What do you feel is the biggest misconception by people about us folks that hunt with handguns?


I will say the biggest one I have ran into is a pistol doesn't have the necessary ft/lbs of energy to be a capable weapon beyond 25-30yards.

The biggest misconception I have heard time and time again is;

"You can't hit anything with a handgun!"

And for the most part the people that make that comment CAN'T!

I got a "why would you want to handicap yourself" comentary when I showed up at camp for the first time with the 'Tender. I said, no handicap just challenging.

i hear you cant make a good kill with that we will be tracking
all day.
larry

"So it's like bowhunting you can only shoot accurately out to 30 yards or so."

"So you are gonna try and shoot a deer with that little thing."

"I wish you would carry a real gun."

"WOW, you shot a deer with with a handgun! Isn't that really hard to do"

"Oh my gosh you shot that doe in the head!?. And the bullet went through, doesn't that gun have less power then an arrow? I know an arrow wouldn't make it through"

That thing doesn't have the power to kill a ........ <--- (insert whatever im hunting here.)

-OR-

You'll never get close enough to shoot him with that.

I get the lines about it's not enough gun, in fact year before last my father inlaw told me there was no way my 475 with 400gr bullets would go through a deer, unfortunately on that trip I didn't get a chance to prove him wrong but I will. The 7-30 kill I made this year helped convince him but it seems that people think there is some magical difference when you add a buttstock and longer barrel.

Tell him it's enough bullet to go through two deer end to end.

I let them shoot it! Then they have this look like "what the hell have a got my hands now?" That is "Hell Barkn" I say!

Rod, your father-in-law is right, you know...it'll go through about four or five deer...LOL...KRal

People thimk I'm crazy. They have no idea what these things are capable of. I just like coming back to camp and saying, These deer aren't big enough for me to bring my rifle!!!

Lars

I mention that any nancy can shoot a rifle reasonabley well. We all know it takes more dicipline & skill to put it in the ole pump station w/a handgun. Mongol warriors could hit a target at 100 yards or so while mounted on a horse. Most of them think I make this stuff up.

I hear the same stuff every year......where's your rifle.....why did you bring that thing to hunt deer.....and my favorite "WHAT IF YOU HAVE TO TAKE A LONG SHOT!!!" Being from S/E Pennsylvania, local hunting consists of tripping and ripping through small, dense, overgrown wood lots. Plenty of deer, don't get me wrong. But if you can see further than 50 yards, you are still standing on the road!!

I just got this one the other day...

"what is that?!" w/ a tone of shock in his voice

I told him "a XP-100 .300 Savage."

"Ya'ever'kilt'anythin'wit'dat?"

"Not this one...but I half a dozen other like it that I have"

"How fer'dey good fer?"

"This one...275yds but my others have taken game to almost 500yds"

He gave a very puzzled look, likely thinking I am crazy, and then changed topics.

0500
Them “You hunt with that?”

Me “I like it.”

Them hum hoing


1000
Them “not a bad little buck…

Dad “He shot it with his handgun!”

Them “With that handgun!?! That is a nice deer!”



I went on a hunt not to long ago were people were actually worried about my little 7mm08!?! The made the comment after the hunt that “we were really worried about you hunting with that handgun. Was pleasantly surprised to see how you handled it.”

Upon sight of the .460..."You egotistical a--hole! Who do you think you are, Dirty Harry?! What's wrong, .300 mag not enough challenge for ya?!"...

...well, no sir, it's not.

A few years back, my dad had invited one of his co-workers, Dale, to come down to our hunting camp for opening weekend of deer season. My dad was carrying his scoped SRH in .44 Mag and Dale was toting his BAR in 30-06. Saturday morning we all met back at camp and I heard Dale say to my Dad in a friendly manner, "You actually plan on hitting a deer with that?" Immediately, my dad sent me (at the time I was 16 and had had a lot of experience shooting the revolver) down to the 100 yard target with 6 water-filled beer cans. I came back and dad handed me the gun and his shooting sticks. After six shots and only two beer cans still standing, Dale quickly changed his mind about the effectiveness of the .44 Mag in a revolver.

From what I have heard the most is that they don't have enough power or accuracy to take animals in a humane manner...I run into this a lot on two fronts...I also hunt with airguns...I get all sorts of flak about "not enough power" etc....but most people ( sadly some hunters included)...don't realize that it's all about accurate shot placement and knowing your own effective range!......I get a real kick out of the "did you forget your rifle?" line.........I guess pistols are only for backing up a poor rifle shot?

.......it also seems that a lot of hunters that I encounter don't think that I'm serious about taking game.....Where I hunt...we all have about 20 to 40 acres each....I feel that my handguns and airguns fit in nicely into this scenario....but I get a little nervous when the boys across the dirt road all have new ultra magnums and the like.....deer in my neck of the woods aren't really that large and menacing......the .357 mag. with 158 - 180 grain loads are just fine!......

The ones I hear is "That cannot kill anything with that" or "You cannot hit anything with that" or my personal favorite is "Who do you think you are drity harry"

Keeps things fun and challenging.

Rifle hunting isn't much of a challenge. Most hunters I know sit in a box stand next to a small rye grass patch, with a "300 Monster LASER X Improved Magnum" rifle, then shoot deer at 45 yards. Not much more than relaxing and waiting for your target to show up.