Handgun Hunting

[MaineBassMan]

Well I've made up my mind. When things just don't excite you the way they use to you need to reignite the fire! I hunt the thick woods of Maine where all of my shots have been under 50 yards, actually you need to break out the .50 BMG cause 50 yards is way out there kind of thick. I've shot all of my bigger bucks with rifles and like I said they were close, and this is hunting from the ground. I could of hit most of them with a sling shot. I feel like I'm using more than I need even when I pack my Model 94.

So I've decided that I'm going to hang up the rifles for awhile, maybe forever, and start handgun hunting? I already have a 6" S&W 686 plus which is enough gun for my situation but I want something a little bigger so I just bought a S&W M29-3 with 8 3/8" barrel. I shot some of my reloads through it and it is going to be a game getter. It shoots very nice! The following pics were from the day that I bought her. Shots were fired from 25 yards standing two hands unsupported. I shot her again the next day from 45 yards and she shot just as good.

I hope I can sneak up on a buck this year and get a shot. Maybe when I draw a Maine Moose tag again I will try and shoot a Moose with it too?

Does anyone else here handgun hunt? If so I would like to hear your stories and see some pictures.

I never understood why with all he archery craze lately that handgun hunting hasn't become more popular? They are both a lot alike except for the big boom!!!

The hole by the grip was a ricochet from next picture

before

after

[clayton86]

My father in law does he uses a T/C contender in .357 maximum. He has to hand load because they don't make the rnd any more but holy crap it destroys the deer its almost to much gun but where we hunt its small stretch of land and the neighbors are jerks for a lack of a better word and don't let us track onto there property even though we let them onto ours to get wounded game. So he just smokes em with that .357 max its like a semi truck plowed into them.

[Wayne P.]

When I want to add some challenge back to the general firearms hunting season, I use handguns too. I have a T/C Contender with a .30/30 barrel and a 7/30 barrel. Both have scopes on them. The .30/30 will produce 3/4" groups at 100 yards with my handloads.

When I what to add a little more challenge, I use a Ruger Redhawk with no scope. I changed the wooden grips to the rubber Hogue that doesn't have the grip screw in hand contact. That screw depression used to hurt my fingers after 50 or so rounds.

I also do the archery and primitive firearms thing too.

[Gatorbassman]

When I turned 12 my dad bought 40 acres that he used to keep me out of trouble. The only problem was they clear cut it before he signed the paperwork. So after a few years it was so thick that I couldn't hunt most of it. So one day I grabbed his Ruger Super Redhawk and went and sat right off of a major trail in the thick stuff. I shot a doe at 5 yards and have been hooked on getting close ever since. I love hunting with a hand gun. I've shot dozens of deer with one and it's always exciting.

A few words of advise.

Use an adjustable shooting stick. (If you don't you will wish you did)

Carry the gun in a under the arm holster (make sure the gun slides quietly out of it before you even buy it. I found that a leather one works better)

Practice shooting with each hand in front and behind you. (I love a handgun because you don't have to turn all the way around to get a good shot off.)

[boystcroix]

I have a Colt Anaconda that I deer hunt with. I use Hornady Custom 300gr. rounds, they pound deer . One word of advice, if you want to kill with your handgun do not carry your rifle along. You may not give yourself the chance.

[MaineBassMan]

I have a Colt Anaconda that I deer hunt with. I use Hornady Custom 300gr. rounds, they pound deer . One word of advice, if you want to kill with your handgun do not carry your rifle along. You may not give yourself the chance.

I have already learned this last year I had my 30/30 and my blackhawk when a 9 pt buck walked in front of my! Guess which one used?

I'm not taking a rifle this year.

By the way I changed the grips on the smith and I like the new feel!

[new2BC4bass]

I have already learned this last year I had my 30/30 and my blackhawk when a 9 pt buck walked in front of my! Guess which one used?

I'm not taking a rifle this year.

By the way I changed the grips on the smith and I like the new feel!

Nice grips! I gave up hunting the year after I moved to this area. I did have a few years where I went back North to hunt the first 2 days of deer season with my Dad and an uncle (Dad's brother). Dad died. Hunted one more year with my Uncle, then he died. Haven't hunted since.

I have the T/C Contender in 7-30 Waters, .30 Herrett and .357 Herrett. For you youngsters, the Herretts are based on a cut down 30-30 case. Reasonably potent.

I sold a Blackhawk .41 Mag. and a S&W K38 many, many years ago. Regretted both sales. Decide no more selling. I'm a poor pistol shot, but the K38 made me look pretty good.

Should mention that the 7-30 Waters went with me a few times, but my 7 x 57mm Mauser is what got used. You are correct. Leave the rifle at home. Force yourself to use the pistol. Doubt you will regret it.