Lobbying for handgun hunting
- Thread starter mike shickele
- Start date
to wet your appetites Beginner's Guide to Big Game Handgun Hunting
http://www.biggamehunt.net/articles/beginners-guide-big-game-handgun-hunting
The first bugle of the season's challenge penetrated the forest as the huge six-point and brown-tined bull elk announced the beginning of the rut. His buckskin colored coat is matted with the remnants of his nearby wallow. He is mud-coated and urine-soaked and almost out of his mind with only two things that directs his instinct, fighting and mating. Everyplace he treads the wild grasses and small trees are mowed down in a display of his dominance and raw energies. In some areas it looks like a gorilla went on a rampage, complete with an overfill of hormones. It is the rancid scent of this majestic animal along with his disruptive behavior that entices his soon-to-be harem... and his enemies. His bold taunts are soon to be met by other neighboring bulls, all for a shot at the title of becoming king. He'll spare no foe nor will he run from combat, for tens of thousands of years this is what he has been bred to do. You say to yourself you want to harvest him with a handgun?
A safe and successful hunt with a handgun begins long before the season starts. When the autumn leaves begin to change their colors and the morning chill begins to seep into your camouflage clothing, one has to be completely familiar with every aspect of your weapon. That means knowing your handgun inside and out. It's not enough to know your game laws and the "paperwork" of a hunt. Any conduct less than that is not being a responsible hunter.
What Handgun to Choose?
If you desire to hunt with a handgun, without doubt, you need to do your homework. Many hunters who carry a rifle are not comfortable shooting with a handgun. Indeed, there are many reasons why one should hunt with a rifle but once mastered, a change of venue may be just what you are looking for. That's not to say hunting with a rifle is a cakewalk, it can be very challenging and in the favor of the game sought. When you pick up a handgun and decide to hunt big game, the bar is placed even higher.
The first question you must ask yourself is what game species are you going to hunt? Once decided, you can then pour over the many types of handguns you find to be suitable for that purpose. As with rifles, there is no one-gun for all animals. The high-stakes of big game hunting selection for your weapon is narrowed but still offers a wide range of single shot, five or six shot revolvers and semi-automatic handguns. If you are the type of person that flinches when shooting a 20-gauge shotgun, I do not suggest you purchase a 44 magnum or larger revolver. Some big-bore handguns such as the .41, .45, .454 Casul, 45/70 or the Smith & Wesson .500's are mule-kickers and not intended for beginners although some newly introduced hand gunners do quite well with them after proper instruction and experience. The smaller bore handguns (.38 caliber or less) may be suitable for plinking or small game harvest but they don't belong being aimed at big game. I have heard of kills being made with a little .22 on Alaskan Brown bear but one would have to be insane to try it. By it's very nature, a revolver is a very dependable weapon, and seldom do they fail. Extreme cold, snow, icing, dirt, sticks, or other environmental contaminants can compromise a semi-autoloader. You may research just what type of field conditions you will be subjecting your gun to and adjust your purchasing accordingly.
Hunting the Big Boys
Going after big game requires making certain you are competent in your marksmanship and knowledge of your intended animal. Without doubt, tin cans and paper targets are the best "game" to hunt initially. The critical factor in big game hunting when using a handgun is the education to select the proper caliber for the species intended. It is not just enough to be able to hit your target at the range, a possible scenario of severe injury or death can result if you wound an animal, remember, some will attack when hurt and make every effort to kill you!
I suggest you practice firing your weapon in as many different (and difficult!) positions as possible, no matter how ridiculous they may seem to be. When you are in the field, you may encounter a situation that was just like you practiced repeatedly. In order to make a quick and clean kill you may have to go into that position and then of course, it will be familiar to you. Practice shooting not only in a Weaver or Isosceles stance but also with either of your hands. Being right or left-handed doesn't necessarily mean that you will be presented with an opportunity to shoot with your favored hand. Think of your weapon as an extension of either since you may be required to shoot with the "weak" one. In a pinch (such as a bear attack) you will embrace having that ability.
A contradiction to the thoughts of many is if you are hunting larger game the notion is, "Bigger the Better" ideology. Not so, it isn't that simple. A complex amount of factors become entwined if consistent success is to be embraced. These combinations are as varied as the personalities of the hunters but one thing is for sure, having familiarity with your weapon is necessary. A nice array of calibers to hunt most North American big game animals are readily available but it is important to bear in mind that shooting distances will be a great deal less than with the rifles.
