First time hunter...

V

vts

New member
I have been invited too go deer and/or wild boar hunting some time in 2008.

I have only hunted birds in Norway, and to my surprise handgun hunting is legal in this country.
So now I'm looking for a handgun for deer/wild boar hunting.

Here a re a few i have found:
44mag single action
http://www.ruger-firearms.com/Firearms/FAProdView?model=831&return=Y

357mag, 44mag, 375JDJ and 45-70
http://www.tcarms.com/firearms/g2ContenderPistols.php

I am leaning towards the T/C in 44mag and 375JDJ

If any one could be so kind as to give me there two cents...
 
i'd go 44mag and get a double action. pig shooting especially is known to be fast and close in. remember you want to be able to

1) hit with it well

2) fast follow ups if needed (especially pigs. single action is too slow, but 99% of the time you prob one have one run after you)

3) you want it not so punishing that you actually practice with it and that the ammo dosent burn too big of a hole in the pocket. AFAIK you can use 44 special ammo in the 44mag to just get used to it and then i'd practice with similar recoiling ammo as you would use during the hunt.
 
I don't know how much experience you have with bigbore handguns. I wouldn't recommend a Contender in .45-70 or .375JDJ unless you are experienced and know what you are doing. I've fired a .45-70 Contender and it is not for beginners.

Frankly, a .44 magnum is not really a beginners gun, either.

Have you fired anything similar to the ones you are thinking about? Try them out if you can with appropriate loads for hunting and see what you think.

The Super Blackhawk is a fine handgun. Double actions like bandit mentioned are great, too. The Ruger Redhawk and Super Redhawk and the S&W 29/629 will work well.

The T/C Contender is a great gun and you can change calibers for different uses.

Whichever you go with, practice a lot. Hitting a big game animal with a handgun is not as easy as it might seem. Reduced loads are available in .44 Magnum and I recommend a lot a practice with them.

Are you hunting deer and pigs in the US? Where?
 
I agree on double action, but i can't hit any thing shooting DA, I thumb the hammer every time anyway. But i do like the Super Redhawk.
http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=87542769

And yes the 44 is a lot cheaper to shoot, even if you reload.
I like the inter changeable barrels on the T/C. I can buy one in 44 now and get a second barrel in 375 JDJ later.

I have shoot the T/C Encore in 375JDJ and the recoil was kinda like a light weight 44mag. I don't know if i can handle the 45-70, but the barrel is only 250-300$ so it's not a major set back.

I live in Orange County, California.
 
Are you shooting open sighted or through a scope?

I don't want to come off as presumptuous, but a rifle provides a little more margin for error when it comes to keeping everything steady. I admire your willingness to take a challenge early, but making a clean kill and building the skill of shooting under less than ideal circumstances requires nerves that I wasn't born with. I'd love to give handgun and bow hunting a go one day when I'm calling 100% of my rifle shots. It takes a bit of coolness and finesse to handgun hunt I would guess. I still get a little heart race that requires controlled breathing to settle the crosshairs on a rifle in the field.
 
I have never shot an animal when i was exited. If my heart beat goes up and i get nervous, I will not shot. That is one of my hunting rules. I rater go home empty handed than have to track a wounded animal.

I plan to use open sights, that being said, I have no experience with handgun hunting so I want the option to put on a scope.
A 44mag offers cheap ammo, I plan to reload, this translates to more practice than any other big bore hunting handgun.

The Ruger Super Redhawk sound like the gun.
 
Sounds like a plan. I prefer the looks of the Standard Redhawk. If I recall correctly weight is really a non-issue as is strength.

What length barrel are you looking at and what anticipated range will you be shooting from (a longer sight radius will make it easier)? Be sure and shoot your sights in with the load you will be using in the field. I carry a .357 afield, and my field loads shoot about an inch lower than my SD loads at 10 yards and that translates to much lower at deer distances even though it is shooting a little flatter.
 
Practice makes a lot of difference. A buddy of mine can do double-taps with 260-grain hot loads from a Raging Bull, and hit my gong target regularly at 180 yards with iron sights. But he had years of "play" of around 100 rounds a week of .44 Maggie.

A good practice load for a Redhawk is six grains of 231 with a 250-grain lead bullet. Definitely more punch than a .45ACP, but little recoil.

300-grain max loads oughta easily take down anything in the Lower 48, out to 100 yards.

Art
 
I looked at a stainless Ruger Bisley Hunter in 44 to day.
http://www.gunblast.com/Ruger_Bisley_Hunter.htm

I loved the feel of it, it can accommodate a scope, trigger needs a little work but it's not to bad, the opens sights are good. 5 follow up shots, I think i will go with it.

As i said, i can't hit any thing shooting DA, so i thumb the hammer every time any way. The way i do that is during recoil my support thumb gets on the spur and on the way down on target it cocks it. By the time I'm on target again I'm cocked and ready to go.

Jeff Quinn recommends MtBaldy hard cast bullets
http://www.mtbaldybullets.com/asp/products.asp

Now all i need is cash to pay for it... donations any one?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top