Hi,
I'm a new hunter and would like to buy a revolver to use as my side arm and also may be in the future use it for hunting. what would you recommandm, I do have some calibers in mind .44mag .41mag and I don't know about a .357mag. I would most of the time hunt in northern California, what size barrel (5"6"or bigger) should I get, should I mount a scope on it or not.
thank you all
Alex02, welcome to Jesse's forum. ###You found a great place to hang out and talk hunting and fishing. ###
There's a lot of things to consider when selecting a hunting handgun. ###What is the general purpose? ###If it's to carry while hunting with a rifle or shotgun than you would probably do well with a 4-6" barrel revolver. ###
If it's your primarly hunting arm, than I would suggest a 6-7 1/2" barrel revolver. ###(Remember all this is opinion, and everyone has one.)
As to caliber, it depends on how much handgun shooting you've done. ###A .357 recoils much more than a .38 spl. A 44 mag. recoils much more than a .357 mag. And, a .454 Casull recoils much more than a .44 mag, and so on.
Most people will tell you that you should start with a .357 mag. if you haven't fired a lot of large bore handguns. ###Problem with that is that a .357 is marginal at best for big game, so eventually, you'll want to move up to a .41 or .44 mag. ###I would suggest you start with a .44 mag revolver, shooting .44 spls until your comfortable. ###You may even move up from there to a .454 Casull or .475 Linebaugh.
As to scope or not to scope, it's personal preferance. ###I handgun hunt because of the challenge, so I use a revolver with iron sights. ###If I was to use something like a Contender or Encore, I think a scope would extend ranges to near rifle range. ###So, if you are interested in this type of handgun, a scope would be very appropriate. ###Another reason to use a scope is if your eyesight is getting weaker, like some of us older types. ###But you really have to hold a scoped handgun to see for yourself. ###It's much differant than a scope on a rifle.
There are a lot of hundgun hunters that use the Contender and Encore single shots. ###They are very versatile with interchangable barrels.
Myself I use a Freedom Arms 7 1/2" .454 Casull for big game hunting. ###When I'm shotgunning, or using a rifle for rabbits or varmints, I carry a Ruger Super Blackhawk Bisley .44mag with 4 5/8" barrel for the occassional close shot at a coyote or pig. ###And I occassionally use a Colt Anaconda 6" .44 mag.
If I was to recommend just one big game handgun it would be a stainless Ruger Super Blackhawk .44mag with a 7 1/2" barrel. ###I truly believe that the Freedom Arms is the absolute finest revolver made, but it's probably not the one you would want to start with ($1500-$2200 new). ###I sold 3 guns to buy mine used, but after having owned one I would sell 10 guns to buy one. ### ###
Lots of good info here, and Bishop knows his stuff. ###
For my part, I've been hunting with long guns since I was shorter than my shotgun, but am really just getting into handguns. ###I've shot a few, but never regularly until I inherited a Browning 9mm a couple of years ago. That gun was a lot of fun to play with, but it wasn't designed to be used as a hunting weapon. ###
When I decided to get a hunting handgun, I decided pretty quickly that I wanted the same gun Bishop described above, the Ruger Super Blackhawk in .44mag, stainless with a 7.5" barrel. ###It's an unbeatable gun, and practically indestructible. ###It's not the cheapest on the market, but nowhere near the Freedom Arms or Dan Wessons. ###I think mine left the shop at appx. $450.
I chose .44 mag because I wanted something for all-around hunting. ###I mostly hunt pigs and deer, and wanted to be able to eventually leave the long guns home and switch to the hand cannon. ###I know there are a lot of opinions on "adequate" power and such, but I ruled out the .357mag as too light (especially for hogs), and the .454 as too much gun for me. ###I want to kill big game cleanly, but I also want to enjoy it at the range. ###The .44 handles .44 specials at the range, and the Ruger frame will handle the heaviest .44mag loads you would want to shoot. ### ###
First time I touched off a round through this gun, though, I was reminded how much more power it has than that little 9mm . ### :surprised-purple: ###From my own experience, I would definitely recommend spending a lot of time and a couple hundred rounds of low powered ammo until you're confident shooting it...then move to the heavier hunting rounds. ###I shot about 85 rounds of 240 gr. magnums the first day, and developed a significant flinch. ###I'm working on it now, but I'm sure that if I'd started with lighter ammo, I wouldn't have this problem to overcome.
