Need Help Selecting a Hunting Pistol
 

I' m looking for a non-automatic pistol for handgun hunting deer - something along a .45 caliber and has to have a scope mount.

Also, something with a silent hammer or no hammer at all - I scared away a 12pt this weekend when he heard me pull the hammer back.

I would like to get in under $500. Any suggestions? T/C Contender? Anything else?


Thanks in advance!

RE: Need Help Selecting a Hunting Pistol
 

I just bought an Encore and love it. The hammer makes a little " click" but no more than ony other pistol that I have. I also love the versality of it. You can get 80 different calibers and turn it into a rifle.

RE: Need Help Selecting a Hunting Pistol
 

If you want to stay with a pistol I would give the Contender G2 a look. If, in the future, you may want a rifle give the Encore a good look. I have the Encore and truly love it.

RE: Need Help Selecting a Hunting Pistol
 

I compared the G2 and Encore before I bought one. The Ecnore has many more possibilities for mid to big game. You can get barrels like 300 for the encore but not for the G2. The only advantage of the G2 is that you can switch it to rim fire.

RE: Need Help Selecting a Hunting Pistol
 

Encores can now fire rimfire ammo without having to install the adapter for it. Check it out.

http://www.mbmco.net/Merchant2/merch...ategory_Code=P

Either way you can' t go wrong with a Thompson Center.

RE: Need Help Selecting a Hunting Pistol
 

I agree with the others. The contender is the way to go. Now, for a cartridge. .45 caliber huh? How about .45-70?? But you better be a man to shoot it. LOL

RE: Need Help Selecting a Hunting Pistol
 

45-70? At the risk of sounding like a gun virgin, what does the 70 mean? I' m a bowhunter mostly - slug gun hunter once a year. I carried a friends Ruger .45 in the field on day 2 of shotgun season here (new Illinois law) and fell in love with it. Thats why I' m looking for a pistol/revolver.

I don' t have much use for a rifle here. In Illinois we can only hunt varmits and coyotes with rifle - I' m not in to either.

I looked at a Ruger Super RedHawk 454 today and except for the price, was pretty impressed. It comes with scope rings also. I' m going to a gun auction Sunday morning and would like to have some ideas.

RE: Need Help Selecting a Hunting Pistol
 

It' s an old designation that is still used today. When metallic cartridges came out, it was common to see this type of designation on cartridges. The .45-70 means 45 caliber/70 grains of black powder. The Contender can also shoot just about any rifle cartridge.

The Ruger Redhawk is a fine revolver. So is the Taurus Raging Bull. The .454 is probably the .454 Casull. A true flame throwing, monster killing cartridge, with recoil to match. The above guns in that caliber are usually ported to tame some of that.

RE: Need Help Selecting a Hunting Pistol
 

i had a ruger super blackhawk 44 mag 2.5 simmons scope. it loved 300 gr cast bullets. i shot one deer with it, 2 shot through the chest and when i mean through i mean 2 half inch holes one side one 4 inch on the other. the gun was fun to shoot but it was a hand full

RE: Need Help Selecting a Hunting Pistol
 

Hands down for the money your talking about it's got to be a TC Contender or Encore. Wonderful hunting handguns!

RE: Need Help Selecting a Hunting Pistol
 

Ruger Red Hawk 44 Mag

RE: Need Help Selecting a Hunting Pistol
 

The SRH's are a great hunting handgun.I agree if you look at Ruger's MSRP it's scary.Watch www.gunsamerica.com. Look under Ruger handguns.I see these NIB RH & SRH's for close to dealer prices.I have a SRH w/9.5" bbl in 454 Casull. You do have to hold on to it but it's really not bad in my opinion.Look into a Redhawk. They are available with or without the cut outs for the scope rings. You said a scope is a must. The Ruger's ring system is a nice set up.I carry a Redhawk 7.5" 44 mag during our deer season.THE SRH with that 9.5"bbl is to big and bulky to carry all day,especially with a scope mounted.I like the old Contenders and the Encores but I like to have more then one shot if needed.You won't go wrong with either of the Ruger's.
Ruger Redhawk

RE: Need Help Selecting a Hunting Pistol
 

I HAVE A RUGER SUPER REDHAWK 44MAG AND LOVE IT . FIXED 4 LEUPOLD EER AND LOVE TOO !!!

