Handgun Hunting?

[rodwha]

I’m a bit curious how many people on this forum use a handgun to hunt with. What are you using, what are you hunting, what’s your load(s), and why the handgun? And what ranges do you feel confident in, and is that offhand, from a blind with a solid rest or shooting sticks?

I suppose I’m also curious what your results have been so far. How has the game animal reacted? Do you often get DRT or short runs? I’d it a bit of a tracking issue? Blood trails been good? Projectiles showing excellent or poor performance?

Quite frankly my revolvers and I need a lot more work. I shoot offhand but haven’t had satisfactory results beyond 15 yds. Maybe 25 would be good with a solid rest. But that was prior to my move when I was shooting at least once a month. Today, not so much and not an option as the closest outdoor range is now over an hour drive so I haven’t been until recently which showed me how poor I have become from slacking a few years. Guess I just need to fill up the truck more often and just go.

 

[Enfield58]

I have never hunted with a black powder handgun but here are some videos that I found.

 

[Rat]

I have hunted with modern handguns in the past, but I think that with black powder the single shot pistols would yield best results. Next hunting season, I am planning to take my Lyman Plains pistol (.50") with me when I call bear and cougar, and if a shot presents it's self to me off to my right, use the pistol rather than trying to swing around way to the right with my rifle or musket. (I am right handed)

That is why, for the last year or so, I've been shooting/practicing with my pistol with some heavy loads. 70 grains fffg with the round ball, and 60 grains with the 240 grain "PA" bullet. Those loads are the limit of my recoil tolerance, but they are accurate and I feel confident in them out to 50 yards under absolutely perfect conditions, and up to 35 yards for sure otherwise.

You might start quite a conversation as to whether a BP revolver is a good choice. I think the single barrel/single shot pistols are a great choice, and with heavy loads will rival many modern revolvers.

 

[Griz44Mag]

I would not hesitate to take a 40 yard shot with my Lyman Plains 54 with 50gr 3f.
A revolver? Generally loaded with a much lighter charge, and if your accuracy is as stated, not a good choice for a clean shot.
This is my hunting combo, both in 54.

 

[Desperate Lee]

I hunt mainly with my , God forbid, Contenders. I am building this one right now and it may be good for hunting. Shot placement must be good because it is a 45 cal.

 

[Treestalker]

Rodwha, I have hunted deer with modern revolvers in heavy calibers in the past. Now my left arm is partially paralyzed, so I'm in transition to a black powder pistol for hunting instead of a BP rifle. I have a .50 cal 9" barreled percussion belt pistol in the works, and have recently acquired an 18" .50 cal. Lyman barrel and a Siler large percussion lock I intend to build my primary hunting pistol out of. I wanted to emulate the Pedersoli Bounty Hunter with it's 16 1/2" barrel, but this barrel came with a professional muzzle crown and already threaded for a 5/8ths x 18 breech plug so I won't cut it down. I reckon another inch and 1/2 won't matter. Both of these barrels are round ball twist, but the Arkansas legislature and game and fish in their profound experience dictate a conical bullet in a .50 cal pistol. I'm sure I can make it work, at least up to 50 yards which was my limit with Irons in a modern revolver ( 2 deer, one hog) By all means try a large bore single shot BP pistol; and good shooting! George.

 

[Desperate Lee]

Rodwha
Seen you name on The 58 Forum. Still shooting revolvers?
DL

 

[rodwha]

Rodwha
Seen you name on The 58 Forum. Still shooting revolvers?
DL

I’m not familiar with that forum. Surprised that “rodwha” would be found elsewhere. It’s my name on forums.

 

[rodwha]

I have hunted with modern handguns in the past, but I think that with black powder the single shot pistols would yield best results. Next hunting season, I am planning to take my Lyman Plains pistol (.50") with me when I call bear and cougar, and if a shot presents it's self to me off to my right, use the pistol rather than trying to swing around way to the right with my rifle or musket. (I am right handed)

That is why, for the last year or so, I've been shooting/practicing with my pistol with some heavy loads. 70 grains fffg with the round ball, and 60 grains with the 240 grain "PA" bullet. Those loads are the limit of my recoil tolerance, but they are accurate and I feel confident in them out to 50 yards under absolutely perfect conditions, and up to 35 yards for sure otherwise.

You might start quite a conversation as to whether a BP revolver is a good choice. I think the single barrel/single shot pistols are a great choice, and with heavy loads will rival many modern revolvers.View attachment 6352

I feel a muzzleloading handgun would make a much better primary hunting pistol as well. I’ve been contemplating a Lyman’s Plains Pistol.

But if I can get my shooting back to what it was with my revolvers I’d certainly try it. From a rest I’d assume I could stretch the distance easily.

 

[Britsmoothy]

Our laws prevent me otherwise I would for small game and it would be a single shot most likely a 45. Percussion I think.