From the top species of Alaskan Brown bears one should take no less than a .357 magnum that provides 500ft/lb. of muzzle energy, enough to knock down the largest of them. .44 magnums (the one Clint Eastwood used in "Dirty Harry") is a popular bear protection handgun and small enough to carry holstered without enduring fatigue at the end of the day. It has 900 ft/lbs. of muzzle energy which is almost twice as much as the .357 magnum. The ever-popular .480 Ruger expels a powerful and lethal force of 1315 ft/lbs! The .454 Casul is a wonderful revolver that comes in two styles (field grade and premium) and is capable of killing the largest of creatures in the states including elk, bears, and moose. This Freedom, Wyoming manufacturer makes a top-notch weapon and is widely known for it's fine craftsmanship. This dual-action revolver spews it's deadly force with a staggering 1900 ft/lb. out of it's muzzle. At the top of the list is the new Smith & Wesson .500. It's monster of a weapon that can be enjoyed by hunters if they wish to pay the price of blasting power. The "typical" bullet carries 2600 ft/lbs. of energy that tops the list. The .45/70 revolver that Magnum Research offers is quite a handgun and should be reserved for only the large and steady hunter as these loads carry a huge wallop, even in rifles! Rest assured, these are big guns and carry big bullets, made to hunt big game, no questions asked.
Safety
This is single most important issue of big game hunting with a handgun. There are countless stories that involved careless handling and conduct of handguns, resulting in severe injury and death. With many distractions in the field, one can become complacent in handing their weapon. Numerous "accidents" involving handguns could have been prevented if the owner concerned himself with the potential lethality of accidental discharging of the weapon. Primarily, never POINT your weapon at anything but the intended target. A very critical timeframe is when you are handling a gun whether it is either being loaded or unloaded. The simple act of SHOWING a person a weapon becomes a launch site of potential harm. Removing the gun from it's holster is also a time when one should be extremely careful, the safety could be accidentally off and ready to fire. No matter if you are absolutely sure the gun is unloaded, never, never, point it at anyone, no matter what. Many hunters have been shot by their own gun in spite of being convinced that it was unloaded! Simply said, you can never be too careful with your handgun.
Know Your Handgun
It might sound a bit silly but knowing your handgun should be a point that is well taken. A hunting or protection weapon should be as familiar as your coffee cup. Being unfamiliar with your weapon implies when you are ready to use it; the device is somewhat foreign to you. Buying a handgun from your local dealer and then putting in storage until hunting season has started, is foolish. The old saying of practice makes perfect is a strong piece of good advice. In the case of using a semi-automatic handgun, do you know what to do if it jams? How long does it take you to un-jam it and reload? If it's more than a couple of seconds, you need to get to know your gun better. Does it come second nature to remove the magazine (not clip!) and reinsert another? How many cartridges does the magazine or cylinder hold? Can you close your eyes and reload?
If you feel uncomfortable with your gun, I would suggest that you contact your local Dept. of Fish & Game or Natural Resources Dept. offices. Enquire to see if they hold any classes to educate owners of firearms, both in classroom and outdoors. In actual field conditions you may experience a situation that requires you to hold your eye on the quarry since taking your eye off of it may mean you lose sight of it forever. Do you count how many times you have shot and how many shots you have left? Standing in front of a world record or simply a potential freezer full of meat isn't the time to discover you are out of ammo. It takes great discipline to count your shots as they are being fired, make every attempt to practice this. Being a well-rounded handgun hunter doesn't mean you simply pull the trigger and shoot the game. Not by a long shot...
To Scope or Not to Scope
A difficult decision to make is whether to mount a scope on your handgun or not. If you are going to hunt species that inhabit thick or dense vegetation areas, leave the scope off. The majority of shots are taken at extremely close distances and (100 feet or less) using open sights. The advantage is the present ability to draw and aim quickly without attempting to accommodate a scope to look through. Another helpful tip is to target practice with your gun within the distances of which you will be hunting. Being familiar with this adds comfort and will result in better-placed shots and a higher kill ratio. If you are not well defined in consistent groups in target practice and at long ranges, don't be tempted to fire a round just to see if you might hit your quarry. Prudent handgun owners will not fire unless they are absolutely sure of hitting their target and killing it humanely.
