So I thought about something, Why do you guys in general suggest that hunting with a rifle round. 308, 7mm ect in Contenders considered handgun hunting? Wouldn't that be like putting a Lamborghini engine in a Honda civic and saying you own a Honda civic? That is kinda like hunting with a handgun but taking a shortcut? (cheating?) I just always thought of handgun hunting as "Hunting with a Handgun and its Cartridges" 45, 10mm 44 mag 454 cassul ect.


I go to a street race with my Honda civic vs another Honda civic, just my Honda civic has the lambo engine, is it really a civic vs civic race?

In that since, we wouldn't hunt with our 22 lr handguns either, because that cartridge was developed for a rifle. In my opinion, it's the weapon that defines whether its a handgun or not; not the ammo.

I went to a Ford vs Chevy event a few years back, the winner drove a mustang....with a chevy engine. Not the best comparison but I think I see your point.
When shooting a bottleneck cartridge out of a platform such as a contender or encore, the shooter still must contend with handgun style shooting positions. Sure the round may have more range but the shooter also has to deal with handgun style optics, which are still a challenge at longer distances. So there are things that keep it from being just like hunting with a rifle.
For the record, I have no issues calling it handgun hunting as long as the firearm has a handgun grip. lol just my .02

Handgun hunting is different for different folks. Conditions of terrain dictate which I choose to take any given day. I imagine when you start hunting with a handgun and take varying types of animals in different conditions, you will understand that thought process a little better. Hard to explain otherwise.

A comparison I would use is compound bow vs. traditional setup, where the T/C's are compounds and revolvers are recurve/longbows. One setup will get you a bit more range and accuracy while the other might require you to get closer to your target. But in the end, they're both bow hunting.

That's not to say I disagree with you. When I think of handgun hunting, the first image that pops into my head is someone with a revolver, not a bottleneck cartridge chambered T/C or SP. In my opinion, one of the greatest challenges in hunting is to take a game animal with an open sighted revolver.

At the same time, though, I'll never look down upon someone who uses a bottleneck cartridge chambered T/C. They're not exactly that easy to shoot, either, and still require a lot of practice to become proficient with. Not to mention having to create a load that works well in 15" of barrel or less. Having a scoped T/C allows me to hunt in ways I might not easily be able to with just a revolver. For example, there's no way I'm going to hunt coyotes with just my open sighted 460 unless I'm hunting with someone using a rifle who can shoot them pretty far off, but I'm fine with going alone with my 243 Encore in case one of them hangs up on the distance.

Honestly, and not meant in any snide way...........I do because I can.

I use Revolvers, Specialty Pistols, and Rifles. I used to use Black Powder as well.

I like guns. I like all guns. I like shooting guns. I like hunting with guns. I like OWNING guns. Big guns, small guns, long guns, short guns. I like'em. I like'em all.

I like killing sacred cows as well or doing things folks say I can't/shouldn't do.

Oft times, we are our own worst enemy. Crying that handgun hunters "get no respect" and then sacrifice our own upon the alter of tradition because they hunt "different than me". In then end, we are cannibals and eat our own.

I say, stop crying and enjoy your sport and the fact that others enjoy it too. Even if they use a different type of gun or cartridge. It's meant to be FUN!

:theaboveisnotdirectedatanyoneindividualbutwordedtobeallincompasingandgeneralized:

What he said!

So, who was crying?

???

He was making a point. He was not accusing anyone in the post of crying.

"Oft times, we are our own worst enemy. Crying that handgun hunters "get no respect" and then sacrifice our own upon the alter of tradition because they hunt "different than me". In then end, we are cannibals and eat our own.

I say, stop crying and enjoy your sport and the fact that others enjoy it too. Even if they use a different type of gun or cartridge. It's meant to be FUN!"

Which is backed up by:

":theaboveisnotdirectedatanyoneindividualbutwordedtobeallincompasingandgeneralized"

So if you kill a deer with a lever action carbine chambered in 44 magnum, did you kill the deer with a handgun?

Really? In your quote I see that word used twice.

Nobody said a rifle/carbine was the same as a handgun no matter what round its chambered in. I believe his point about "no matter what type of gun or cartridge" was directed at the original question of SPs vs revolvers. If you have been involved in handgun hunting discussions for any length of time you will hear an occasional hardcore revolver guy put down SPs as not being a real handgun.

