) :grin:

freddogs · « **Reply #22 on:** July 14, 2003, 10:17:39 AM »

I love to hunt no matter what the weapon. I like using handguns but I like shooting muzzleloaders too. I use the bow if thats the legal weapon but I perfer handguns. I'd use a spear if I had too.

boyd · « **Reply #23 on:** August 04, 2003, 05:17:06 PM »

i don't have allot of off time to do the practice it takes to bow hunt. my 44 gives me the challenge of bow hunting with the convienence of a gun. i love the freedom of not having to lug around a cumberson rifle also. I hunt mostly deer, and am trying to set up some wild boar hunts.

Mikey · « **Reply #24 on:** August 05, 2003, 03:39:30 AM »

Well Guys, I'm sort of like the Old Griz - I have far too many long guns I really enjoy shooting not to hunt with them but the real penchant is for the handgun. When my buddy and I go small gaming we rarely fire the shotguns, its mostly 22 pistol or sometimes 38s. During big game season it's always the grip of the 357 or the 44 magnum that my hand warms while I'm waiting for something to ambush. Haven't used my pet 40 cal in a number of years as the heft of my 3.5" Model 27 and 1/2 or my 4" 29-2 seems to feel a whole bunch better.

Sometimes, just sometimes I'll turn my 45 into a 38 Super and see if I can find a couple of yotes to chase around and if I think I might encounter a flock of turkey I'll make certain I'm using loads that will leave enough for the oven. That's where the Tokarev comes in handy - geez, if they ever loaded hollow-points or soft noses into those things it would change the equation drastically.

My only concern for bamming racoon with a 38/357 or 38 Super is that if they might be rabid I don't like the idea of spreading the disease around. In that regard I will have to watch the animal to see if they appear ill or diseased and make my choice as to where to place the shot.

Crows squawkin' over an Owl statue have no idea where the rounds are coming from and that adds to the enjoyment of handgunning. But, so does the look on the range officer's face when I start printing some decent groups at the 50 yard target with open sights. Those shoot n see targets are almost as good as the squawk you get from the crows. Mikey.

bagger321 · « **Reply #25 on:** August 05, 2003, 06:58:25 AM »

I might now,outside of bowhunting.I'm kinda partial to my smoke poles too,though.Got my first buck last year with my T/C Encore.It IS addicting!
Lookin to scope my other Smith .357.Got the scope,just need to mount her.Did I say her? :grin:

BT

ssmith_1187 · « **Reply #26 on:** August 05, 2003, 10:45:18 AM »

I took my .357 duck hunting once but the warden didn't really care for it me using it

In addition to handguns, I also use a fully rifled 12 ga. Why, because in Illinois, the ONLY season for handgun is always the 1st weekend after January 11th. It's kind of hard to sit and watch your buddies go deer hunting in November and December without you.

Steve

454Puma · « **Reply #27 on:** August 27, 2003, 07:26:37 PM »

I don't strickly hunt only handguns but I have one on my hip when ever I'm out hunting so if a good shot comes up or I don't have my rifle at hand-nature calls- at least I can take a shot.

Duffy · « **Reply #28 on:** August 27, 2003, 09:24:09 PM »

Except for geese and other birds it's the handgun that I take.

fish · « **Reply #29 on:** August 28, 2003, 12:46:06 PM »

I've been using handguns for about 8 years now. Still use a stupid stick in archery season when I can get out there. Overall handguns are just plain more FUN.