RE: Need Help Selecting a Hunting Pistol
 

Heres another vote for the RSRH .44 mag.

RE: Need Help Selecting a Hunting Pistol
 

Thanks for all the help fellas!

As I've said, I'm a bowhunter mainly so this may sound silly.

Is there a place I can try these guns out before deciding which one to buy? Is that common practice? I'd love a SRH .454 but at $600 I'd like to make sure I like shooting it.

RE: Need Help Selecting a Hunting Pistol
 

HAZCON7 It's doubtful a gun shop will let you fire a new gun.If they have a range and have a used gun they MIGHT let you fire it.Unless you're in a big hurry watch gunsamerica. You're bound to find a good deal on there.They have used and new guns listed everyday.I've gotten several long guns off GA.
Ruger Redhawk

RE: Need Help Selecting a Hunting Pistol
 

I like your screenname - Gee I wonder what gun you prefer???

RE: Need Help Selecting a Hunting Pistol
 

Ruger Super Redhawk in 480 ruger more energy and recoil the the 44 mag but less than the 454

RE: Need Help Selecting a Hunting Pistol
 

Thanks Hazcon2 Not just the Ruger Redhawk but all Ruger's.I've had one or two that weren't perfect but Ruger made them right.

Ruger Redhawk

RE: Need Help Selecting a Hunting Pistol
 

Hi HAZCON7,

In reference to your "hammer click" that scared away a deer.....there is a technique to prevent the audible click. (I am very hesitant to present it here because of the potential for an accident to occur unless you practice it....gun empty....and employ it, very carefully.)

There is no danger with the technique itself....the danger is from doing it improperly or with ineptitude. But it is a technique that has been employed by hammer operated long guns and handguns for a very long time. Of course that was a time when people handled their guns much more frequently and were more familiar with them.

I WILL BEAR NO RESPONSIBILITY IF YOU DO THIS IMPROPERLY AND SHOOT YOURSELF OR SOMEONE ELSE!

Start by practicing with an empty firearm!

After you ascertain your firearm is empty, and pointed in a safe direction, while the hammer is still down, (as in an uncocked position), carefully place your trigger finger on the trigger and depress it entirely to the rear. While holding the trigger entirely to the rear carefully cock the hammer to full cock. Continue holding the hammer to the rear and carefully release the trigger. When you slowly release the hammer it will engage the full cock notch. Your hammer is now fully cocked and it was done silently.

This method of silently cocking a hammer has been employed for as long as there have been hammer guns. But it was done for the most part by people that were much more familiar with their guns, and handling them was second nature.

I will reiterate once again. THE POTENTIAL FOR AN ACCIDENTAL DISCHARGE EXIST IF YOU DO THIS IMPROPERLY OR EVEN GET CARELESS FOR A MOMENT! It is actually a very easy technique to master....but with a potential for disaster if you get careless! Always keep the weapon pointed in a safe direction. And if you decide to give it a try.....do it with an empty gun hundreds of times until it becomes second nature....all the time with an awareness that if you get carless.....it could prove fatal!

Only you can decide if you consider yourself willing to do it, (actually done very easily), but you do it with safety awareness....and ONLY if you are willing to accept responsibility for your actions!

P.S. The danger is from the possibility of "dropping the hammer" on a live round while your finger is still depressing the trigger. If you do that.....THE GUN WILL FIRE! I say again, DO NOT RELEASE THE HAMMER WHILE YOU STILL HAVE THE TRIGGER DEPRESSED....IF YOU DO....THE GUN WILL DISCHARGE!

RE: Need Help Selecting a Hunting Pistol
 

I'm kind of new here, and as you can see by my screen name, you know what I prefer. The versatility of the T/C's is unmatched!! To me, having "one-shot" will make you a better hunter. If you've only got one shot, you'd better learn to make that "one shot" count. As posted above, there are many calibers available from T/C that will be fine for deer. As for the bigger calibers, go with one that has the "muzzle-tamer". I have a 444 Marlin and a 45/70, both with "tamers" and neither one is bad at all to shoot. In the end, it'll be you that spends the cash. So weigh all of the options and go with what "fits" you the best.