Read his post and try to take it in context of what he is saying. Just because the word was used twice does not mean it was directed at the previous posts.

I make every effort to respect the ways others choose to hunt without judging. I think we do more damage to our cause by not putting up a united front at all times. But for me, handgun hunting is an up close and personal endeavor, testing one's hunting skills and field craft. But that's just the way I like to do it and I prefer doing it with revolvers that shoot straight-walled cartridges.

Ditto.

Just because I chose to use a Red Tailed Hawk to bag rabbits doesn't mean I disagree with using a 22lr to do the same thing. We are all hunters, be it with a hawk, a handgun, a rifle, or a freakin slingshot.

We are all hunters, and should back each other no matter what method we chose. I don't think anyone in this thread has attacked anyone else, or their method of hunting. Everything has been said "in general". But I do agree that sometimes, hunters can be their own worst enemy.

Perhaps if you use a youth stock? Then you might be able to pass it off as a "Mare's Leg" ;-)

I may be wrong, but I think Randominator's response is a rhetorical question toward Rmagnum. Rmagnum questioned why a rifle cartridge in a handgun would be considered handgun hunting, so Randominator asked him if by that logic a rifle in a handgun cartridge would be considered handgun hunting.

Agree 100%. Although I do occasionally employ a couple of T/C pistol barrels chambered in "rifle cartridges" capable of reaching out a couple hundred yards, handgun hunting for me has always been about the challenge of getting close, and travelling light.

I agree. Just as important is no matter what you choose to hunt with, practice, be proficient and stay within your effective limits when hunting. I shoot and hunt with traditional bows (I have nothing against people shooting compound bows). I've been embarrassed by other trad shooters at archery ranges in the past who have an elitist attitude because they shoot traditional and let everyone in hearing distance know it. The same guy does not spend much time practicing and shoots horrible groups. That sheds a bad light on trad archers to people shooting compounds. If they have not seen someone who is proficient with trad bows, they may dismiss them as being inaccurate, ineffective and unethical for hunting. I would rather see that guy pick up a compound, a crossbow, a scoped rifle, etc, whatever it takes for him to be proficient and make clean kills.

I grew up hunting with open sighted military surplus rifles. After that I only hunted with handguns, traditional bows and traditional muzzleloaders. I just started shooting and hunting with scoped rifles in the last few years. I didn't shoot my first big game animal with a scoped rifle until I was about 41 or 42. I know I've been guilty of having an elitist attitude toward hunting with scoped rifles in the past. I still hunt with handguns, bows and muzzleloaders. Now I'm also hunting/shooting with something I never thought I would use. My outlook on hunting has changed somewhat too over the years. I'm more concerned with stocking the freezer. "Trophies" and what I hunt with have become less important to me.

Ok I gotta join in on this. I have hunted in the past with a Contender in .357 Herrett (a necked down 30-30 rd) and took a nice Merino Ram with it, enjoyed the case forming a hand loading that went into it. But I just couldn't get away from the compactness of a revolver and as the classic handgun for hunting so I sold the Contender and never looked back. Its all revolvers now. But this is my personal opinion and style. I agree with Whit as I like to get up close like a bowhunter would. I agree with Zee that we "Handgun Hunters " can be our own worst enemy. I welcome any handgun hunter as I remember how much I enjoyed my Contender. We need to stay united as handgun hunters, no matter what platform or caliber we shoot, as we are few.

Why?
I want to and it is fun.
We do tend to be our own worst enemies.

Its about what is hunting for you.Myself I won't even shoot a rifle on game past a hundred yards but thats me.

Rmagnum, this was a good post. Things were getting kinda dry around here and you got us all energized again. Thanks!
I think the next debate we should have is, Stand hunting vs spot and stalk / still hunting. Is stand hunting really hunting??!!

Webster New World Dictionary defines handgun as Any firearm that is held and fired with one hand, as a pistol. [Pistol] A small firearm operated with one hand] According to this I don't hunt with a pistol either bottleneck or straight wall {CAUSE I USE BOTH HANDS ON ALL OF MINE] both the bottlenecked ones and the straight ones EVERYTIME. Powder burning distance to waaaaaaay out there TWO HANDS EVERYTIME. Don't know what I hunt with but I sure do Love It.