If you decide that your game animal will be at greater distances then a scope might be warranted. If this is the case, be advised this is not the place for a cheaply made scope. Besides poor lighting is usually the norm in hunting big game (most big game are crepuscular (most active in the very early mornings and at dusk), a cheap scope does not have the light-gathering abilities. This will result in poor vision through the scope, you need high-definition and resolution (brightness and sharpness). Another factor for a high-quality scope on your handgun is they take a beating. The discharge of these large calibers lay a heavy dose of shock onto everything. It's no place to have the internal lenses come loose or mal-alignment of the base when you are firing at a trophy ram that you just stalked 10 miles for on a windswept mountain range.
Laws Regarding Handguns
Make sure you check the laws governing transport of your firearm in each state that you travel in regardless of what you might think. Criminal prosecution is quite possible if you are found to be in violation and usually the penalties are stiff. If you travel north to Alaska, DO NOT TAKE YOUR HANDGUN INTO CANADA. Have it shipped by an FFL licensed dealer and retrieve it once you arrive. It will be confiscated and not returned as well as a possible fine being administered. Do not take these laws lightly. When you decide and purchase the handgun you desire, you will be required to have a federal check through the FBI and sign the necessary paperwork that details information about yourself.
When your hunt is completed and your handgun cleaned, locked and ready to be put away, make sure it is out of reach of everyone except those of whom you delegated responsible. If not, you could be held accountable and imprisoned and fined in the event a youngster gets ahold of it and accidentally shoots someone.
Comments are open and yes it is last year but look who made the second comment our friend Gary Mauser...
http://totalrecoil.wordpress.com/2009/10/13/why-not-handgun-hunting-in-canada/
Why not handgun hunting in Canada?
By totalrecoil
Let’s indulge in bit of fantasy.
Lets say the federal government re-writes the Firearms Act and makes it possible to get licensed to carry a handgun into the backcountry. So you think, ‘maybe I could pot a grouse for supper, or wonder of wonders, hunt for Whitetail with a handgun’. Not going to happen, even if the feds were to suddenly see the light.?.
And why?
Because the majority of the provinces prohibit hunting with a handgun.
How?
Good question. And the answer is …… that all of the provincial hunting regulations ban the hunting of game with handguns either explicitly or through definition of what constitutes a firearm for the purpose of hunting.
New Brunswick Fish and Wildlife Act
No ban found on the use of handguns in hunting.
Newfoundland and Labrador Hunting Synopsis
No ban found on the use of handguns in hunting.
Nova Scotia Hunting Synopsis
During the general seasons for hunting deer, moose, and bear, holders of appropriate licences may use: • a rifle and ammunition of .23 calibre or greater; • a shotgun of 28, 20, 16, 12 or 10 gauge, using a single projectile; • a muzzle loaded firearm of .45 calibre or greater; or • a bow with a draw weight of 50 pounds or greater within the draw length of the archer when hunting moose and 40 pounds or greater within the draw length of the archer when hunting big game other than moose; and any arrow fitted with a broadhead. (Handguns specifically omitted).
Prince Edward Island Wildlife Act
No ban found on the use of handguns in hunting.
Ontario Hunting Synopsis
Firearms include rifles, shotguns, air or pellet guns, bows and crossbows. You may use semi-automatic or repeating firearms for hunting in Ontario, but not handguns or fully automatic firearms. Air and pellet pistols with a muzzle velocity less than 500 feet per second may be used for hunting in Ontario.
Manitoba Wildlife Act
Except as may be otherwise permitted by this Act or the regulations, no person shall capture, kill or take or attempt to capture, kill or take a wild animal, other than a fur bearing animal, an amphibian or a reptile, by means other than a rifle, shotgun, cross bow or bow and arrow. (Handguns specifically omitted)
BC Hunting Synopsis
It is illegal to hunt with a handgun in BC. (Page 9)
Alberta
It is unlawful to
5. set out, use or employ any of the following items for the purpose of hunting any wildlife:
*
A pistol or revolver.
Saskatchewan
No ban found on the use of handguns in hunting.
Quebec Hunting Synopsis
“…. “firearms” means rifles, shotguns and muzzle-loading firearms authorized, according to the species”.
Yukon
It is unlawful to hunt big game with a
*
Pistol or a revolver.
Northwest Territories
No ban found on the use of handguns in hunting.
Nunavut
Unable to find current regulations.
Six out of ten provinces ban the possibility of hunting with a handgun as well as one of the three Territories. (I am assuming that Nunavut does not have any restrictions written into their hunting regulations).
It is also possible that there is something in the three provinces that I have listed (Newfoundland & Labrador, New Brunswick, PEI and Saskatchewan) as having no specific restrictions against using a handgun for hunting purposes that I missed.