RE: Need Help Selecting a Hunting Pistol
 

akbound, I agree with your method but must point out that technique doesn't seem to work on my double action revolver. Ruger redhawk .44mag. Any tricks for a double action?

The ability to take a safety off quietly is the main reason I'm considering the Savage Striker for my next handgun purchase-- come on bonus/tax return!!

RE: Need Help Selecting a Hunting Pistol
 

Hi DaveC,

Your post caused me to pause and think. Most of the time I've used the technique has been lever action rifles, single shot hammer rifles/shotguns, and SA revolvers/autos. So I had to really think!

I ran downstairs and tried a S&W 649 (DA .357), S&W 66 (DA .357), Ruger P94DC (DA/SA Auto w/decocking lever), Taurus PT92/99 (DA/SA Auto), and a Taurus 94 (DA .22LR). I didn't want to open the safe so I stopped at that.

My wife's S&W 66 made an audible "double click" as I tried the technique. (Also I found I have to simutaneously depress the trigger and cock the hammer to bring the hammer back.) So the movement becomes even a little more complicated....and therefore increases the risks of an accidental discharge.

With every one of the other guns I listed above I also had to depress the trigger, while cocking the hammer.....simultaneously, but there was NO audible click. Then I had to slowly release the trigger....and then slowly release the hammer and it would engage the full cock notch.

Unfortunately I don't have a Ruger Redhawk on hand to give it a try. The only thing I could suggest is an individual try it for themselves. BUT EXERCISE EXTREME CAUTION WITH MUZZLE CONTROL! If you are fortunate enough it doesn't make an audible click great. But I suppose with some DA guns there will be a slight mechanical sound. The S&W 66 noted above....even though there was a "double click" that was audible...it was significantly less than "just cocking the hammer".

I guess each one is different!

P.S. Obviously your out of luck with DAO....but I don't know many hunters that use them as a primary hunting arm!

RE: Need Help Selecting a Hunting Pistol
 

Thanks for trying your guns out. The only time I even began to try it I felt the double action coming into play and stopped at that point. I have been carrying my scoped redhawk as a close range shot secondary to my .270 for about 7 years now.

The only time the audiable double click of the hammer coming back was a factor was when mr. big (for my woods) was at fifty yards and closing. I got one look at his rack, my brain said "shooter" and before I knew it the loudest double click hammer cock had occured within my grasp. The buck jerked his head my direction and was staring intently my direction before I placed the cross hairs on his shoulder and squeezed the trigger. It worked that time, but the noise could have very well cost me the shot.

What I'm getting at is when the heat is on and my brain goes into meltdown mode I want to be able to ease a safety off instead of trying to remember the above trick to getting the hammer back quietly.

Once again, thanks for the help and maybe this is just an exuse for me to adorn my gunsafe with another firearm:D- I'm sure you understand!!

RE: Need Help Selecting a Hunting Pistol
 

Yup! Sure do. (As if I ever needed an excuse....please don't tell the Mrs.?!?;))

P.S. By the way...the DA came into play with each of mine as I did it...they just did it more quietly as I eased them back simultaneously. Those Strikers sure do look nice though!

RE: Need Help Selecting a Hunting Pistol
 

The outdoor channel had a show on the other day where they were using Strikers to shoot some rams (if I remember correctly). The whole time it was on I kept telling the wife "there it is , there's the gun I want" with a long stream of drool running out the sides of my mouth.

She was steadily babbling something in the background trying to break my trance, but I was unshakable. Didn't hear much of the show, but the kill shots with the striker sure looked nice!!



I wonder what my "uh-huh" answers during her babbling rant might have gotten me into?
oh well, I'll find out when I hear those magical words- "I told you the other day!!!, you never listen to anything I say"-lol!!

I figure after 3 years of the outdoor channel she would have figured it out (don't talk while a hunting show is on), but not yet:(. women:( what's a man to do???