I just got around a legal obstable in Italy and that is to do with carrying a handgun and using one for hunting. I will become a game ranger for my place here, so I can carry and eventually use a handgun for culling or dispatching animals.
So I thought I would ask this forum for advise, due to my little knowledge of hundguns. What would be a good handgun to use for this type of work? I need something that will shoot to a reasonable range, and dispatch wild pigs and deer. I will probably scope it, and I tend to like big calibres and long barrels. The carry part isn't really an issue, as I don't want to go for something smaller just to have an easier time carrying it if it will comprimise the ultimate purspore in any way.
Handguns I have been eyeing off latley are; the Desert eagle .50AE, Colt anaconda .44mag, Freedom Arms mod 555 .475Linebough .454 casull .50AE
BFR .45-70 .444Marlin 50AE
Are the bigger calibers a bit too much gun for this type of game? would a .44 suffice?
Thanks for any help you can give me.

Express:

I have posted much the same before, but it sounds like you do not have much experience or knowledge about pistol shooting. If that is the case, and if your permit will allow you 2 pistols, I would urge you to buy a .22 or a 9mm(in Italy, over here I would say a .357 and shoot .38 wadcutters)to practice and learn with. Shooting a pistol is quite different from shooting a rifle and while anyone can learn, I know several excellent rifle shoots that can't hit the broadside of a barn when they are in the barn with a pistol. Whatever you do, don't go out and buy a big bore pistol and hot hunting type loads and try to learn to shoot it. You will almost certainly develop problems that will be hard to cure or like many people, decide that pistols are not for you.

If you can only purchase one pistol on your permit, I strongly urge you to consider a .44 mag revolver such as the Smith 29 or 629, a Ruger, or Taurus. The reason is, with full power loads you have more than enough to handle the type game you have specified and you can either buy or reload some 700 to 900 Fps loads(.44 special levels) for practice and learning.

You also might consider a Thompson Center Contender if you don't mind the single shot feature, because you can buy different barrels and practice with say a .22 and hunt with a .44 mag.

I equally strongly urge you not to get a more powerful round than the .44 mag or the .45 Long Colt. You don't need it for your type of game and very few people can shoot them well and even fewer enjoy shooting them.

[ 06-13-2002, 20:45: Message edited by: Gatogordo ]

I should just clear up the point about not have much knowledge about pistols - I have done a good deal of pistol shooting, and while I'm probably nowhere near as good a shot as the people on this forum, I can shoot reasonably well and have shot with some big handguns. I once has a 12 gauge handgun that I picked up in Belgium, it said made in Italy on it, and I don't remember that brand. It was supposedly for self defence as It came with some rubber pellet loads, but I found that it worked a lot better with solid slugs.
I can't imagine that these big pistol calibers could be any worse than that terrible thing was.
It's just that I have never given handugs much thought and I dont know much about the techical side of it all. I am confident with iron sites out to 25 meters to be able to hit an grapefruit sized target, and lets say a melon at 50. But I have found that with a scope I can about double those stats.

I would go with a ruger super red hawk easy to mount a scope on and you can get it in any of the calibers you want. Long barrels and big bores.

Express, or should we now call you Ranger Express , I think Gato is pretty well on the mark here. Firing big moster pistols is one thing...becoming really good and proficient with them is quite another thing. Personally I don't see much use for any handgun larger than 44 magnum. Very few shooters can use this pistol to its full potential...much less something larger.

I think Gato's suggestion of a .357 Magnum is most excellent and unless you are talking about very large wild pigs, the .357 is quite adequate for your purposes. I have killed numerous deer with one shot using 38 Special and .357 Magnum, but I suspect the .357 Mag loads would be better for wild pigs.

Or another favorite pistol of mine and a many other pistol devotees is the .41 Magnum. S&W makes an excellent version of this in what they call a hunter classic. I believe the barrel length is 7 inches. I have one and prize it above all other handguns.

But .357, 41 or 44 magnum, any and all of these offer some distinct advantages to the owner.
1. All are easy to obtain cases, bullets and components for.
2. All are easy to reload and very "agreeable" guns, i.e. easy to develop good loads almost anywhere you wish along their power curve. Good target loads up to good hunting loads.
3. Revolvers and generally safer than automatics, especially in unfamiliar hands. (Not necessarily meaning YOURS.)
4. Revolvers don't toss your spent cartridge cases 15 feet to the right and somewhere between 3 to 9 feet behind you so you have to crawl in the weeds to collect the cases after firing. Replacing lost cartridge cases can be both irritating, time consuming and expensive.
I am assuming you reload.
If you do not reload and must buy your ammunition, then certainly the .357 and 44 are going to be the easiest to purchase ammunition over the counter.

You asked about barrel length I believe. Personally I wouldn't have a pistol with over 6 or 7 inch barrel. Longer than this and the handgun is heavy, uncomfortable to carry, and obtains an awkward balance and "feel" about the gun. Most handguns larger than this are also difficult to shoot one handed. The ability to make a good one handed shot can sometimes be a distinct advantage. At the other end of the barrel length question, I have found I can shoot 4" revolvers about as well as I can a 6". In my opinion, a shooter's accuracy increases only slightly with barrels longer than 4". I used to shoot a LOT of competition pistol and most of the guys I knew could do anything with a 4" pistol that they could do with a 6". Naturally a 4" pistol is even handier to carry in a holster. (Also much more concealable if this issue has any value to you.)

In conclusion, I believe any of these cartridges would serve you very well and be something you could master quickly and find enjoyable shooting.

Let us know what you decide, Ranger Express, and congratulations on your new duties. I'm sure you will exercise them wisely.

[ 06-14-2002, 02:46: Message edited by: Pecos45 ]

I personally wouldn't use anything under a .44Mag for big game hunting. The .357 Mag is under powered in my opinion. I currently hunt with the new .480 Ruger. I think you would be very happy with this round. I would get a double action if these wild pigs you speak of are dangerous. If not get the single action. Ruger makes a great gun. Give it a look.

If I was limited to just two handguns (God forbid) an I wanted one to hunt and carry consealed I would think about the tarus tracker in 45 colt or in a titanium 41 mag. Consealable but still powerful enough for 90% of all hunting chores

Well the voice of reason (somewhere far, far off in the back of my heads tells me to listen to you guys and go for an Anaconda in .44mag, even though I'd rather a .454...I am a big bore rifle shooter too.
I might try out the Taurus Raging Bull in .454 at the range though,(my guns dealer will let me try before I buy)from what I gather it kicks like a .44 with the ported barrel. I find the Taurus revolvers somewhat ugly personally, but when I handled one it felt very good. Ultimately I will go with which ever feels best and shoots better in my hands.
Thanks for your help fellas.
Happy hunting.

You can hardly go wrong with the Anaconda. It's a well crafted gun that shoots well, and will only go up in value.

EXPRESS I would go with the Ruger super redhawk
if you handload the ruger can take the hot loads I have a load for a super redhawk that will push a 240gr bullet at 1650fps out of a 91/2 BBL