hello guys! my real name is shane. for those who can't guess from my alias, my favorite deer slammin' implement is a super blackhawk bisley hunter in 44 mag. the only problem is that it hasn't slammed any deer yet. but maybe this year. i have only been handgun hunting for 2 years now. been a lifelong hunter and killed plenty of deer with a variety of other stuff. but was looking for a challenge and i think i've found it. i just wish that i had't put off handgunnin' as long as i did . this stuff is the greatest. as is this website and all it's members!! great idea KYODE!!

Hi KYODE!

One Encore frame ....not enough!

3 barrels...7mm-08, 30-06, and 22-250.
3 scopes....Redfield 2.5-7, TC 2-7 illuminated , Tasco 4X.

1 S&W model 66, .357, 4" stainless, 1X Weaver

1 Taurus model 66 .357, 6", B-Square base, 4X silver Simmons

1 Ruger Single Six Convertible (I like the 22 mag. the best!)

Hope to get more TC's for sure! So far as hunting success, I have gotten one nice 9 pt. whitetail w/the '08 TC, a 250 boar w/the Taurus 357, and just recently, a fallow deer w/the TC 22-250.

More to come!!

Hi KYODE
Thanks for the invite! Glad to be here, you people have a great site. Have been a gunnut since I went into the Army at 18 am 46 now, just got my pistol permit middle of 02 wish I had'nt waited so long I have missed out on alot of fun and challanging hunting. But I'm making up for lost time now, I started hunting with my handguns in 02 and got 2 deer the first season, first handgun kill was a doe,next day was a 3 pointer. Never will go back to long gun hunting for deer, I'm hooked, its great!! Last year got another buck and doe, this year the same, not big bucks, never the lest, meat in the freezer.Handguns include,
contender 445 supermag
" 357 maximum, first buck kill
encore 209x50, 250yd kill on doe iron sights.
Dan Wesson 1911 10mm pointman,blued
Dan Wesson 1911 10mm custom, blued
Dan Wesson 44 mag 2 barrels 6 and 8in, first deer kill 6in bar. 20 yd shot. also got one at 158yds, doe.
Smith @ Wesson Mod. 29-2 44 mag
" " Mod 586 357 mag luepold M8, buck and this years hunt 60 yds
" " Mod 10,38 spec. custom target
" " Mod K17 22lr
" " Mod 22A semi
Springfield loaded 45 acp parked
H/K P7M8 9mm
Long Guns include
ar10
M1A
M1 Garand 3 each
1903
1903a3
ruger 10/22
savage 7-08
shotguns 2 each
well I've been reloading for as long as I've had guns I enjoy it as much as shooting itself, always trying to make the target bigger. its important for the hunt to be a challange for even if I get skunked, it makes me appreciate and respect the animals and the sport even more. Plus I also Bow hunt aswell makes for a nice long hunting season. Have 3 bow kills, 2 does and a 4 pointer in 6yrs of bow hunting
This year I'm hoping to get my first coyote ever, I plan on using a 7-30 waters on my encore when it gets here, I ordered it from Fox Ridge, 14in. matte blue, w/brake, well hope I didn't bore you folks to much, I'll be around.sgtrock

Hey. My name is Bill, and I'm from Wyoming. I've only been shooting handguns for a few years, but I've got the bug. I hunt deer with a Super Blackhawk in 44 mag, 240 gr XTP bullets over 23.5 grains of H-110. I wounded a deer this year that I didn't recover, which I'm not proud of. No more neck shots for me. My other handguns are a S&W 645, and 2 Ruger Mark 2's, one 67/8 heavy taper barrel, and one 10 inch barrel. i hunted over half of the Wyoming deer season with my handgun, but shot my deer on the last day with my 30-06. I'm interested in other folks pet loads for 44 mag, and hope to eventually buy a 454 casull.

Hello there!!

I have posted here some before, but not in about a year.
I'm still around reading posts and subscribed to the Magazine.

I mainly shoot Contenders,

.22 lr
.223
6.5 US
30-30
300 whisper

I am thinking of sending the 30-30 barrel off to have rechambered to 30-30 Ackley Imp.

Savage Sport Strikers
.22 lr
.22 mag.