To each their own, but don't knock it until you've tried it. It's handgun hunting. I have messed with a few but only really shot one for hunting purposes last year, and it helped me understand the draw. There's no need to split the group, but we as humans always seem to. If it has wheels or shoulder mounted is it really archery? If it doesn't have a pan and has rifling is it really traditional? If it doesn't have a straight walled cartridge can it be considered handgun hunting? United we can stand against the opposition, divided we will fall, one goup at a time.

Oh, Lord.............

I can see why all the debates rage on. Hand rifle vs. hand gun has great arguments on both sides. The way some shooters shoot a "hand rifle," by using special rests like the front one that has levers and knobs to adjust the firearm to thereby adjust the sight picture without the human hand touching the firearm, is a good case in point. And using a bottleneck cartridge in an accurized bolt action specialty pistol equipped with a high dollar scope to shoot at an antelope at 500 yards or so with the above mentioned rig is a far cry from using a two handed hold on a Ruger .44 magnum to shoot a deer at 45 yards.

Now, having said that, I believe that each one of us, as an individual, needs to define in our own way what "handgun hunting" truly means to US, and if we are comfortable with it, go for it.

I have killed a bunch of big game animals (including some really nice record book animals) with single shot scoped "hand rifles," but have chosen to go back to revolvers now for a number of years.

I agree with Whit's input.

In fact, my latest goal (which I have mentioned on this website a time or two prior to now), is to break my own SCI World Record Handgun Mule Deer (204+ SCI Typical taken with an Encore) with a revolver.

I have in the mean time taken a mule deer and a couple bull elk with my revolver that easily make the SCI Handgun Record Book, which seem to mean more to me than my Hand Rifle record book entries.

But that is just me, and my own opinion. To each their own. As others have said, we need to back each other up in the long run.

Again, not directed an ANY individual. But, a humorously ironic quibble I have seen at times.

To vehemently differ anothers use of bottleneck cartridges from a Specialty Pistol while scoping ones own single action revolver and scoffing from on high.

Makes me wanna smile and say, "Go get'em.........Cowboy."

I don't much care WHAT someone uses. They could fling rocks with a plastic spoon if it makes'em giddy. I have about every flavor of handgun configuration possible and use them all. I'm an equal opportunity handgunner.
:-)

That got me thinking. We can really muddy the water and add revolvers chambered in bottleneck/rifle rounds into the mix!

Well then.. and here is im hoping my thread dosent get deleted for being stupid lol. I don't mind hunting of any kind like someone said, slingshot, rifle, handgun,bow whatever the case is, But I do believe that using a Tc with a 15 inch barrel and a .308 round has passed the realm of handgun hunting, that's like me taking my AR-15 taking the stock out and saying im handgun hunting.

I was gonna suggest cast vs jacketed lol

I would like to hunt deer with a centerfire rifle, but that is not legal in this state. My XP-100 .308 is as close as I can get.

I guess I have been cheating for a lot of years now....
I have also discovered I haven't been using a bow either to hunt with-It has CAMS......
My vision isn't really good enough to be precise with irons, so....
Might as well just give up and go completely with RIFLES

Should probably just stick with a 308 Win as anything bigger would be cheating.

Then how bout standard vs magnum??

Well crap!! Means I've got to quit flying hawks then. I can't fly, nor see as well as she does. And my bow, well, I THOUGHT it was a bow anyway-- I guess that's out too since mine also has wheels and a fiber optic sight. OH! And my 22lr must not be a true rifle, since it has a lever on it. I thought rifles were supposed to have bolts, or is that not right?? And my custom revolver isn't anything close to what it started out as, so I guess I can't use it either.

I'm so confused now!!

I've been telling you this for YEARS!!! You finally listen!!

Then I'll GLADLY stick with cheating!!!

If you ain't cheat'n........you ain't try'n.

First time I heard that phrase was from a friend who served as a SEAL. We shot a couple of matches together before he moved to Montana

Just thank God and a lot of brave soldiers that you live in a country that allows you the freedom to hunt,and to choose what you hunt with.An open sighted revolver is always on my hip,along with something else in my hand or on a sling. The other one will be a singleshot,scoped revolver, boltaction or cannon breech in one of several calibers. If I walked into the camp of anyone here I would expect to be welcomed as a Handgun Hunter an equal. Would I be welcomed in Yours?

So, at what point does it become handgun hunting to you?

Absolutely Brother!

Like several have said before me, I'm a hunter first and foremost...that predominantly uses handguns to chase my quarry.

And the more I can carry, the better.

