just now noticed that there were 1600+ members of this great site.
post up!......introduce yourself, if you like.......give us some info on your shootin irons, or what loads/bullets work for you............tell us about your hunting trips, etc.

........now, everyone here.......raise your hand and say I!

I!
2 Contender frames, & 3 barrels. .444 Marlin, 30-30AI, & .22 Hornet.
Revolvers, 8&3/8" Mod. 29 with Ultra Dor 4(favorite hunting piece), S&W mod 10 PPC gun, Ruger Blackhawk .357, Ruger Single Six.
Autos, Ruger Mark II.

Skunked on moose this year, & bear aren't looking too promising.

I!!! Hello everyone. My name is Knute and I've been hunting with handguns since I was a teenager. I started using handguns for big game exclusively about 15 years ago. I started out in my early teens when my father taught me how to shoot his S&W .357. At that time I hunted small game with a Colt New Frontier Buntline (7-1/2 inch barrel) 22. Great little gun. Bagged alot of squirrel and even a few pheasant on the ground as they came into the cedars to roost in the evening. Lots of neat memories but I'll try not to go on and bore everyone. 15 years ago I started hunting deer with a TC Contender in 30 herret and also a 10 inch barrel in 7/30 Waters with a Burris 1.5x4. After hunting groundhogs with it all summer it started malfunctioning just 3 days before buck season. It wouldn't lock up. Sent it back to the factory and used my Dad's old .357 to take a 4 point at just over 50 yards (hit in the lungs and went 20 yds before dropping). Don't flame me but I found I was more comfortable going back to the N frame Smith than the bulkier scoped gun. Besides, the type of woods I hunt in I rarely have a shot over 75 yds so I traded the Contender in on a (1991) S&W 629-3 and thats what I've been using ever since. I use Federal 180 grain hollow points as they group extremely well. I do want to go to a heavier bullet because I think they expand a little too quick IMO for a quartering away shot on deer. Fortunately my shots have been broadside so far. I really enjoy this forum and ya'll seem like a great bunch of handgunners.

hey,i live in sw.va.,i am a little over a year into this sickness with no cure in sight!i have a encore with a 15"257 roberts barrel,also a 10"7mm-08.i also have a 15" 22 hornet(for sale in the classifieds)then there is a browning buckmark 22 lr.,ruger blackhawk 4 5/8" barrel(45 long colt),and a super redhawk 454 casull.i got my first two kills last year with my 257 and im HOOKED !(deer and turkey)now im really looking forward to plugging one with the 454 this year,and if i get close enough for hand to deer combat i will put the 45 to work!im done i guess...hey KYODE you started this...where is your confession? .jim257

I!! Well for starters I got my pistol permit as soon as I turned 21. I bought a Dan Wesson in 357 Max, and killed 2 deer with it that year. I was hooked! I put away all the long guns and never looked back. Over the years I've collected quite a few revolvers and deer. Two years ago I finally got the room and time to start reloading. I have a lot to learn but love every minute of it. Last spring I got an XP in 221 FB and have gotten serious on woodchuck hunting again.

I got me a 4inch Colt Python that my Granddad gave to me, he used to carry it when he was a sheriff's deputy, even got his old badge. It likes 158gr cast lead bullets, and it doesn't seem to be fussy about what kind. When i was able to stay well practiced, i could keep all 6 shots in the head of a small B-27 target at 25yds, offhand (no bs). I look forward to bagging a deer with it, i have a few hundred LSWCHPs that are begging to be used.

Next is the newest member of my family, my Ruger SBH.
7-1/2" barrel and Burris 2x scope. Haven't been able to shoot it much. I'm hoping that i will be able to get some dies sometime in the future for it, that .44mag ammo is expensive, not like my 9mm, $10 for 100rds at wally world. It should be very accurate, i shot it father's day weekend with my dad, and we both loved it (well, i did, he didnt liek the blast, or the recoil...). It was much more accurate than we were, but i added a Belt Mountain base pin, so that should tighten things up a little bit. Very anxious to reload it and use it for deer. I was able to get 250 300gr swc's that i'm itching to try.