Revelover
Smith 686 .357

Auto

Ruger MKII 5.5 Target

Hi all,

I'm new to your site, but have been hunting with handguns for about 7 years now (mostly deer and small game) as I'm in veterinary school right now so money is a little short to buy new toys!!! Right now I have the following:
-Desert Eagle 6in. 50AE. with 10.5in. 44Mag. barrel
-TC Encore with 30/06, .223, and heavy .270Win. barrels
-2 TC Contendors with .223 rifle barrel and .22LR pistol barrel
-Ruger SuperRedhawk .44 Mag.
-Magnum Research BFR 45/70
-Magnum Research Baby Eagle .40 S+W

I reload a lot of my own ammo to save money and keep warm inside during the winters here in Minnesota. This is a great site and shows how many of us out there like to hunt the "hard way" as my father likes to say when I show up with a pistol instead of a shotgun to go deerhunting!!! Happy hunting to all of you!

Hi Bill,

I like Nosler's partition .44 over H110 as it delivers excellent penetration and weight retention on big deer (I found the best accuracy in my Ruger superredhawk using the minimum load, but that may not work for you as it seemed a little finicky when I worked it up.) I also like the Speer 270gr. FP over H110 or W296 as it does some awesome devastation on deer before it exits. I've tried some cast bullets from LBT but must admit I'm not a fan of cleaning my guns so I tend to stick with the jacketed bullets. Hope that helps.

Hi everyone. I've been a longtime (since 1983) handgun hunter. Killed deer with everything from a .357 revolver to my latest fav, a 708 10 inch Encore. I own a bunch of contenders, a few XP's, a striker and several revolvers. My biggest hobby is Bullseye shooting. If anything will teach you trigger control and sight alignment, bullseye shooting will.
I look forward to reading and posting here quite often.

Well here goes, My name is Greg Townsend, 39 and reside in a little place of Tylertown, Ms. Have a wife and 2 boys. I work overseas so I get to enjoy alot of off time in row to shoot. Have always enjoyed shooting and hunting in general. My youngest son likes to help dear ole dad reload and will shoot 22 with me from time to time, figure will have to wait a little bit to break him in on the thumpers until he gets a little older as he is only 9, the older one just dont care to much for it but so is some teenagers I guess. I enjoy tinkering alot with shootin' irons in general. I will buy a barrel to try and then move to something else. It is terrible as usually I will kick myself for getting rid of something. My partner in crime around is ole JDJHNTR, my cuz'n. It can be very interesting to say the least what can be dreamed up. I know post dont show much as had to re-register as could not find myself, so please forgive the aging mind of a wary traveler. The current toy locker of short irons includes

309JDJ 14" full rib magnaport SSK contender
6mmJDJ#2 14" magnaport with custom engraved frame by GNR
223 muzzletamer 14" SS frame
45/70 muzzletamer 14"
custom 8.5" Tactical Solutions ruger mark 2 in 22LR

Plus various long guns I like to tinker with. I hope to soon add a xp to the line up in something interesting along with one of the new 460S&W. I am sure that the locker will grow very well once you apply the need funds to it. I have not been able to tag anything of size with short irons as of yet. I have pulled the trigger on some but was unlucky due to my own stupidity in buy inferior accessories, namely scope rings. I am lucky in what I do and the way I work affords me time and effort to tinker. So to all good shootin' and keep'em tight.

Hey, this is a great idea ! I am probably one of the newest site members , I live in western Pa.and have been hunting with a handgun for 25 yrs. My first gun was a Interarms Virginian Dragoon in 44 mag, boy I missed a lot of deer with that gun. I traded it for a Magniport custom 44 mag Super Blackhawk with a 4 5/8 bl from Larry Kelly and I started to bring home the game. I also got my first Contender, a Super 14" 223 barrel with the biggest scope you could get then, a Burris 7x, what a rig , I shot 150 groundhogs the first season.
That was awhile ago, I have had a lot of guns since then,
S&W 4" model 57
S&W 6" model 57 in nickle
Contender 14" 35 Rem, 10" 30/30, 14" 30/30,10" 45/410 vr,
X-p 100 custom 14" 7-08
Ruger Redhawk 41 mag 5.5" ss w/ pro point
Magnum Research Lone Eagle in 358 Win,
AAHH then the Encore came out and that changed everything .
I bought a ss in 15" 270 Win.
16" 7mm mag
13" 221 Fireball that I put a 10x-40x 50mm Tasco Varmint scope on .
15" 280 Ackley improved,
15.5" 375 H&H mag
14" 35 Whelen
15" 300 Win mag
Ruger Super Redhawk 480 7.5 Target Grey w/ Pro Point
and my newest backup gun a Vaquero 3" 45 colt in polished stainless Birds Head,
Those are some of my hunting guns ,not a lot but they keep me busy reloading and keeps my neighbors complaining about the noise.

