As many of you know my eye wanders almost as fast as my mind when it comes to hunting tools. Archery/long gun/handgun, & back again (although not neccessarily in that order).
Are you a "Handgun only" guy or do you dabble elsewhere too?
What are your preffered tools, maybe "go-to" tool in each catagory.

Obviously I handgun hunt or I wouldn't be here :-)
I love my new 7.5" SRH in 480 so if it woprks out acuracy wise it will replace my model 29 as go-to handgun. So far it has matte blck Weigand Weaver style adapter base, matte black 30mm UltraDot 4 red dot sight, Hogue Tamer grips (just got here yesterday), & rides in a PP Bandito.

Long Gun; My longgun isn't too long... Marlin 1895M. It's the blue/walnut Marlin Guide Gun in 450 Marlin. Mine is the factory ported model. So far I have added DRC one piece trigger, DRC large loop lever, XS ghost ring peeps with protective wings, XS scout scope mount, Burris 2.75x scout scope, WW Guns "Bear Proof" ejector, Simms recoil pad, Jim Coyle buttcuff/shell holder.

Bow is a plain old 60" Pronghorn Fastflight longbow, 62# at my 27" draw, Selway bow quiver, Alaskan Grizzly Stick carbon fiber arrows, Ace broadheads.

When I look at that list it seems functional & basic to me. And short range

--Handgun--
My primary Contender Bbl is the SSK 375JDJ w/ 2x leupy on a stainles frame, Pachy furnature. My secondary is a VVCG 6.5TCU w/ 2x7 burris (long tube) and Ga Jim Bee Wood. However I'm in CA's lead free zone and have to re-evaluate my loads... My Ruger Bisley in 44mag may end up as Primary till things work out.

--Rifle--
Encore, 338-06 w/8x fixed Leupy... really ony have this as I don't have any other rifles... Still need a butt stock for it

I'm playing with the idea of getting a shotgun tube and a varminter Bbl for it someday, round out my rifle needs :p

--Muzzle loader--
T/C Hawken 50 cal. Haven't used it in years but I have such fond memories with it that I'll never part with it

Vance, way too many toys to list, but my most recent was just purchased last Friday. It is an absolutely fine S&W M629 Performance Center 44 mag. Unfluted cylinder, Straight taper ported barrle with flat top and sides with a 2x Leupold on top- No sites. I won't bore with how little I paid for this handgun that retails for over $800 sans scope. This makes my second one garnerd because some poor sole wanted to buy jewelry for his girl-Ouch!! Okay, i'll tell you, $450 out the door scope included!! I didnt have time to shoot before pa deer season, but will do so this coming Sunday. I want to bring it to Dan's SWPA shoot and see how it does.

Dude, I see you reside in Kalifornia. Ya gotta move!!

A Ruger SBH 44 Mag. with 5.5 inch barrel.

Leaves room to expand again.

The gun is the easy part for me because I only own revolvers. If I'm out bumming around I have either a Ruger OM 30 carbine & 130 gr cast slug, a Ruger 32 maggie with a 100 gr cast slug or an OM 357 shortie using the 173 gr Keith in 38 cases. If things get a little more serious I move up to the wonderful 41 magnum, it normally gets a diet of 230 gr Keiths & 8 grs of W231 for everyday use or 18 grs of 2400 if its real serious! I also have been using the 250 gr LBT WFN slug with good success, its a hammer.
My everyday 44 special load (Lipsey's 4 5/8ths) is 5.5 grs W231 with the proven 250 gr Keith slug. My only other load for this gun is the "skeeter" load of 7.5 grs of Unique & the 250 Keith, wanted to use it on my spring bear, did use it on a Montana whitetail. I never load this one hot, no need, if I need more I move up!
Ruger 10" 357 Maxie, this one, with a 4X Leupold is a honest 200 yd revolver. I load it with a 205 gr LBT & a real good dose of old 2400 or 4227, its surprising what it will do!
Ruger 44 magnums, I have several & they've all taken a lot of game, my everyday, knock em down load for the last 45 years has been the great 250 gr Keith & 21 grs of old 2400, I do shoot a mild plinking load of 8.5 grs of Unique in magnum cases quite often, I seldom use 44 specials in the magnum guns. If I feel the need for end to end penetration & slap em down impact I use a 310 gr LBT LFN that will shoot through a bus!
My Ruger 45's get either 9 grs of Unique or 18.5 grs of old 2400 with the 260 gr Keith for play time & a whole bunch of H110 with a 325 gr LBT when things are really down & dirty. Three elk with this load.
My Ruger SRH 480 is, to me, the ultimate hammer, when I'm using my 375 gr softnose cast slugs with my pet charge of H110 or Lil Gun its truly amazing what it will do, penetration as always is straight & deep (out the other side) & knockdown power has to be seen to believe.
There are 475's out there & also the big 500's, lots of them, sadly there are few people who can shoot them. I know some that can, I've watched them do it at Raton, New Mexico this spring, I've done it myself but the real truth is, its wasted horsepower & a whole lot of unneccessary recoil.
Lastly, I'm having a 5 shot 480 being built, its on a stainless Bisley frame & its going to be a dooozy! The gun, even though it will have a 5 shot cylinder won't be firewalled, I'll run it 1100-1200 fps with the 350's & 375 gr slugs & I'll shoot it a lot, buffalo & a lot of other game will get the test......wish I could recover a cast bullet sometime!