The main thing is, have fun. ###Mess with a few guns if you can, until you find something you really like. ###You're in luck if there's a range nearby that rents guns. ###That way, you can get a feel for what you're getting into before you plunk down the dinero. Otherwise, just spend some time hefting them at the shop. ### ###
Since I like hunting at Fort Hunter Liggett, I also took note of their rule that handguns must have at least a 6" barrel.
Finally, look out for "shooting fairs" in your area where manufacturers come out and let you try out their stuff. ###Or you might try visiting a well-stocked range where you can rent their guns.
### ### ### Alex,
Welcome to Jesse's. There is tons of info, and even better people. I have to agree with Bishop. A .44 mag is a great gun to start out with. Recoil is not to bed, learning with .44 specials is a good idea. you get the feel for the gun. I have been shooting a .44 mag for sometime now and fell pretty comfortable with it. I have been thinking of stepping up to a .454 Casull. ###In my opinion, I prefer iron sights, it allows you to take quick follow up and running shots.
You'd do well to listen to Bishop and his boys when it comes to handguns, they know their stuff...
One more question for the Bishop clan - how far are you comfortable shooting with iron sights on big game? ###Not so much on the round but the ability to hit a target of that size with iron sights and a relatively short sighting plane?
ALEX 02, I aint been around this board all that long but I have been shooting handguns quite sometime and my reply is going to differ a bit from the others but here goes. First and foremost if you don't shoot handguns alot I would recommend starting ALOT smaller than a 44mag, you really should be quite proficient shooting before moving into calibers that can cause you to get the bad habit of flinching,it's hard to cure. ALWAYS when practicing wear hearing protection. Now as for calibers for hunting 45colt(long) is very versatile and when handloaded stoutly with hardcast bullets is devastating, that's exactly what ole John Linebaugh was doing when he developed the 475 and 500. What I have found over the years is I need a different gun for each situation. ###Or at least that is what I tell her......LOL ### Handcannon
& "Ditto" what Bishop said. ###I might add that you can also start off with light handloaded .44mag also. Then work your loads up. That is if you reload or trust a good friend who does. ###
Songdog: ###
I'm comfortable shooting 60-70 yards off hand, and 80-100 yards with some kind of rest. ###I sight in for 100 yards with iron sights. ###Evan IIIs big brother shoots a scoped Super Redhawk in .44 mag. ###We watched him shoot a Corsican Ram at 101 yards from a prone position. ###Coolest pistol shot I've ever seen. ### ###
Alex: ###Handcannon is also right in recommending the .45 long Colt. ###I too am a fan of John Linebaugh and his opinions on the 45LC. ###I've got a Ruger Bisley Blackhawk 7 1/2" that I like very much. ###If you reload you can easily duplicate .44 mag ballistics with a .45LC in either the Ruger or Colt Anaconda. ###(Do not do this with a S&W or Colt single action). ###I also agree with his opinion of starting with a low recoiling handgun. ###Because of the weight of most large frame .44 mag. handguns, shooting .44 specials in one is like shooting .38 specials in most .357 mag size handguns. ###Same thing with the .45 LC. ###Most cowboy action loads are very mild compared to what you can reload the 45LC too as a hunting round.
### ### ### ###Bishop is right about that shot on the corsican ram, I was in awe and would probly pay good money to see it again. (Shhh!! Don't tell my bro I said that)
### ### ### ###Personally I fell comfortable taking shots out to about 50 yards with iron sights. I may strech that to a max 75 yards if it is a good broad side shot with no obstructions. On moving game my shots are no longer then about 35 to 40 yards.
### ### ### ###As far as flinching and starting off with a large bore hand gun, .44 specials in a .44 mag ( in my opinion) Has relatively little recoil. In handguns such as ruger Redhawks, super Redhawks, colt Anacondas with 6" or longer barrels, The weight of the gun seems to absorb alot of the felt recoil.
I am partial to the .45 colt (long colt) , I have not hunted with it but if you reload you can devolop your own loads for plinkin or hunting using the same brass. Mild loads and you can reload the brass many many times some of mine has been relaoded 10-12 times with no signs of needing to be replaced. With hot loads and heavy bullets as bishop was saying will surpass the .44mag .
I have tried to scope this bisely but have not had success with a solid mount.
If I were hunting with my stainles ruger bisley I would be confident to take a shot at 50 yards or so and another 25 yards more from a rest
Hey guys thanks a lot for all that advice, I might stick to my s&w 686p .357 for now and practice some more and try some other calibers. But I do have in mind a .44 or .41mag as my hunting gun. And once again that's for all the advice you have given me and also thanks for the nice, warm welcome.
### ### ### ### ### ### ### ###Safe hunting and shooting, see ya out there
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