I'm Gonna- dedicated to all those who are thinking of hunting with a handgun

[JimT]

(written many years ago ... from the old Sixgunner.Com archives)

"I'm gonna hunt deer this year with my handgun!".... have you ever made that statement... or one similar, but have yet to follow through with it? Are you one of those who is thinking about hunting something with a handgun but have not yet actually done it? When thinking about it, do you suddenly have a myriad of questions, worries, thoughts and ideas whirling around in your head? If so you are not alone.

A week hardly goes by that we do not get questions from readers dealing with this very subject. It seems the idea of hunting with a handgun is very appealing to many hunters. But actually doing it is another thing. The concerns run from "will my gun work for this?" to "does my load have enough power?" to "will it be humane?" and everything in between. Very few question their own ability though that is proper place to start.

Some would-be handgun hunters worry about the power level of their handgun. I receive e-mail asking "Does my "_____________" (fill in the blank with your particular sixgun) have enough power to kill a deer?" Let me answer by saying this: This short article is not intended as a do-all be-all "how to properly hunt with handguns" article. Therefore I do not intend to get into bullets, load data, trajectories and power levels. A short answer would be, "For most deer-sized game and smaller, the .357 Magnum, .41 Magnum, .44 Magnum, & .45 Colt with the correct ammo will work just fine." Using the right cartridges, within certain distances, and hitting the animal in the proper place they will take deer cleanly and humanely. So will a number of other handgun calibers.

So, assuming you have a handgun with sufficient power and the proper bullets to take the type of animal you will be hunting, your own skill level is the place to begin when undertaking to hunt with handgun.

MISTAKES

Many novice handgun hunters (who may be experienced rifle hunters) often make the mistake of taking both a rifle and pistol. The idea seems to be something like this, "If it's too long a shot I can use the rifle" It is a commendable idea in theory but it rarely works in real life.

Don't misunderstand me. It is never wrong to have a backup gun. Mechanical things do break at the worst time. But I have found that if you are hunting, carrying both a rifle and a pistol, and you happen to jump some game you will use what you have in your hand at the moment. Even hunting from a blind does not often allow a person the time to choose which gun they are going to use.

My suggestion is: Make a commitment and stick with it. If you are going to Handgun Hunt, go for it 100%.

PRACTICE

Some hunter's confidence problems are simply a lack of practical experience. They have no idea as to how to judge distances or where the vitals are located in the animals body and the shot placement needed to reach them from different angles. Some have never learned how to stalk game.

I know that not everyone can afford to hunt big game all the time. But you can hunt squirrels, rabbits, coyotes, foxes, and other varmints. You can practice on targets at unknown distances. Get out in the woods and hills as much as possible where you can follow some of the critters, look them over, observe them and learn. Study photographs of different animals. Learn to visualize where the heart/lungs lay and the angles required to reach them. Practice shooting on small targets. Practice shooting on targets while standing up on your hind legs. Don't practice from a bench rest. Shoot in the positions that you will use in the field.

When I first started hunting Javelina my success ratio was poor.... about the State average. (then it was around 25%). I began practicing by jogging up a mountainside until I was huffing pretty hard (it would not take much now to make me do that!) then shooting a 14" car rim at 150 yards offhand. My shooting was miserable at first, but as I kept on I found I was improving. In addition I began going out in the hills and finding Javelina, then following them around to see what they do and where they go. Since that time I never failed to bag a Javelina.

I practiced estimating ranges to various objects and visualizing the sight picture I needed. And I practiced shooting at unknown distances. It all helped. By the way... I find that I normally estimate distances further than they are. I have rarely missed a shot by shooting too low. Most of my misses have been "over" instead of "under". It is good to know your own weaknesses.

I also practiced on targets much smaller than what I was going to be shooting. Learn to hit the little ones and the big ones seem easy!