Its really simple....if you hold it to shoot with your hands, its a handgun. If you hold it against your shoulder with a stock, its a rifle.
There is really nothing to debate imo. There are only variations of style with each.

I do things i like. I would expect anyone else to do the same.

I remember a time when inline muzzleloaders were considered "non-traditional" and therefore non-sporting. Now most people use inlines.We have seen the same with crossbows, compounds, etc. In my house are mounts killed with every legal type weapon. I enjoyed every hunt. So, the real question is this: Does venison taste differently when killed by this or that?
By the way, I like you all no matter what you use.

As I said in my earlier post:

QUOTE: "Now, having said that, I believe that each one of us, as an individual, needs to define in our own way what "handgun hunting" truly means to US, and if we are comfortable with it, go for it."

I am anxious to see Rmagnum1183 answer TN Lone Wolf's Q.

But as I see it, we are all here together, hopefully covering each other's back in this unsteady and dangerous political battle

RE: FIREARMS.

And, truthfully, I DO use and ENJOY all types of weapons to hunt with, including bow (yes Ernie, mine has cams! Sort of, and also has recurve limbs

If you are interested to find out WTH I mean, please Google "Oneida Eagle")

as well as rifle, revolver (some scoped but mostly not), muzzleloader (both rifle AND pistol), and even crossbow. I find special enjoyment in each type. After all, I am HUNTING.

And if a long range specialty scoped pistol works for you as handgun hunting, that is fine. I am the one I described as using that special front rest, on a specialty scoped pistol, while shooting with a member here, although I did not try to shoot an antelope with that rig. I am also the one I described as shooting a mule deer (and elk for that matter) with a revolver at 45 yards. I like it all.

JMHO

PS: OK now, what

about those Magnum Primers???

The first time Gregg shot one of my XP's, he set-up on the hood of my Tahoe with a bi-pod and a small field bag at just over 500 (closer to 550 yards I think).
His first shot was so close to the bull, and he made this comment, "That's not possible."
I said, "It is too, you just did it, now do it again."
And he proceeded to shoot even better.

I apologize if it seemed like I was being confrontational with my question. I'm just wondering where he draws the line. If a rifle round in a 15" Encore is out, would a JDJ round in a Contender be acceptable? Even though they're bottleneck rounds, they were designed for Contender handguns. Or is he just a revolver kind of guy? (Which I can completely understand)

TN lone wolf.. simple when you have a Rifle that you can convert into a "Hand Rifle" that's what I think crosses the line from Hand gun to Hand Rifle . According to a poster if you hold it with your hands and not against your shoulder yur handgun hunting ..Example... Am I handgun hunting?

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Guys mind you im not hating on anyone and their hunting preference.. im just trying to have a debate and discussion on everyone's opinions

Without confrontation, there is no resolve.

Nothing wrong with a little friendly disgusto on occasion. Being afraid of confrontation is one thing I feel is killing this country.

Man up and argue once in awhile. We can't be touchy feely ALL the time!!

:-)

RMag,

I'm guilty of the one in the middle (see above):

Those particular kinds of handgun were designed for a different kind of prey than I normally hunt .The good guys and girls that have to use them are surely hunting dangerous game and hunting it is. Their game can will and does shoot back and I don't expect them to use my singleshots, bolts or cannonbreech to hunt with,but I would PROUDLY HUNT WITH THEM AND HAVE THEIR BACK ON ANY HUNTING TRIP they wanted to go on.They are WELCOME in my camp anytime and have been told so many times.I would feel right at home with any of the three handguns pictured.

I own these two.





And the ATF considers them "Handguns".

I reckon so. 😋 you just have ugly handguns. 😝😂

Handgun, rifle, shotgun, handrifle, WHO CARES!! They all go bang, so I like em all!!

I like you.

I like all of you. Except that you guys have gotten me so thoroughly addicted to handgun hunting I'll probably never escape its allure.

I don't know if someone already made this point. The same argument could be applied to rifles. I want to use a .54 cal flintlock with open sights and someone else chooses to use a .408 CheyTac with a high power scope. Both are considered legal to use here in rifle season. Just because I'm making the hunt more challenging with my choice of weapon does not mean the other guys weapon choice is not valid. Its a choice I made. I'm not going to have an elitist attitude just because I want to limit my effective range or the other guys weapon does not appeal to me. I'm just happy I live in a country/state where I'm allowed to hunt with whatever weapon I choose. Well almost, I still can't use my atlatl here for game animals.