It would be interesting to hear the rationale that the other seven provinces and the Yukon have for singling out handguns as not acceptable for hunting. In some cases it might be just ignorance, where instead of using the term ‘firearms’ they speak to specifics, such as rifles and shotguns. But if you say that you can only hunt with a rifle or a shotgun, you have eliminated the possibility of using a handgun simply by default.
In the case of British Columbia, the restriction against hunting with a handgun showed up, out of the blue, in the regulations a number of years ago. It was put into the regulations, I believe, by one individual in the Ministry of Environment with no consultation even though there was a process in place to review with stakeholders any changes that the Ministry was contemplating. The reason given when queried was that some (anonymous) gun club had threatened to start hunting with handguns so the Ministry was compelled to put the ban in place.
This explanation was too ludicrous to be believable.
Firstly, anyone contemplating this would not be able to obtain a transport permit from the feds to carry a handgun into the backcountry and therefore would be in breach of the law under the Federal Firearms Act. Secondly, it shouldn’t be in the purview of Ministry staff to even make that kind of decision – and certainly not without consultation.
It seemed more like it was done by someone with a personal agenda.
On the other hand, the fact that 7 out of 10 provinces have regulations to keep handguns out of the hunting fields may not be a coincidence. A number of years ago a Ministry staff member told me that there was pressure being applied to all of the provinces to write a ban on the use of handguns into their respective regulations. He didn’t expand on that statement to say where the pressure was coming from and unfortunately I didn’t take it any further, but if he was correct it would appear that someone had an agenda.
What is particularly frustrating is that although a regulation can be added very simply – in this case by an individual in a key position, it is far more difficult – read almost impossible – to get it removed. It requires a request to the Minister and his committee, made up of MLAs from both parties, who are normally reluctant to remove an existing regulation unless there is a advocate at the table to make the point.
Thus even though there have been efforts to get this regulation removed from the B.C. hunting regulations it remains in place.
So in six of the provinces and one Territory we remain in a catch-22 situation. We cannot hunt with a handgun because the Federal Firearms Act makes no provision for a transport permit for that purpose. And in the unlikely event (at least at the present time) that the feds might modify the Act for transport permits that would allow for handgun hunting, the provincial regulations would provide another barrier.
You can’t win for losing.
http://totalrecoil.wordpress.com/2009/10/13/why-not-handgun-hunting-in-canada/
Why not handgun hunting in Canada?
By totalrecoil
Let’s indulge in bit of fantasy.
Lets say the federal government re-writes the Firearms Act and makes it possible to get licensed to carry a handgun into the backcountry. So you think, ‘maybe I could pot a grouse for supper, or wonder of wonders, hunt for Whitetail with a handgun’. Not going to happen, even if the feds were to suddenly see the light.?.
And why?
Because the majority of the provinces prohibit hunting with a handgun.
How?
Good question. And the answer is …… that all of the provincial hunting regulations ban the hunting of game with handguns either explicitly or through definition of what constitutes a firearm for the purpose of hunting.
New Brunswick Fish and Wildlife Act
No ban found on the use of handguns in hunting.
Newfoundland and Labrador Hunting Synopsis
No ban found on the use of handguns in hunting.
Nova Scotia Hunting Synopsis
During the general seasons for hunting deer, moose, and bear, holders of appropriate licences may use: • a rifle and ammunition of .23 calibre or greater; • a shotgun of 28, 20, 16, 12 or 10 gauge, using a single projectile; • a muzzle loaded firearm of .45 calibre or greater; or • a bow with a draw weight of 50 pounds or greater within the draw length of the archer when hunting moose and 40 pounds or greater within the draw length of the archer when hunting big game other than moose; and any arrow fitted with a broadhead. (Handguns specifically omitted).
Prince Edward Island Wildlife Act
No ban found on the use of handguns in hunting.
Ontario Hunting Synopsis
Firearms include rifles, shotguns, air or pellet guns, bows and crossbows. You may use semi-automatic or repeating firearms for hunting in Ontario, but not handguns or fully automatic firearms. Air and pellet pistols with a muzzle velocity less than 500 feet per second may be used for hunting in Ontario.
