Antique Handgun Hunting / Carrying in the Bush

A few comments:

1. I spoke with a Northern Ontario CO last fall regarding the point that if you have a firearm in the bush during hunting season, you need to have a license for that particular game animal. I was camping with my family on a remote lake on Crown land during bear season, but had no desire to hunt bear at that time. I also wanted to take a rifle with me. He said that he had no problem with having a gun in camp for protection of my family. We never talked about an antique handgun for protection on portages or while hiking with my kids in a remote area. My point, however, is that in general, if you got a gun in the bush you are hunting unless you have some other reason to do so, and it does not appear to the CO that you were actually hunting.
2. If you are packing an antique six shooter in a remote area, you can save yourself some explaining if you carry a photocopy of the regs and some sort of proof that your handgun is a bona fide antique.
3. The 44 Russian is not so anemic. I put a 256 grain bullet out the barrel at almost 800 fps. Compare that with a .45 ACP 230 grain bullet, or a S&W .40. Since you are carrying it in case of unexpected bear or cougar attack, you will be using it at very close range and probably going for the head (unless that head is chomping down on one of your children, in which case you will probably be putting slugs into the spine a little further back. We live in a day and age that really under-appreciates the penetration and stopping power of a heavy, slow-moving lead bullet. I've used slow moving cast bullets for deer hunting for the past 10 years and they just chug right on through and drop them dead. Of course, a .44 Mag will do the job with more authority, but we're talking antique calibers here.
 
Hey thats great Win 38-55
Your 44 Russian loads are ex.
Now i have a S&W NM #3 im gona be doing some of your tryed and ture 44 Russian loads.
Also my S&W Russian second model has the same exact cylinder as the
S&W NM # 3
Nice to see such a positive outlook instead of all the hand wringing ;) :p
I have a few Antique Revolvers now but the S&W NM # 3 is very well made has a much stronger Cylinder than the DA 1st models.

I lucked out and bought a Stocked NM #3 it needs a little TLC but this puppy will be shooting at 100 Yd targets with close to 800 FPS loads :)



 
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I take my antique pistols gopher shooting they are not classified as game animals . I called the registry office and posed the question of varmit shooting gophers they gave the question to there legal team they called me back and told me that I could carry them and shoot them in a place where I can do it safely and have land owner permission etc. and that they are still firearms they are just not registrable and are not restricted. I also carry a copy of the de-registration letter with me or FRT report print off Just make shure what you have realy is an antique some 41rim fire derringers were made after 1898 I have a de-registered Webley MKIII but only a handfull of these make it before 1898 mine has a serial # in the 400 range.
 
DEZ,

what province are you in?
This makes a difference. In BC, we are not allowed to hunt with handguns.
I wanted to hunt American Bullfrogs (an introduced species, harmful to the local frogs) with an airpistol, but i cannot.
 
I AM IN Alberta I know we have a policy of no hand gun hunting but I believe that it is in regards only game animals here we can not shoot deer with a caliber less than .24 no 22-250 etc. but can shoot varmits with any caliber but just because the feds told me it is legal doesn't mean its so now you got me wondering I will call the local fish and game officer and see what he has to say. then I will post that
 
I know that in Ontario, certain varmints are not regulated, according to the latest hunting regulations. Groundhogs are an example. Now, whether shooting unregulated animals is still 'hunting' according the MNR, I don't know. We would have to look into that. However, other regs may apply. For example, in Southern Ontario, there is a max caliber allowed (around .280 I think). I use a .25-20.
 
The BC hunting regs say "It is illegal to hunt with a handgun",
then it goes on to describe a handgun -"is a firearm that is designed, altered or intended to be fired by the action of one hand or that has a barrel shorter than 12 inches in length".
For the pupose of hunting in BC the definition of a hangun is different than that of the Criminal Code or Firearms Act.
It would seem that using a antique handgun with a barrel longer than 12" would be legit.
 