Well said

Well for me...I own both revolvers and single shots. Both are handguns. No shoulder stocks. Both have pros and cons. Which gun goes out is determined by where and what I'm hunting. Neither style is easy as compared to a rifle. If in doubt try getting a big encore steady in the field. You wiggle with it as bad as a revolver. I like to limit myself to about 60 yds with my sbh. I'd say about 200 yds with my 308 encore on animals.

As the tools of hunting have evolved over the centuries, so have its definitions. And its purposes. And its participants. I can see both sides of the question this thread presents, and can identify with both sides.

I frankly do not like the modern 21st century society I find myself in today, and it's swiftly declining array of values and morals trouble me. Greatly. So I find myself holding on to the past a bit more as I grow older, going back to the old ways, the old tools, the old definitions. This is mostly, I think, a futile attempt to stop the unstoppable, or at least remain above it.

We are surrounded by compromise and cheating in America today. It is rampant in all realms of our society, from politics to religion, from business to sport, from marriage to ... gender identity.

If I am not careful, I will start to get suspicious of all change, of all growth, of all things modern.

The OP's question was legitimate, in my opinion, as it is always a good idea to question, to be careful, to learn and to endeavor to not be found among the cheaters of our world today.

However, the answers were also correct, in that they have assured the OP that the different methods and tools used were NOT cheating, and assuring him that we here on this forum are a community of honest sportsman that have carefully weighed our methods and tools, and have merely evolved along side of hunting itself, using the tools that best suit our physical abilities, our unique geography, and the particular game we are hunting.

So, its all good. We continue to watch over the sport that we love to make sure we are not sucked into the morass of immorality that pervades our society, as we continue to learn, grow and evolve in ways we can cleanly, humanely, honestly harvest the game that God has so lovingly and generously provided.

(I cant help it, I've been a preacher for 20 years!)

Briarhopper
Very well said!

Indeed

Nice. Like that one Briarhopper.

I Idaho, the only problem is if you want to use a rifle cartridge in a handgun, you have to hunt the rifle season. If you use a round originally developed for a handgun, you can hunt the rifle season and the short range weapons season also. So to extend my hunting I opt for the revolvers. Just my choice.

By all means use what you need, to extend your hunting time in the field

Of course there's a difference between using a rifle cartridge in a handgun over using a revolver but either one takes lots of practice, experimenting & dedication. If the AFT says its a handgun, then its a handgun, use it & have fun without worrying about what someone else thinks or says. Its our sport & its grown so much in the last 20 years that no one could have predicted the amazing popularity of handgun hunting.
Because of that we have better scopes, better barrels, better bullets, etc. We all know better equipment makes for a more enjoyable hunting experience whether its a single shot or a revolver.

Dick

I think briarhopper said it best.



NOTE: This is not directed toward anyone in particular.

On the other hand, there was one word used in this thread that makes me cringe every time I hear or read it in relation to hunting:

I absolutely deplore that word when used by one hunter to describe someone else's hunting methods. You see, long before I discovered handgunhunt.com, I regularly visited some of the hunting related pages on Facebook, such as Legendary Whitetails, Chasing Trophy Whitetails, and Deer & Deer Hunting. Every fall, hundreds of people posted pictures of their kills, and the administrators would sometimes repost some of those pictures to the main page for everyone to see. Unfortunately, absolutely anybody could join and post, from hunter to non-hunter to anti-hunter. Now, fortunately, the anti-hunters were quickly banned if they caused trouble, but unfortunately it was some of the hunters who caused the most trouble. As more and more people joined these pages, you would see more and more types of these people posting.

There was once a kid, who looked to be about 15 to 16, that posted a picture of his first buck. However, his rifle was in the picture, and there was a guy saying (paraphrased) "Come on, a rifle? You're old enough to pull back a bow!"

There was one guy who started a big argument by posting "Use a gun if you want to kill a deer. Use a bow if you actually want to hunt them."

God help whoever posted a picture of a crossbow killed deer, even if they were young, disabled, or hunting during a gun season.

Then, there were those traditional bow elitist types that knocked everyone else.