Me and my wife just moved up here to SE Michigan, so i'm just hoping that i'll get a chance to go hunting this fall.
We'll see, but if i dont get to kill something this fall, i'm going to go nuts, i cant remember a year that i didnt go hunting since i was 11, wow, 11yrs of straight hunting. We'll see, i just hope my job interview tomorow pans out tomorow.

Jeremy

Praying the interview goes well Jeremy!

This roll call's a good idea KYODE, I enjoy reading about the other handgunners we share our little world with. Here's my story.

Grew up hunting the woods of Louisiana with surplus WWII rifles I could buy cheap at local gun shows. Dad had a 22 pistol that I was a crack shot with. I stopped hunting for 16 years, when I was an Army officer on active duty, they keep you pretty busy. Three years ago, comfortably settled back home in Louisiana, I started hunting again. Two years went by with a rifle, but always wanted a pistol to shoot deer with. Last January I went a little crazy, according to my wife and friends. Bought an Encore frame and to date have collected four barrels. They are: 15" 240 Weatherby Bullberry, 12" 44 mag TC factory, 16.5" 300WM TC factory cut-down, and 15" 6.5x55 Swedish Mauser from Fox Ridge.

I'll never look back. Love the handguns more than I ever loved rifles. I have children that are soon approaching shooting age, can't wait to teach them to handgun hunt.
One last thing, I don't post as much as lots of guys, but I do enjoy reading ya'lls posts; I log-on every day to read what's up.

I'm from Southeast PA. and have always enjoyed handguns much more than rifles, so handgun hunting was a natural for me. I'm really more of a double action revolver fan than anything, but I do own a Contender. As soon as I turned 21 I bought a 4" Colt python and have been hooked on Colts ever since. However with Colt all but out of the handgun manufacturing business, their handguns have gotten pretty pricey. Now I find myself considering Smith and Wesson rather than Colt. Unfortunately as the kids grew up I found too little time for the handguns and foolishly sold them off. Worse yet, I hunted with a rifle. (Thank goodness for archery season.) Anyhow, now that the kids are grown, I'm trying to accumulate a collection of what I consider to be "must own" handguns to pass on to them.

I live in the restricted state of Kalifornia but I manage .
I have
2 contender frames with barrels in
10 inch 22 lr
14 inch 22 match
10 inch 22 hornet
14 inch .223
14 inch 7 tcu
10 inch 30 herrett
10 inch 357 mag
10 inch 357 herrett
14 inch 375 winchester
14 inch 45 win mag .
1 6 inch gp100
1 7 1 /2 inch 45 ruger bisley (blue)
1 Custom built stainless of the above
1 45 colt vaquero
1 FA 454
1 50 cal black powder pistol
1 44 black powder revolver
1 .22 revolver
and a few rifles .

i have hunted since i was about 12 years old. hunted a lot of squirrels years ago, and the ocassional rabbit and grouse. in my late teens, i started hunting deer with a rifle. dads old .303 british was the first "deer gun" i ever packed into the woods.
in 1986 i bought my OWN first "deer gun". it's a 7 1/2" stainless redhawk in 44mag. deer hunting was a bit tougher in those days(much lower numbers than today). that, along with being a "greenhorn" meant more woods time per kill.
i finally did take my first handgun deer with my revolver, a small racked 8 point.
i hunted off and on with that pistol, and packed a 6x47 contender into the deer woods some. several more years passed, and i took deer by bow, muzzle loader, and a .270 rifle.
i even went thru a period of neglecting my natural draw to handguns. it was hard to overcome the fear of not being able to reach out with the handgun, especially if the buck of a lifetime presented a shot at extended range.

not being a wealthy person by no means, i figured if i could just get only one more handgun to do my handgunning chores alongside my 7 1/2" redhawk i'd be set. so, i ordered a complete 6br encore from virgin valley custom guns.

imediately the disease hit, and i had to have more! i traded off most anything i owned with long barrels in order to grab up the contenders n encores i wanted. i also went thru a lucky stretch of work related bonuses/overtime etc. this was a big aid in getting me closer to my dream setup.

now........if i could just get one more!........i need a big boomer powerhouse. something like a 300 win mag.....a .338-06......or even a 375JDJ.