Dick

Vance, I of course would never reveal my full hand on any public forum, or any private forum, or to anyone for that matter. I don't think even my best friend in the world knows "excactly" what I got. Nor does my wife for that matter (she knows we have guns, she sees the ones that I utilize most often, and she's even shot a couple, but the rest she is ambivilant about - lucky me - "where did you get that one?" - "Ummm...I've had it a little while"

)
Not that I own anything that would be considered illegal, but, well - you know what I mean.

My "go to's" - as you state;
- .54 caliber Thompson Renegade
- .308 caliber Ruger M77 Compact
- .44 Magnum caliber 6 1/2" Ruger Blackhawk
- 20 gauge Browning Citori Super Light Feather O/U
- and an off-brand single pump .177 caliber high velocity
pellet gun topped with a 40 year old Weaver K4 (for the
damned red tree rats that get in our shed, attic, basement, and plague our property! - our cat is the laziest slug this side of hades - but she is quite old)

Renster

Here's my primary hunting arsenal:

HANDGUN
Ruger SBH Hunter Model in 41 Mag

Rifle
1965 Model Marlin 444, very well used and well loved

Shotgun (Because I live in SW Michigan)
Benelli Super Nova 12 GA

BlackPowder Rifle
TC Encore Whitetail Extreme 1 of 200

Bow
No Name 50# Longbow w/ Easton 2016 arrows

Lots more stuff in the safe but these are my main hunting battery. The Ruger SBH Hunter I just purchased and don't quite have it zero'd in yet.

Bo

Oh I understand, & I'm not looking for a list of anyone's toys.

My list may not be as long as some but it's much more than I listed here.
I'm simply wondering what is your #1 go-to handgun, rifle, bow.

Handguns

30/221 Competitor
376 Steyr Competitor
50 AE Competitor
In about two weeks my 416 Barnes Competitor will be ready

Shotgun

Remington 870 12 ga.

Rifle

Marlin Model 60 22 rimfire

No centerfire rifles.
Old compound bow, when I hunt with a bow.
Primarily single-shot SP's.
Primary ones:
338 AX and 7mm Dakota XP center grip
6.5 WSM & 7mm SAUM Center-grip

Ruger 44 Mag Blackhawk for short distances espeacial stalking.
For the long ones or just sitting in the stand I use a Springfield bolt-action 30-06 with a 3 x 9 Bushnell that I got when my dad died.
For squirells, it's the tried and trusted Remington 870 pump with magazine extension. This old reliable has taken many an animal that walks. If it flies tho, it's safe from me
Then when all the leaves drop it's back to the old remington 22 semi auto with a 3 x 9 on it.
I also carry a 22 nine shot revolver sometimes as a backup.
And sometimes I carry as many as 3 at one time. Example.
Shotgun for squirells-Ruger for hogs and 22 revolver for them pesky snakes or to put a wounded squirell away. I do hate shooting those expensive 44's for the small jobs. Or 30-06 from the stand then use Ruger while tracking/recovering and the 22 for peace of mind.
Friend of mine shot a deer last weekend and had to help track it, couldn't get through the briars with the long gun so I left it at the stand. Unfortunately I did not have the 44 that day and I will never leave it behind again. I don't know who left the brush first. The hog or me. But I didn't look back to see.

