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What was your first? #147173 07/05/2014 3:26 AM
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Raptortrapper Offline OP
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What was your first hunting handgun, and what critters did you harvest with it?

Mine was the Smith and Wesson 460XVR with a 12" barrel. Had a leupold scope on it.

I took a buck mule deer with it, and that's it. Sold it after that for something lighter and easier to carry.


A lot of people are like a slinky: Not much fun till you push them down the stairs!

Lifetime Member of the NRA! Wish I'd a done it sooner.
Re: What was your first? [Re: Raptortrapper] #147175 07/05/2014 3:47 AM
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Reloder28 Offline
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My first was a TC Contender in 6.5 JDJ. Eventually evolved to an Encore in 270 Winchester with which I took a diminutive Texas Whitetail. The hunt was great. The animal was not. One shot one kill.

Re: What was your first? [Re: Reloder28] #147204 07/05/2014 5:15 AM
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Zee Offline
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First was a Ruger SBH in .44 Mag back in the early 80s. Took many whitetail with that until I foolishly sold it to a friend.


"To Hell with efficiency, it's performance we want!" - Elmer Keith
Re: What was your first? [Re: Zee] #147207 07/05/2014 6:03 AM
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Ernie Offline
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Super 14 7 TCU Contender.
Antelope, mule deer and pd's
\:\)


Ernie the Un-Tactical
Re: What was your first? [Re: Zee] #147208 07/05/2014 6:05 AM
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SEAK Offline
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357 Python then SBH 44mag. If I had just kept them the same game would have still fallen


Enjoying to circle of life
Re: What was your first? [Re: SEAK] #147209 07/05/2014 10:35 AM
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dhom Offline
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Ruger SBH 44mag about 1970. Used it to kill whitetail and a red fox. I kept shooting it till the barrel/cylinder gap was .009 and traded it on another new one. Now, I believe I am on number 5 and it is a Bisley Hunter.

Re: What was your first? [Re: dhom] #147210 07/05/2014 10:47 AM
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Badubet Offline
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SW 629 DX Classic in 44 Mag. Mostly deer and hogs. Bought it new when I was in my early 20s and it shot great and I didnt know what I had until after I sold it.


Erotica is using a feather, pornography is using the whole chicken
Re: What was your first? [Re: Badubet] #147213 07/05/2014 12:25 PM
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SChunter Offline
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Ruger Redhawk 44 - still in rotation a bunch of whitetails and handguns later.

Re: What was your first? [Re: SChunter] #147217 07/05/2014 2:06 PM
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billa Offline
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My dad,s S & W K22. Shot a groundhog when I was a teenager. Then I got a T/C in 218 Bee topped with a 1.3x scope and shot groundhogs and squirrels. I was hooked! That was about 1975!

Last edited by billa; 07/05/2014 2:08 PM.

"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.
Re: What was your first? [Re: billa] #147218 07/05/2014 2:09 PM
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junebug Offline
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High Standard Sport King .22 .It has been death on squirrels and small varmits for 40 years and still is.


junebug
Re: What was your first? [Re: billa] #147219 07/05/2014 2:10 PM
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Franchise Offline
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Taurus Model 44, 44 Mag. Deer & Exotics.


The Eyes are Useless, When The Mind Is Blind
Re: What was your first? [Re: Franchise] #147221 07/05/2014 2:56 PM
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whywait Offline
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Ruger SBH,44mag, 5pt whitetail. Later sold for XP100

Re: What was your first? [Re: whywait] #147257 07/06/2014 3:31 AM
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longhunter Offline
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squirrels with my moms Charter Arms .22 when I was a teenager. large game would be a deer I took about ten years ago with a .44 SRH that I never should have sold.


"The reason a dog has so many friends,He wags his tail instead of his tongue."

"I don't always listen to Black Sabbath,But when I do so do the neighbors"
Re: What was your first? [Re: longhunter] #147263 07/06/2014 4:38 AM
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csherrill Offline
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My first handgun hunting success came with a Rossi .22 squirrel hunting. My first big game was with a TC Encore in .308 that I opened my big mouth and sold. One of those deals were you price higher than anyone would ever give only to be answered with pictures of Franklin.