ya never know ........they restocked elk that was previously native to Ky. maybe one day i'll get to take one close to home......gotta be prepared ya know.


love shooting, reloading, hunting, and fishing!.......but family is #1

Hunted small game most of my life and always carried a long gun. Owned pistols for the past 19 years. Seriously started handgun hunting 5 years ago. Only a doe has fallen to me bullets, but with the Wisconsin 9 day season I was thankful for that. Currently reside in Wisconsin but mentally I split my time between Colorado, Alaska and Tennessee. I own 4 handguns for hunting, a 22lr, 357 Mag, 41 Mag (my favorite) 44 Mag, 1 Contender frame with (2) 30-30, 7X30 Waters, 44 Mag and 35 Remington barrels.
This year I will be able to spend more time in the woods as the job will not be so demanding. I enjoy handgun hunting but enjoy it even more when all goes right.

I, I've been reading this site for some time now but never posted seems like every time I have a question it gets answered here before i ask it.
I bought my first hand gun about 35 years ago, bought a contender 3 years ago with two barrels, a 357 rem max and a 30-30, both are 10 inch barrels. Next barrell will be a 223 or similar as I go to Winner South Dakota every year for pheasant and there is a good size prarrie dog town on the farm that needs thinning.

I'm almost 52 years old and have hunted everything my area of SC has to offer for as long as I can remember. For the last 20 years I have been an avid bowhunter, taking a few big game animals with the compound device and even a little 5 pt buck with a stick and string, that I am very proud of. I think the handgun hunting bug is a result of that. I have always liked single action revolvers and I really wanted to take a deer with a 44 mag SBH. I have taken arabbit but the deer have been difficult. For that matter, the deer have been difficult even with the long gun for me the past 2 seasons. My old eyes dictate the use of optics and I just do not have the desire to scope my old flat top. Getting old can get depressing.

I love this site and I love shooting, handloading, and occational hunting with handguns.

Oh! I also have a scoped SS Single Six .22 that is knick named Squirrel Poison.

I,born and raised in Texas 53 years ago hunted all my life.Nothing better than being in the field with family and friends.Started reloading in 1987 I think enjoy that alot.Hunting with the handguns started about 10 years ago.First kill was a muledeer in Colorado.I am not a trophy hunter I go for the meat and experiance of being in the woods away from everything.If I fill my tag that is just extra.I don't have the collection alot of you do but it covers all my bases.I have my favorite's but I enjoy them all.I still have all my long guns but don't shoot them as much now.
RUGER 22 RIMFIRE,22/45 AUTO,BULL BARREL
SMITH/WESSON 357 MAG,686,5 1/2"
RUGER 44 SBH,7 1/2" (favorite)
RUGER 44 REDHAWK,7 1/2"
RUGER 44 SRH,9 1/2",SCOPED
RUGER 454 CASULL,SRH,9 1/2"
CONTENDERS,2 FRAMES
22 HORNET,10" red dot
22 HORNET,10" OCT.
223 REM,14" scoped (favorite)
6.5 TCU,10" scoped
7 MM SUPERMAG,10" scoped
7-30 WATERS,13" scoped (favorite)
30 HERRETT,10" red dot
30-30 WIN,10"
30-30 WIN,14" scoped
357 MAG,10"
357 MAX,10" scoped
357-44 BD,10"
357 HERRETT,10" scoped (favorite)
35 REM,14" scoped
375 WIN,14" scoped
44 MAG,14" scoped (favorite)
45 WIN MAG,14" scoped (favorite)
45-70,14" scoped ,with brake
I just got the 30-30 win 14" I traded one of my 7-30 w for it.I am planning on a rechamer job in 30-30 AI or 308 Alpo.
I have made kills with the 223(coyote),7-30(deer),22 hornet(tree rats,turkey),35 rem(deer),375 win(deer),44 mag(deer).Missed one last year with 357 herrett ,it happens.
Oh,and I started shooting black powder last fall this is a lot of fun.

DUDE I GOT THE JOB!!! Wow, i'm going to feel like a real engineer now, not a gopher. Sweeeeeeeet. Now i know i can get my dies for the .44mag. I rock. Thanks for the prayers.

