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poll, what do you hunt with? #106607 04/14/2012 5:58 PM
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dogsbreath Offline OP
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Hi guys,
I realize that this is a question more fitting for an essay, but was wondering what you like to hunt and hunt with with your handguns. Alot of posts here are 'my newest toy' types, and lord knows, I like those, and other posts are cartrige or game specific.
But can I get you to chime in with a format something along the lines of :
Round ; Gun/optics ; Game ; Range.
And I'm looking for typical and or favrite.
I'm rather new to hunting (4 total, 2 handgun), but I'll start

Round: Gun / optic Game Range
.17 hmr 8" Tracker/iron squirrl 35yards
.44 mag 6" Smith / iron white tail up to 75
.270 15" T/C / simons white tail only 1 at 20
And a few I plan to hunt with
.454 10" T/C / iron Deer up to 150
.45 c 5" Schofield Deer up to 40 y.

Don't feel obliged to follow this format, but I'd love to see what you are using.
Take care,
Dogsbreath

oh, BTW, pictures are always welcome.

Re: poll, what do you hunt with? [Re: dogsbreath] #106609 04/14/2012 7:47 PM
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Ernie Offline
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22lr Charger clone pistol. Fed Gold medal Match. Target and pd's out to about 500 yards or so. Scope Leupold VX-3 6.5-20 with ART reticle


Ernie the Un-Tactical
Re: poll, what do you hunt with? [Re: Ernie] #106610 04/14/2012 8:21 PM
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nuclearweasel Offline
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Mostly my go to hunting rig is a 14" contender with a 2x6 bushnell in plain ole 30-30. The damn thing likes 170 core lokts for some reason so I actual hunt with cheap factory rounds and plink with reloads. My personal best to date was 165 yards on a white tail doe. One shot through the boiler works and she hit the ground. I have taken around 10 deer with this particular barrel. I do target shoot quite a bit at 200 and occasionally 300 yards. My previous baby was a 10' in .41 with a 2x leupold. I only switched because .41 bullets seemed scarce for a while there. I still prefer that barrel freehand. I have a 7mm-08 lone eagle that shoots just fine i just seem to pick up the contender a little more often(and on days that I see game)


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Re: poll, what do you hunt with? [Re: nuclearweasel] #106613 04/14/2012 9:07 PM
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wapitirod Offline
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I shoot alot of guns because of my business and it's tamped my feelings of always having to hunt with a hammer. The two guns that see the most action now are my own custom 454 and my Encore in 300Win. These guns will handle anything on the continent from short to as long a range as I'm competent to shoot at. If I ever get to africa the bigger Encores will get some field time and I'm sure from time to time I'll take the bigger revolvers but my wrist have been cut on enough so I am quite satisfied doing my primary hunting with weapons that are comfortable to shoot such as the two above.


I won't be wronged. I won't be insulted. I won't be laid a-hand on. I don't do these things to other people, and I require the same from them. John Wayne-The Shootist


Re: poll, what do you hunt with? [Re: wapitirod] #106615 04/14/2012 9:52 PM
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dogsbreath Offline OP
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Thanks for the input guys. Wap, you comment about hunting with a hammer hit close to home. My first deer of the season last year was with a hammer. From another forum:
Today was the first day of open season in Georgia, and I'm in the middle of processing a carcass. But not great day. I had to work this morning, and pulling out of the quarry and heading up the 4 lane, I see a dead deer in the median. Not an uncommon site 'round here. As I go past, I see the head move. Man, I hate that. I went about a half mile further before I turned around and went back. Understand, I'm in a concrete mixer with a load and a customer waiting on that load. It is not the time to do errands. But I go back and she is sitting there, kinda licking her front leg. She gets up as I approch but cant stand straight. She is listing 15degrees. Her toung is hanging out. She is not well. She tried to back away from me but couldn't. It was more brain damage than skeletal. Not good, she wasn't going to live thru the day. I hate it. I couldn't shoot her, so I got my first deer of the season with an Estwing.
For those of you unfamiler:
http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_1...ABTestAvl=true
Crude, but effective. I went to the pour and after I cleaned my truck and chutes, I field dressed the deer. A mixer truck is a great thing to bring hunting. I tied loops to her front legs, hooked them on the chute, used the truck hydrolics to lift her up just where I needed her. Even had a water hose to clean her and me up.
not real sporting.
Hope I can get one the right way in the morning.