Hi I am Dennis and I am a new member to this web sight. I have been hunting with handguns, more years than I care to remember. I now hunt with a Ruger Bisley in .357 mag. It is a great gun. I do mostly shoot 38 sp. out of it because of my arthuritice in my hands. I hunt for small game and fox and coyotes. For the fox and coyotes I hunt during the day so I am hunting in the cover and the shooting distance is close. I'd like to say hi to everybody. Bye for now. Dennis.

hi all. this is going to be my first year that i am going to seriously try handgun hunting. although i already have one encore 308, ruger bh 357. though as with anything you want to start it seem you allways need a new gun so i just orderd a ruger bisley super black hawk hunter. thats what i am going to start my hundgunning headach with. LOL. i have hunted for almost 20 yrs. most of which is on nation forrest in northern VA.

Post deleted by wapitirod

Good luck!

thanks vh308, I'll be sure and get some pictures to show you guys. last year I took a 69" buff and a 700+lb boar with my ruger #1 in 458 lott. the pig had a 10.5 inch cutter on one side and a broken one on the other that went 7". he still made the book but I wanted to wait until I got a better one to enter to sci. this year I'm taking my s&w 500 and my reeder african hunter in 475.

Yep, another newbie but I'm trying to learn fast. I've found alot of great information here and all of you have increased my knowlege ten fold. The only handgun so far in the house are my wife's .45 colt, which I'm proud to say she can shoot the 10 ring at 25 yards. I'm about to get either a G2 or and Encore next month, with a whole bunch of barrels.

I live in Libby Montana 60 miles from Canada and 30 miles from Idaho. One of my many hats is that I am the Justice of the Peace for this county. I am an FFL with a small shop at my house. I have been in the shooting sports and gunsmithing for 25 years. I have gotten in and a out of handgun hunting twice as my son grew up and I tried to show him all aspects of shooting. Most recently I have built quite a few FAL's for different people.
Getting back to handgunning I have a 1911, a Taurus 17 HMR Tracker, and a Ruger SBH Hunter in 45 LC. My next aqusition will probably be a TC in ???. I'm getting ready for Spring bear now with the SBH.I hunt everything from tree rats and gophers to elk. I am pleased to be a part of this board you all are great guys and have been great help in finding items and fixing things. If anybody needs a good deal on a new handgun or whatever check with me and I may be able to save you some money. Fanner50 (Gary)

I'm new to any kind of posting, so bare with me. I live in southwest Pa. and have been hunting with handguns off and on since the early 80's. The handguns that I use currently are:
Encore in .308 ,7mm-08, .223, 454
FA 454 7 1/2"
S&W 44mag 4"
S&W 22 6"
and I just picked up a Ruger SB Hunter Bisley 44 tonite and can't wait to get to the range and try her out! Over the years I've taken several whitetails, a blackbear in Maine and last week I took a cow elk in Tennessee.
I don't get on the computer as much as I like so I don't get to check out this forum very much, but when the opportunity comes along I log onto handgun hunter.

TonyV, where abouts in western Pa are you from? I'm located in Westmoreland county. I'll bet that 15.5" encore in 375 H&H kicks like a rented mule! How was your deer season this year? Alot of bad feelings toward the Pa. Blame Commission and Gary Alt.

My name is Scott,I'm 33 and Live in Fredericksburg,Va. (Not too far from Gary,We still gotta go shooting)I've been into pistols since I've been in Va.I moved her 5 yrs ago from Hillary-Ville, Upstate NY.I've got my CCW and bought a HK USP Compact S/S 40 S&W which I have shot at Woodchucks with.Next I bought my 454 Raging Bull thats got a Leupold 2-8 on it,Got one doe with it so far.Then I bought my 15" 45/70 S/S Encore,then the 15" .243 Barrel with 3-12 Burris.And last but not least My 8" 500 S&W.So far thats all my handguns.More to follow.
My Toys.