Manitoba Wildlife Act
Except as may be otherwise permitted by this Act or the regulations, no person shall capture, kill or take or attempt to capture, kill or take a wild animal, other than a fur bearing animal, an amphibian or a reptile, by means other than a rifle, shotgun, cross bow or bow and arrow. (Handguns specifically omitted)
BC Hunting Synopsis
It is illegal to hunt with a handgun in BC. (Page 9)
Alberta
It is unlawful to
5. set out, use or employ any of the following items for the purpose of hunting any wildlife:
*
A pistol or revolver.
Saskatchewan
No ban found on the use of handguns in hunting.
Quebec Hunting Synopsis
“…. “firearms” means rifles, shotguns and muzzle-loading firearms authorized, according to the species”.
Yukon
It is unlawful to hunt big game with a
*
Pistol or a revolver.
Northwest Territories
No ban found on the use of handguns in hunting.
Nunavut
Unable to find current regulations.
Six out of ten provinces ban the possibility of hunting with a handgun as well as one of the three Territories. (I am assuming that Nunavut does not have any restrictions written into their hunting regulations).
It is also possible that there is something in the three provinces that I have listed (Newfoundland & Labrador, New Brunswick, PEI and Saskatchewan) as having no specific restrictions against using a handgun for hunting purposes that I missed.
It would be interesting to hear the rationale that the other seven provinces and the Yukon have for singling out handguns as not acceptable for hunting. In some cases it might be just ignorance, where instead of using the term ‘firearms’ they speak to specifics, such as rifles and shotguns. But if you say that you can only hunt with a rifle or a shotgun, you have eliminated the possibility of using a handgun simply by default.
In the case of British Columbia, the restriction against hunting with a handgun showed up, out of the blue, in the regulations a number of years ago. It was put into the regulations, I believe, by one individual in the Ministry of Environment with no consultation even though there was a process in place to review with stakeholders any changes that the Ministry was contemplating. The reason given when queried was that some (anonymous) gun club had threatened to start hunting with handguns so the Ministry was compelled to put the ban in place.
This explanation was too ludicrous to be believable.
Firstly, anyone contemplating this would not be able to obtain a transport permit from the feds to carry a handgun into the backcountry and therefore would be in breach of the law under the Federal Firearms Act. Secondly, it shouldn’t be in the purview of Ministry staff to even make that kind of decision – and certainly not without consultation.
It seemed more like it was done by someone with a personal agenda.
On the other hand, the fact that 7 out of 10 provinces have regulations to keep handguns out of the hunting fields may not be a coincidence. A number of years ago a Ministry staff member told me that there was pressure being applied to all of the provinces to write a ban on the use of handguns into their respective regulations. He didn’t expand on that statement to say where the pressure was coming from and unfortunately I didn’t take it any further, but if he was correct it would appear that someone had an agenda.
What is particularly frustrating is that although a regulation can be added very simply – in this case by an individual in a key position, it is far more difficult – read almost impossible – to get it removed. It requires a request to the Minister and his committee, made up of MLAs from both parties, who are normally reluctant to remove an existing regulation unless there is a advocate at the table to make the point.
Thus even though there have been efforts to get this regulation removed from the B.C. hunting regulations it remains in place.
So in six of the provinces and one Territory we remain in a catch-22 situation. We cannot hunt with a handgun because the Federal Firearms Act makes no provision for a transport permit for that purpose. And in the unlikely event (at least at the present time) that the feds might modify the Act for transport permits that would allow for handgun hunting, the provincial regulations would provide another barrier.
You can’t win for losing.
If you want to hunt with a handgun you may as well know which guns cartridges are recommended...
http://www.firearmssite.com/hunting.htm
This discussion is about handguns and ammunition most suited to hunting. For our discussion we will concentrate on revolvers, automatic pistols and single shot pistols like the T/C Contender. We will only discuss cartridges that are capable of taking game in a quick and efficient manner.
The ideal hunting handgun has a barrel between 5 and 8 inches in length. Any shorter and you lose velocity from your cartridge. Much longer and the weapon becomes awkward to carry with you on the hunt. In addition, when using iron sights the longer barrel gives a longer sighting distance resulting in more potential accuracy. The handgun can be a very effective hunting tool in the hands of a trained shooter. While it can never go up against a rifle at long ranges, within 100 yards the right gun will take the game just as well. It is also much lighter and easier to carry around all day than any rifle.
What defines a cartridge as being suitable for hunting is the size and type of game you are seeking. Small game like rabbits are frequently hunted with the .22 long rifle cartridge. In addition, the .22 WMR magnum is also seen on occasion. These are both rimfire cartridges and very inexpensive to shoot. These cartridges are effective at 50 yards on small game. Being inexpensive to shoot they also allow for a lot of practice at little expense. The Ruger line of .22 revolvers are excellent for this task. They are reliable, accurate and reasonably priced. Ruger's MK II automatic .22 LR pistol is also a very good option.