 

[F.G. Ford]

The Lyman .54 plains pistol would make a very good base to start from.
Obtain a 16" ish barrel the same flat to flat as the Lyman, install a hook breach, easily obtained from Lyman, or make your own,( easy to do ) put some sights on it, and you have a handy mini rifle.

 

[Treestalker]

Hello Brit my Friend, I can understand your frustration with asinine politicians foisting 'big brother knows best' laws on you for their own miserable ends. Yes, Americans can own handguns -for now- but we're just a few jackasses in congress away from losing that right. In Canada, one can own a sawed off shotgun so short it would be a -Felony- in America, but handguns are banned? In France, I understand one can purchase a silencer for a .22 rifle over the counter, but thanks to our draconian 1934 National Firearms Act, one has to pay Big Brother $200. for the 'privilege' of buying a silencer, plus copious inane paperwork and 'waiting periods'. How many good men and women from both our countries have died in wars to prevent external enemies from taking the very rights our own governments judge us too stupid to be trusted with? I'm sorry to be negative, but when I see my brother in a 'free world' country denied his God given rights, it just make me go berserk. Kipling said 'We know when all is said, we perish if we yield.' Brit, I look forward to the day when we all have all our rights; apparently that day is not yet. I do enjoy reading your exploits in the field, and wish you the best, Brother. George.

 

[Britsmoothy]

Hello Brit my Friend, I can understand your frustration with asinine politicians foisting 'big brother knows best' laws on you for their own miserable ends. Yes, Americans can own handguns -for now- but we're just a few jackasses in congress away from losing that right. In Canada, one can own a sawed off shotgun so short it would be a -Felony- in America, but handguns are banned? In France, I understand one can purchase a silencer for a .22 rifle over the counter, but thanks to our draconian 1934 National Firearms Act, one has to pay Big Brother $200. for the 'privilege' of buying a silencer, plus copious inane paperwork and 'waiting periods'. How many good men and women from both our countries have died in wars to prevent external enemies from taking the very rights our own governments judge us too stupid to be trusted with? I'm sorry to be negative, but when I see my brother in a 'free world' country denied his God given rights, it just make me go berserk. Kipling said 'We know when all is said, we perish if we yield.' Brit, I look forward to the day when we all have all our rights; apparently that day is not yet. I do enjoy reading your exploits in the field, and wish you the best, Brother. George.

Thank you. That was very kind of you.
I use to get all wound up with it all too.
Is it gonna change anything....no not really.
Sorry for the tangent.
I do keep enjoying reading all the accounts here though, it helps.

B.

 

[45man]

I have owned revolvers since I was 14 but we could only hunt small game in Ohio at the time. In 1956 I bought my first .44 mag. Then I got laid off and had to move to WV and it was the first year Ohio allowed deer hunting with a revolver but it was legal here so I started deer hunting with the .44. Then went larger to the .475, 45-70 and .500 JRH BFR's but the .44 does a fine job to 100 yards. I estimate I have taken 198 deer with revolvers since and the C&B Old Army has taken many. I can stuff 41 gr of Swiss FFFG in it with a ball. 1102 fps. Last deer went straight up and came down flat on her belly. A single shot pistol will work just fine too. I got old as sin and shake a lot now but still love the revolver. So easy in a shoulder holster to get in a stand. I went to Ultra Dots when sight got poor, cataracts but I got my eyes fixed. Nothing to be done with shaking though. There is a gremlin shaking the guns.
I started with the Hornady 240 gr XTP but it did not penetrate enough, you want two holes. The 300 gr is better and I started to make my own molds. I figured out the bullets and my best was 2-1/2" at 500 yards from Creedmore with the 45-70 BFR and 3/4" from the .44 at 200 meters. Way too far for deer as velocity drops too much. Like archery, close is better. Some might say a revolver is weak but not so. Here are a few. These are hard bullets. The .44 and .475 works fine at around 1316 to 1350 FPS but the 45-70 and .500 needs a soft nose or it pokes a stick hole. Too fast or too heavy a bullet. My .500 JRH is 440 gr. The 45-70 goes 1630 FPS.

 

[Treestalker]

Hey Brit, there's an old saying, 'When all is said and done, more is said than done'. I guess that applies to me too.

 

[arcticap]

Rodwha, I have hunted deer with modern revolvers in heavy calibers in the past. Now my left arm is partially paralyzed, so I'm in transition to a black powder pistol for hunting instead of a BP rifle. I have a .50 cal 9" barreled percussion belt pistol in the works, and have recently acquired an 18" .50 cal. Lyman barrel and a Siler large percussion lock I intend to build my primary hunting pistol out of. I wanted to emulate the Pedersoli Bounty Hunter with it's 16 1/2" barrel, but this barrel came with a professional muzzle crown and already threaded for a 5/8ths x 18 breech plug so I won't cut it down. I reckon another inch and 1/2 won't matter. Both of these barrels are round ball twist, but the Arkansas legislature and game and fish in their profound experience dictate a conical bullet in a .50 cal pistol. I'm sure I can make it work, at least up to 50 yards which was my limit with Irons in a modern revolver ( 2 deer, one hog) By all means try a large bore single shot BP pistol; and good shooting! George.