Hello everyone,
My name is Jim, and I am living in eastern North Dakota. Last month I bought a Beretta Neos for plinking and squirrel hunting between bowhunts. After blowing through 300 rds. one afternoon, I decided that handgun hunting would be for me. Having a 2 month old son also played a part in this decision...have to learn the handgun stuff now so I will be experienced by the time he gets old enough to want to try it. So, this week I bought online a Ruger Super Blackhawk Hunter in .45 Colt.

Thanks,

Jim

My name is Kenny. I'm 47 and live in River Ridge (outside of New Orleans).Hunted all my life,and have taken many whitetails with bow,rifle and muzzleloader.Last June I purchased an SSK in 309JDJ(love it), and now have a 22match,223,and 6.5JDJ.I was able to make only two trips to the woods last season(no luck with the 309)but am looking for a lease in Mississippi for next year.If I can find a place to hunt I"ll fill the freezer because my SSK's are better shooters than any long gun I own.Thanks for all the great info. on this forum.

Hello all,

I'm and avid hunter. I hunt with pistols (2 XP100's, Taurus 44 mag, Taurus 454, and an Encore), rifles, and muzzle loaders.

I've been a Life member of the NRA since I was 12 years old. I've been shooting longer than that. I live to hunt and have hunted all sorts of game including spear fishing if you call that a hunt.

Anyway, I just found this forum and plan to be active in it. I've been active in other forum such as Huntamerica and Jesses Outdoor hunting.

Glenn

Hi everybody!

I have been lurking for a couple of weeks, really like the site and all the information. I have enjoyed hunting and firearms my entire life. Been reloading a long time too. Started with handguns pretty early used to take an S&W M-18 and shoot ground squirrels in my native California (Central Valley area) when I was teenager (boy that was good training). Bought my first “big bore” in ’85, a used S&W M-29 with a pinned 61/2 “barrel. I carried that on a couple of deer hunts with no luck. In ’87 I left CA. I started a career in the Army (11-B & M Infantry!) that spanned 12 years. During that time frame hunting was pretty hit or miss (no pun intended) based on deployments/assignments all over the world. I was assigned to Ft. Lewis, WA in ’98 and at that point made the decision that I was ready to settle down and transition into another career. I completed my degree and in ’00 exited the service and began my civilian career in law enforcement. I did the SWAT thing for a couple a years and I am a Firearms Instructor. Since I have been in WA I have gone after big game with black powder, and modern rifles with mixed success but always fun! I own a dozen handguns, Glocks (9, .40, and .45), Smith, and Ruger .357’s, .22’s etc... Only recently though have I again owned a .44 (sadly the S&W M-29 I mentioned earlier was the victim of a trade while I was still in the Army). With the recent purchase of a Ruger Redhawk .44 mag I am back in the game! My hunts for this fall were originally planned to be with modern rifle however I do believe I will take the .44 with me just in case I am able to get in effective range with my iron sights! Starting in ’06 I want to plan some actual handgun type hunts. I have an Uncle down in CA that is interested in hog so I will probably start there! I am beginning to look at getting a handgun that has some more range and optics too.

Hello, new to this site and itching to get my first deer/hog this year with my new toy: FA .454 Casull, Field Grade, Mag-na-brake, T'SOB mount and Nikon 1.5-6X33 scope. Shoots like a heavy load .44 mag, but MUCH LOUDER!!! Double ear protection is highly recommended. I almost forgot; I'm in Austin, TX.

I'm new to handgun hunting. Being in the military I like the beretta 9mm. What can I hunt with it?

Hello,
Im somewhat new to handgun hunting but not to firearms I am an avid shooter, reloader and do some of my own gunsmithing (probly about like most on this forum) I have a thompson contender, and a s&w 629 6.5 barrel the rest are rifles I enjoy wildcats both handgun and rifle varieties. I work in the hunting industry behind the scenes sorta. My love of firearms and the use of them was passed to me from my father and I am now passing it on to my son (hes only 4 and already on the way) I am also passing it on to my daughters. I like varmint hunting most of all (gotta do something between big game seasons) But am also a big game hunter. Idream of Africa some day.

