Best Handgun for hunting?
 

What's the best handgun I could buy for taking whitetails??? Looking to buy. Looking for great range, great handling best overall. Any advice?

RE: Best Handgun for hunting?
 

By the way, I'd like to stay away from revolvers if at all possible. But if they're the best let me know. I'm just getting into this.

RE: Best Handgun for hunting?
 

I think you'll get a lot of biased opinions to wade through on this one, but hearing what has worked for others may point you in the right direction.I would like to know how many different choicesare out there. Somegreat hunting handguns aren't even made anymorebut can be found used.

I carry two pistols while hunting, one for long range open fieldshots and one for closequick shots.

1)My long range option is an Encore in 7mm-08with15" barrelandhandloaded 139 gr. HornadaySST Interlocks. It's topped with a Burris 3-12X with ballplex and parralax adjustment. The 7mm-08 has little recoil withgreat ballistics for long range shooting.

2) Whilestalking or moving in/out of the stand I carrya 44. Mag Ruger Super RedHawkiniron sights withhandloaded 320 gr hardcast WLNGC. Ihave been looking for an Eotech 510AA or 550 AA to put on theRuger forfastertargetacquisition, but have been toldby my local shops that they are in short supply. Currently I amtest loading240 gr hardcast bullets. I think for whitetails they will get the job done at a cheaper price. Federal American Eagle 240 gr loads worked just fine before I started handloading to get better groups.

In WI a handgun must be at least 5" from end of barrel to pin and must be a centerfire of at least .22 caliber. Some states require straight wall cartridges only and of course maximum barrel lengths for pistols apply as well. The reason I started carrying a handgun was to travel between rifle and shotgun counties without having to change my gun. In Wisconsin you can use a handgun in any rifle or shotgun county. Do you have any requirements in your state?

I know some guys that carry a .45 Springfield long slide for finishing shots at close range. But they have to carry it in an exposed holster because WI is not yet a CCW state.

I have also looked at a Savage bolt action .308 that holds three cartridges. This pistol caught my eye because the bolt is on the left side. This makes perfect sense once you try to reload for a second shot on a pistol that has the bolt on the right.

I have seen the Rem XP bolt action in a few calibers and have heard nice reviews.

I am curious about the Kel-Tec hunting handgun that is in the NRA magazines, has anyone shot it that would like to share a review?

RE: Best Handgun for hunting?
 

One thing to keep in mind is the size/weight issue. Too much and you might as well lug a rifle around. I had a 10" .357 maximum Contender that unfortunately I never had the opportunity toshoota whitetail with, but was a nice sizeto carry. I did take a deer with a S&W 629 Classic 8 3/8" with a 2x Leupold thatI carried for a few seasons.240 XTP at about 70 yards did the job... I miss that gun. The key thing is practice, just like getting good with a bow.

RE: Best Handgun for hunting?
 

I hunt witha 44mag and is the minimal I would use for deer. I won't hesitate for shots under 100 yards. I also have a 460Smith I used for the first time this year. And its basically has the power of the 45-70. Its shoots under 6" groups at 200 yards. Just amazing. I would have never thought that amount of accuracy could be had with a revolver.

I don't know of any semi I would ever take hunting. Maybe a 50AE with speicalized ammo.

RE: Best Handgun for hunting?
 

DITTO!

RE: Best Handgun for hunting?
 

I am real fond of my .41 magnum

RE: Best Handgun for hunting?
 

I think your best bet is a Ruger Super Redhawk .44 Rem. Mag. 7.5" barrel; topped with a Burris 1.5X-4X handgun scope, or Thompson Center Encore .270 Win. with 15" barrel; topped with a Burris 2X-7X handgun scope. Good luck.

RE: Best Handgun for hunting?
 

I agree with Big country, rebel hog and handloader the .44mag is min . And that calibur in a Ruger Super Redhawk is awsome. Mine is a 7.5in barrel and a leupold 4X scope , it is a real good shooter and I dont think it kicks very hard, but some do.

RE: Best Handgun for hunting?
 

I have gotten hooked on single shots. Most of mine are in varmint calibers but I do have one in 308 (the stainless one with the break) and 7Int-x (the break open)
I prefer the bolt guns as they are the most accurate

RE: Best Handgun for hunting?
 

