Hunting with a handgun

Those of you who have been reading my columns know I like handguns...a lot.

To add thrill and challenge to hunting, do it with a handgun. Shooting a handgun is not so different from a rifle and the skill is manageable at almost any age. Eyesight is one of the challenges for those of us over 50 but that can be overcome too.

The handgun will require much more practice than the rifle. Which is fun by itself. It is not nearly as easy to hit the target and the distance to the target, under most situations, will need to be much shorter. The closer to the animal, the more the excitement and adrenalin rise. The thrill becomes more intense which is one of the biggest reasons many of us hunt in the first place.

Overcoming the eyesight problem is not difficult. There are several ways to overcome this handicap with the optical equipment available. A traditional scope made specifically for the handgun is one way. Other methods are to use "laser sights" or optics that use a lighted dot instead of a crosshair reticle. The military has adopted these as standard equipment in many cases.

Among the more interesting subjects to talk about in this arena is what caliber should one choose. As with rifles, this can be a hot topic, but it doesn't need to be. There are actually few calibers to choose from when compared to the number available for rifles.

In my opinion only two fall into what I call "the practical ones". These are the .41 Remington mag and the .44 Remington mag. Let me explain.

The .357 isn't as powerful as what I believe is needed for hunting. Sure, it can be "forced into action" but why do that when something better is available.

Cartridges more powerful than the .44 Rem. mag. have too much recoil for most people, including myself, to manage and master.

The .41 and the .44 fall into the perfect niche. If one finds the .44 has too much recoil, then the .41 is for you. Both of these are available from Ruger and Smith & Wesson. Both calibers have sufficient power to do the job on any animal that weighs less than 300-400 pounds.

But, even more importantly, shot placement is extremely critical. The handgun cartridges do not deliver near the destructive power that rifle cartridges do. The type of ammo used is also very important. Choose carefully here.

Another advantage is a handgun is easier to carry. Make sure it is in a proper holster that keeps the firearm secure. The hands are free to do whatever is needed. The handgun provides lots of satisfaction in mastering and being proficient with it. It can be carried much more discretely, such as when fishing, camping or hiking, particularly when obvious disclosure isn't wanted. There are times and places I do not want to be un-armed.

Philip is a retired Air Force officer where he was an intelligence analyst. He is also a retired law enforcement officer. He has an undergrad degree in criminal justice as well as a master's that is heavily weighted in criminal justice. He has had, in his words, "a love affair" with firearms all his adult life. He also teaches concealed carry classes.