Jeremy

My name is Mike and I am 32 years old. I am married with a 16 week old daughter..I'm from Western NY State...I live in a small city named North Tonawanda...Right in between Niagara Falls and Buffalo on the Niagara River and the Erie Canal.

I don't actually own any handguns yet as I was just approved for my pistol permit in NYS on 10/4. I am hoping to pick up a Ruger Super Blackhawk Hunter in 44mag for the whitetail season here in NY...I will have about a month to get proficient with it.

I hunt in South Wales, Scio and New Hudson on a regular basis...

Congrats on the job Jeremy, & the baby Whitetailer!

Just turned 42 in April,currently living in Central Orygun and quite pleased with the weather since we average 300 days of at least partial sun vs the oregon coast where I did live that averaged about 40 days it seemed.
I am a lucky guy sorta,I founded Cast Boolits a bit over a year ago and have been amazed at the response by the regulars that post and the wide scope of topics we run through.
I have one Encore now and have 4 tubes for it now and just ordered 2 more,a 458 Win Mag and a 50 AK.
I have 2 SS Contenders and 2 Blued frames and about 20+ barrels,from my OTT SS 17HMR to a 16" 45-70. I believe that allows hunting a wide range indeed,from mice to moose !
I am not at a disadvantage when hunting with a single shot,like most here I am a firm believer that the 1st shot is supreme. Rarely is the time that a second shot is the guns fault time wise,handy spare rounds take care of that.

Hey 45nut, I'm guessing you are up around Bend? I was raised in Klamath Falls. Left there for Alaska in '88 at the ripe old age of 28 so I've got about 2 yrs on you.

Hi everyone. Great idea Kyle - am new to the board, so this is a good way to see what others interests are here and relay some of mine.

Was born in the late 40's at a fishing lodge in the high mountains of central Utah and grew up on a ranch nearby. Dad gave me my first 22 rifle on my birthday at age 5. Hunted and plinked with rifles and shotguns most of my youth, started carrying a sidearm in my early teens and switched to handgun hunting for big game in 1967 (single action revolvers - mule deer, elk and speed goats) and for predators and varmints a couple of years later. An uncle started teaching me how to reload in the mid 60's, but I never really got into it seriously until I got my first Contender in 1969. The Contender was my real downfall that eventually lead to owning over 20 frames and 90 barrels, many XP-100's and a couple of custom bolters I made as a smith when I had a gunshop in the mid 70's and it introduced me to wildcats. Been trough a truck load of SA/DA revolvers and semi-autos too. Big game hunting kind of went to the side for me over the years as I got more into doing ADC for ranchers, and that eventually got me really into the wildcats as well. Now most of my rigs are wildcats, both handguns and rifles, and those that are not are slowly being replaced with ones that are. For decades predator and varmint hunting has been my mainstay, and I have been making custom calls for it off and on for over 30 years. Since 2001 I've hosted a yearly 10 day shoot called Digger Wars where specialty handguns are used as much as varmint rifles, and several LJR's a year for pards too that is all night jackrabbit hunting on some of my ADC ranches.

Handgun rigs are everything from the 17M2 rimfire to a fairly large collection of the bigger handcannons, and while I do still use and enjoy some of my rifles its usually one or more of the pistolas that is grabbed most often when I am heading out the door to shoot or hunt. I shot in local handgun competions in the 70's, do the blackpowder reenactment and hunting thing, and have shot IHMSA off and on since the 90's. Also was a serious waterfowler for years as well as upland game hunter, but don't get the scatterguns out much anymore since where I live now the opportunities are very limited. One of my most fun and challenging dove hunts was with a Contender wearing a short .410 barrel - can still remember most of the dove laughing at me as they went on their way. BTW, it was very deadly on cottontail hunts though. Have also fished fresh and saltwater most of my life, but again the area I'm in now is very limited.

Am working on a couple of proprietary wildcats at the moment in the effort to continually improve my ADC/fur rigs, but do need to start scaling down as well. Have way too many that never get shot anymore and some new ones that I've never had the time to even shoot yet.

My shooting life kind of in a nut shell I guess, but I am an addicted handgun hunter for sure.