Re: What was your first? [Re: junebug] #147265 07/06/2014 11:36 AM
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500WE Offline
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Ruger Flatgate Single Six. Used it for squirrels.

Re: What was your first? [Re: 500WE] #147266 07/06/2014 1:23 PM
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campbellkids Offline
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Ruger single six 22/22mag with a 10 barrel. Killed many a critter, mostly chucks, a few at a long way off. Sold it for a 586/6", then a 686//6". Then a tender,cycled through a couple dozen barrels and frames. Stuck with a stainless frame and a 30 herrett, 45-410, 357, 22. Retired it and have a sbh/10".

Re: What was your first? [Re: campbellkids] #147269 07/06/2014 1:55 PM
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WiseGuy Offline
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TC contender with 14in 44 mag, 14in 22 LR, and 44 mag hot shot barrels. Still have them all. The 14in 44 has been rechambered to a 444 Marlin. Several squirrels and deer have met their maker with these barrels.


Bigger ain't always better....according to who???
Re: What was your first? [Re: campbellkids] #147270 07/06/2014 1:56 PM
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KRal Offline
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My first was a .45 blackhawk. It took a few deer before my house was broken into and it was stolen. Also had a 9 1/2" single-six that killed countless squirrels before stupidly selling it.


It takes 43 muscles to frown and 17 to smile, but only 3 for proper trigger squeeze.
Re: What was your first? [Re: KRal] #147278 07/06/2014 7:14 PM
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Gary Offline
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Contender in .44 Magnum with a 10" barrel.


You can't wait any longer. Join the NRA and start writing your Congressmen and Senators.
Re: What was your first? [Re: junebug] #147305 07/07/2014 11:16 AM
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Recoil Offline
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.375 JDJ Contender. Harvested a mule deer doe and a cow elk. Spine shot the elk and it dropped like a rock at 175 yards. I was handgun hooked at that point.

Re: What was your first? [Re: Recoil] #147306 07/07/2014 2:42 PM
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bluecow Offline
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single six. rabbits, squirrels, rough grouse, and assorted pest.


Everything before "but" is B.S.
Re: What was your first? [Re: bluecow] #147310 07/07/2014 4:01 PM
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Chance Weldon Offline
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Smith & Wesson Model 460 XVR, 8 3/8" barrel - 460 S&W Magnum. No kills yet, but I'm hoping this season will change that.


Formerly TN Lone Wolf

"We are only as strong as we are united, as weak as we are divided." - J.K. Rowling
Re: What was your first? [Re: junebug] #147331 07/08/2014 4:21 PM
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ahandgunhunter Offline
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t/c contender in 35rem,that I still own today, killed a little 8 point whitetail with it.

Re: What was your first? [Re: ahandgunhunter] #147344 07/09/2014 12:45 AM
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racksmasher1 Offline
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My first was a Encore chambered in 308.

Re: What was your first? [Re: racksmasher1] #147373 07/11/2014 12:22 AM
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Snyd Offline
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On a moose hunt. My Pastors Single Six, I killed a few Ptarmigan for camp food.

Re: What was your first? [Re: Snyd] #147374 07/11/2014 1:21 AM
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MIHunter Offline
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Ruger Super Redhawk .44 mag.


Re: What was your first? [Re: MIHunter] #147377 07/11/2014 1:53 AM
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LABRAT Offline
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41 magnum. 6 1/2 inch blackhawk since converted to bisley grip with a 2x leupold handgun scope on top. killed an 8 pointer as my first critter with handgun and several does. probably my favorite whitetail round.

Re: What was your first? [Re: LABRAT] #147395 07/11/2014 7:34 PM
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Reloder28 Offline
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Nice critter MIHunter.

Re: What was your first? [Re: junebug] #147430 07/12/2014 1:37 PM
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tradmark Offline
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Mine was a pump crossman pistol air rifle. Old school power and shot pellets over 750 fps. Killed a bunch of coons and vermin with it in chicago

Re: What was your first? [Re: tradmark] #147433 07/12/2014 3:52 PM
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KRal Offline
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 Originally Posted By: tradmark
Mine was a pump crossman pistol air rifle. Old school power and shot pellets over 750 fps. Killed a bunch of coons and vermin with it in chicago


Now that you mention....that was my first; not a 45 Blackhawk (I was thinking power and primers). I killed a many birds and squirrels with mine during my childhood. Started my son out with the same thing.