It's possible that under Arkansas state law, a black powder gun with a barrel of 12" or more is not considered to be a handgun, but rather a rifle or "long gun".
That's also how the state law reads in Connecticut.
If that's true then you can hunt with a round ball if the barrel is 12" or more.
The definition of a handgun is determined by state law and not Federal, and state laws can be different than Federal.
But please check with your Wildlife or other legal authorities to be safe and legal if you can't find the answer in this Arkansas statute.

What I found is listed under " Arkansas Statute 5 - 73 - 301 Section 4 " which states under "Subchapter 3: Concealed Handguns":

" 4. "Handgun" means any firearm, other than a fully automatic firearm, with a barrel length of less than 12 inches
that is designed, made, or adapted to be fired with one hand. " --->>> https://www.atf.gov/file/117156/download

If the barrel is 12 inches, then it may not be considered to be a "handgun" at all.
I'm not a lawyer so I would suggest to check with the conservation officers who would be enforcing the law.
If you don't get the right answer then ask a supervisor or higher ranking conservation officer.
If you still don't get the right answer, then submit a request for a written opinion, even if it means writing to your state Attorney General's office.
It's best to have it in writing if in doubt about how any conservation officer would enforce it, and carry a copy of the answer with you when hunting.
But I think that it's pretty clear that the possibility exists for you to be able to hunt deer using a patched round ball with your long barreled gun.

 

[rodwha]

It's possible that under Arkansas state law, a black powder gun with a barrel of 12" or more is not considered to be a handgun, but rather a rifle or "long gun".
That's also how the state law reads in Connecticut.
If that's true then you can hunt with a round ball if the barrel is 12" or more.
The definition of a handgun is determined by state law and not Federal, and state laws can be different than Federal.
But please check with your Wildlife or other legal authorities to be safe and legal if you can't find the answer in this Arkansas statute.

What I found is listed under " Arkansas Statute 5 - 73 - 301 Section 4 " which states under "Subchapter 3: Concealed Handguns":

" 4. "Handgun" means any firearm, other than a fully automatic firearm, with a barrel length of less than 12 inches
that is designed, made, or adapted to be fired with one hand. " --->>> https://www.atf.gov/file/117156/download

If the barrel is 12 inches, then it may not be considered to be a "handgun" at all.
I'm not a lawyer so I would suggest to check with the conservation officers who would be enforcing the law.
If you don't get the right answer then ask a supervisor or higher ranking conservation officer.
If you still don't get the right answer, then submit a request for a written opinion, even if it means writing to your state Attorney General's office.
It's best to have it in writing if in doubt about how any conservation officer would enforce it, and carry a copy of the answer with you when hunting.
But I think that it's pretty clear that the possibility exists for you to be able to hunt deer using a patched round ball with your long barreled gun.

I spoke with my local game warden not long after getting my ROA. During muzzleloader season here in TX I can have it as a sidearm but not as a primary weapon. Any other time (or non game animals) and it’s all good.

 

[rodwha]

The Lyman .54 plains pistol would make a very good base to start from.
Obtain a 16" ish barrel the same flat to flat as the Lyman, install a hook breach, easily obtained from Lyman, or make your own,( easy to do ) put some sights on it, and you have a handy mini rifle.

I have strongly considered the Plains Pistol as a primary weapon. But my rifle is .50 cal so unless that changes, and it might, I’d opt for the .50 cal version. I do like the .54 cal though and wish I would have started there instead. I’ve been contemplating having this barrel turned into a 28 ga.

I’ve also drooled all over the pics of short barreled rifles I’ve seen posted here or online. Measured up my barrel to see how short I could get it without having to mess with the first barrel/thimble (rod holding tube thingy) and figure 17” would about do it. Seems it would make for a nice handy tracking carbine or just for hunting in thick stuff.

 

[F.G. Ford]

Many areas, persons with certain disabilities can obtain permission to use hand guns to hunt with. Providing the is adequate energy to deliver humane kills.
But that consideration must be validated by the conservation authority of the particular area.
And it is definitely not unilateral state to state.
Here in Canada not so. No way, no how.
Many US visitors get into trouble coming here to visit with their hand gun stashed away thinking that their local state permit is good enough. Not so! Here mostly you will lose the hand gun and get a fine. Try that in Mexico, and see what happens.
Fred

 

[Carbon 6]

Small game, that's where the handgun fun is at.