Hi all! I'm Helen. Just spent 90 minutes reading through Roll Call 2, but now I feel like I need at least another 90 to catch up! :-)

I'm 28 and just getting in to the sport of hunting. I've been around it all my life but never made the time to learn. My bf got me going on a muzzleloader last fall, but I got doe fever each time and couldn't keep the crosshairs steady enough to take a shot. My shots look good on a target, but in the field is another thing...

I haven't shot any handguns yet, but it sounds really appealing. Available game include farmyard varmints, squirrels, coyotes, white tail, and feral pigs (if I ever see one).

Any suggestions for types of guns or ammo to shoot first? Or other forums, magazines, groups, etc. I might check out? Or threads that might help me get started?

Thanks so much!

welcome. MY suggestion would be start with a good .22 they are great practice. cheap to shoot and work well on varmints squirrels and if you get the perfect shot coyotes.

when it comes to handgun hunting there are generaly two basic types of gun used by most first is revolver if you go this route i would recomend a ruger single six .22 to start then for larger game a black hawk in a .41 magnum.this is only my suggestion get what will do the job and YOU are comfortable with.

next type of handgun for hunting is the specialty pistol such as the tompson center contender og G2.the barrels are inter changeable on them you can get a .22 barrel and a many others such as a 30-30. or a 45/410. what ever you get do your home work and get what you are comfortable with. remember it is yours don't let others tell you how to do it but take all the advise you can get.

HI HELEN hope u get some good ideas in here ...

Helen......welcome!! Farmyard varmints and a .22LR would be an EXCELLENT combo toward making you a proficient handgunner'ette!

Do you like single shot firearms or a repeater?? If you like single shots, the T/C Contender would be right up your alley. If you like repeaters, then a revolver like a Ruger Single Six would be perfect.

pter1020k's input was dead on.

Personally...I'm a single shot kinda fella.....

Welcome to the site and leave while you're ahead...LOL....just kidd'n. Handgunning is a very fun sport, but takes lots of practice. Take what pter1020k said and run with it. That's about the best advise as you can get.

welcome, yep listen to pter and read all the info you can get your hands on. then lots of practice.

WELCOME to Handgun Hunt Helen!!!!

Helen don't pay no attention to Dan B. Before you know it he'll be telling ya' you shoot critters past 500 yards with a handgun.

and what is wrong with that? she will only have to embaras every rifle hunter in town when she out shoots them with a short gun.

with the right handgun lots of practice 500 yards is possable.

I fully agree. I was just fun'n with Dan.

Helen, welcome to the forum, welcome to the addiction, & another vote to listen to pter1020's advice.

You have already gotten excellent advice from a great bunch! Whatever weapon you choose, the main thing is to practice. Those jitters before taking the game will go away in time. Hopefully we will be seeing some successful pics this upcoming season.

Helen,

Welcome. It is my experience that ladies learn to shoot handguns well more quickly than men. They will listen and follow instructions better.

My lady had very little experience with handguns when she began to shoot with me (about 13 yrs ago). She got very good quickly. I expect that you will enjoy it.

The best one to start with is one that you like and want to shoot. The most important thing is to put rounds down range -- a lot of them. Thus, the recommendation for a 22 is appropriate. However, you need one that is accurate and one that has a "good" trigger, IMHO. If you get a single six, I would have a trigger job done on it. At least for me (and my lady), a good trigger is vital to being able to hit well with a revolver --- much more important than is the trigger on a rifle.

When Roberta started shooting with me, I had a little informal target range with swinging metal targets at different distances from 50 to 100 yds. I did not have a good 22 so I started her with my (then) smallest revolver --- a very accurate, scope sighted S&W 41 mag. Soon the only target that she would shoot at was the smallest one (about 1 1/2 in X 7" hanging diagonally at 75 yds). Shooting from a sandbag rest over the hood of the pickup she would normally hit that target at least 5 times out of the six rounds. Golf ball sized rocks at that distance became no challenge for her.

I share this story with you to encourage you. However, start with a "good gun" and shoot it a lot.

Good luck.

Hey Helen,
Welcome to the site, you have entered the no return zone... once you kill a game animal with a handgun you'll never go back to a long gun.
What pter1020's said is all great stuff, just need to practice alot, and be comfortable. I started my boys on .22lr and now they shoot the heavy hitters just fine. Hope you enjoy...Happy Hunting.

~Jeff~

Thank you all for the warm welcome and genuine advice! I am trying to soak up all the info I can.

I went to a Learn to Shoot this weekend and had a blast trying out different guns. Is it strange that I settled in to the 'correct' handgun shooting position much more quickly and naturally than the 'correct' positions for shooting with any of the long guns?

I will definitely keep you updated. :-)

Helen

It's a sign!!!

Glad you had fun.
I'll warn you, the folks on this forum LOVE pictures of any kind of shooting event, whether it's at the range or hunting!

Welcome Helen! Alot will depend on how much recoil you are comfortable with. There are soem good ones that won't hammer you too much, but are very lethal. The 6.5, 7mm, 309 JOD come to mind as does thw 7x30 Waters and the like. At our most recent 2010 SWPA shoot, a very slightly built 10 year-old young man was handling a 6mmBR with authority. Any of the above will cleanly take a deer as far you need to in Michigan! The 223 Remington, where legal and set up can do a decent job and would be a good choice for most of what you want to. Proper bullet choice is paramount when selecting hunting bullets. Good luck and shoot straight, but most of all---PRACTICE!!