dedicated handgunner?

[kt57]

I was wondering how many are strictly a handgun hunter? Give some details as to why you have given up the long gun. Or elaborate on why you haven't given up the long gun. I have a desire to be dedicated to handguns, I just don't get enough chances to hunt at all, so I don't want to miss a chance if a great rifle hunt comes my way.

[COR]

It's all personal choice. Hunting is hunting, no matter what tool you use. Kill the animal humanely and eat what you kill are the only rules I have. I took a 375GNR#2 16" Rifle after elk last year but my 45 Bisley never left my side.

I hunt all whitetail with handguns but I carry a 45-70 for bear in Pa.

I guess I am a hybrid ... I love the single actions to hunt with and carry for a challenge

Dick Thompson (aka sixshot) is one that comes to mind "locally" if you want to talk to a dedicated handgunner who has been there and done that.

[cottonstalk]

For me the switch was by accident.I carried both for years but it seemed when the moment of truth arose the long gun got the nod.One day I got off work a little early and all I had in the truck was a 44mag super blackhawk,and not enough time to go home,so I went hunting.I took a 5 point by eastern count and realized the only thing I lost was distance.As the years progressed the short guns began to take over due to the challenge of getting close.I usually hunt with strictly a handgun these days but at least one hunt a year,morning or evening, I bring out pops old gun for nastalga purposes,other than that one hunt it's strictly the handguns.

[bigbore442001]

I hunt locally with a variety of legal weapons such as the bow, shotgun and muzzleloader for deer. I do hunt small game and varmints with a handgun.

If I do a hunt outside of Connecticut or Massachusetts for deer or other big game it is always with a handgun. No exceptions.

[2 Dogs]

I hunt with a sixgun, Contender, and when its called for a rifle. I mean seriously, them 500 yard prairie dogs that are pretty safe from my sixguns are in trouble when I got my 223 AI in hand!

[texashoosier]

Where I grew up, rifles were illegal for deer hunting. Hunters sometimes had a handgun stashed as a backup/finishing weapon. Handguns had similar ranges to a shotgun so similar skills are required. The transition was natural when handguns were finally legalized.

[sixshot]

For me, handgun hunting has put the "kid" back into Christmas! Like most I started out with a rifle, took a step backwards to recurve bows, then went to Ruger #1 rifles, then single shot handguns & finally hit rock bottom when I went strictly to sixguns & I've never once regretted it. I haven't always been successful if you measure that by kills everytime, but I wouldn't trade the memories or the excitement for anything.
In order to really make the commitment you have to leave the rifle at home, if you don't you'll never use the handgun, you'll shoulder the rifle before you even think about the sixgun.
The thrill of getting in close, of hearing a big bull bugle as the sun starts to come over the mountain, the fog lifting off the beaverpond & the smell of sagebrush & mountain pine is never as clear or as strong as when you're packing a sixgun, if this makes sense you're ready, if it doesn't you aren't there yet.
The only limiting factor is the hunter. Once you do it & score, you'll never look back, ever.

Dick

[Wildcat]

I started with recurve bows then when old enough to satisfy state laws went to the rifle. About 14 years ago I made a very long shot on a nice buck. I didn't feel the thrill or satisfaction I used to feel. Felt more like a sniper than a hunter. The next spring I started practicing with sixguns and have used them exclusively for my big game hunting since that time. Definately has put the hunt back in my hunting and the satisfaction in the harvest is back as well.

[cottonstalk]

"The thrill of getting in close, of hearing a big bull bugle as the sun starts to come over the mountain, the fog lifting off the beaverpond & the smell of sagebrush & mountain pine is never as clear or as strong as when you're packing a sixgun" the way you make it sound Dick I live in the wrong part of the country.

[COR]

I removed my origianl comment due to me being edgy before my first coffee...

Handgunning is an excellent compromise to someone that doesn't want to use a bow but want more of a challenge as a hunter. The handgunner in me fails quite often at bagging game but always has a great time. The first buck I ever shot with a handgun graces my wall in a european style mount. It is my "proudest buck".

[hyvltge]

For javelina I go strictly handgun as rifle would be too easy.