SUGGESTIONS

I would stick with one gun and one load. Find an accurate load with enough power for what you are going to hunt. Learn where it hits at all the distances you will be using it, from the muzzle to your maximum range. Your maximum range should be the distance at which you can put your shots into the kill zone when winded, excited or scared. For some shooters that is further than for others. Know your limitations and stay within them! For most people I would suggest staying inside 50 yards, at least until you have quite a bit of experience under your belt. I try to get as close as I can.

Practice stalking game. Go out when it's not deer season armed with a camera. See how close you can get to that Whitetail and snap his picture. Try to sneak up on a Coyote. Learn to use the wind and the sun. Muzzle energy is rated AT THE MUZZLE. Get them as close to the muzzle as practical. It's much easier to place your shot at close distances.

Bullet placement is EVERYTHING. Target shooting is not a waste of time. Shooting paper will tell you whether you have good control, a good load, a good trigger let-off.... and it don't lie. It is embarrassing sometimes though.........

Know your limitations and stay within them. There is nothing wrong with passing up a shot that you do not feel comfortable about. It is the honorable thing to do.

FINALLY

Know your particular State laws as to what handguns and loads you can hunt with. Each State can be different. Get in touch with your Game & Fish Dept. and find out for sure.

One of these days you may surprise yourself. The first time you bag that deer, or coyote, or groundhog... with your sixgun... you will know a sense of accomplishment. And you will be on your way to becoming a Handgun Hunter.

[Bill in Oregon]

Another excellent read, Jim. Thanks.

[Pisgah]

Excellent advice. I got serious with handgun hunting 30+ years ago when I stumbled into a screaming good pawn shop deal on a 7.5" Ruger Bisley .45 Colt equipped with a Weigand scope base and a Tasco ProPoint red dot sight. Since then half my time afield is spent hunting with this gun. It's a wonderful break from toting a rifle, and the equal of a rifle in much of the forested territory I hunt.

[tray]

I agree, when I was finally to the point in my life where I had disposable income, I made it my mission to buy the equipment I needed to reload. Then to buy the guns I had long wanted to own. My intent was to hunt every day possible during hunting season. All the time in between seasons was spent shooting and loading. I purchased a membership at the local shooting club range and shot several days a week there. I started on the skeet range but found out quickly there was a group there that had more pull and could dominate the range and leave the rest of us to spectate. I noticed almost no one on the pistol range. It became my focus. The pistol range at this club was a 25 and 50 yard option. It had covered benches, but provisions to stand and shoot if desired. I normally chose to place my targets at the 50 yard mark and stand to shoot. This shooting was me using a revolver, shooting single action slow fire trying for the smallest group I could produce at 50 yards. I shot many, many rounds that way.
I have heard many theories about shooting but my experience in the field was that all those rounds down range were not for nothing. It produced muscle memory. I found that the times I was afield with a gun in my hand and jumped game with only the time to raise the gun and fire, more times than not, I hit the game I was shooting at. I didn't have time to think, just react. It was all muscle memory.
Although I have taken a long way around the barn to come to the point, my point is not to worry about all the details passed what is reasonable. Just shoot when you can, all you can. When the time comes you will be able to complete the task. Sure you need to have a reasonable size caliber, bullet, and load; but if you do that and practice using them, you will be able to successfully hunt the game you are after.

[Scott Tschirhart]

Very good advice Jim. Thank you.

[Rexster]

Good advice. Thanks!

So, I will carry a handgun, for the huntin’, and a shotgun or rifle for the trespassin’ poachers/arsonists. (Actually, in spite of the winking smiley, there is a serious side to what I just typed.)

[Streetstar]

I’ve handgun hunted back when I had sufficient time to train enough to feel proficient

Even then, I made a pact with myself to not take any shots longer than I would feel comfortable taking with a crossbow.

Granted I was using a open sight revolver, not a Contender/Encore type of rig with an optic or anything -

[LeverGunner]

Great read, thank you for sharing.