naustin
Posts:16
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| 11 Apr 2012 12:09 PM |
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Want to take up handgun hunting. Can you say what two or three handguns I need to hunt hogs all the way up to black bear? Can you say caliber, barrel length and gun manufacture? Thanks a lot. |
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Shiloh
Posts:560
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| 11 Apr 2012 01:25 PM |
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6" barrel .44 Magnum revolver. Colt Anaconda, Ruger Super-Redhawk, Redhawk or Blackhawk, and S&W 629 would be my initial "do everything" handguns. No need to go to the bigger rounds unless you really like punishing recoil or punishing costs. |
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| I like my guns towed & crew-served!
http://www.nps.gov/stri/
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http://www.9thky.org/
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naustin
Posts:16
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| 11 Apr 2012 01:44 PM |
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Thanks Shiloh, really appreciate it. Any other response from out there? |
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thegreatwhitebuffalo
Posts:59
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| 11 Apr 2012 02:13 PM |
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I agree with Shiloh.Can't go wrong with the 44 mag.I had a couple different Ruger New Model Super Blackhawks over the years and loved them. 1 was a 7 1/2" and 1 was a 10 1/2".Took a lot of deer with the 10 1/2".Never actually hunted with the other because it got stolen before I could,but it was very accurate.We don't have bears and hogs here but I've talked to quite a few people that use them for hogs a lot.Welcome to the handgun hunting world.It's a blast.  |
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| Ruger,T/C.NAHC Life Member |
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dk99300
Posts:262
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| 11 Apr 2012 03:18 PM |
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If you tend to like the 'round less carried', 41 Mag will do the same as the 44 Mag. That said, I own a 44 Redhawk because I couldn't find a 41. If I was to start new, I really think I would go with single action (Blackhawk) over the double action. I can't recall firing any double action shots while hunting.
Dale |
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| Anyone who thinks laughter is the best medicine has never had morphine |
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jlowe69
Posts:256
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| 11 Apr 2012 03:45 PM |
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I agree the .44 cal. wheel guns make good hunting handguns, you may also want to consider single shots or bolt action centerfire type handguns. My personal favorite is a Savage Striker, they unfortunately are no longer in production but can be found. I also agree there is little need in abusing yourself and your wallet by shooting the .454, .480, .500 cal. magnums, no fun in my book and way to hard to find/expensive ammo. I like the double actions, not for the action part, but due to the grip is in relation to the frame though. More square, easier for me to maintain my grip for second shot if necessary. |
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| Belief in a cruel God makes a cruel man.
Thomas Pain |
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mjgonehunting
Posts:687
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| 11 Apr 2012 05:57 PM |
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I have just joined the 44 revolver bandwagon myself!
Still waiting for paperwork to come so I can take possession of it.Gotta love NY !
I swapped a 4" S&W model 19 357 for a 71/2" Ruger Super Redhawk and I threw a turkey call into the deal because I felt a bit guilty !
I have a 44 barrel for my Contender also,but its not the same as a revolver asthetically!