Handgun- Ruger Super Redhawk .44
Rifle- Howa 1500 Tactical .308
Shotgun- Rem. 870 Supermag
Bow- 70 lb. Skyhawk Recurve

7.5" Super Blackhawk in 44 Mag with a 2x Leupold scope for the handgun.

I have a few Marlin 30-30's, one scoped with a fixed 4x Nikon Monarch, one 16.5" barreled stainless laminated "trapper" model with iron sights for short range stuff.

I have a Mossberg ATR-100 in .270 with a fixed 4x Nikon Monarch on it for the stand locations that allow longer shots (rare).

Bow

Knight Wolverine 50 cal muzzle-loader. Irons only per MN law.

Mossberg 590A1 shotgun with ghost ring sights.

All have taken deer except the handgun. That ends next year.

Vance, I have too many too list but my primary weapons now consist of my two Reeder 475 Linebaughs and two 500 Linebaughs I built myself. In long guns I have alot of options but the main ones are my Marlin 1895SS with a leupold 2-7VXI, Marlin 1895LTDV I just aquired and just fitted with a Williams peep sight equipped with target knobs for long range shooting, the first gun I run 350gr Hornady round nose soft points at 1900fps and the second I'm running 430gr Oregon Trail Trueshots at 2100fps. I also have a Ruger 77MKII synthetic stainless with early stock in 338 Win Mag I have primarily if I ever get to go to Canada and need something that will out reach my lever guns and since I got rid of my Contender pistol stuff I still have my G2 7-30 rifle my daughter has adopted for deer hunting but I think it should also make a nice coyote rig this winter for critters out of reach of my big bore revolvers. Although I don't normally hunt small game I would use my Henry Gold Boy which I just finally got around to mounting my Lyman tang peep sight I bought a year ago. I have many others I drag out from time to time but these see more time at the range and in the woods than all the rest. I almost forgot since I was able to actually shoot my Brackenbury this year I'm thinking about doing some bow hunting in the coming years if I can keep shooting, it is the Drifter and rated at 73# @ 28 but I'm drawing about 30.5 so depending on who's numbers you use it comes in around 77 to 80 lbs and runs around 200fps with a 140gr broadhead.

you couldn't get a rifle to shoot far enough to keep up with your SP's they kind of make a rifle obsolete the way you use them

only use one rifle now most were traded for short guns

.308 browning a bolt

for shot guns it is a 12ga 870

then there is my handguns

ruger single six
contender with .22 barrel .30-30 barrel and .45/410 barrel

my muzzle loader is an old cva with a side hammer

contender sees most of the action

Hand gun BFR 45-70 luepy 2.5-8

Long gun Weatherby 300 win mag Luepy 3.5-9

Bow Hoyt Razer teck

New go to H-S hand gun 300 WSM Luepy 4.5-18

Have a Muzzle loader for 5 years havent shot it yet. All my long guns are going up for sale.

That's funny!

I do have a Benelli semi 12 gauge and an old Ithaca model 37 20. They are long guns. I also do have some 22lr rifles

Most of my hunting revolves around 4 or 5 guns. Revolves - get it.

FA 454's in 10" and 4 3/4"
FA 22 LR
Contender in 309 JDJ and 375 JDJ
Rem. XP in 223 or 221
Ruger 44 Mag
No bow currently
Browning Auto 5 12ga
A couple of AR's (but I've never killed anything with them)

Used to hunt a lot with my SRH in .454 Casull but it has since then become a .500 Linebaugh (well almost!).

I mainly hunt nowadays with my custom SRH in .475 Linebaugh -- it just flat out works on everything.

I also have been known to drag out one of my M29s (a -3 with a 6.5-inch barrel) as both a back-up and primary.