The .22 WMR magnum cartridge is chambered in revolvers and has the additional power to go to 75 or more yards. It can easily take even the largest rabbits. Perhaps the ideal option is either the Ruger or Frontier Arms line of convertible revolvers. These come with a spare cylinder and allow you to shoot either .22 LR or .22 WMR magnum. This is great for practice since the .22 LR is much cheaper then the .22 WMR ammunition. You can practice on the same gun you will hunt with using inexpensive .22 LR and use the more powerful .22 WMR for the actual hunt.
Hardcast magnum pistol loadsFor game larger than rabbits a centerfire cartridge of higher power is needed. Cartridges that are suitable for hunting larger game begin with the .357 magnum and end with the massive .500 S&W magnum. In between are fine cartridges such as the 10mm automatic, .41 magnum, .44 magnum, .454 Casull and the .480 Ruger. These cartridges are easily capable of taking deer and larger sized game.
Many other less powerful cartridges have been used to take game and will kill a game animal. However, these smaller cartridges have also resulted in crippled game which runs far enough away to where they are never found. It is the hunter’s responsibility to use enough gun to get the job done responsibly and quickly.
There are also other magnum cartridges we haven’t mentioned. These are cartridges that are either rare, specialty cartridges or obsolete. If they have the same power as the cartridges we mention then they certainly are useable should you have a gun in one of these calibers.
Moving up from deer sized animals to black bear one should exclude the .357 magnum from the list of appropriate cartridges. The 10mm automatic with maximum loads is minimal for hunting black bear.
Beyond black bear the large magnums are the only real choice. At some point the animals become so large that even the largest handgun magnums are marginal for the job. We would certainly never recommend taking on one of the great bears with a handgun, regardless of its size. While people have done this many times, the possibility of enraging a large Alaskan bear with a shot from a handgun that does not instantly get the job done, seems risky for obvious reasons. At the very least such tasks should be accomplished with a veteran guide at your side who's carrying a large magnum rifle as backup in case all goes wrong.
Unlike hunting with a rifle that has a high power scope, handgun hunting requires patience and skill to stalk the game. It is much easier to put bullets into a 5 inch circle at 100 yards with a rifle than with a handgun. A handgun hunter who cannot consistently put his shots within a 5-7 inch circle at 100 yards needs more practice before trying to hunt game at that range. Many handgun hunters will limit their shots to 50 yards or less in order to be able to insure their shots are within this 5-7 inch circle which represents the size of the kill zone of the average deer sized animal.
Hunting revolvers come in both single and double action styles. The major manufacturers include Smith and Wesson, Strum Ruger, Freedom Arms andSmith and Wesson 44 Magnum mountain gun Taurus. These revolvers are chambered in all of the magnum cartridges referred to previously. Any revolver from these manufacturers has the accuracy to make a good hunting gun. The choice is mostly about what works for you and how it feels in your hand.
The classic handgun hunting cartridge is the .44 magnum. Over the last several decades, this cartridge has taken almost every big game animal on earth. It is ideal for deer sized game and black bears. While it has significant recoil it is nowhere near some of today’s super magnums. In a Smith and Wesson “29” series revolver or Ruger Blackhawk, it is a relatively small easy to carry cartridge that will get the job done. For the first time handgun hunter this is what we would recommend.
The .44 magnum was the king of the handgun hill for many years. Nothing put out by the firearms factories was more powerful. However, there has recently been a trend towards bigger and bigger magnum handguns. Smith and Wesson, who introduced the .44 magnum to the world has once again claimed the top honors as having the most powerful handgun in the world with their .500 S&W magnum. This revolver is extremely large and heavy. Muzzle energy exceeds 2500 ft-lbs. This puts it in the same league as many rifles. The fact that it fires a large diameter heavy bullet gives it tremendous short range knock down power. While a rifle will still be a better choice for long range shooting there is nothing that this revolver, within shorter ranges, cannot do as well as a rifle. However, this gun is so heavy and awkward to carry that the advantage of not carrying a heavy rifle through the woods is nearly lost. As a self defense weapon against the largest bears in the Northwest and Alaska it has no other peers in the handgun category.
