Hunting Arms and Ammunition: Handguns

Handgun hunting is a challenging sport that is expanding in popularity.  Like all other forms of hunting, it demands careful attention to safety, ethics, and personal responsibility.  The basic considerations of hunting safety – self-control, absolute target identification, muzzle control, and knowledge of where the projectile will stop – are just as important with handguns as with any other form of hunting.  Because of the way handguns are carried and their short length, particular caution with muzzle control is needed.

Accident figures from a state where handgun hunting was recently permitted showed that nearly all accidents associated with handguns took place when either drawing or holstering the firearm or dropping a loaded handgun.  Handgun hunters must be acutely aware of the need to exercise appropriate caution with the firearm, like never cocking a handgun until ready to fire at a game animal.  Self-control is critical to safety here as in any other shooting or hunting situation.

Like other firearms, handguns are built for specific chamberings.  Some cartridges may be safely interchanged, but others could create a dangerous problem if mixed.  The owner of a .357 Magnum can safely fire .38 Special ammunition; but the opposite exchange is dangerous, even if the case could be chambered.  For the sake of safety, the shooter must be absolutely sure that the firearm is chambered for the cartridge being used.  In some cases, like .44 Remington Magnum or .45-70 Government loads, that includes being sure that the cartridge was loaded for use in pistols rather than in rifles chambered for the same cartridge.  Check the headstamp and the cartridge box label against the chambering information on the pistol.

Handgun Actions

Hunting handguns use four basic designs.  All of them are suitable for small game or use on a trapline, but very few semi-automatics pistols are chambered for cartridges suitable for big game.  Single action or double action revolvers dominated big bore handgun hunting for many years, and several potent handgun rounds are available for the handgun hunter.  Varmint hunting, metallic silhouette shooting, and serious big game handgunning resulted in the development of bolt action, break action, and cannon breech pistols chambered for high velocity or high-powered cartridges.  Commercially available pistols like the Thompson/Center Contender and the Remington XP100 come in a wide variety of chamberings from .17 to .45-70 and in barrel lengths from about 10 inches to 18 inches.  These firearms permit rifle-like performance from a hunting handgun.  The choice of action is mostly one of personal preference and availability of chamberings desired.

Bolt action or break action pistols are very strong, have little gas loss, and are easily chambered for almost any suitable cartridge.  Revolvers offer multiple shots quickly.  Single action revolvers require cocking before each shot, but they are generally more durable and simpler than double actions.

Hunting Sights

All kinds of sights are useful for handgun hunting, but they must be precise and easily used under a variety of light conditions.  The standard partridge sight may be difficult to use under low light conditions, particularly if it is simply blued.  Many shooters use white, orange, or red inserts or outlines on their sights to improve visibility and to make the front sight stand out.  These are also easier to see under low contrast conditions when aligned with the game animal.

Optical sights have the advantage of keeping everything on the same focal plane.  Non-magnifying optical sights, like the aim-point, visually project an aiming spot on the target.  They are quick to use and easily seen.  (Note:  Laser sights that actually project an image onto the targeted animal are illegal in many states.)  Telescopic sights help with precise aiming once they are used enough to become acclimated to them.  They will increase the apparent amount of wobble and may make it difficult to locate the game animal at higher magnifications.  In addition, higher magnifications can make shot placement difficult at close range because the small field of view makes it hard to determine where the sights are being placed.  Most hunters stick to scopes in the 1.5 to 7-power range, even for long handgun shots.  Most long-range varmint handgunners use scoped handguns as well.  Practice on the range or on metallic silhouettes is excellent training for using hunting handguns in the field.

Caliber Selection

Like all firearms, handguns kill be hydrostatic shock and the disruption of vital functions.  Water moving away from the bullet damages tissues around the wound channel, expanding the area of damage beyond the wound channel itself.  When game is taken for food or fur, the shooter tries to balance sure-killing power against meat or fur damage.  Varmint shooters may opt for higher velocity and energy regardless of damage, since most varmints are not eaten.

In comparison to even mild rifle cartridges, most handgun cartridges deliver only moderate terminal energy.  Rimfire ammunition is suitable for small game and furbearer hunting.  Where it is legal, a rimfire handgun makes an excellent “finisher” for downed big game.  Light centerfire loads, like “mid-range” or target loads, may be used if they are well placed.  Centerfire shot loads are poor, even in comparison to a .410 shotgun, but they have some limited usefulness for short-range shooting.  Make sure that you check all regulations before attempting to use a handgun with shot loads for hunting any game animal.  Some states may restrict the use of handguns for upland birds, and no steel shot loads are available to make waterfowling with a handgun legal.

Big game hunting with a handgun requires careful decision-making and adequate equipment.  The decision -making involves getting close enough, careful shot placement, and proper load selection.  Load selection and having adequate trigger and sight control to place the bullets adequately are critical to making clean kills.  Many states place some legal restrictions on handgun being used to hunt big game.  In a few cases, those regulations may deny the use of some excellent cartridges while permitting the use of other, inadequate cartridges.  Regardless of legal considerations, no handgun developing energies less than those generated by a .357 Magnum should be considered for deer-sized game.  In fact, many hunters consider the .357 marginal, at best.  Many rifle cartridges and wildcats, like the Herrett cartridges, are excellent for big game in appropriate guns.  One of the major considerations after adequate energy is getting adequate bullet performance at hunting ranges.  Often that requires the use of a softer or more easily deformed bullet than would be used in rifle hunting.

Hunting Tactics

In many ways, handgunning resembles bowhunting.  Ranges are relatively short.  Careful shot selection, staying inside a personally determined sure-kill zone, and frequent serious practice are necessary.  Sound knowledge of game behavior and anatomy are needed for success.  The challenge increases satisfaction.  Hunting with a handgun offers a potential to grow ethically as a hunter, but that potential is only realized when self-respect and respect for the resources is joined by adequate preparation and equipment equal to the task.  Handgun hunters can use all types of hunting tactics – stalking, still-hunting, or hunting from a stand are all effective.  The key is getting close enough to deliver an effective killing shot.  Handgun hunting is a challenge.  It is not for everyone, but those who adopt this means of hunting find it extremely satisfying.