Larry

Great idea KYODE.
I want to start by letting everyone know how I have enjoyed the stories I've read so far.
Been handgunning for about 11 years now.
Started with a bueatiful stainless on wood Contender 30-30 topped off with a T\C scope.
Still have the gun and enjoy it but when the Encore was introduced the Contender became semi retired. Still enjoy shooting it but use the Encore as my primary. Right now it's set up with a 15" 308 barrel topped with a 2x7 Burris.
If I can be good enough, and Santa doesn't forget, he should have a 25-06 in his bag of goodies this year.
Once agian, enjoyed all the stories.

Thanks for the rollcall!
I'm 38 years old, married with 3 kids. I've been addicted to hunting/fishing since I was very young. Me and my Dad shared many a good days chasing whatever was in season. Dad don't hunt anymore(says he's too busy), but I never stopped. Love everything to do with the outdoors. I am the logistics manager for a large manufacturing company here in Vicksburg MS. Through out most of my hunting career, Ive used "gulp" long guns, muzzleloaders and archery gear. I have always been interested in handguning but never got around to trying it. Here in the past few years the excitement I used to get from harvesting a whitetail with the long guns has been deminishing. I will not even raise the rifle to take a doe or a decent buck anymore. With the rifle, I've set my standards so high that it's taken the fun out of the hunt. A lot of my friends feel the same way and have started strickly bow hunting. Me being a total gun fanatic could'nt give up the feeling of toteing a quality firearm. So.........this has really pushed me to the short iron world in a big way!
I did alot of hunting last year with my 3 handguns,(Ruger SRH .44mag with Weaver 4x, a SSK custom contender in 6.5JDJ with Burris 2-7 and one in 309JDJ. Man let me tell ya..... I did get a few shots at does(missed), but I had a blast!!!! The fun and excitement was back. I am hooked for live.
My hunting buddy and best friend (besides the immediate family of course) is my cousin. He is also a member of this forum as well as an avid handguner and we lease a piece of property together in the "delta" region of the state. The shots can be very long, really as far as you can see. Lots of deer and a few hogs, but really hard on a hendgunner with the extended ranges. But we're gonna give it a whirl.....
Anyway........as for short guns for this season, I'll be packing the 6.5JDJ, the new 30/30AI and the Encore in either .260rem or 7-08rem. Our shooting will be from 16' tri pods with shooting rails. Probably be long shots, so I put my time in at the range before hand. Wish me luck!!!!!
I will try and post some pictures of my irons when time permits. Would also like to say that I really enjoy this forum and getting to know everyone. It really seems like a great bunch around here!! Good luck to everyone and "Happy Holidays"


Best,
Randy Smith (JDJHNTR)

Guess I'll jump in fellas. My name is Dan Bowers and live in SW PA (little town of Armagh) just about 2.5 miles from where I was raised. I'll turn 28 years in early December...worked for DoD-IG as an auditor for 2.5 years in Washigton D.C. That's where I ran across this fella named "Gary" who is responsible for running this little dog and pony show!

Now I work as a Financial Consultant for the PA Department of Transportation focusing strictly on local governments and their road programs. I cover the most rural 15 counties in PA...it's an excellent gig!! I cross paths with a lot of little gun shops which in turn requires me to drag home a used toy now and again.

I share my home with my sassy wife, Cindy, and our nearly 13 month old daughter Sara. Also tagging along for the ride are two cats (both outside where they can earn their keep!!) and a Retriever/German Shepard mix named Shelby, who keeps the cats in line.

My safe contains way too many Contenders and Rugers that are way under used. Anyone passing through this area of PA is more than welcome to stop by and help me burn some powder and sling lead!

hi my name is rick i live in mn,i've been handgun hunting about 3years now.i own 5 encore frames and bbls in 223,22h,260,708,308,375,44mag(1-10"1-12"1-15")444,45-70,and 50ae.