It takes 43 muscles to frown and 17 to smile, but only 3 for proper trigger squeeze.
Re: What was your first? [Re: Raptortrapper] #147651 07/19/2014 9:00 PM
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abner Offline
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This was my first with a scoped handgun. Does that count? [img][/img]

Re: What was your first? [Re: abner] #147653 07/19/2014 9:46 PM
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KRal Offline
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It counts and welcome to HH!

Re: What was your first? [Re: KRal] #147667 07/20/2014 10:53 AM
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campbellkids Offline
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 Originally Posted By: KRal
 Originally Posted By: tradmark
Mine was a pump crossman pistol air rifle. Old school power and shot pellets over 750 fps. Killed a bunch of coons and vermin with it in chicago


Now that you mention....that was my first; not a 45 Blackhawk (I was thinking power and primers). I killed a many birds and squirrels with mine during my childhood. Started my son out with the same thing.


Yep, we all probably started out with a Daisy or Crosman, or Benjiman. Still have all of mine. And they still all work. The 20 cal benny still shoots its fair share of lawn crappers!

Re: What was your first? [Re: campbellkids] #147673 07/20/2014 6:52 PM
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dte Offline
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My first hunting handgun was a Contender with a 10" 357 Herrett barrel. Shot it open-sighted for about a year, then sold a 30-30 rifle to pay for a scope. Before long the Herrett started to tear up the scope. Burris was kind enough to repair the scope for free - plus they offered some suggestions for mounting the scope properly on the Herrett, but after trying their suggestions the Herrett chewed up the scope again. Eventually I read about SSK, and after I had them install a TSOB base with 4 rings I never had another scope problem with that Herrett barrel again.

I hunted elk with the Herrett a couple of times, and although I didn't connect on an elk I did eventually take a nice 8 pt. whitetail (158gr XTP/FP @ 2100 fps).

That barrel took quite a bit of abuse from me - not because I deliberately treated it poorly, but because it served as my initiation into wildcat cartridges, and I had just taught myself to reload the previous year (I had bought a rock chucker kit which came with the Speer manual, and that was the only source that I had for learning to reload). Since I didn't know anyone who reloaded, I eventually made all of the typical beginner's mistakes on my own, and the Contender/Herrett barrel took the brunt of those mistakes without a hitch. Anyway, between fireform loads and hunt loads, I probably put better than a thousand rounds through that barrel, which I finally retired earlier this year. And what did I replace that barrel with? A new 15" 357 Herrett Contender barrel!

Re: What was your first? [Re: dte] #147681 07/21/2014 2:55 AM
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junebug Offline
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There may be faster shinier more ooomp cartridges out there than the .357 Herrett but they won't necessarily work any better. I applaude you for staying with a trusted friend that you obviously know and have faith in.The grass isn't always greener on the other side of the fence is it!
\:\)


junebug
Re: What was your first? [Re: junebug] #147739 07/22/2014 2:04 AM
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jwarren Offline
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Mine was a T/C Contender...I killed deer and varmints with it.

Re: What was your first? [Re: junebug] #147750 07/22/2014 3:29 PM
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Tuner Offline
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The first critter I got with a handgun was no near as impressive as many of the posts here and it was so long ago it is difficult to remember exactly what it was. I do know that it was some kind of bird shot with my Crossman pump up air pistol and that act took place about 55 years ago. Since that "start" I have shot numerous deer, hogs, groundhogs and some other miscellaneous critters with a handgun. The most interesting shot I made was with a TC Contender Super 14 in 30-30. I spotted this deer about 30 yards away and put the crosshairs on it's back; at the shot I saw the deer drop, and then another deer that was a few feet behind it that I did not see drop. The bullet went through the spine of the first deer and hit the second squarely in the neck. The second deer was DRT, I put a finishing shot in the first deer that was still kicking when I came up to it.


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