Hunting with Antique now Quebec?

[V1]

I'd use one for squirrel or rabbit, but that's about it...

Says it right there...you can carry an air pistol...

Regulations, unlike Wildlife Act, is NOT a legal document.

And even that is not so important for me personally - I'm looking into antiques as legal and less wind-dependant replacement of my bear spray can, - I always carry one tho I'm not allowed to 'hunt' with it. But I wholeheartedly support handgun hunting out of solidarity.

 

[tokguy]

Antiques typically don't have enough stopping power for anything beyond a rabbit.
Hunting and sporting is filled with " is .223 enough stopping power for deer / coyotes" (or a similar caliber)and they argue endlessly over it.
But an antique pistol caliber?
Methinks at it's biggest, an antique pistol is still going to fall short on stopping power.
Better than Bearspray? Sure.
Going WT hunting? Step away from the bong....

 

[Win 38-55]

Antiques typically don't have enough stopping power for anything beyond a rabbit.

A general statement like the one leave us wondering what the reason is behind the statement. I find it more helpful to think in terms of bullet weight, muzzle velocity and the sort of range one is talking about.

 

[tokguy]

A general statement like the one leave us wondering what the reason is behind the statement. I find it more helpful to think in terms of bullet weight, muzzle velocity and the sort of range one is talking about.

Maybe it's because I live in the prairies. Up close out here is 100 yds ( God you ought to try Bow hunting...exercise the patience for sure).
I shoot a 41 LC. I was just out doing some archery practice with the daughter and when our arms / shoulders were beginning to ache, took a break.
Loaded up some 41 LC.
4.5 grains Unique pushing a 195 grain hollow base pure lead bullet. Went down to my range and burned through 20rds at a piece of dry firewood about 1' across and 16 " high.
The range finder came in at 58 yds with a 4 degree downhill advantage.
Tough to hit it every shot but definitely not something you'd want someone banging away at you with, LOL. But they don't over-penetrate that's for certain.
I realize a 7.5 " bbl'd .44 would put out better accuracy and more power ( mine has a 4" bbl).
But from what I can see that's not something I want to shoot anything of substance with.
Maybe I'm wrong and the .44's are worlds more powerful and accurate. But I still don't see them as a humane weapon to hunt large animals with.
Sorry that's just the way I see it.
Cougar equalizer; better than a stick or knife, that's for sure.
Bear; I've already said I'm a prairie guy, for me to offer my opinion would be foolish. Better than pepper spray for sure.
IMO.

 

[DANCESWITHEMPTIES]

IMO, The best .41 Long Colt is maybe on par with a standard 200gr. 38 special for power but no where near as accurate... It would probably beat throwing rocks at prey for subsistence or defending one's self from the dreaded Southern Ontario Grey Squirrel...
Back in Alberta I only ever had one run in with a bear (that I wasn't married to) while hunting. And I never saw the damm thing!
A .44 Russian/ Special? .45 acp? .455/ 476 Eley? etc. Maybe good for hunting/ protection at short ranges. But if "I" was going to try taking a deer, I would want it to be inside 20 yards & probably shooting from a rest...AKA: A real nice tree stand...

 

[achtanelion]

Regulations, unlike Wildlife Act, is NOT a legal document.

And even that is not so important for me personally - I'm looking into antiques as legal and less wind-dependant replacement of my bear spray can, - I always carry one tho I'm not allowed to 'hunt' with it. But I wholeheartedly support handgun hunting out of solidarity.

The wildlife act says:

Schedule

Items Prohibited for Hunting Purposes

Item 1
Items prohibited for hunting all wildlife

10 A restricted firearm or a prohibited firearm of a kind that is a handgun for whose possession the holding of a licence and a registration certificate is required by the Criminal Code (Canada), except where a person

(a) uses the handgun to kill an animal caught in a trap, or

(b) is in possession of that handgun only for a purpose incidental to that use or the reasonable expectation of that use.