Hello,I was born and raised in SW Penna. and I'm 44(moved to Ohio in 1980). Been a gun-nut since about 8 when I was 1st allowed to tag along with the coon-hunters that hunted our farm. My high-school has one of the best rifle teams in the state.(yes you read it right, we were state champs 2 out of 4 years I was on it. The range was in the basement of the middle school and I carried my match rifle on the bus every day, try that on a bus today) Also a local gun collector lived near by that had a collection that numbered more than most gun shops. Spent alot of time there. Grew up shooting an old 1896 Krag and when I walked into my local shop there it was. an SSK 14" 30/40 Krag w/TSOB and it's been a down-hill battle ever since. I'm a die-hard traditional bowhunter and have killed alot of stuff over the years and recently killed the 3rd biggest buck killed in Ohio by bow that year and kind-of put bowhunting on the back-burner untill I shoot a monster with a pistol(last year I shot a buck that scored 127 4/8 as a 6-pointer!!). I do alot of reloading for myself and friends. I have the following in Contender:
22-14"
223-14"
6.5JDJ #2(307 parent case)-14" SSK w/TSOB
7-30 Waters-14" w/TSOB
30/40 Krag-14" SSK w/TSOB
357 Max-14"
375 Win.-15" Custom Shop
375JDJ-12" SSK w/full-lenght TSOB
45/410-10"
45/70 SSK-14" w/TSOB
Stared the boys out right buy buying them each SS Encore's in 209x50. I've added to their collection buying them a 220 Swift Custom Shop -26"
300 WinMag Bullberry-26"
450 Marlin -15"
I'm a printer by trade and I've been president for 5years now at one of the biggest sportsmen clubs around. Very active in local high-school sports(I run the chain-gang at the games) and I'm an officer at our local Moose lodge. This leaves little time to hunt ,but I've got the next week and a half off to even out things a little.
Almost forgot, I'm married to a some-what understanding wife when it comes to buying more guns. SSSSHHHH!! She don't know it yet but I recently snuck in a Win M95 in a 405! Don't tell her!

I'm Javier born in Texas and currently live in Colorado. I have have been in the Air Force for over 19 years and have been lucky to have lived in a lot of other places and have ment lots of good folks. My favorite assignment was Alaska.

I've been married to my "ole lady" Devy for almost 16 years. We have 2 kids, a guinea pig named Jeannie, and a new pit bull pup named Xena.

Read my first handgun hunting article when I lived in Germany. That led me to buy my first "hunting handgun", a Dan Wesson 44 mag. I currently own 4 Contender frames with 7 barrels, a Ruger 44 mag, Ruger 454, Ruger 357, Glock 9mm and Ruger 22.

Great thought Kyode! I've been using handguns (M28 and M29) since I was legally able (1974)!! I know have 9 hunting handguns, 3 contender frames and 9 barrels and 3 Encore frames and 8 barrels. I have taken many whitetails and 4 Elk with them. 1st Elk was a 4x5 with a 35 Remington Contender after reading Milek stories in the late '70's. My best Elk is my last, a 6x6 - BC 315 with my 375JDJ at 175yds. We backpacked in and banged this one at 11,000ft. 3 shots broadside with a 285gr Grand Slam. He did n't fall until teh last shot. I thought I missed on teh first shot but after skinning, we found three complete pass-thru shots just behind the shoulder, all within a 4" group. Elk are tough to show hits consistently. I tried this year with the S&W M500 but we couldn't find the Elk. Early snow moved them fast. Of all my calibers, I still shoot the 223 and 338-06 and 375 the most. I use rifles alot too, but mostly for target. I love the challenge of the handguns. Gerry.

Great idea. I stumbled onto this site looking for re-chambering ideas for an XP100, was looking to make it a Varminter of sorts.

I live in Cape Town, South Africa - so a little further away than most. Have been shooting and hunting for the last 13 years.

It was only after I started shooting silhouette competatively that I was introduced to handgun hunting. First buck taken with a handgun 4 years ago and haven't used a long gun since. In fact sold all of them except my 416 Rigby. Now there are some 14 Handguns in the safes.

Most of my hunting has been done with an 8mmJDJ. Some with T/C in 30-30 and when I am feeling like hard work there is a little Ruger GP100.

I must confess that some of the above inventories are enough to make me drool. I would definitely add more understanding fire arms laws to my christmas wish list, as it is becoming a royal pain in the butt trying to apply for additional firearm licenses (they don't understand "I just want it" as sufficient motivation).

