I find it very interesting to compare the tally on your choices --- revolver vs single shot in the two threads that are going here. In mine, pick five, my tally currently is 60 revolvers and 42 single shots. However, when you were limited to just one hunting handgun, the tally is 15 revolvers and 14 single shots.

I must admit that I am not too surprised by this tally except that in the "pick one" thread, I would have thought the single shots would have outweighed the revolvers. Of course, each of us hunts under his(her) own conditions and thus, we do not all need the same gun.

If any conclusion can be drawn from this information, it might be that most of us "prefer" revolvers or prefer more revolvers.

For me it's the multi-shot capability and packability that pushes me towards revolvers. That said, I have some revolvers that you cannot carry on your hip but do well in a shoulder holster.

In Illinois where I hunt the revolver is a better choice because most of our shots are 50 yards or less and trying to get a shot on a deer moving through brush,you need the extra shots.

For me distances are not likely to be long (terrain & cover), packability is important (crawling thru brush & alders), & multiple shots are comforting (large critters like moose & nasty ones like brown & black bear).
I also just enjoy shooting the revolver more (same could be said for single shots during a couple periods of my handgun hunting life).

My day in day out constant companion is a 9mm auto. Even when there is a .45 colt 4 5/8ths on the other hip the 9 is there.
Some things just get to be a part of you, and you aren't dressed without them .No large carnivours here but I do work with cattle,
and the 9 will get an angus bull off your back. Give a thought to where you carry your guns as you cannot access a crossdraw or shoulder holster when pinned down on your stomach by a big amimal.When you only have one it needs to carry more than one round!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Yes, a lot of this has to do with the type of terrain one hunts, whether it's wide open (more western) or closed in. Another major factor is if a person may need protection from a big and mean nasty critter, the revolver would definitely get the nod.
When I hunted Alaska, I had a single shot for primary and a revolver on my hip for that reason.

PS: The tally keeps changing, you may need to update!

My 7-30 Contender got all the shots last year due to range. 70,90 and 150 yards were too far for my M629. I am hunting food plots and fields. The .44 was in the stand but did not get to play. Terrain is a determining factor.

Or maybe, you could say lack of terrain is a factor

Like everyone has said it depends on where you hunt and play.If I lived in what parts of Wyoming I have been in a bolt pistol would be my choice,probably the 284win.Some of the fields in the midwest are huge and a long ranger would be better suited probably something like Ernie's dakota,but in the swamps and bays of the south east "powerful,practical,and packable" seems to work best.

Where I hunt a s.s. pistol is not required. Most of the shooting is less than 100 yds., really 50 yds. or less is the norm. I have hunted with both and I just like the look of a 5 shooter especially in the single action mode. There is 1 place that a 100 yd. or longer shot would be required, so that is why I have my 460 XVR just in case.

Interesting numbers indeed. I picked my 338-06 cuz I hunt Coy-dogs, deer, Black Bear and Elk. Yes, I could each of those with my S&W 44 or 500 BUT, it would limit my ranges and I don't hunt from trees!

Elk especially can absorb a lot of 44's (and big magnum rifle ounds too). Not really sure about your summary though.

In pick 5, Revolver do outweigh SS by about 50% BUT, when limited to just 1, they almost even. I don't read that as most prefer revolvers when the split is 15 - 14. I'd consider that pretty much a dead heat I think. Either way, depending what we prefer, we has handgun hunters and shooters need to keep this psort going in one way or another. PS-when I carry my SSP, I have a revolver on my hip!!

It seems that most of us that hunt with single shot or bolt action pistols ,as primary arms also carry some type of revolver.
I know I do. .45 colt

Bullelk Hunter,

Yes, in the "pick one" they are about even. But in the "pick five" most of us had both revolvers & single shots in our selection. However, the total number of revolvers in that thread was significantly higher than the total single shots. Thus, I concluded that we, as a group, are more likely to have (buy) more revolvers than single shots.

This is a very interesting tally. It had to be pointed out to me that people were making a difference between the two types of hand guns.

In the deserts and open country of the West I'd have to chose my SS's in either a contender or XP. When I hunt the West side of OR it reminds me more of FL or NC where I lived for a bit, there I go with a either a 10" Contender in 357 Herrett or my Ruger BlackHawk in 44 Mag.

Gotta ta have both!
Bill in OR

most of my hunting is done with an ssk 309 jdj but i allways have my sbh on my hip.

Howdy and Welcome Aboard Powderbum!

I am from Bells Tx. BTW.