Nice!

RE: Best Handgun for hunting?
 

smith 629 or ruger super redhawk, 41 or 44 mag

If you don't want a revolver it's tough to beat the TC Encore or Contender. 308, 44 etc...

RE: Best Handgun for hunting?
 

S&W 57 or 657 41 mag. All the nuts and bolts included. Some don't like that avalibility of ammo but when it was created for sillouette shooters some hunters found it to be a superb hunting handgun. Mine has killed elk, bear, and deer without missing a beat.

RE: Best Handgun for hunting?
 

Very Nice!

RE: Best Handgun for hunting?
 

Obviously if you want rifle like accuracy, &long range w/ ability to kill, revolvers are out of the question.
I prefer XP100's but they're getting rare. The encore is a great and versatile handgun. There are lots and lots of TCEncore & aftermarketbarrels & cartridges to choose from, and those guns are usually very accurate. I'll probably buy one when XP's become impossible to find.
Probably the most versatile cartridge is the 308 Win. Factory ammo is always there if you don't handload.If you do handload, availablebullet selectioncovers a wide spectrum from 90 gr varmint to 240 gr solids.It's an efficient cartridge with the ability to take any hoofed animal on this continent, or the smallest varmint.
Below is an XP I built a few years ago. Altered factory stock, 308 Win,17" Shilen#5 taperbarrel, Gentry 3 position safety, Farrel base, TPS rings (Leupold QRW'spictured), blah, blah. It shoots sub moa and I've taken many white tail, hogs, coyotes, bobcats, etc with it. 400 yard kills on white tailare a snap if you can hold it steady.

RE: Best Handgun for hunting?
 

At 200yards, with accuracy like this, do you think its out of the question to use a revolver? I realize this is not typical, but I won't hesitate to shoot against a encore "bigbore", or that rifle you show.:D

RE: Best Handgun for hunting?
 

BigCountry,
That'ssuper good shootin' for a wheel gun. Better than I can do with my old 29.Being able to hit a pie plate isn't exactly precision shooting though. 1.5" @ 200 yds would be acceptable.
And, @ 200 yds that 460 S&Wbullet has got at best 800 pounds of energy. You could stop that with an average dictionary, or a deer's shoulder. A 308 or 30-284 outof a handgunhas still got 1200+pounds @ that range.

RE: Best Handgun for hunting?
 

I know, but just figured I would get your goat today. I was actually shocked when I shot these groups. I have never shot accuracy like this from a revolver and didn't think its possible. Its a performance model with 10.5" barrel. And the good news is when I got these groups, I was so happy I about cryed, cause I got it used scope and all for 1000 dollars.

Its a vain thing for me. I just like wheel guns.

RE: Best Handgun for hunting?
 

I've still got a soft spot for wheel guns too. I still have a 29 that I bought used over 25 years ago. It's a rattle trap but still shoots good. Nothing like what you've got.
My best buddy recently bought one of those crazy 45-70 revolvers and we've been shooting it a lot. The recoil is absolutely painful but I love shooting it. I told him the next time I take him hog hunting, I get to use it after he gets his first hog.

RE: Best Handgun for hunting?
 

Ranger
Who did the camo on your stock?? The shortbarrel Lone Eagle in my picture has very little blueing left on it and would look great with the metal camo'd

RE: Best Handgun for hunting?
 

Hairtrigger,
I did the stock finish. I built the gun. I do quite a few stocks. Seems everytime I go to the range I pick up another to do for someone.

RE: Best Handgun for hunting?
 

This is the exact opposite of what I want, I want my grip left alone and the metal camo'd

Are you willing?

RE: Best Handgun for hunting?
 

Oh
Forgot to say

WOW that looks great!

RE: Best Handgun for hunting?
 

Thanks. Yeah, I could do that. I've done quitea few complete guns. Scope too?

RE: Best Handgun for hunting?
 

thanks for all the help guys. I'm kind of leaning towards the .308. I appreciate everything!

RE: Best Handgun for hunting?
 

Scheels sporting goods in Appleton Wi, is where I saw the used Savage .308

I could call and check on availability and price if you like...or just give you the number if you are interested.

J