Larry

KYODE, Great idea again. Let's see I'm Tim and I'm addicting to firearms in general and hadguns of all sorts specifly. I have quite a number of Contenders and Contender barrels from 17REM through 45-70. I also possess a few Encores and barrels from 22-250AI through 338WM. Revolver makes are Ruger, Smith, Colt, and Freedom Arms. Semi autos are Ruger, Baer, and Sig. I even possess rifles and one shotgun. I reload alot and shoot alot. I do hunt deer, but my first love is woodchuck hunting. Wish I could hunt them year round. I work hard to convert people to handgun hunting and help them anyway I can. Well that about sums me up.

Got into sp. pistols on a chance encounter hitchhiking back in '84 in Greeley, CO, which is when my current hunting partner XPHunter (Ernie Bishop) gave me a ride. I saw a brochure for TC products on his seat, and asked him about it. Since then we've had the ride of our lives, hunting with sp. pistols all over the west. Started freelance writing back in '94, and have had a few articles published concerning sp. pistol related subjects. XP and i have gotten into long-range shooting with the SP's the last several years, and applying "tactical-type" techniques afield in the pursuit of game-- a couple of which can be seen here-- http://www.perry-systems.com/what_others_have_to_say.htm#Steve

This next April or May will be our 1st long-range handgun shooting seminar/silhouette shoot, and we hope to see some of u guys there to join us in 1 fun time.

Hello All,

Rugernut here! I'm a forty year old born and raised farm boy from Kentucky. Started hunt'in when I was old enough to pick up a gun. My big game hunting started with handguns instead of long guns, just because I was infatuated with them, in 1980. Killed my first whitetail buck in "86" with a Ruger SBH .44, and it all took off from there.I've hunted moose,deer, hogs, sheep, caribou,bears, all predators including wolfes and varmints with revolvers and T/C Contenders and Encores. I've been reloading since 1980 also, and take great pride in using handguns and my reloads.

I've been a FFL holder on and off since the mid "80's" and have had the chance to own and use alot of differant handguns of all brands. But as my name reflects, I'm pretty high on Ruger's and T/C's stuff for hunting. I've owned alot of SSK handcannons over the years and still do, good stuff.

I'm hopeing to take Dall sheep, elk, goat and antelope soon, good Lord willing and the money comes in.
I hope y'all love handgun hunting as much as I do, and I hope to be doing it for along time to come!

Good Hunting and Shoot Straight,

Kennon

Hi all i have a t/c encore in 30-06 15' heavy barel with muzzle tamer 16 1/8' total with a nikon monarch red dot.
I love to shoot it, it kicks ass! No deer this year. He will be bigger next year.
Im just getting into handgun hunting, i think its fun as hell! I enjoy reading all your posts, learning alot.
have a good one.......... Paul

I live and hunt in south central NM. My goal is to take at least one of each of the following animals available in So. NM in my lifetime with a TC: Coyote, bobcat, cougar, mulie, elk (cows and bulls), oryx, ibex, barbary sheep, and pronghorn. So far, I'm hooked on elk.

I have 2 frames and 11 barrels (.22lr, .223, 6mm TCU, 30 Herrett, 30-30AI, 357 Mag, 357 Herrett, 375 JDJ, 10mm, 44 Mag, 445 SM). Want to add a 7-30 Waters and a G-2 soon. Scopes are Burris' and Leupolds.

It's a fun journey that I hope to get my kids involved in.

Two years now and two deer! I'm liking this stuff. I was bitten by the archery bug at the age of twelve. I've owned 4 bows in my life (cheap AIM recurve, Black Bear, Oneida, and now a Pearson). The only handgun I have right now is a stock S&W 686, 6in. bbl, and walnut grips. I'm still putting in the overtime so I can get a Ruger SBH. I'm also looking into getting one of the Single Six hunters for squirrel hunting. It's frustrating trying to shoot them with a bow.

Hi, I am a handgun hunter I have taking mule deer, whitetail, hogs and one black bear. been into handguns since I was 12 , (38years) I have two safes full of nice handguns, my favorite (at this time) are Freedom arms 475 Linebaugh and a 97 in 45 Colt, I have TCs contenders in 375 JDJ, 338 JDJ, 309 JDJ, 7/30 walters, 45/70, .22, and two in 45/410 . I cast my own bullets, have a large colection of H&G molds. used to shoot in IPSC. and carry a Colt officers model 45 acp for CCW. Life member NRA, LEA.