Rifles? Haven't hunted with one in a couple years, but an old Ruger M77 in .338 win mag used to get the nod fairly frequently, as well as my Whitworth in .416 Remmie.......

I don't bow hunt as I like to make noise!

I have no long guns in centerfire cartridges, a couple shotguns that gather dust in the safe. I have one bow, a PSE Beast that's 5 or 6 years old. I use it for bow season but I don't get crazy bow hunting. It's fun for a few extra weeks of hunting and a little friendly 3-D shooting with the guys.

I can go from 17 to 50 caliber in handguns. The go-to guns are;

Revolvers, DW 357 Maximum, 480 Ruger SRH, Single Six

Break open, 218 BEE, 223, and 243 Win barrel for the Encore

Bolt guns, XP100 in 221 FB and 35 Rem, and a 243 Striker

Semi-auto, Ruger MKII

when i go out the door what goes with me is ruger 44 redhawk 7.5"
encore 7mm-08 15" or 35 rem contender maybe a shotgun cause i
live in western new york and we just started to use rifles here
no bow now
larry223

Don`t use a rifle to much. The last time was on a Cape buff with a Ruger 416 Rigby.Have to say the gun I reach for the most is my
FA`s 454 Casull.The FA`s 475 is a close second.

At last count I have over 45 sets of reloading dies...and at least one gun for each set of dies! Some dies are used for three or four guns. So I'm not going to list them...I'd wear out my fingers and still have one week or deer season left to hunt.

Primary handgun this year for deer season is a XP-100 .300 Savage w/ 2-7X Burris.

as far as deer....4 of the past seasons i grab the 35rem contender. it is a real fine deer package in the G2.
others are here if/when needed/wanted. redhawk 44mag, 7-08 encore, 30-30AI, 357maximum......or even a lil 6mm if i took a notion.

17m2 and 22lr match contender, or ruger mk3 fluted hunter for small game. if a scatter gun ever needs to come in.....a belgium browning magnum twenty or 870 express 12ga rem.

Handguns; S&W 629 Classic,8 3/8 bl. 2x Burris, S&W XVR 460,8 3/8 bl., 4x Leupold; Magnum Research BFR 454 Cassul, 7 1/2 bl. no scope yet; Rem. 700 Baush & Laum 3x9 30-06; Rem. 1187 Premier 12 ga.;Mossberg Silver Elite 20 ga. ou.; have the rifle in case my sister in law wants to borrow it for deer hunting.

Almost forgot this one; T/C Hawken Hunter 45 cal. flintlock. My dad bought this one for me on my 16 th. birthday. It was in the kit form. I don't use it anymore cause it looks too pretty.

My go to's....Hmmm

Short gun;
This year it's been my iron sighted FA 83, 45 cal (it's a virgin).
My belt gun is a Custom Ruger Bearcat.

Long gun;
T/C Encore 308 Win w/15" barrel (big game), T/C 'tender 22lr w/14" barrel (small game)

Turkey guns;
T/C 'Tender 45/410 14" barrel and my new Encore 20ga pistol w/20" barrel (O.A.L w/ext choke is 26 1/8"-it's legal)

Aint got no r****s. Gotta couple O/U scatter guns fer upland game birds.

My go to wheelgun is a .45 Bisley, 7.5", SSP is a .30-30AI, 14" Contender, rifle is a Ruger M77 6.5x55, shotgun is a o/u 20ga and archery a custom longbow made by Steve Lamb. I also use a 16.25" Encore muzzle loading pistol for Okla's week long bp season.

OK: Go To's:

Deer and Elk in heavy timber ie. still hunting: FA 500 WE (Red Dot Sight) on hip, and FA .454 scoped as primary. Or: .375 JDJ Contender, scoped. Covers all situations there.

Open country, Elk and Deer: T/C Encore, 30-06 JDJ, Scoped of course. Or: .375 JDJ Contender, scoped.

Antelope, Wyoming: Contender 6.5 JDJ, Scoped.

Prairie Dogs, wide open plains: T/C Contender, .223, Scoped, nine to ten power on the scope.

Varmints: ie. coyotes, fox, bobcat, in open country; spot and stalk: T/C Contender, scoped .223, seven to nine power on the scope.

