Hey all fairly new to this site and I Wanted to know if anybody hunts with a hand gun, what cal, brand, etc. Thinking of getting a 44 mag for med size deer and hog, any ideas or suggestions would be helpful thanks. Gabriel

Welcome to THF, Gabriel!

I've hunted with a pistol most of my adult life. I've always carried my .22 Ruger, Single-Six for small game and in the last 15 years I've taken a .357 Ruger Single action.

It's a great experience.

I've only used iron sights, but many here use scopes.

Get one or two - you won't regret it.

I have hunted with a 44 mag. A Ruger Super Redhawk 8 1/2 " barrel with a 2x scope on it. I believe I was using 240 grain hollow point bullets. I would set up similiar to bow hunting where I could get a 20 to 30 yard shot. However, I never did get to shoot a deer with it. I used to compete in the IMHA (International Metalic Handgun Association) we were knocking over 55 pound targets at 200 yards, so I know it has some punch.

Have you thought about a Thompson Contender or Thompson Encore. I have a T/C chambered in 30/30 caliber with a muzzle brake. It is dead on accurate and kicks like a .38 cal.

Ruger Super Redhawk Hawk 44 with just a red dot sight. Will put 3 shots just outside a 50 cent piece while braced. Very accurate gun, but wouldn't take over a 40 yard shot freehand.

I hunt with several different handguns and calibers. I don't think you could go wrong with a good .44 Magnum. One that can easily be scoped. Smith & Wesson, Freedom Arms, and Ruger would be good choices depending on how much you want to spend. A double action revolver is not necessary in hunting as the first shot will be the one that counts. Since you mentioned hogs I would not use a bolt action or singleshot pistol.

My personal favorite is a Freedom Arms .454 Casull with a 4X Leupold scope. Ruger makes a Super Blackhawk Hunter as well as the Redhawk and Super Redhawk. Smith & Wesson has the excellent 29/629. With either of the above guns you will have one that is easily scoped or you can use the iron sights. My serious hunting handguns have barrels from six inches to ten inches. Longer barrels have a longer sight radius and are easier to shot well. I do have some four inch guns but they are more for packing then serious hunting. I like the Leupold 4X fixed scope on handguns. Varibles are fine but handguns put a lot of stress on a scope and my philosophy that the fixed power has no moving parts and less to go wrong. Whatever you choose good luck and get ready for a new and exciting way to hunt.

I have a pair of Ruger Superblackhawks 7 inch barrel in 44mag. On has a 2x scope on it, other is open sights. 300 Grain JSP Corbons will take and deer or hog you will see in these parts. I just love the Super Blackhawks.

I have been hunting strictly with handguns for about 30 years now and I agree with M16, you can't go wrong with a good 44 magnum. I have several which include the following: S&W Model 29 with 8 3/8" barrel, 629 with 6" barrel, 629 Mountain Gun with 4" barrel, Ruger Redhawk 7 1/2" barrel with a 2X Leupold scope, Ruger Redhawk 5" barrel and a Super Blackhawk 7 1/2" barrel. All of these are open sights and 44 magnums except the one Redhawk with a scope.

However, the guns that I have hunted with for about the past 10 years or so are a Freedom Arms Premier Grade .454 Casull, 7 1/2" barrel with a 2x7 variable scope, Freedom Arms .454 6" barrel with open sights and a Thompson Center Encore 30-06 with a 15" barrel and a 2x7 variable scope.

I prefer a variable scope on my hunting guns now, since my eyesight is not as good as it once was. I have had good luck with Burris 2x7 and a Simmons 2x7.

If your primary goal is hunting with a handgun, I would go with the 7 1/2" barrel model either with or without a scope in a good shoulder holster. If you are mainly using it as a backup with a rifle, I would probably choose a 6" model with a cross draw holster.

Good luck in your choices and good hunting.

I posted this same question on three other sites and none of them gave me the info that you guys have it feels good to find a site that has some people that know what they are talking about and love to do it. I have been thinking about the smith 629 6inch barrel or the Ruger superredhawk with the 9.5 inch barrel what do yall think.How do you like the ones you got. Also looking at the T/C know that someone recomended them. Thanks Gabriel

I personally would go with the Smith & Wesson 629. I just like the trigger pull better on the Smith than the Ruger. In the Ruger I would prefer the Redhawk over the Super Redhawk. No need to carry around the extra weight. But the most important thing is what feels best to you. I sure would be nice if you could rent them a take them for a test drive. But the bottom line is you can't go wrong with either one of your choices. I would buy a revolver first and then if you enjoy handgun hunting go for a single shot or bolt action pisol later.

I have to agree with M16 again. All of my Smith and Wessons had an excellent trigger from the factory with no work required, while I have had action jobs done on all of my Rugers, including the Super Blackhawk. Almost all Ruger triggers have to have work done on them if you are serious about handgun hunting with them. One advantage that the Rugers do have is ease of scope mounting without doing any drilling or tapping. That is the main advantage of Rugers.

I have 6 Smith's in different configurations and 4 Rugers. For open sight hunting I prefer the Smiths, but as I said before the Rugers have easier scope mounting and removal if you want to use both open sights and scope.

If price was not an object, the Freedom Arms revolvers are by far the cream of the crop. I have 2 Premier Grade 454 Casulls and they are as perfect as they can be in every way when they come from the factory. These are my primary hunting handguns, one with a scope and one with open sights.

As for single shot pistols, I have had a TC Contender, but now have a TC Encore 30-06, stainless steel, with 15" barrel and a 2x7 scope. I had an action job done on it as well and it is as smooth as glass. I shot a nice 9 pt buck with it last year and was very happy with its performance.

Let us know if you have anymore questions and we will be happy to give you our 2cents worth.

I have a T/C Contender with a 10" bull barrel in .223. It is a joy to shoot and deadly accurate. I have a 2X Burris scope. Haven't shot anything with it yet except targets. I'll be taking it this weekend in case I get a close shot. Been really wanting a 44 mag. Super Redhawk with the 7 1/2" barrel though.

Which ever one TCH has, when I get my hands on it, I am going to put it on a HOG.

T/C with a collection of barrels, my wife loves it she knows she can get me a new caliber barrel for birthdays and Christmas, have about 10 barrels. She also shoots the .223 and .270. Now I get a scopes to put on them. They are a little heavy but they are extremely accurate. Best hunt, 10 point in 2000, biggest kill, a hog in 1999, used a frontend loader to load it on a trailer.