The T/C Contender single shot pistol has been in production for many years. Caliber can be changed by simply buying a different barrel. Just about every handgun cartridge and a few rifle cartridges have been chambered in this pistol. For the skilled hunter going up against non dangerous game it is Glock 10mm Auto Magazinean excellent choice.
The only generally available, automatic pistol we can recommend for hunting deer sized game is the Glock model 20 -- preferably with a 6 inch hunting barrel. In this configuration, the 10mm cartridge it is chambered for is approaching the .41 magnum in maximum loadings. This makes it effective against deer sized game and black bears. Much of the factory ammunition loaded for the 10mm is not loaded to hunting levels. However there are manufacturers who do load hunting bullets at maximum velocity in 10mm. Any one of these loads by Cor-Bon, Double Tap or Buffalo Bore will do the job.
Handgun hunting has grown into a major form of hunting in the last few years. Ammunition is now factory available that used to be only be available by loading your own. This has made it much easier for the once a year hunter to try this sport without having to spend time and effort developing ammunition on their own.
http://www.firearmssite.com/hunting.htm
This discussion is about handguns and ammunition most suited to hunting. For our discussion we will concentrate on revolvers, automatic pistols and single shot pistols like the T/C Contender. We will only discuss cartridges that are capable of taking game in a quick and efficient manner.
The ideal hunting handgun has a barrel between 5 and 8 inches in length. Any shorter and you lose velocity from your cartridge. Much longer and the weapon becomes awkward to carry with you on the hunt. In addition, when using iron sights the longer barrel gives a longer sighting distance resulting in more potential accuracy. The handgun can be a very effective hunting tool in the hands of a trained shooter. While it can never go up against a rifle at long ranges, within 100 yards the right gun will take the game just as well. It is also much lighter and easier to carry around all day than any rifle.
What defines a cartridge as being suitable for hunting is the size and type of game you are seeking. Small game like rabbits are frequently hunted with the .22 long rifle cartridge. In addition, the .22 WMR magnum is also seen on occasion. These are both rimfire cartridges and very inexpensive to shoot. These cartridges are effective at 50 yards on small game. Being inexpensive to shoot they also allow for a lot of practice at little expense. The Ruger line of .22 revolvers are excellent for this task. They are reliable, accurate and reasonably priced. Ruger's MK II automatic .22 LR pistol is also a very good option.
The .22 WMR magnum cartridge is chambered in revolvers and has the additional power to go to 75 or more yards. It can easily take even the largest rabbits. Perhaps the ideal option is either the Ruger or Frontier Arms line of convertible revolvers. These come with a spare cylinder and allow you to shoot either .22 LR or .22 WMR magnum. This is great for practice since the .22 LR is much cheaper then the .22 WMR ammunition. You can practice on the same gun you will hunt with using inexpensive .22 LR and use the more powerful .22 WMR for the actual hunt.
Hardcast magnum pistol loadsFor game larger than rabbits a centerfire cartridge of higher power is needed. Cartridges that are suitable for hunting larger game begin with the .357 magnum and end with the massive .500 S&W magnum. In between are fine cartridges such as the 10mm automatic, .41 magnum, .44 magnum, .454 Casull and the .480 Ruger. These cartridges are easily capable of taking deer and larger sized game.
Many other less powerful cartridges have been used to take game and will kill a game animal. However, these smaller cartridges have also resulted in crippled game which runs far enough away to where they are never found. It is the hunter’s responsibility to use enough gun to get the job done responsibly and quickly.
There are also other magnum cartridges we haven’t mentioned. These are cartridges that are either rare, specialty cartridges or obsolete. If they have the same power as the cartridges we mention then they certainly are useable should you have a gun in one of these calibers.
Moving up from deer sized animals to black bear one should exclude the .357 magnum from the list of appropriate cartridges. The 10mm automatic with maximum loads is minimal for hunting black bear.
Beyond black bear the large magnums are the only real choice. At some point the animals become so large that even the largest handgun magnums are marginal for the job. We would certainly never recommend taking on one of the great bears with a handgun, regardless of its size. While people have done this many times, the possibility of enraging a large Alaskan bear with a shot from a handgun that does not instantly get the job done, seems risky for obvious reasons. At the very least such tasks should be accomplished with a veteran guide at your side who's carrying a large magnum rifle as backup in case all goes wrong.