Hi:
I'm in California, and relatively new to hunting. I hunt small game and varmints only. I have CZ rifles in 22lr and 17hmr, and a Ruger pistol in 22lr. I've hunted cottontail, ground & tree squirrel and jackrabbit. I hunted with a handgun for the first time this month and got a jackrabbit. I am looking into getting a revolver in 17hmr...maybe Ruger New MOdel Single Six.

Hello all. My name is Danny, I am 25 years old and I live in Miami, FLA. I work at the local gunshop, and I am a Glock armorer. I have been hunting for about 6 years now so I am still kind of new to the sport; still waiting to get my first deer. I fell head first into the idea of handgun hunting about a year and a half ago, and although I have tried twice now I have yet to take my first animal with a handgun, although I will (!!) do it this year. I have three revolvers, all Ruger Blackhawks. Two are 41 magnums, one with the 4 5/8 barrel, the other has a 6.5 barrel. The third gun is a 45 Colt with a 7.5 tube and in SS. All three have iron sights, and since I don't reload yet they are set up with factory ammo. As far as hunting goes I enjoy deer hunting, altough I still haven't gotten one, but I LOVE hog hunting. I am hooked on hog hunting, regardless if its with a rifle or handgun, and I would hunt hog everyweek if I could.

New to this board, new to high-end handgun hunting, but not new to hunting.

I've been casually hunting with an S&W Model 41 in .22LR, a scoped S&W 629 in .44 Mag, an open-sighted Freedom Arms .44 Mag, and a number of 10mm's. But 99% of my hunting has been with a long gun; I always thought handguns were for bad guys and back-up.

So I've just acquired an XP-100 in .260 Remington. Once I get the hang of it, I have a second XP-100 frame that I'll have built to a 6.5 WSM.

I must admit it's slow going, though. I have a lot to learn about long range hunting with short guns.

Howdy Kyode, New here and looking at new Ideas for handgun hunting. I'm into Contenders but also collect others, looking to have a collection of all the single shot frame types. I'm stuck on 6.5's and .375's cause I like em and my space is small so less extra stuff I need to deal with.

Hi all! I have been registered here for over a year just have not posted (to busy reading) I live in Minnesota and hunt with TC Encores Pistols and Savage Strikers, I have 2 Each. Encores = 20 Tactical, and 257 Roberts AI Strikers = 22-250 and soon to be 6mmbr, I also just sent in a barrel blank to have a 250 savage AI built for my Encore. Some of the other members know me here from other forums. Just thought I would say hello.

I've had my Ruger SRH in .44 mag for several years, but never got serious about handgun hunting until this year. Haven't had a shot yet, but I'm having a blast! Using 200 grain XTP's for now, but may move up to heavier loads later. Currently doing all my hunting in upstate South Carolina.

As my screen name says' I live in the heart of Dixie, Central Alabama. I'm 40 and have been married to my wife for 17 years and have 2 beautiful kids(son 14 and daughter 12). I knew I had to keep her when she bought me a RSBH for my 21'st birthday. Since that day I have aquired a RSRH, Colt Python, Several Ruger .22's , a custom SA .45, and way too many long guns to last. I also love reloading , there is something about creating your own loads for all centerfire and shotguns.

I hunted with handguns for several years and have taken several deer and hogs. My largets hog was 812# yes it was weighed and it is life size mounted at a friends taxidermy studio. It went on the SCI tour with AL to Atlanta SCI and other taxidermy shows several years ago. I killed it in Perry FL.

I had my hip replaced and leg lengthened in August of this year. I love the outdoors, usually I spend my free time waterfowl hunting and just shooting o the range. This year I' headed back to the woods and plan to hunt all season with my handgun.

I have always wanted a contender and plan to purchase one real soon.

Hello, new man here. I just bought a Ruger .357 Blackhawk to tote in the woods. It's an old Pre Warning New Model with a 4 and 5/8ths barrel. I sold a very nice .44 Redhawk about six months ago and just hadn't felt "right" without a centerfire Ruger.

I also picked up one of the very interesting CZ-52's in 7.62x25 Tokarev cal. Very similiar to the old .30 Mauser but a good bit hotter load. It is an accurate auto pistol and pure poison on small critters. It shoots an 85 grain bullet at almost 1600 fps. Some factory loads are closer to 1700 fps. These CZ-52's are in the country in huge numbers and very inexpensive, be sure to chzech one out!