Well, it was a few weeks later, but I did get one with the .270.

Re: poll, what do you hunt with? [Re: wapitirod] #106621 04/14/2012 11:03 PM
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Ernie Offline
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I shoot a lot of different SP's for varminting and hunting:
MOA Maximum (6x47 Lapua, 6.5x47 Lapua, 6.5-284, 7mm Rem Mag Imp.)
XP-100's (6x47L, 243 Win, 6-284, 6.5-284, 6.5 Leopard, 6.5 SAUM, 284 Win, 7mm SAUM, 7mm WSM, 7mm Dakota, 338AX (Lapua Improved).
Distances-About as far as most rifles.
Bullets: Berger's and A-Max's primarily.
Optics: Leupold VX-3's LR/T, Mark 4's, Sightron S-III's, Vortex Razor HD, NF NXS's (magnification 4-32 power)


Ernie the Un-Tactical
Re: poll, what do you hunt with? [Re: Ernie] #106648 04/15/2012 4:33 PM
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460 smith and wesson Hunter for elk and bears out to 200 yards. Leupold VXIII scope. My first, and ONLY, big game rig so far.
Also just picked up a Ruger MKIII for small game. Haven't been on a hunt with it yet, but it is lights out at 40 yards or closer. It also has a VXIII.


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Re: poll, what do you hunt with? [Re: Raptortrapper] #106653 04/15/2012 5:14 PM
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ahandgunhunter Offline
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Dan wesson 22 iron sights squirrel(jusst got this gun)
contender 10 in 22 barrel with 2x scope squirrel
ruger super blackhawk hunter 44mag burris scope deer
ruger superredhawk 480 burris scope deer
encore in 284win 30-06,50cal bp all burris scopes deer
contender 35rem,6.5jdj,burris optics deer
and a few others hope to use 375jdj barrel on elk this year

Re: poll, what do you hunt with? [Re: ahandgunhunter] #106656 04/15/2012 5:51 PM
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wyote Offline
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That question is not very easy to answer. I have and use several different guns.

Just got a SS Ruger MK III 5.5 inch hunter model with open sights that I will use this year for small game, but I've been using Browning Buckmark with open sights.

My FA 454 with open sights is my go to revolver.

Savage Striker in 260 Rem with a Burris 3X12 gets the bulk of my use for longer shots

Re: poll, what do you hunt with? [Re: wyote] #106695 04/16/2012 12:51 PM
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Whitworth Offline
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Last year I used my Bisley Hunter in .429 magnum, stoked with 320 grain wfns at 1,350. I also used my SRH in .500 Linebaugh loaded with 500 grain LFNs at right around 1,150 fps.


Max Prasac

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Re: poll, what do you hunt with? [Re: Whitworth] #106697 04/16/2012 1:55 PM
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Seems like each year it is a different one for me. However, after last year and the performance of the FA single shot in 338 Fed, it will likely be my "go to gun" for most hunting. It is plenty for anything that I might choose to hunt.

While my favorite revolver is a FA 41 mag (4X Leupold), I find that I am often trying a "new something or other" about every year. This year it may be the 500WE.

Quite sure that the above answer can be interpreted to say that I have too many guns. LOL


It's more important where you hit 'em, than what you hit 'em with.
Re: poll, what do you hunt with? [Re: wtroper] #106699 04/16/2012 3:17 PM
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Usually my Ruger 45 Colt Bisley Hunter, but for muzzle loader season my Ruger Old Army 50 cal Dave Clements conversion. If I want to hunt at longer ranges I use my Savage Striker .243.


Hank

Re: poll, what do you hunt with? [Re: RioHondoHank] #106701 04/16/2012 3:51 PM
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Anniex Offline
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My T/C 730 Waters Contender. I've shot squirrel, crows, rabbits, ground hawgs, deer, javelina, an aoudad, wild boar, and my first turkey with it.
I used to have fine tuned Barnes bullets, made for me that gave me more accuracy for distance and a more confidence. But I am now reduced to factory ammo


Ann
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Re: poll, what do you hunt with? [Re: Anniex] #106703 04/16/2012 5:58 PM
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bearskinner Offline
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it changes with new toys, from year to year, but my absolute go to guns are a 14" .375JDJ contender with 4x scope for longer range. I always carry a custom made 4 5/8 stainless ruger bisley, as a side arm. It has taken more hogs than any other gun, just cause Its always handy. I will always have a scoped 7 1/2" FA83 in 454. I could be happy with those 3 guns for the rest of my life, but I still love playing with the other couple dozen!