Just about anyone was fair game for another hunter to denigrate and disrespect. Most people, myself included, just ignore those naysayers. However, the common theme in all of this was people attacking other hunters because they perceived their method as "cheating", even if that word wasn't explicitly used. In today's world, we are constantly under attack from the media, anti-hunters, and sometimes even non-hunters. We know we're under attack, the non-hunters know were under attack, the media and anti-'s especially know we're under attack. How does it look when, on a public website frequented by millions upon millions, we attack each other?

Look, I don't have a care in the world if other people are impressed by my hunting methods or not. But to call my (or anyone else's, for that matter) completely legitimate, legal, ethical, and in my opinion challenging method of hunting cheating is something I won't tolerate.

I repeat, this is not directed at anyone in particular. I don't believe anyone here has dismissed any form of hunting as cheating, and for that, I thank all of you.

Well said, Chance!

Agreed! I'll also add; "I" don't do any hunting for the challenge. I hunt for the excitement, enjoyment and the love of eating them critters (At least the edible ones). If I hunted for the challenge, I'd hunt public land with a knife.

Very well said, Chance. I agree 100%

KRal, I second the motion.

If we engage in hunting simply and only for the challenge, where do we begin to get out of balance and start taking more chances of unethical and irresponsible shots, resulting in more wounded and lost game? We have to keep a balance. That's where Chance's elitist naysayers came in. It became all about the challenge, often with no respect for the game itself that was harvested cleanly.

I believe we need to define challenge or at least discuss it here. A lot of us find hunting IS a challenge, and the weapon type determines some of the challenge no matter what weapon is chosen. Rifle hunting (even) has it's challenges, to each their own.

I do not believe there is anything wrong with considering hunting a challenge.

As far as taking "unethical and irresponsible shots," that is always a hunters choice no matter what reasons he has for hunting.

As for me, I both hunt for the excitement and the meat, as KRal says, and for the challenge.

Adding to Gregg's comment for better defining the "challenge" associated with ethical, honest, respectful, law abiding hunting as it applies from the dictionary definition of challenge-
"The difficulty in an undertaking that is stimulating to one engaging in it." Thats the challenge of hunting to me. I am not competing with other hunters for a competitive goal or a defined prize putting the end before the means but only answering the challenge within myself. The stimulation and interest can be defined as excitement, satisfaction or whatever. Regardless of the recreational activity you engage in, if its not stimulating or somewhat exciting (i.e. Challenging) you will tire of it and lose interest.

you guys crack me up

this is getting out of context, I originally asked is it fair to say Im racing my Honda civic vs another Honda civic but mines has a Lamborghini engine in it.

and the Same applies to Bullets and gun types,
If you own a SRH in 44 mag then someone comes with a Tc contender with a .308 you already lost the "Handgun hunting Title IMO.

Again this is not a bash, go hunting bear handed if that's what you like im all for it. This was just a conversation starter that its starting to get people offended.

There is not a single person here who can justify my Honda civic argument. I just thought the same applied to "HANDGUN HUNTING" can you REALLY and I mean REALLY say Im handgun hunting if your u sing a .308 round? while oh lets say James is taking game with a .41 magnum? as he posted not to long ago?

AGAIN not bashing or trying to insult anyone this is mere a question that obviously has a lot of answers and discussion potential

Yes. If you use either, you're handgun hunting in my opinion. They're just different types of handgun hunting. Really.

A car is a car. A handgun is a handgun. We can slice it finer and say Hondas are the only real cars and revolvers are the only real handguns. NASCAR used to be stock cars. Go to Daytona and peek under the hood of one of those cars. Its still a car race!

If somebody tries that they are going to have a broken gun.

That said, if any gun can be held and fired with one hand and has no shoulder stock as per ATF definition, it is a handgun.

Does the fact I can fire a 45 Colt in a levergun make it a "rifle round"?

thadf: OK so I figure that means that we are amusing you!

I agree with the OP we are getting off track, but this has become a very interesting (and still staying friendly!) post. As a Mod I do not see anything wrong with it at this point...

Having said that, I would politely ask you, thad, what do you mean!

Why rifle rounds? Because they work....plain and simple...and I like them 😜 I've used them to kill a lot of game, and Ive shot them all with a handgun 😉 fair...WTH...where does fair even come into the equation? This is almost as retarded as the dumb*** what if topics....what if you are in Siberia and its snowing, and you have the flu, and you left your shoes at home. What gun would you use? None of them.....my butt would be at home? SMH....go hunting, have fun, but this is nuts.....😂

I don't think the Honda Civic comparison is a valid analogy to different types of handguns. It's more like asking "If you rechamber your 357 Magnum Contender to 30-30 and compare it to a regular 357 Magnum Contender, is your gun still a Contender?" To which I would say yes, it's still a Contender, and yes, it's still a Civic, even though you've upgraded their power.