Hi everyone! I've been hunting with handguns since 1979 with the 30 Herret (which I still have). Most recently I like to hunt with my Savage Strikers. Have three, 300 WSM, 308, and 223. Also have a 7mm IHMSA, in an XP-100 which has taken numerous Mule Deer and Antelope and yesterday a Coyote. Also have a 375 JDJ that I will use for Moose when I draw (hopefully this coming year). The only game I have yet to take with a handgun is Elk. Never have gotten a shot.

Hunt in Wyoming, Colorado, Nebraska, and Kansas for Big Game, little bird hunting and Varmints.

It is a pleasure meeting you all.

Living in Alaska I have great opportunities for handgun hunting. Really took it up in earnest about 5 years ago, and it changed me from a fishing addict to a hunting and shooting addict.

I generally hunt with scoped Contenders, but also have 2 Ruger .45 LC single actions, a .22lr/.22 mag single six and a Mark II .22. The .45 Colts are my carry gun while hunting in case of bears. As for my barrels, I currently have:
.17 HeBee (VVCG)
.17 Mach IV rimmed (Bullberry)
.22 LR match (factory)
.221 Rem rimmed (VVCG)
.223 Rem (factory)
6 TCU (factory)
6.5X50R (Bellm)
7X30 Waters (VVCG)
.300/221 rimmed (VVCG)
.309 JDJ (SSK)
.375X444 (Bellm)
.375 JDJ (SSK)
.44 Mag (factory)
.45-70 (SSK)
Think I may have to sell a few to support my other habit - old hunting books - but have avoided it so far.

Most of my hunting is done with the .309 JDJ, .375X444 and the SSK .45-70. I have taken Sitka blacktails, caribou, black bears, moose and a musk ox in the last 5 years.

My last hunt was a couple of weeks ago on Kodiak Island for brown bear and deer. The first day of the hunt I killed a good blacktail and spent five hours dragging him the two plus miles back to camp. A couple of days later he went missing from where he was stashed about 40 yards from our tent. Seems a brown bear decided he needed a midnight snack. The bear spent the next four days living within 150 yards of our tent in plain sight chewing on the carcass. Even though he stole my deer that I had worked my butt off for, I became rather attached to him, and although he was big enough his hide was rather mangey, so I passed up what would have been an easy stalk. Also passed up three other bears within 50 yards and with nothing but grass between me and them, and came back empty handed. I can tell you that even with backup, your anal opening puckers up pretty tight when a 8-9 foot brownie stands up and checks you out at 30 yards, while he is trying to decide between fight or flight. That T/C "One Good Shot" motto really starts to mean something to you then.

I am a 55 year old southern white boy. Work as a Network Engineer for a telephone company. Was raised in the country and have hunted and fished all my life. Family moved to Florida in 1959 when I was young and somehow I got hooked up with some old Fla river rats/gator hunters/poachers. They taught me how to catch gators, hunt deer, catch wild hogs (by hand), and sit around a camp fire and enjoy an outdoors lifestyle. I lived on a remote section of the St Johns River for years and had ample opportunity to learn woodsmanship and hone my hunting skills in the woods.

I deer hunt with a bow, muzz gun, and Contender 7x30 handgun during the deer seasons and hunt/catch wild hogs alive with my Cur dogs the rest of the year. When not hunting I fish and scuba dive offshore. Have a vacation home in the beautiful Florida Keys.

My only Contender is a Super 14 7x30 Waters with an UltraDot red dot sight on it. I have taken four bucks with this handgun in the last couple of deer seasons and enjoy hunting with it alot. Haven't picked up my rifle since.

Dave1

I am a 49 year old teacher from West Michigan, thats way over the hill. In the summer I shoot anything that annoys me (squirrels, raccoons, woodchucks you get the idea). I have a Raging Bull .480, Desert Eagle .357, Browning Hi Power 9mm, Berretta .40. Assorted long guns that include Coly Ar15. I love to shoot. I reload all but the .40, it is to new, have not bought dies and other supplies yet. Like the forum and the info you provide.