You cant shoot a big one, if you shoot a little one first.......
Re: poll, what do you hunt with? [Re: Anniex] #106704 04/16/2012 6:05 PM
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Hunted with my handguns exclusively during the 2011 season and will probably do the same in 12. Last year I had Mike Bellm rechamber a 14 In. 30-30 to his 308 Bellm and used that until I got a deer with it. Shot was about 30 yards and the rig consisted of a 2-6 Bushnell Trophy, 150 Gr. Sierra pushed by about 43 gr. IMR 4895. That load is a sub MOA and the shoulder shot was a complete pass through.

I bought a .44 Bisley Hunter the first week of Dec. and used that for the rest of the season shooting a 250 Gr. Kieth RCBS cast bullet that was modified to a hollow point backed by 22 Gr. 296. The last Saturday of the Georgia season I took a spike buck at about 60 yards with a straight on neck shot. That revolver has an older Tasco Red Dot that was lent to me by a friend and it performed very well; however I will be replaceing with a Match Dot II in the near future.

Last year I took two hogs that wieghed about 100 - 125 pounds with my Contender with a 10 In. .44 with the above HP bullet, that barrel has a 2.5 pistol scope on it.

Range capabilities:
308 Bellm 250 yards +
either of the .44's I am currently limiting to 100 but will do some range work out to 150 this summer and see what kind of groups I get, the drop and what my capabilities are. I will not pull the trigger on any animal I do not know I can't make a good kill shot on.

Re: poll, what do you hunt with? [Re: Tuner] #106739 04/17/2012 3:37 PM
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Whitworth Offline
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This year I plan on hunting with my .500 Maximum with 525 grain WLNs over a stiff charge of 1680, and my new .45 Colt Bisley (335 grain WFNs).


Max Prasac

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Gun Digest TV's Modern Shooter: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nGo-KMpXPpA&t=7s

Re: poll, what do you hunt with? [Re: Whitworth] #106815 04/18/2012 8:52 AM
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tracker77 Offline
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This year I will squirrel hunt with my Ruger MK II Gov Target w/Luepold 4x EER. Im great out to about 35 yrds but have pushed it to 50. Hogs,deer and black bear will meet the skinning pole via one of my Ruger Bisley Blackhawks. Either the 44 maggie or the 45 colt 7.5" tubes on both.Iron sights on both. Zero to 75 yrds are chip shots but I can push them as far as 100 if I have to.


Do not take your greatness to the graveyard!!
Re: poll, what do you hunt with? [Re: tracker77] #106823 04/18/2012 1:13 PM
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dogsbreath Offline OP
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Hey Tracker,
With those .45's, are you loading them above spec since they are going thru a Ruger, or do load them at levels that you would be comfortable shooting thru an Uberti? On another thead I was looking for hunting info with the .45's, most seemed to think they were short range rounds (up to 50y).
Thanks guy on all the input here.

DB

Edited to add:
As a back up question, I see pictures of you's guys shooting off rests and listing, what to me, are amazing ranges. When I hunt, I can never get my prey to show up where I want, so I shoot out of hand. Is there some trick to lineing up a shot with a rest? Keep in mind that I hunt the n. Georgia mountains, not along crop fields, not open vistas.

Last edited by dogsbreath; 04/18/2012 1:18 PM.
Re: poll, what do you hunt with? [Re: Whitworth] #106829 04/18/2012 3:30 PM
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Myself ,for hunting with a handgun i use a scoped 7.5 inch barrelled Ruger new model blackhawk in 45 long colt. I use a load which is quite lethal on whitetail deer here in Ohio. my fave load is 21.0 grains of win 296,starline brass,wlp primer, and a 300 grain xtp .i have taken em out to 100 yards with this load.I have chronoed it at 10 yards at over 1250 fps. This is a near magnum load with a 45 cal bullet meant for the new model blackhawk or tc contender. do not use this load in any single action army or comparable. but im sure most know this.ide love to post a pic of it but not sure how yet on this site im a newbie.

