Has anyone ever did a handgun hunt in Colorado for elk, deer, moose or bear? If so, what caliber did you use?

For elk, my hunters have killed bulls with calibers from the .309 JDJ to the .375 JDJ (and in between) in the T/C's. In addition to those calibers I have killed bulls in revolvers with the .454 Casull and .475 Linebaugh.

I do every year! I use a 45 Colt, 460S&W, and this year will also have a 500JRH.

Deer, bear, and elk are killed with all kinds of calibers every year. Make sure its a legal caliber, use a good bullet, put it where it counts, and the rest is skinnin 'n grillin!!

Welcome to the forum!!!

I have used a 7TCU, 7-08, 284 Win,and a 7.82 Patriot to hunt antelope, deer and elk in Colorado.
The TCU was a Contender. All the rest were chambered in XP's.
Also used a MOA Maximum in 260 Rem

Thanks for the great information. I am looking at the Ruger 480 or Ruger 454 Casull in the SRH with a ultradot for the heavy timber.

Either will suffice.

I wasn't aware that there was a huntable moose population in CO.

Yes there is; it is real tough to draw a tag.

My buddy has been trying to draw a moose tag for 12 years now. Still nothing.

Anyone who hunts with a handgun in Colorado owes Gregg a thank you for all the work he did getting FWP to allow handgun hunting in the state.

Thank you pab1. It was a labor of love! That was a good many years ago; and as some of you know I also worked and got muzzleloading handguns legalized BUT that is another story...

Hope we bump into each other again some day; if for nothing else than a coffee or a beer...

Thank you Gregg!!

I've only hunted with rifles so far in my home state but have 5 points for every species now. When I get back stateside I plan on only carrying a revolver on my first "pointed" elk trip.

I have hunted elk in Colorado for over 30 years. No matter what caliber you are using, the rifle gets real heavy to say the least when you are going up and down these hills. I have had more success hunting timber in the day than morning or the evening. The thought of using a pistol over a rifle intrigues me to say the least, especially the weight difference.