What are your thoughts about hunting dangerous game with a large bore handgun? I read an article where they took the SW .500 and took down a cape buff and elephant. I think it would work well and most DG hunting is done at close range. What say you?

I think I read in an old SCI magazine
quite a few years ago some articles
and photos from people who had done
as you say plus other animals.

Don't have a problem with it if it
kills cleanly.

We published several stories by SCI members who successfully took all of the Big Five with handguns and muzzleloaders when I directed SCI's publications from 1983-1999. After I retired, Safari magazine published at least one article by a bowhunter who took the Big Five plus hippo and croc with a bow.

Bill Quimby

Bill

That was it, the Big 5 with a hand gun.

And the years would be correct as well for
when I would have read it.

If you prefer to do your hunting with a handgun, I see no problem with doing it.

But, as with hunting with a bow and arrow, hunting with an open sighted double, you severely limit your chances of success.

Of course, that should not stop you should you be that way inclined.

Can you take a rifle and a handgun to hunt africa and it a close shoot presents itself use the handgun if not than the rifle?

I believe that J. D. Jones has built very powerful handguns based on his line of proprietary cartridges and has used them to take dangerous game. Most are based on the TC Encore frame.

The guys at CMS have hosted quite a few handgun hunters. Buzz's second elephant hunting DVD, titled "Zambezi Extreme" features two hunters taking tuskless with the 500SW Revolver. Both appeared to work well and the PH restricted them to side brain shots only ... no frontal brain attempts.

quote:

Originally posted by steel:
Can you take a rifle and a handgun to hunt africa and it a close shoot presents itself use the handgun if not than the rifle?

The answer is generally yes, however the specifics depend on the country where you are going to hunt the game and what the caliber/velocity/fps/joules are required. I believe that in most countries, semi-auto handguns would not be permitted.

I have an Encore in 308 Win and believe that it would be permitted for most Plaines game with a 150 grain bullet at 2500fps. I know it would be ok for RSA.

I have loaded up some 420 grain solids for my smith and wesson .500 I think that it might do well on frontal brain shots on elephant.

I have taken 3 world records in africa with a handgun and another Top 10 animal. Also used a S&W 500 on a handgun only safari for Cape Buff in the swamps of Mozambique in 2005; follow-up was a bit of an adventure. I have considered taking an Ele with the S&W 500 but have taken the last two and this years upcoming with custom rifles, calibers and bullets.

Whereas it used to be very simple to take a handgun into almost all african countries, like everything else about firearms, it has become much more difficult and some countries will not even allow temporary import of what are clearly hunting handguns.

What handgun do you intend using?
I think it will be a great challenge.
Will you take Hippo too?
Ian

quote:

Originally posted by Saeed:
If you prefer to do your hunting with a handgun, I see no problem with doing it.

But, as with hunting with a bow and arrow, hunting with an open sighted double, you severely limit your chances of success.

Of course, that should not stop you should you be that way inclined.

100% spot on...

I say that you should be very good with a handgun and not be new to handgun shooting.You then should discuss this with an outfitter before you show up to hunt and find a PH ywho is enthusiastic about it.You do not want to be in a situation where your hunt has started and your PH is not that crazy about your idea for whatever reason.Same goes for open sight hunting.
I am not sure that every outfit being for whatever reason will pay particular attention or respect to your desire to hunt with a handgun and some might may have forgotten that you are bringing one instead of a rifle.Then you find yourself with a PH that you may not get along with and it is all shit.IMO,with handguns and open sight hunting you need the support from all involved.When you arrive there and they see the weapon you should get a thumbs up not thumbs down.

I would like to take hippo on land close up with SW .500. If the distance is to far I can use a .458 lott.

IMHO, as long as there's a PH standing by with a proper big bore stopping rifle, and there always is, the whole enterprise is a stunt.

Like tight rope walking with a net.

But have at it, if it floats your boat.

quote:

Originally posted by Michael Robinson:
IMHO, as long as there's a PH standing by with a proper big bore stopping rifle, and there always is, the whole enterprise is a stunt.

Like tight rope walking with a net.

But have at it, if it floats your boat.

It's only a stunt if you are incapable of handling your chosen firearm with a high level of competence.

Hell, I'm up for it. I will use my 454 Casull and/or my 475 Linebaugh. Both are more than up to the task.

I have taken 3 Buff with iron sighted 5 1/2 barrel revolvres, 2 with .475 Linebaugh and one with a .45 Colt built by John Linebaugh. My hunting partner has taken 2 Buff and 2 Tuskless with .475 Max. by Linebaugh, also iron sights. Buff in ZA and ele in Zim. The reason for doing it is that it requires you to get very close and heightens the enjoyment of the stalk, which is the reason I like Buff hunting more that anything else. It can be frustrating if you are not willing to chance going home with only the memories of exciting stalks to show for your trip. By the way, there is nothing new to this, any number of people ahve done it long before and more often than I.
If anyone wants to discuss loads, bullets and their performance on these animals, PM me.

Hunting DG with ( appropriate) handguns is fine but you must be trained, watch your distances and also be prepared to miss some opportunities. Like with a double rifle instead of a scoped 416 Rem.

It seems that the consensus here is that it's OK to shoot big African game with a handgun...why is it then that people who post on doing the same with a 45-70 get flamed??
The 45-70 is MUCH more powerful than the 500, especially when fired from a rifle.

FWIW I wouldn't use either but have no problem with it if that's your cup of tea.

Leopardtrack,

Your absolutely right. A little off topic but I've had the same exact thoughts.

I here the 45-70 is an excellent DG round and in a revolver it would make it even better.

With a 2" barrel it would be nice and compact too...

quote:

Originally posted by Saeed:
But, as with hunting with a bow and arrow, hunting with an open sighted double, you severely limit your chances of success.

Every single time a hunter contacts me with the request to hunt Elephant or Buffalo with a bow, this is basically what I tell them. Almost without fail, I never hear from them again.

I guess "my" Buffalo and Elephant are too tough for them and they go off in search of easier Buffalo and Elephant to kill.

I take that back, Mark Hampton has always followed through with emails and phone calls. He's a great guy to deal with, and, apparently, one heck of a good handgun hunter.