Last edited by Damian45acp; 04/18/2012 3:32 PM. Reason: spellcheck
Re: poll, what do you hunt with? [Re: Damian45acp] #106830 04/18/2012 3:34 PM
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Damian45acp Offline
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Oh and Ohio is a shotgun ,muzzleloader,straight walled handgun only state but i have many rifles, I am from the south originally. so i take most my bigger deer in crossbow season.

Re: poll, what do you hunt with? [Re: Damian45acp] #106833 04/18/2012 4:06 PM
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Gary Offline
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For the past few years I primarily hunt with a Freedom Arms revolver of some sort. Lately it's been the 475's.


You can't wait any longer. Join the NRA and start writing your Congressmen and Senators.
Re: poll, what do you hunt with? [Re: dogsbreath] #106841 04/18/2012 5:16 PM
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Ernie Offline
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Keeping shooting sticks or a mono-pod (Depending on the type of handgun you are using) in your hand at all times will let you get a seady enough rest for a kill shot at short ranges in dark timber.
Also the trees around you can make good rests as well at times.

 Originally Posted By: dogsbreath
As a back up question, I see pictures of you's guys shooting off rests and listing, what to me, are amazing ranges. When I hunt, I can never get my prey to show up where I want, so I shoot out of hand. Is there some trick to lineing up a shot with a rest? Keep in mind that I hunt the n. Georgia mountains, not along crop fields, not open vistas.


Ernie the Un-Tactical
Re: poll, what do you hunt with? [Re: Ernie] #106844 04/18/2012 5:24 PM
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Whitworth Offline
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This is why I spend most of my time shooting offhand. It prepares you for the worst case scenario.


Max Prasac

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BIG IRON: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L6aXjMH5C30

Gun Digest TV's Modern Shooter: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nGo-KMpXPpA&t=7s

Re: poll, what do you hunt with? [Re: Whitworth] #106863 04/18/2012 10:44 PM
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Damian45acp Offline
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When do deer ever do what we want them too lol i carry shooting sticks as well get a rest and pop em its thick up here anyways mosy shots are close unless they are out in the alfalfa feilds

Re: poll, what do you hunt with? [Re: Damian45acp] #107368 04/27/2012 10:42 PM
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Lone Ranger Offline
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I have quite a few handguns as well, but my "go to" handguns are my S&W 460 XVR and my FA 454. I also use a 15" Encore in 30-06 for longer shots. It is hard to pick just one!!

Re: poll, what do you hunt with? [Re: Lone Ranger] #107376 04/28/2012 1:13 AM
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cottonstalk Offline
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Last year I used a 475L in a super redhawk with a 412gr @1075fps, and my all time favorite caliber 45colt in two Ruger converted bisleys,one with a 4 5/8"bl and the other 7 1/2"bl, with a 255gr @1100fps.

This year my new 500JRH will get most of the work but the 45colts will see some action also.


"If you get to thinkin' you're a person of some influence,try orderin' someone else's dog around" unknown cowboy
Re: poll, what do you hunt with? [Re: cottonstalk] #107425 04/28/2012 9:22 PM
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Re: poll, what do you hunt with? [Re: Damian45acp] #107429 04/28/2012 10:13 PM
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tracker77 Offline
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dogsbreath, I havent had my Bisley 45 Colt long so I shoot my own 255gr WFN and seat it over 8gr of Unique. Its very mild and both my Flattop and my Bisley like this load. I havent worked up a hunting load yet for the Bisley. I used to shoot 300gr Sierra JFP over 10.5gr of Unique thru a Freedom Arms 454 I used to own. Its a bit more but the weight of the FA tamed it down alot. I may try it in my Bisley.


Do not take your greatness to the graveyard!!
Re: poll, what do you hunt with? [Re: tracker77] #107437 04/29/2012 1:05 AM
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ToddXPHunter Offline
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I use the 223 contender,221 xp,6br xp,22 k hornet contender for ground hogs and 30 30 AI contender,7 INT xp,250 sav contender,7x30 contender,30 herrett contender,or 7 br xp for deer


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