handgun hunting calibers

V

Visaman

New member
Post your handgun cartridges that are suitable for hunting:

* Willow Grouse (Willow Ptarmigan in North America), Lagopus lagopus
* Ptarmigan (Rock Ptarmigan in North America), Lagopus muta
* White-tailed Ptarmigan, Lagopus leucura
22LR

Hare sized game:
Mountain Hare (Lepus timidus)
European Hare or Brown Hare (Lepus europaeus)
22WMR



good enough for deer sized game:
.357 SuperMag
.414 SuperMag
.45 Colt


Moose:
.44 Magnum ( powerful enough with a 300 grains bullet) http://www.jdskniktukoutfitters.com/testimonials/smith_wesson.html
.45-70 Government
.445 SuperMag
.454 Cassul,
.460 Rowland,
.460 S&W
.480 Ruger
 
it varies from state to state, what handgun caliber is allowed to be used for a particular game animal. however some states are not realistic at all, as one state allows a 3 inch barreled semi auto chambered in 25 acp to be used on moose.
 
41 mag 41 mag 41 mag

41 mag if you reload i want one easier shooting than44mag
and will do in north america.my stepdad has two very cherry
n frame s&w 6 inch there both so nice and smooth operating
i ve been trying real hard to PRY one away from him he also
has a 5 in,he,s a s&w revolver guy so has many others
PATIENCE IS KEY HERE:D
 
Come On ...

"however some states are not realistic at all, as one state allows a 3 inch barreled semi auto chambered in 25 acp to be used on moose."

Are you pulling my leg lol? I need proof. :)
 
Page 18, Montana hunting regs:

Firearms:
General Season
• There is no rifle or handgun caliber limitation for the taking of
big game animals. In addition, muzzleloaders, shotguns with
0, 00, or slugs, archery equipment, and crossbows are legal.
 
Wyoming requires that a pistol develope 500 ft lbs of energy at 100 yards for big game.

That kind of elimates the 357 unless loaded to unsafe presures. Most 44 mags are legal.

There are also case limitations but I forget what they are right now.

Anyway If I was to hunt big game with a pistol, I'd probably stick to my Model 29 w/6 in barrel.

I havent considered some of the barrels for my TC, but I guess a couple of them would work.

Any small game I get with a pistol (pretty much just cotton tails) I get with my 642 pocket pistol using 150 Grn SWCs.
 
Smaller than a deer:

Anything with less than 500ish ft/lbs

Up to deer sized:
357sig is enough, hand loads can approach 600ft/lbs.

10mm is plenty enough, generating 700+ft/lbs


If you're going to include rifle cartridges fired from a handgun then there are essentially limitless choices. 7mm-08, 30-06, 45/70, 30-30... heck, hundreds more.
 
I also have a 7-30 waters in the TCC. My 500 Smith, 44 magnum and on occasion .357 mag for hunting, all revolvers. Generally is use my TCC with the 30-30, 7-30 waters and .223 barrels.

My SW 500 is great for large pig and Elk and I cant wait until I can purchase the 500 for the TCC.
 
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"however some states are not realistic at all, as one state allows a 3 inch barreled semi auto chambered in 25 acp to be used on moose."

Are you pulling my leg lol? I need proof.
Click to expand...

Maybe the unnamed state is trying to thin out stupid people?
 
I'll answer as best I can, keeping in mind that I'm not absolutely sure how various European game stacks up against what we have here, and that there are certain legal restrictions here as well.

Upland game birds, I suppose that what you are talking about is something similar to a prairie chicken or a pheasant.
A .22lr would be adequate assuming that it was legal here, but it isn't. A .38 Spl shot round might do the trick if the range wasn't too far. Around here, we just don't hunt birds with handguns. Shotguns only.

Hare sized game: I'm not all that familiar with european hares. I assume that they are somewhat larger than our domestic cottontails. How do they stack up against swamp rabbits or jackrabbits?
All it takes is a good hit with a .22lr to take down a swamp rabbit or a jackrabbit. Head shot, no problem. I've even cleanly taken a swamp rabbit with a wrist rocket slingshot using a common ordinary marble, head shot. .22lr, .22wmr, lightly loaded .38 Spl cast (especially 148 gr LWC).

Deer sized game: Again, I'm not all that familiar with european deer. Best I recall, there are several species, and some are somewhat larger than the whitetails that are all we have around here.
For whitetails, you can use a properly loaded .357 Magnum, at a minimum. When you go up in size, like mule deer, you probably should upgrade that to a .41 Mag at a minimum. Or, just get a .44 Mag and be done with it, sure in the knowledge that with that you'll be able to handle any sort of game on this continent if you feed it right and do your part. Anything from .357 Mag on up for whitetails, .41 Mag on up for mule deer.

Moose: I assume that Moose in europe are one and the same animal than Moose here in North America. And keep in mind that there aren't any Moose anywhere close to where I am. I'll lump elk into this class -- big game.
.44 Mag is what it takes, or better.

FWIW, unless you are just bunny-popping, serious handgun hunters use revolvers or Thompson Centers. There are numerous reasons for this, subject for a whole treatise.
 
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"I have long wanted to get a revolver in .30 carbine for deer.

But is it a "handgun" caliber?? (food for thought) "

The M1 Carbine was intended to replace the m1911 in 45ACP. The military round's ballistics are more 357 than 30-06.
 
Post your handgun cartridges that are suitable for hunting:
Click to expand...
Not quite sure I understand the assignment, but assuming "your handgun cartridges" means the ones I actually use to hunt with ...

.22LR
.7mm08 (T/C Encore)
.44 Mag

I have handguns in other calibers that could be used, but these are the only ones I actually use for hunting.
 
"I have long wanted to get a revolver in .30 carbine for deer.

But is it a "handgun" caliber?? (food for thought) "



Have you researched that? In a rifle, the 30 carbine round is a bit low end as far as deer power, some states dont allow it. In a handgun, its lower powered than a 357 magnum, and makes a LOT more noise.
 
In the 80's AMT use to make a .30 caliber pistol (hardball). I have not done additional research as I purchased a Thompson Center Contender instead.

I believe the AMT Hardballer had some ramp issues as it was a Simi-Auto but one big advantage is it was made of stainless steel.

Perhaps you may be able to find one? Others here can offer more information and or an alternative.
 
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