[NOTE: In subitem 10, “restricted firearm”, “prohibited firearm”, “licence”, “registration certificate” and “handgun” have the meanings contained in section 84 of the Criminal Code (Canada) (excluding a handgun that is deemed not to be a firearm by subsection 84(3) of that Code).]

You can find the act here: http://canlii.ca/en/ab/laws/stat/rsa-2000-c-w-10/latest/rsa-2000-c-w-10.html

So, only handguns that you need a liscence and registration cert for are prohibited for hunting.

As for an antique handgun for hunting, I'm still kicking myself for passing on a belgian .69 cal target pistol in percussion for $250. Rifled, reasonably accurate to 30 yards, and I have the feeling that a deer wouldn't run too far with a .69 hole in it.

J

 

[Win 38-55]

I load my 45 Schofield to push a 250 grain cast bullet out the muzzle at 850 fps. I know it will whizz through a 2" thick spruce board at 100 yards, no problem. That would be insufficient experience to judge what the caliber/bullet is capable of when it comes to hunting and different ranges. Accuracy is a major factor, penetration is the other. A fellow may want to experiment on real meat/bone, just to see what sort of penetration it gives. Get a bag of scraps from a butcher shop and compress the meat/gristle/bone into a wood box and try it at 50 yards. I don't see my 45 Schofield as a hunting gun, but it would certainly be used for that in an emergency (broken leg deep in crown land wilderness, might take days to drag myself out and along comes a deer 25 yards away, etc.)

 

[V1]

The wildlife act says:



You can find the act here: http://canlii.ca/en/ab/laws/stat/rsa-2000-c-w-10/latest/rsa-2000-c-w-10.html

So, only handguns that you need a liscence and registration cert for are prohibited for hunting.


J

Yep, I posted it a page back.

 

[tokguy]

I concur on the survival thing, wholeheartedly.
My father said he shoot deer as a youth with .22 lr. They needed the meat and it was tough to make ends meet.
I've got my grandfather's prized .22 hornet ( Savage 219 ). His go to deer gun when he lived on the Frenchman River in SW Sask.
When there is nothing else, will an antique do? I'm sure it would, I've surprised deer at short ranges that were with-in workable medium power pistol range.
But to put on the blaze Orange or camo an go trekking to with an antique revolver?
I don't think that the majority of us could humanely put down a deer at 100 yds with a handgun.
I'm a huge fan of antiquated calibers; 38-55 , 30-40 , 30-30, 303 are a few in my stable.
7mm Rem mag; too big for where I live, neighbors and such. Quite frankly it's a weapon which can humanely ( too much power IMO) put down an animal at 400-500 meters. Not fair to deer ( just my opinion), they deserve a better chance at survival than that.
But in the same breath the limitations of an antique handgun would make a few slow agonizing deaths to animals as well, not cool.
Just the way I see it.

 

[Zanelike]

I load my 45 Schofield to push a 250 grain cast bullet out the muzzle at 850 fps. I know it will whizz through a 2" thick spruce board at 100 yards, no problem. That would be insufficient experience to judge what the caliber/bullet is capable of when it comes to hunting and different ranges. Accuracy is a major factor, penetration is the other. A fellow may want to experiment on real meat/bone, just to see what sort of penetration it gives. Get a bag of scraps from a butcher shop and compress the meat/gristle/bone into a wood box and try it at 50 yards. I don't see my 45 Schofield as a hunting gun, but it would certainly be used for that in an emergency (broken leg deep in crown land wilderness, might take days to drag myself out and along comes a deer 25 yards away, etc.)

Or you could make yourself up some ballistic gel. Less messy!

 

[Paatz]

I don't think that the majority of us could humanely put down a deer at 100 yds with a handgun.

Especially since the laws make it impossible and pointless to practice.
In the states handgun hunting is legal and there are a few pistols that come in rifle calibers.

 

[V1]

But in the same breath the limitations of an antique handgun would make a few slow agonizing deaths to animals as well, not cool.
Just the way I see it.