For deer I put in for rifle, but also carry a handgun. If a handgun shot presents itself I will take it, but if it's too far the rifle is first choice.

[bigmuddy]

For me I have always had a love affair with handguns, and sixguns in particular. It started with my cap guns, my daisy bb gun, to a crossman pellet gun (my first handgun kill on a rabbit) to a .22 and on to big bores. I wanted to be a handgun hunter and tried to carry one with a rifle. Just like Dick says, I would shoulder the rifle when a deer showed up.

Finally I took the handgun alone. It was a 5.5" Redhawk. This hunt was probably 25 years ago. I "practiced" often with my gun and load, or so I thought that I had. Practice for me at the time was shooting my intended load off of a bench at targets at various ranges. I was ready to hunt!!

First morning out, very early, a small 6 point buck passed. I took aim and fired. I knew instantly I had made the dreaded gut shot. I fired 3 more times as the deer ran off. Long story, but I found that deer several hours later. I had made a terrible shot, and cussed myself repeatedly for trying this handgun "stunt". I swore never again would I do something so irresponsible. I had my first deer with a handgun, but proud I was not.

The love affair never changed, and eventually I got back to wanting to start handgun hunting. I realized that my earlier problem was due to lack of practice with my guns. I began to shoot now, at targets in hunting situations and in hunting positions. I shot often, and never from a bench (unless just testing a load). I am a dedicated bowhunter, and told myself I would never hunt with my bow unless I had months of practice. I had to put the same effort into my handguns.

When I felt I was really ready this time, I went again with handgun only. That was 6 years ago. I have not hunted with a rifle since. I shoot literally thousands of rounds per year from my hunting guns, and love it so much that I could almost give up hunting with a bow. I have found myself passing up bow shots on deer because I want to save them for the gun season.

I use handguns to hunt small game, and deer here in Missouri. I have hunted hogs with handgun, and this fall will make my first attempt at a black bear..also with handgun.

Again agreeing with Dick, but there is something very special about it that cannot be described. It has to be lived.

Dan

[kt57]

Apr 6, 2011 21:17:42 GMT -5 sixshot said:

For me, handgun hunting has put the "kid" back into Christmas! Like most I started out with a rifle, took a step backwards to recurve bows, then went to Ruger #1 rifles, then single shot handguns & finally hit rock bottom when I went strictly to sixguns & I've never once regretted it. I haven't always been successful if you measure that by kills everytime, but I wouldn't trade the memories or the excitement for anything.
In order to really make the commitment you have to leave the rifle at home, if you don't you'll never use the handgun, you'll shoulder the rifle before you even think about the sixgun.
The thrill of getting in close, of hearing a big bull bugle as the sun starts to come over the mountain, the fog lifting off the beaverpond & the smell of sagebrush & mountain pine is never as clear or as strong as when you're packing a sixgun, if this makes sense you're ready, if it doesn't you aren't there yet.
The only limiting factor is the hunter. Once you do it & score, you'll never look back, ever.

Dick

Now this post motivates me! Thank you sir!

[dvnv]

My rifle was a wood stocked, large scoped, heavy thing. Ok for an easy walk, but add a pack, a hill, some trees or brush, and it just got cumbersome. I left it in the tent once and have never taken it since. Sometimes it is plucked from storage and gazed upon with nostalgia, its place of prominence lost.

To buckle up a belt (gun, knife and cartriges attached) and stroll through nature with arms and shoulders free, seeing all that good stuff (can't improve on sixshot's description), is much preferred by me.

Trying to close the distance with senses on full alert, or figuring a successful ambush more than compensates for the risk of tag soup. dvnv

[38 WCF]

Like most, I started with a rifle. After a while I became bored with the routine kill provided by the rifle. I then hunted exclusiviely with handguns for about 7-8 years. I used a revolver and then a Contender with a scope. I managed to take all of the animals I sought with a handgun, Deer, Elk ,Antelope.
Once I scratched that itch I moved on to lever action rifles and that is where I currently place my interests as far as hunting goes. Sometimes I still carry a single action revolver with me "just in case" a close shot develops.