Perfect - one gun for woods hunting.
#160428
07/06/2015 1:41 PM
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Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 920
billa
OP
old hand
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OP
old hand
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 920 |
Hey guys, what do you think?
I am often asked. "If I could only have one gun for hunting everything what would it be?" The typical perspective on this question for me is hunting the northeast but we can stretch it to all of North America if you like. Take a look at James setup on his post - Hunt report - boar with 41. The scoped FA 83 in 41 Mag may be the perfect all around "one gun" hunting gun for North America from varmints to big game.
Luckily. Its not a real issue for me as I split my medium / big game hunting between my Contender 358 JDJ and several 44 mag revolvers. Plus I use several other guns for long range and closeup varmints and small game. If pushed hard for an answer on my personal guns I would probably pick my Redhawk 44 Mag with removable scope although my Contender 358 JDJ will kill anything it encounters!
Just to clarify. I have never owned a 41 Mag or a Freedom Arms gun in any caliber but I do recognize a winning setup when I see one!
"Therefore go and make disciples of all nations,... " Matthew 28:19
Handgun hunter since 1979 - haven't used a rifle since! HHI member #992, NRA, SCI.
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Re: Perfect - one gun for woods hunting.
[Re: billa]
#160429
07/06/2015 3:38 PM
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Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 9,608
s4s4u
Shootist
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Shootist
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 9,608 |
My staple is a Bisley 45 Colt with an UltraDot for deer and such. Plenty of range for most of my hunting. I occasionally carry a T/C 7-30 Waters on a sling if I am going to be watching over a field edge in the evenning, but the 45 is on me all day and I could do if that was all I had.
Rod, too.
Short cuts often lead to long recoveries.
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Re: Perfect - one gun for woods hunting.
[Re: s4s4u]
#160430
07/06/2015 3:51 PM
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Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 9,715
jamesfromjersey
Shootist
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Shootist
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 9,715 |
I have always said that if limited to one handgun it would be a Freedom Arms 454 Casull with extra cylinders......
Life member-NRA-SCI Member-HHI #2900-HHASA #067 Colt-Ruger-Freedom Arms-and S&W Collector Assoc.s "I have more guns then I need but not as many as I want" "Handgun hunters HAVE to be good"
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Re: Perfect - one gun for woods hunting.
[Re: jamesfromjersey]
#160439
07/06/2015 6:36 PM
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Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 4,669
Chance Weldon
Distinguished Expert
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Distinguished Expert
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 4,669 |
If I was going to choose one handgun, I'd choose a T/C Encore with a 270 Winchester barrel. While I don't have any experience with that particular configuration, I have quite a bit of experience hunting the U.S. and New Zealand with a 270 Winchester chambered Weatherby Vanguard. If I was allowed only one handgun but anticipated being able to hunt everything from coyote to elk, that's what I'd go with in an Encore.
Alternatively, I'd put the scope back on the Model 460. Certainly wouldn't be under gunned with that.
Formerly TN Lone Wolf
"We are only as strong as we are united, as weak as we are divided." - J.K. Rowling
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Re: Perfect - one gun for woods hunting.
[Re: Chance Weldon]
#160440
07/06/2015 7:42 PM
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Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 4,155
Gregg Richter
Distinguished Expert
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Distinguished Expert
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 4,155 |
I wouldn't want to make that decision! But probably I would say the T/C Encore in .308. As is well established, the .308 has a huge variety of loadings, from varmint to big game.
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Re: Perfect - one gun for woods hunting.
[Re: Gregg Richter]
#160441
07/06/2015 8:22 PM
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Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 204
Buttermilk
enthusiast
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enthusiast
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 204 |
As of right now, my "one gun to hunt everything" is my T/C Encore in 30-338 Win Mag. It's accurate enough for prairie dogs, and thumps hard enough on the big end for anything I'd want to hunt.
Regards, Rog
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Re: Perfect - one gun for woods hunting.
[Re: Buttermilk]
#160443
07/06/2015 8:40 PM
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Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 860
karl
old hand
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old hand
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 860 |
Might not be the answer you were looking for, but since you said "gun" I'd pick a Contender or Encore with multiple barrels. I'm using 30-30 right now, but 308 would probably make more sense for larger game and longer ranges. 17hmr (or wsm I would imagine) is a lot of fun on the smaller side but still has respectable range.
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Re: Perfect - one gun for woods hunting.
[Re: karl]
#160444
07/07/2015 1:16 AM
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Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 525
Brenden
addict
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addict
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 525 |
I'm not as experienced as most, but I believe I would be happy with my 44 Special. I shoot it well, and it can be loaded from mild to wild.
I love my Ruger Blackhawk 41 magnum, but the 44 is quickly pushing it into the back seat.
Brenden
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Re: Perfect - one gun for woods hunting.
[Re: Brenden]
#160447
07/07/2015 9:18 AM
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Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 649
dhom
addict
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addict
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 649 |
I believe I would go with a FA83 454 with a 7 1/2" barrel and a 2X6 Bushnell Elite. I don't think I would be lacking for 90% of all hunting situations.