Smokepole said:
For the pupose of hunting in BC the definition of a hangun is different than that of the Criminal Code or Firearms Act.
Click to expand...

What is said about carrying in the wilderness. In sask the hunting regs say that if you are carrying a firearm in an area that you can hunt in...you are considered hunting. Is BC the same? or Albert for that matter?

BTW...Sask regs do not prohibit handguns or anything based on barrel length.
 
Well thought out answers gentleman.

Can I make a suggestion though? In light of the current RCMP meddling with the cal list why force the CFOs to address the grey areas?
We have educated ourselves in a constant quest to be in compliance with the regs and are for the most part a very conservative bunch in our interpretation. Not everyone is however and it will only take one yahoo or group of yahoos popping away at varmits on the side of the highway with a antique RF to insure that the "grey area" becomes completely black.
Lets enjoy our collections, enjoy our hikes, our loading and projects but lets keep MUM on what might be OK.
This forum is a fantastic resource and I love it but it also puts ideas in peoples heads.

If you want to hunt with an antique grab a 45-70, .577 or a host of other more then adequate "RIFLE" calibres. (what 38-55 said is true but I can count on one hand the amount of guys who have the gear, smarts and time to put it all together)
Leave the revolvers for back up predator defence and popcans, and hunt with a Big long boom stick!
 
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Smokepole said:
The BC hunting regs say "It is illegal to hunt with a handgun",
then it goes on to describe a handgun -"is a firearm that is designed, altered or intended to be fired by the action of one hand or that has a barrel shorter than 12 inches in length".
For the pupose of hunting in BC the definition of a hangun is different than that of the Criminal Code or Firearms Act.
It would seem that using a antique handgun with a barrel longer than 12" would be legit.
Click to expand...

Nope, what that says is using anything with a barrel under 12" is considered to be the same as using a handgun, which = prohib. I guess no Dlask 8.5" shotty hunts.
 
1. I spoke with a Northern Ontario CO last fall regarding the point that if you have a firearm in the bush during hunting season, you need to have a license for that particular game animal. I was camping with my family on a remote lake on Crown land during bear season, but had no desire to hunt bear at that time. I also wanted to take a rifle with me. He said that he had no problem with having a gun in camp for protection of my family. We never talked about an antique handgun for protection on portages or while hiking with my kids in a remote area. My point, however, is that in general, if you got a gun in the bush you are hunting unless you have some other reason to do so, and it does not appear to the CO that you were actually hunting.
Click to expand...

OT, but I address this issue some years simply by buying a bear tag, if I'm going to be in the bush often enough, and want to take something bigger than a .22. The seasons are the longest, and you bypass the fight with CO with a bone to pick.
 
Smokepole said:
The BC hunting regs say "It is illegal to hunt with a handgun",
then it goes on to describe a handgun -"is a firearm that is designed, altered or intended to be fired by the action of one hand or that has a barrel shorter than 12 inches in length".
For the pupose of hunting in BC the definition of a hangun is different than that of the Criminal Code or Firearms Act.
It would seem that using a antique handgun with a barrel longer than 12" would be legit.
Click to expand...


Nope, it seems wishful thinking on your part had you reading an "and", where an "or" is.

I highlighted it for your edification.
 
Re carry of Antique hand gun in the bush. THE RCMP WILL CONFISCATE AND CHARGE YOU this has happened to my brother twice even with a letter from a judge stating its legality. First time the corporal in charge of the town near where we live was made to appolige in open court and told by the judge to stop making up his own laws, they still took it away a second time. Same charges.Same result . We live way out of town. A 800 acre ranch they just come on to the roads that are ours and do what ever they wish . He was on horseback pushing cattle last time. Their comment after being told to leave the private priperty and not come back was ,you got to leave some time.Intimidation.Don't forget these guys are not your friends they will not protect you just themselves.Rember every citizen who has a gun is a cop killer in their eyes . There is no trust left in them any more if you think there is you are just fooling yourself.
 
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