Can't wait to shoot it! |
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rburrows6
Posts:780
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| 11 Apr 2012 06:10 PM |
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I have six .44's three Ruger superhawks ,two Smith 29's and a Colt Anaconda with 8-3/8ths barrel . The .41 is a good round no question . If you can get ,afford or want just one, doesn't matter about the caliber. I would recommend the Ruger Superblackhawk with 7-1/2" barrel ,It's heavy enough to help tame recoil , has plenty of sight radius for ironsights and can be readily adapted for a scope if you so chose accurate and rugged enough for any load you care to put through it and won't break the bank on price and there are hundreds of good used ones for reasonable price if budget won't allow a new one . although I would like to have a new Stainless Bisley Hunter model they are a bit pricey to me. |
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naustin
Posts:16
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| 11 Apr 2012 07:52 PM |
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I see some suggest single action over double action. Is there a distinct advantage using the single action instead of the double action or is it just a matter of preference? The gun I will get is a Ruger 44 mag with 7 1/2 inch barrel but just not sure whether it should be single or double action? Need your help on that. Thanks, |
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rburrows6
Posts:780
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| 11 Apr 2012 08:02 PM |
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Its really a matter of preference noth dk99 and myself and a few others on here if pushed to admit it agree that for hunting shots we cock the hammer for a single action shot ! I have never taken a hunting shot double action style though I have several double action hunting guns. Now if you can afford it and money is not a problem look for a Freedom Arms .44 magnum they don't come any better. |
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AzSlim
Posts:51
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| 11 Apr 2012 08:19 PM |
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I've got a 6" Anaconda, I put a Bushnell Holosight on it, would not hesitate to take it after bear
Also, pick up a .22lr pistol, you can practice more and cheaper with it, still takes the same sight picture and trigger squeeze. My practices used to consist of a couple hundred 22's and 100 .357 or 44's. May want to start reloading. |
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jlowe69
Posts:256
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| 11 Apr 2012 08:21 PM |
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This is where you need to decide with feels better to you. As all of us that have commented most shots are taken single action style, you have a quicker follow up shot with the d/a, but most folks aren't nearly as accurate shooting d/a, so in all but a self defense situation it don't do much good. Hold both and see what you like, they feel quite a bit different from each other to me. The Ruger wheel guns all have a reputation of being very well made dependable firearms. I have three and won't hesitate to buy another. |
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| Belief in a cruel God makes a cruel man.
Thomas Pain |
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Big Dawg
Posts:557
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| 12 Apr 2012 07:33 AM |
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I prefer my single action Ruger Super Blackhawk in .44 mag with a 7 1/2" target barrel and I use Hornady ammo loaded with the 300gr XTP bullets and they will cleanly kill deer, hogs, and black bear with no problems at all. If you are thinking of anything bigger than black bear then I would suggest using Randy Garrett's ammo in the +P+ loads ( www.garrettcartridges.com ) and you can hunt with confidence in the ammo with of course bullet placement being the most important. I generally keep my shots 50 yards and under when possible but my longest shot was a doe that lasered at 125 yards. This was using a Bushnell 3X9X40 rifle scope mounted on my revolver and shooting off a set of Stony Point Polecat shooting sticks that extend from 27" to 63" whcih makes them ideal for shooting from a sitting/kneeling position to a standing position. The best of luck and remember that in oder to be proficient especially with a handgun when huntine will require many hours and rounds fired at the range to be sure you hit what you are shooting at. |
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| LM NAHC, LM NSSF, LRRP Competitor Shooter/Spotter.
Never Quit !
All the Way !
No Man Shall Be Left Behind ! |
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Shiloh
Posts:560
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| 12 Apr 2012 09:02 AM |
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I can't imagine anyone using a double-action revolver for hunting that would actually use it double-action for the 1st/main shot. Everyone I think does what I do and cocks the hammer for that all-important crisp, light single-action trigger pull for accuracy. I use a 9.5" barrel scoped Super Redhawk with powerful LBT handloads and find it plenty accurate with adequate penetration I have tested on phone books to lead me to believe it is possible for me to reliably take deer at 300 yds. that said, mine is a close-range close-cover gun I carry mainly for the dense TN cover I hunt. Doing it over, I think I'd still ge the SRH but the 7.5" barrel. The 9.5" barrel is cool, but is unwieldy and I do not think I gain any velocity advantage, or not enough to matter. |
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| I like my guns towed & crew-served!
http://www.nps.gov/stri/
http://www.blockaderunner.com/
http://www.9thky.org/
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rsmith10
Posts:21
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| 12 Apr 2012 12:15 PM |
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I purchased my first handgun last summer, and it was a Tauras Raging Bull 44 magnum with a ported barrel. New to the area of handgun hunting and hand guns, i find that the Tauras has a smooth trigger pull in single and double action, I have found little difference in accuracy, however this was under ideal conditions (paper targets and time between shots). I agree with Bigdawg, which i believe we chatted last sept, that it is your comfort zone.
I also purchased some adjustable shooting sticks and what a difference.
But I am new to the handgun area ( NY Adrondacks).