Unlike hunting with a rifle that has a high power scope, handgun hunting requires patience and skill to stalk the game. It is much easier to put bullets into a 5 inch circle at 100 yards with a rifle than with a handgun. A handgun hunter who cannot consistently put his shots within a 5-7 inch circle at 100 yards needs more practice before trying to hunt game at that range. Many handgun hunters will limit their shots to 50 yards or less in order to be able to insure their shots are within this 5-7 inch circle which represents the size of the kill zone of the average deer sized animal.
Hunting revolvers come in both single and double action styles. The major manufacturers include Smith and Wesson, Strum Ruger, Freedom Arms andSmith and Wesson 44 Magnum mountain gun Taurus. These revolvers are chambered in all of the magnum cartridges referred to previously. Any revolver from these manufacturers has the accuracy to make a good hunting gun. The choice is mostly about what works for you and how it feels in your hand.
The classic handgun hunting cartridge is the .44 magnum. Over the last several decades, this cartridge has taken almost every big game animal on earth. It is ideal for deer sized game and black bears. While it has significant recoil it is nowhere near some of today’s super magnums. In a Smith and Wesson “29” series revolver or Ruger Blackhawk, it is a relatively small easy to carry cartridge that will get the job done. For the first time handgun hunter this is what we would recommend.
The .44 magnum was the king of the handgun hill for many years. Nothing put out by the firearms factories was more powerful. However, there has recently been a trend towards bigger and bigger magnum handguns. Smith and Wesson, who introduced the .44 magnum to the world has once again claimed the top honors as having the most powerful handgun in the world with their .500 S&W magnum. This revolver is extremely large and heavy. Muzzle energy exceeds 2500 ft-lbs. This puts it in the same league as many rifles. The fact that it fires a large diameter heavy bullet gives it tremendous short range knock down power. While a rifle will still be a better choice for long range shooting there is nothing that this revolver, within shorter ranges, cannot do as well as a rifle. However, this gun is so heavy and awkward to carry that the advantage of not carrying a heavy rifle through the woods is nearly lost. As a self defense weapon against the largest bears in the Northwest and Alaska it has no other peers in the handgun category.
The T/C Contender single shot pistol has been in production for many years. Caliber can be changed by simply buying a different barrel. Just about every handgun cartridge and a few rifle cartridges have been chambered in this pistol. For the skilled hunter going up against non dangerous game it is Glock 10mm Auto Magazinean excellent choice.
The only generally available, automatic pistol we can recommend for hunting deer sized game is the Glock model 20 -- preferably with a 6 inch hunting barrel. In this configuration, the 10mm cartridge it is chambered for is approaching the .41 magnum in maximum loadings. This makes it effective against deer sized game and black bears. Much of the factory ammunition loaded for the 10mm is not loaded to hunting levels. However there are manufacturers who do load hunting bullets at maximum velocity in 10mm. Any one of these loads by Cor-Bon, Double Tap or Buffalo Bore will do the job.
Handgun hunting has grown into a major form of hunting in the last few years. Ammunition is now factory available that used to be only be available by loading your own. This has made it much easier for the once a year hunter to try this sport without having to spend time and effort developing ammunition on their own.
http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/fw/
Main page, you'll have to sift through to find a Contact Us page.
Better yet, find a real address and send a REAL letter. That is much harder to ignore. And ask for a reply.
Also, mention that you are already well aware that Federal law controls where a HG may be taken, and for what purpose. The provincail guys will want to blow you off with a "its not us" answer.
Thing is, the Feds say "it doesnt matter if we give you a permit to hunt, the provinces control hunting regs"
Someone has to move first.
Thanks for the support catab2, but I don't think we will ever be collecting signatures - we all (this includes you) need to be writing letters to our elected government officials. The Minister of Natural Resources of your province would be a good place to start along with the CFO.
Feel free to post what you send here to give others inspiration!
need to be writing letters to our elected government officials. The Minister of Natural Resources of your province would be a good place to start along with the CFO.Feel free to post what you send here to give others inspiration!
Ok I'd have to agree I gave a poor example. I still think thats the truth to some extent, but I described it poorly. I have never seen the anti's say that ### gun is ok, they just try to portray some as worse then others, to do as you say and divide and conquer. I don't want us to say that we need single shots, because we don't need the rest, when we do want the rest later. What I want to avoid is painting ourselves into a corner, where arguments we used to get to step A, backfire on us getting to step B. Hopefully that is a bit clearer.
Absolutely correct, that is why the Alberta Fish and Game is trying to get a provincial reg change, so we can then go to the CFO. They have been trying to both claim it's the others jurisdiction for years.