Well I hear what you're saying but IMO this park must be left for hunter's judgment.

Few things make me say that: rifles in pistol calibers are OK (from legal standpoint, I personally wouldn't do it in vast majority of circumstances due to their limitations ) to hunt big game, so why not handguns;
Bows and crossbows are legal to hunt big game with, so why not handguns; People do make bad calls and make imperfect shots at game even with rifle calibers, handgun hunting won't change that but - again - due to cartridge limitations bad shot with pistol round less likely to lad in the wrong place, it's inherently safer, same as shotgun/muzzleloader, especially for populated areas.

 

[tokguy]

IMO there is a big difference in power and accuracy pushing a .357 magnum out of a carbine as opposed to a pistol.
Here in AB crossbows are limited to handicapped hunters. And bow hunters spend a massive amount of time practicing because of the limitations of a bow. If you are going to successfully bow hunt you know the difference between 20 yds and 50. And 50 is too far for 75 % of folks out there & we realize it.
Bow hunting is a vastly different game than firearm hunting , IMO. Apples & oranges; until I tried it I thought the same way. " If I can shoot it with a bow, then a pistol will also suffice".
Woodcraft and proficiency with your tools (bowhunting) req'd is pretty high ( at least here in Semi-arid desertville anyhow).
Like I said; kinda apples & oranges thing.
There are a lot of people who I know that I would be suspect of their judgement. It's hard to turn down the shot at that nice WT because it's 150 yds away.
Am I one of those folks; not sure.
Perhaps people who have hunted with me would know.
I try to be, that's enough for me.
And I would not feel certain enough of my abilities to humanely harvest an animal with an antique. And BTW I have a .44 Russian as well; it's still not enough, IMO.
Should we be able to carry and shoot them while in the field hunting? Yes.
But go hunting deer with a handgun? No, not IMO.

 

[Milsparro]

Not talking big game, but someone on here was rebuilding a 8mm Lebel to fire .22WMR. Something like that would be excellent to take along on a big game hunt for the inevitable partridge once you've given up on any deer coming along.

 

[V1]

IAnd bow hunters spend a massive amount of time practicing because of the limitations of a bow. If you are going to successfully bow hunt you know the difference between 20 yds and 50.
....
Should we be able to carry and shoot them while in the field hunting? Yes.
But go hunting deer with a handgun? No, not IMO.

I think that would be the same for folks who decide to use handgun for hunting if allowed. Any reasonable hunter would put plenty of time and rounds into practice with a tool of trade with such limitations.
As I said, my personal choice would be a rifle any day, same as yours.

Nevertheless IMO we must stick together regardless how far our personal use of handguns would go. Strength in numbers.

 

[Caydel]

Especially since the laws make it impossible and pointless to practice.
In the states handgun hunting is legal and there are a few pistols that come in rifle calibers.

Read post #26 in this thread again.

Until very recently, I thought all handgun hunting was illegal here. Then someone pointed out the actual laws that said that only handguns currently classified as 'restricted' and 'prohibited' may not be hunted with; antiques are ok.

 

[tactical870]

And bow hunters spend a massive amount of time practicing because of the limitations of a bow. If you are going to successfully bow hunt you know the difference between 20 yds and 50. And 50 is too far for 75 % of folks out there & we realize it.
Bow hunting is a vastly different game than firearm hunting , IMO. Apples & oranges; until I tried it I thought the same way. " If I can shoot it with a bow, then a pistol will also suffice".Woodcraft and proficiency with your tools (bowhunting) req'd is pretty high ( at least here in Semi-arid desertville anyhow).
Like I said; kinda apples & oranges thing.

You're right on a few points there. I think if I can take deer with a bow (always 1 shot, heat/lung shots) and consistantly get them inside 15 yards under my treestand, then there is no reason I can't take a whitetail with a rested antique pistol. I'll readily admit I can't shoot my 1871 Remington RB pistol well enough to be comfortable hunting with it, but hopefully one of the 2 guns I'm building in 357 mag are accurate enough.