Roy |
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| Roy Smith |
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Shiloh
Posts:560
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| 12 Apr 2012 01:12 PM |
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Taurus revolvers are good as well. I did not point to them as a "first choice" mainly based on past experoence with their products that put them into a budget-priced 2nd tier quality in my mind. Almost all are decent. Some are good. None are great. For their price, you get a good-enough gun but I find the same price will usually get a gently used better gun, and applying just another $100 bill ought to get you a better new gun as well. The absolute no-holds-barred strongest of the usual over-the-counter revolvers are the Super Red Hawks by Ruger, with their Blackhawks and Redhawks running close seconds. The S&W 629 is very tough as well. Colt's Anaconda if you can find them are probably the nicest of the .44s and also plenty tough but being Colts they are a bit more finicky if you are rough with them prone to getting out of time.
I will add since you are new to handgunning that this is a different ballgame than rifle hunting from a treestand. You will need to practice much more to master the gun and load, learn what it can and cannot do, police yourself in the field to limit shots to what you know you can do, and learn new and frankly awkward shooting positions. Shooting sticks are great but I hunt in areas full of trees or rocks, fallen logs, etc. and have taken to practicing using all sorts of God-given shooting rests like that. Last year I finally after years of casually taking my SRH afield and not getting shots while doing so, I got a close range shot at a buck. Wouldn't you know it, I was seated in a position that did not lend itself to quick use of any rest at all! So, he went down to an off-hand shot which I also had practiced only not nearly as much as I should. Thinking about it now, I am in the mood to do some .44 practice this weekend. |
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| I like my guns towed & crew-served!
http://www.nps.gov/stri/
http://www.blockaderunner.com/
http://www.9thky.org/
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Big Dawg
Posts:557
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| 13 Apr 2012 05:33 AM |
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Yep ! Me to Shi as it has been awhile since I shot any amount of .44 rounds so I think I to shall send some downrange this weekend. After shooting what factory loaded I have it will be time for a reloading get together with my shooting partner and load both handgun and long gun ammo. I have been policing my brass for years and have some that I have never reloaded even once yet so I think I will get those out and give them a good tumble and inspection for possible loading. I have plenty of primers and quite a few of the Hornady 300gr XTP bullets and will need to contact Hornady to make sure that these bullets will be available in the future as I really like their performance across all velocity ranges, I have a large number of 175gr long gun bullets but only a small nymber of the custom 202gr Hornady bullets that I got my hands on at a shoot where team Hornady were shooting. These bullets really are great and I'm hoping they will become one that will be a lot easier to get in the future. With handgun hunting as with all hunting /shooting practice is the key and when you feel confident that you can hit where you are aimong go ahead and practice some more at least I know I always do as one can never have to much time behind the tools we use for hunting. |
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| LM NAHC, LM NSSF, LRRP Competitor Shooter/Spotter.
Never Quit !
All the Way !
No Man Shall Be Left Behind ! |
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S.B.
Posts:25
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| 13 Apr 2012 07:31 AM |
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There are several really good books out there. Nonte, Keith, and several others. Don't get fooled into spending a bunch of money till you make up your o=n mind about equipment or advice on the internet.
Steve |
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melissa4
Posts:92
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| 13 Apr 2012 12:56 PM |
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Both the double action Ruger Redhawk and single action Ruger Blackhawk are great choices for a hunting handgun. As previously stated, you will probably never shoot double action while hunting, so you should make your decision based on which model feels, balances, and points better in your hand. Don't forget to contemplate the manner in which you plan to carry your gun, now barrel length comes into play. The only real advantage of a DA over a SA would be in a defensive situation, especially if one of your arms or hands became incapacitated. And then again, barrel length and caliber come in to play as I think anyone might find it difficult to accurately fire a 454 Casull with a 9 1/2 inch barrel with one hand, no matter what the action. Good luck in your decision. |
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shortgun
Posts:134
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| 13 Apr 2012 06:18 PM |
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I think there is a whole lot more options in the realm of hunting handguns than just revolvers. Don't forget about autos and speciality guns like single shots. They add a little more to the equation and expand the choices of caliber and distances at which game can be harvested. |
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