Hello. My name is Donald. My Inupiaq Eskimo name is Suluuq, named after my grandfather. The name refers to the fletchings on an arrow. I am an Eskimo Native Artist, creating ivory carvings for a living (my 'other' job is at an alcohol recovery center, night shift).
I've enjoyed shooting handguns for many years. I own two revolvers, both are Rugers: a Bisley Hunter and a Silverhawk. I'm looking to purchase a 22LR revolver within a few weeks, to hunt small game, and general plinking/target shooting. ~~~Suluuq

Hi I'm Chad
I'm from northeast missouri, I'm an avid hunter thanks to this forum and boartuffs i shot my first handgun whitetail buck today.
I have 12 long guns, 1 encore frame and 2 contender frames and 1 g-2 frame. 17hmr,10in 22lr,22mag,222rem,223,22 hornet,30-30ai,44mag,357max for the contenders and g-2 26in 223, 22-250,7-08 for the encore and soon a 243 striker. This is a great site.

Encorenut

Roll call huh? OK, here goes! I'm Mike, I live in the great state of TEXAS, just outside of Houston, I'm 35 years old, I'm a single father raising 2 children, an 8 year old boy and a 15 year old girl. I was married for over 12 years but I lost my wife to Cancer about 3 years ago. I have spent practically my whole life hunting, mostly with my dad and extended family, it's a family thing! We hunted for years in the piney woods of east Texas, and have started hunting out in the arid areas of west Texas for about the last 8 years or so. We'll try just about anything once or twice but mainly we deer hunt, that's our thing. I've got a nice collection of long guns and scatterguns and am currently working on my handgun collection mainly now, there are several left that i'm sure i'll just have to have before i'm finished! I started into the whole handgun thing about 10 years ago, it all started with buying a gun for personal protection/home defense and all kinda fell into place after that. Shortly after buying a few handguns my wife and I both went down and got concealed carry permits, i've kept it active so far but I hardly ever carry. I started entertaining the idea of handgun hunting because there just isn't much challenge left in hunting with a rifle. I got my anaconda first, scoped it, and started going to the range and practicing. Let's just say I was less than impressed with my first confirmed kill with it, which led me to buy the S & W 500, I just scored my first deer with it a few weeks ago and it was all I expected and more! As far as guns go I've got the S&W 500 w/ a scope, a scoped colt anaconda 8.5" barrel, a S&W 686 .357MAG w/ a red dot, a colt 1911 45, a glock 19, a bersa thunder380ACP, a sig P230 380ACP, a browning buckmark 22, a ruger mark II 22, a Desert Eagle 50AE w/ scope, a ruger P89 9MM, a phoenix arms 22, and a few others that I can't recall at the moment (so far!) I spend a bunch of time shooting with my children, both are excellent marksman with the long guns but i've yet to really introduce either to the handguns although i'm sure it's just a matter of tme before I do! My daughter has taken a doe and a nice 8 point buck so far, she loves to hunt. I have also taken the time to introduce several female companions and many younger children to the exciting sport of reacreational shooting and hunting too, everyone needs to do their part to ensure that future generations carry on our time honored traditions of shooting and hunting. It's been my experience that if you have patience and show enthusiasm then it can be an enjoyable experience for anyone that wants to try it out. I'm known by most around me as that "crazy gun guy that lives to shoot and hunt" but I'm totally OK with that, I know what I believe in and that's all that matters!! Well I guess that's me in a nutshell, i'm sure that's more than most wanted to know but if you want to know anything else don't be afraid to ask!

P.S. Take the time to take a kid shooting!

Hello all, Central NY hunter/trapper. S&W fan, also use an Encore. I've only gotten 2 deer with the handgun, but since I started, I have left the long guns in the safe. Started bowhunting at the same time and find myself doing better(seeing more deer) with the bow than the handgun.

Live in WY. Work so I can hunt. Two contender frames and 4 barrels. .357, .44, 30-30, and 223 Rem. Revolvers included .44 and .45 Ruger Bisleys, .44 Redhawk, .44 S and W model 29 6 inch nickel, Ruger Blackhawks in .357 and 30 Carbine. New to handgun hunting. Currently saving up for my first custom gun. Going for either a 475 or 500 Linebaugh.