How does one rechamber a .357 Mag to .30-30 Winchester? Won't the .30cal bullets rattle down the bore of the .35cal barrel?

Let's put this into perspective...it's handgun hunting because these rounds can and are shot out of handguns....plain and simple. Is it fair? Fair to who or what? & why does anyone really care one way or the other? If you don't like them, don't use them. I love them..are they better than revolvers?, no, but I like them more. Do rifle rounds kill animals deader than traditional revolver rounds?, no. Again, why does it matter? Shoot what you like....if you don't like it, then don't use it!, but let's not knock what someone else likes.....yep....getting wiser in my older years 😉....the problem is that there are not enough handgun hunters...who really cares what kind of handgun is used?...as long as a handgun is used.

Because I was going with a different analogy but changed it halfway through. Rebarrel would be a better term.

How does one rechamber a .357 mag to 30-30 Winchester? Won't the 30 caliber bullets rattle down the .35 caliber barrel?

He gets excited sometimes,and his fingers are faster than his brain.

I was just messing with you in fun.

:-)

Yeah, I know. No hard feelings.

And yes, sometimes I do type a little faster than my brain can process.

I think everybody got your point just fine, Chance ;-)

There is one is every crowd......

Hi Pot. I'm Kettle.

Boys will be boys...

It's just a cool factor and added challenge to me. I, like many here, grew up rifle hunting. Wanted something different and tried the archery thing for a little while, but just love something that goes bang. I hunted with revolvers as well, but just fell in love with the rifle caliber specialty pistols. It's just fun hunting and target shooting to me with them and something that makes me feel unique at the same time.
As long as we remain unified as gun and hunting enthusiasts to protect our rights, it shouldn't matter what flavor of koolaid we choose to drink....

One thing not mentioned:

Traditional handguns, such as revolvers, are much easier to shoot offhand than the modern handgun (specialty pistol).

I missed a deer one time because I came up on a doe while I was on my way to a stand. For some strange reason I couldn't hold my 6.25 lb specialty pistol steady enough to connect on a 60yd shot.

If I had a more traditional handgun, I'd not had that problem.

These modern handguns (specialty pistols) are as much handgun as traditional handguns are. Just as a traditional lever gun is a rifle just as much as a heavy barreled bench gun, varmint gun or long range rig is a rifle. No one ever seems to have issue with the diverse types of rifles, from semiauto AR's to full blown bench guns and everything in between. They're still all referred to as rifles.

And so it is with handguns.

im talking about the round not the gun itself

No worries Rog.

Because we can't stretch a 45 Colt out beyond 200 yards?

I think we might have stumbled across the age old discussion that started when some young whipper-snapper started throwing a long pointy stick at something he wanted to eat rather then then the heavy round rock which was tradition at the time.

In the spirit of the original question that started the post. I shoot a rifle round because I can. I shoot a 30-30 in a TC because I find it cool and interesting. For me, it has a lot more history then a 44 mag or many of the big bore pistol cartridges that have been developed in the last ~20 years. I shoot it because I have my grandfathers 1908 vintage Winchester 94 in 30-30 that he used to hunt deer and elk. I do not ask to be judged for this choice, only that I be allowed to contribute to the community with which I share a passion.

In the spirit of the discussion, maybe we should discuss the ethics, challenges and satisfaction of hunting with repeating firearms that hold ~5 or 6 shots vs a single shot, or perhaps guns that use those new-fangled cartridges where you don't have to use flint or percussion caps to make it go boom. Maybe we should discuss why people are so interested in drawing lines and differentiating themselves from others.

I think Chance said it best a couple pages ago. Why must we focus and obsess on the differences between to build walls and sub-divide our small community between us rather the celebrating the differences and the fact that we have choices and different paths we can follow to the same end.

In closing, remember this - You are a unique individual, just like every single last one of the other 7.125 billion people on this great planet.

Enjoy yourself. Use what you want. Don't be concerned about others desire to define you.
If someone uses a knife do they cease to be handgun hunter?
The bigger questions:
Is the blade fixed or folded?
Double edge or single?
Stabbing or cutting?
And don't forget blade length...