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Re: Perfect - one gun for woods hunting.
[Re: dhom]
#160448
07/07/2015 10:29 AM
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Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 2,209
REDHAWK1954
Pooh-Bah
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Pooh-Bah
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 2,209 |
For woods hunting deer which is what I do the most I would be very happy with my Ruger Redhawk 44 mag with a 5.5" barrel and a ultradot 30 mounted on it.
This gun is fun to shoot balanced very well and deadly to 100 yards or better.
Michael Joe Moore
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Re: Perfect - one gun for woods hunting.
[Re: REDHAWK1954]
#160450
07/07/2015 12:27 PM
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Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 9,836
Whitworth
Shootist
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Shootist
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 9,836 |
My 7 1/2-inch .480 SRH with an Ultradot 30 up top has served me well.
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Re: Perfect - one gun for woods hunting.
[Re: Whitworth]
#160452
07/07/2015 1:50 PM
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Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 3,205
KYODE
Shooting Expert
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Shooting Expert
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 3,205 |
Woods and fields for deer here. 14" 35rem contender, good to 200yrds if ya catch that rutting buck out wandering around. Love the revolver but it does restrict you(me) on some opportunity here.
Kentucky….no place like home.
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Re: Perfect - one gun for woods hunting.
[Re: REDHAWK1954]
#160460
07/07/2015 9:17 PM
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Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 554
ratgunner
addict
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addict
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 554 |
I'd say either my Bisley Hunter in .44 magnum OR my TC G2 in .357 Maximum. But I could also get most of my hunting done with my .44 special flat top. Lol.
Last edited by ratgunner; 07/07/2015 9:19 PM.
Hunt hard,Shoot straight,Kill clean,Apologize to no one.
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Re: Perfect - one gun for woods hunting.
[Re: dhom]
#160464
07/08/2015 12:34 AM
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Joined: May 2013
Posts: 1,596
racksmasher1
veteran
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veteran
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 1,596 |
I believe I would go with a FA83 454 with a 7 1/2" barrel and a 2X6 Bushnell Elite. I don't think I would be lacking for 90% of all hunting situations. RIGHT ON, # 2 would be my 12"X frame in 460,
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Re: Perfect - one gun for woods hunting.
[Re: billa]
#160469
07/08/2015 1:34 AM
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Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 3,006
Zee
Shooting Expert
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Shooting Expert
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 3,006 |
I can't pick just one. Like picking a favorite kid!!! Ha.
"To Hell with efficiency, it's performance we want!" - Elmer Keith
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Re: Perfect - one gun for woods hunting.
[Re: REDHAWK1954]
#160479
07/08/2015 6:10 AM
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Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 526
sw282
addict
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addict
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 526 |
My 629 Comped Hunter 44Mag w/2X Leupold
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Re: Perfect - one gun for woods hunting.
[Re: sw282]
#160480
07/08/2015 10:46 AM
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Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 38
MrBFR
newbie
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newbie
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 38 |
I'd have a tough time picking between my .41's and 454's, but in the end if it had to be just one I'd lean towards the .45.
BFR 454 - SRH Toklat 454 - SBHH .41 Mag - BH .41 Mag
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Re: Perfect - one gun for woods hunting.
[Re: MrBFR]
#160483
07/08/2015 11:44 AM
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Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 1,757
cottonstalk
Pooh-Bah
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Pooh-Bah
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 1,757 |
45 colt. From 260s @ 800fps to 350s @ 1200fps, what would it not cover.
"If you get to thinkin' you're a person of some influence,try orderin' someone else's dog around" unknown cowboy
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Re: Perfect - one gun for woods hunting.
[Re: cottonstalk]
#160550
07/09/2015 2:47 PM
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Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 808
minnesotahunter
old hand
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old hand
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 808 |
Probly my 45colt Super Blackhawk Hunter... I really feel like I'm cheating on my Encore 7mm 08 when I say that....it has served me well. In the end, the ability to go from irons to scope to red dot and back in about 10 seconds is what does it for me. That, and having multiple shots for when I'm hunting something that might bite back.
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Re: Perfect - one gun for woods hunting.
[Re: Brenden]
#160556
07/09/2015 11:25 PM
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Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 104
TGC
member
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member
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 104 |
I'm not as experienced as most, but I believe I would be happy with my 44 Special. I shoot it well, and it can be loaded from mild to wild. This.... I've got .44 magnums but the Ruger .44 Special 5 1/2" is my favorite I think. We don't have any cape buffalo around my house yet and 50 yards is pretty much my limit with old eyesight.
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Re: Perfect - one gun for woods hunting.
[Re: TGC]
#160559
07/10/2015 12:32 AM
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Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 750
bluecow
old hand
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old hand
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 750 |
the NON pc answer. single six! if im down to only one i wouldnt be above using a flashlight. .22 is a lot less mess on small game too boot.
Everything before "but" is B.S.
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