This is not legal in my home state but I do occasionally hunt in Alabama. This is from their regs:

Handguns or pistols using centerfire mushrooming ammunition, black powder handguns or pistols .40 caliber or larger. Handguns or pistols can only have open metallic sights (no scopes).

Does anyone use handguns for turkey? Please tell me what gun and what loading.

A couple of guys discussed turkey hunting not long ago, but they were all using shotguns. I wish turkey hunting with handguns was legal in my state so I'd have a bigger excuse to go after turkeys more often.

FA .454 Casull, 2-6X Bushnell Elite, 260 gr. Speer Mag. HP. Hit them high in the back at the wing butts. No meat damage. I've tried .357s,.44s, .223 T/C, .45 ACP. The only reliable guns have been .375 JDJ (270 gr. lead FP) and my .454. I've taken about 3 1/2 dozen with it with ZERO losses.

I can see the .45ACP being a bit on the low side but I would have thought for sure the 357, 44 and 223 would have worked well.

I wonder if it is a function of the bird not being dense enough to promote proper expansion of the bullet at pistol velocities?

None of these bullets ever expanded on the birds. Used wing shots on all. Got lots of feathers and probably dead birds, but couldn't find them. Also used a 400 gr. lead .45-70. He got away.
I think why the 260 gr. HP .454 works is the HP with the velocity of the round creates enough tissue shock to disrupt the spinal column. Exits and internal damage are 1- 1 1/2".
Got a Swift 265 gr. HP (BIG cavity as compared to Speer) mixed up in my loads and used it once. Massive damage, 20% of breast gone, 2 1/2" exit. This is NOT a turkey bullet, but is great on deer.
Oh, the .357 shot was 5 yards!! Called him right in and was camoed good. 158 gr. Sierra JHC. Bye,bye, birdie!

Here in PA its legal to hunt turkey in the fall with handguns. I have taken turkeys with a 218 Bee And the 223 in a Contender plus one with a 629 44 Mag. I use soft point ammo in the 22 cal center fires and it works well for me. Full charge 240 XTP in the 44 magnum works very well. FULL Penetration. LOL

Hey Doc, I really enjoy your stories in the HHI Sixgunner!

Fall turkey with a handgun is one of my favorites! First one was taken with federal factory 30-30 150gr in Bullberry 30-30 AI neck shot. Second is 41 mag Bisley with light loaded 215gr Lee tumble lube and body shot. Nearly 0 meat damage.

What is typical range? Is that more a function of shooting ability or locating/calling in the bird?

I was initially thinking Contender 10” bull barrel .223 but I could go 30-30. I have .308 WIN in a 15” Encore, I thought that may be more firepower than needed.

I’ve also considered muzzleloader (most of my turkey kills have been with MZ shotguns). I have a Knight HK-94 that I think might do nicely. Also a .50 barrel for the Encore. My thoughts were to load these down for maximum accuracy with round ball. The Ruger Old Army also crossed my mind as it is the most accurate wheelgun that I own.

Wildshot, the birds here in the west don't seem very cagey. I like a little less power to ensure minimal meat damage. The light loaded 41 was cooked up just for turkey, the 30-30 was probably a bit much but was so accurate and the range short (50yds) it enabled me to go for the neck shot.

Before I started handgun hunting I took several with a 25-20 savage and a 22mag ruger. They worked great with little meat damage and no lost birds.

Use what makes you happy! I vote for the Old Army!

Be prepared for any situation when fall turkey hunting. I usually hunt in the big woods looking to break a flock of birds and then call one in. I have killed a few at around 50 yards this way but my long shots have been 120 yds with a 629 44mag and 185 yds with a 223 Contender.

I was very lucky to take this small turkey with my 454 and that's enough turkey huntin for me, however, the guy you talk to here is Kral as he has handgunned quite a few of the birds and is one of the best..... My bird was behind a log about 40yds away and all that was exposed was his head and neck. Put the scope on 8x and got him in the neck. Hardest shot of my life....

I was pretty proud of my 15 yard head shot on a rough grouse with the Bisley 45 until I read that James....

But I was using a red dot

Nice shootin' man!

s4s4u, I don`t care what you had on your handgun that still is a great shot to put one in the head of a grouse at 15......

James,
thanks for the kind words, but I don't know about being one of the best.

WildShot,
I have taken a few longimous-beardis with a handgun, but not with single projectiles. My home State does not allow single rounds (bullets) for spring turket; shotgun with no larger than #2 shot or bows. So, to squeeze in my handgun passion during turkey season, I use a T/C Contender in .45/.410 or T/C encore in 20ga. Both are in a handgun configuration and I shoot shot shells.

.410....


and 20ga....


and here's a small write-up I did on turkey hunting with the .410.... [url=http://www.handgunhunt.com/promo/membership/features/readNewArticle.php?oid=10&title=Most Challenging Sport?]Most Challenging Sport?[/url]

I don't know why the hyperlink won't work, but you can go to members articles and look for "Most Challenging Sport?

Here is an old post on Turkey hunting. Thought you would find it interesting.

Thanks, billa. Forgot about this one. I've slept since then.

I can't hunt them here in Ga with a handgun...wish I could.

I'm thinking about a Ruger single-seven in 327 fed mag, 7 1/2 inch barrel.