Varmints: ie. coyotes, fox, bobcat: CALLED IN: T/C Contender, scoped .223, four to seven power on the scope.

Out on a Lark: (aka plinkin' fer fun, see what comes up) Ruger Single Six .22, accompanied by big brother Super Blackhawk w/240 gr. Keith type cast cruisin' at 1200 fps; also tucked away in back seat of pickup: Contender .223 Scoped.

Ready for Any and All: (maybe Africa, or Alaska) FA 500 WE (Red Dot Sight) on hip; primary: .375 JDJ Contender, scoped.

For handgun hunting I have:
2 iron-sighted 629's(4" and a 83/8" with tritium nite sites),
2 scoped 71/2" SRH's (.44,.480),
1 iron-sighted 6" D.Wesson 44,
1 iron-sighted 6" 686 .357,
1 D.Wesson .357 (4" plain, and 6" scoped).
Contender 14" scoped 6.5JDJ #2, 10" iron-sighted .32H&R mag
1 .22lr MKII target

I do have several rifles, shotguns, and a 209x45 barrel for my
contender.

I have and use encore in 30/06 22/250 contender in 30/30 222 and 17hmr revolvers in 44 mag SBH 500 sw in BFR 38 sw 22 with red dot. all TC guns toped with TC scopeds and revolvers with TC and leupolds. a hand gun for all me feld and hunting .

Okay-My go to SSP is my 338-06 or 7-08, Revolver is either my S&W Performance Center 44 mag or 41 mag, The bow has dust on it and teh Browning 10 is well used and bloodied with hundreds of geeses and duckies. I would use a shotgun on those blasted things but the feds sure don't like mifratory waterfowl shot with single-projectiles.....but how much fun would that be?? I do shoot a lot of target rifle for giggles but I have to admit, it's not as much fun as Dan's SWPA handgun shoot.

Tikka T3 hunter 6.5-284 Mortan, Tikka T3 Varmint .223 Suppressed, SBH 44 Mag and if Ruger ever gets it fixed a SRH in 454. Oh ya a Win. Mod. 69 suppressed for squirrels and such.

Also have a Damon Howatt Coronado 50# 60" and a Browning Mirage 33.

Lots of firepower!

Main stuff:

Short gun-.375-06 JDJ Encore
Rifle-.300 Weatherby
Varmint rig-Savage LRPV in .204 Ruger
Bow-Oneida Eagle

Recoil

First off handguns:
SSK 309 JDJ w/ 2.5-8x Leupold
Freedom Arms 83 in 454 Casull w/ 4x Leupold
These get the bulk of the handgun hunting work
Archery:
BowTech Captain
Love this thing!
Rifle:
Really do not use a rifle for much except varmints and predators
Kimber 84m Varmint in 204 Ruger w/ 4.5-14x Leupold
Kimber 84m Varmint in 22-250 w/ 6.5-20x Leupold

If I hunt with one for some reason
Kimber 8400 Montana in 300 Win mag w/ 4.5-14x Leupold

Currently playing with a 270 WSM

Short guns - Have been rotating through handguns in order to give all some action...but FA 83 in .454 with 2.5x8 Leupold gets the go-to nod in a crisis

Long guns - Ditto on the rotation...have a full inventory from .223 to .300 Win. Nobody's a safe queen

Shotgun - Benelli M1 Super 90 in 12 and 20 ga get equal playing time

Bow - Mathews Switchback

My go to Revolver is my 500 S&W PC Hunter 10.5
Rifle would be my 500 Cyrus
Bow is my Mathews Switchback XT

They all have their seasons
House protection is a tad different you have your choice of the 38 SPL,40 S&W,semi auto 12 Gauge all with in reach and placed throughout the home and yes they are loaded.

RR

Handgun for deer: Contender Super 14, .30-30 or 10" Octagonal .45 Colt.

Long gun for deer: My dad's old Savage Model 99R in .300 Savage

Muzzleloader: Tulle Fusil de Chasse, .62 cal smoothbore or Lyman Trade Rifle in .54 cal.

Bow: Self made Hickory bow with self-made Sitka Spruce arrows (wild turkey feather fletching and hand made broadhead).

Mike