I have to admit that when it comes to hunting I will use a rifle for more than 90% of the time but there have been times where the rifle is less convenient for me. What I'd like to get is an idea of what hunters think would be their minimum battery of hunting handguns.

I have numerous handguns for various applications but strictly for hunting the only ones I can think of that I need are a .44 Mag double action revolver and a .22 LR double action revolver. Do I need any more?

Namibiahunter

The .44 will take anything you will encounter, but personally I like a bigger hammer.

+1 on the 44. The 22 will only be useful for pelts, otherwise the 44 will handle most any task you could ask for it. If I were looking for dangerous game, the 44 would be on the light side.

John

For me, it would consist of the following:

1. 22 LR for small game and running a trapline
2. 14-15" .223 in a Contender for varminting
3. 14" 6.5 JDJ Contender for medium game
4. 7.5" revolver in .44 Magnum for any and everything else (using 320 grain Cast Performance @ 1300-1350 fps)

I like a S&W 500 for Cape Buffalo and other DG.

quote:

Originally posted by namibiahunter:
I have to admit that when it comes to hunting I will use a rifle for more than 90% of the time but there have been times where the rifle is less convenient for me. What I'd like to get is an idea of what hunters think would be their minimum battery of hunting handguns.

I have numerous handguns for various applications but strictly for hunting the only ones I can think of that I need are a .44 Mag double action revolver and a .22 LR double action revolver. Do I need any more?

Namibiahunter

As you well know, shots on the Coastal Range are usually close. You can get within feet of a big Rosy while hunting in this jungle. Your .44 Mag will do just fine. If your thinking about the Valley or east of the Cascades, you might consider something flat with some downrange umpht. Personally, I use the .460 SW MAG for both sides. Not as comfortable to shoot but it puts big holes in big game.

Enough to me:
T/C Contender/G2; .22Hornet, 9mmLuger and .357Rem Maximum. Also Dan Wesson .357 Supermag.
Enough, because handgunhunting is illegal in my country.

A T/C Contender is all you "need" unless you hope to hunt something that will hunt you back and thus desire a few more shots at the ready should things go south. 10 inch tubes in 22 rimfire and 44 magnum would serve to get a fella started. It's not the only hunting handgun I own but it would suffice if it were. If you wanted to it all with two revolvers a 22 and 44 are a good way to go, but they need not be double-action, especially since the Bisleys make shooting stiff loads much less unpleasant. In that category I regard my Bisley Single-Six and Bisley Blackhawk in 45 Colt a convenient pairing.

44 mag super blackhawk and a single six.

.475 BFR and a Ruger Mark II will do it all.
No Bisley for me, hands are too big.

almost with bfr but give me the bisley 475 linebaugh and ruger mkII

quote:

almost with bfr but give me the bisley 475 linebaugh and ruger mkII

My friend John has the Freedom .475. I told him to get rubber grips but he wanted a show piece and got the pretty ones.
He has small hands and I have large hands. After we both shot it, he went home and called to order the rubber grips. We both got beat pretty good. My middle knuckle was pounded and his whole hand hurt. It now is almost pleasant to shoot.
Both of us prefer the BFR!

Ruger 45LC and MK II 22-45 work for me.
I have many others but these get the most use.

I use my Single Six 32 H&R Mag for small game.I usually dailey carry a 1911 of some kind.44 mag is really a good all around cartridge.

quote:

Originally posted by namibiahunter:
I have to admit that when it comes to hunting I will use a rifle for more than 90% of the time but there have been times where the rifle is less convenient for me. What I'd like to get is an idea of what hunters think would be their minimum battery of hunting handguns.

I have numerous handguns for various applications but strictly for hunting the only ones I can think of that I need are a .44 Mag double action revolver and a .22 LR double action revolver. Do I need any more?

Namibiahunter

I would use my Dan Wesson 10" .22Lr and my Dan Wesson .44mag 6",8" or 10" if it were my only choice of 2 handguns.

My S&W M41 and FA .454 Casull seem to well cover the spectrum of handgun hunting here in the thick Michigan woods.

I can't believe that the .357 and .41 mags aren't on ya'lls lists. He did say minimum after all. I'll agree on the preference for larger when dealing with DG, but just about all of North America's big game could be taken with these calibers sufficiently. I'm not saying he should get rid of his .44. I hunt with mine as well, buy my S&W 657 classic hunter (.41 mag)is my baby.

I haven't had a .41mag but I wouldn't rule it out either.

quote:

Originally posted by Swede44mag:
I haven't had a .41mag but I wouldn't rule it out either.

If Dirty Harry carried a .41 Mag, the .44 would be the dark horse today.

quote:

Originally posted by Juggernaut76:

quote:

Originally posted by Swede44mag:
I haven't had a .41mag but I wouldn't rule it out either.

If Dirty Harry carried a .41 Mag, the .44 would be the dark horse today.

I have been told Dirty Harry's .44 was a .41

Yes, the original Dirty Harry gun was a 41 because they couldn't find a 44 in time for the movie.

For me it would be a Ruger MarkII 22 pistol and my model 57 .41 mag. Load the .41 with hard cast and go hunting.

learned something new.So is the dirty harry gun in the nra muesum a 41 or 44

I believe they put in the 44 for the museum since it is what he used in the other four "Dirty Harry" movies.

He used a .44 in the film. I've shot the original movie gun many years ago. And yes, the revolver in the National Firearms Museum is als a Model 29..........

I think 6 inch 44 Mag and a 6" 22LR, make mine both S&W's lease, would be a great start for a 2 handgun hunting battery.

As time goes on if you need something else, you will be able to figure it out.

The 22 LR for small stuff and practice, the 44 Mag can be loaded from 44 Secial power levels up to the heavy Magnum cast loads.