trying to find the thrill again

[okieshooter]

I have kids and enjoy taking them and watching them but I just don't get much thrill from me shooting deer anymore. How many of you guys took up handgun hunting just to make it more of a challenge? Do you feel it is a greater accomplishment to harvest with a handgun? I am considering an encore or contender so I would still be cheating a little bit . I hunt for meat but will not pass a monster buck to shoot a yearling either. I appreciate your thoughts on this guys.

[bulletstuffer]

It's a whole new ball game   If you really want some fun do not carry a rifle as a back up   Shooting with handgun is much more fun as long as you have time to wait for the shot.  Getting on a moving deer is tough compared to a rifle.  It is my preferred method and definately increases the excitement level   Practice, Practice, Practice and good shooting

Bulletstuffer

[rockbilly]

I have been a Contender fan for more years than I care to remember, prior to my first Contender purchase in 1974 I did quite a bit of hunting with a .22 revolver, 357 Mag and .41 Mag.  As I grew older I found the pistols harder to shoot so I went back to the long guns……………..Well, faith has put me back on course to hunt with the Contenders this year, I recently found I have lung cancer in the left lung, I am on an accelerated Chemo and radiation treatment program, as part of the Chemo I needed a med port installed, it couldn’t be installed in the left shoulder because of radiation to the area so it had to be put in the right shoulder, the darn thing is implanted just at the spot a rifle or shotgun pad would contact.

I tried to shoot a bit a couple of weeks ago but gave up in a hurry, it will defunately be with the pistol this year.

[walks with gun]

    I started hunting with flintlock longrifles and varmiting with handguns a while back to try to spice it up a bit.  Most peaple I know just want to kill something just to be able to say they did, but trying to challange yourself makes you a better all around hunter and sportsman to boot, in my opinion.

[mcwoodduck]

I bought a T/C contender in 223 and starte to practice on varmints with it to hone my handgun hunting.   So far have shot a bunch of ground squirrels with it.
Before that I was shooting Mice and rats with the Aguilla humming bird rounds out of a Ruger Single six Bisley.  
And after I thought I could hit deer with a handgun moved into T/C barrels in 30-30 and 44 mag. to extend my shooting range of my S&W 29 in 44 mag.  When I was in College I tried the handgun hunting and missed a nice 6 point buck and learned that you actually need to shoot a handgun and get good with one before using it to hunt.
Good luck.
You get real happy with mice and rats at 10 yards with a 22 Agulla's in the back yard

[Wyo. Coyote Hunter]

  MC, I thought I had heard of everything...pray tell what are "humming bird "rounds??

[irold]

Like you , Okie , I believe the handgun to be a greater challenge.  Not that I'm an expert with a rifle....but most of my  shooting is around 50 yds or so...At 50 yds, ya have to try real hard to miss with your .308 and 4-12 scope, providing your intended target cooperates just a little.  I personally feel a doe at 40 yds is a trophey for the sixgunner with open sites.  I do cheat just a little , my Bisley is scoped with a 2X.......the others are not.  I've taken deer with scoped handguns and nonscoped....its a thrill to score with the open sites.  Good Luck and Good Shooting...regards , irold

[mcwoodduck]

MC, I thought I had heard of everything...pray tell what are "humming bird "rounds??

Aguilla has the Colibre and super Colibre that have a picture of a humming bird on the box and we started to call them by the picture rather than the real name.  Sorry.
These are 20 grain bullets that are loaded into 22 long cases and do not have any powder just the primer.
Out of the hand gun they are a snap out of the rifles, depending on barrel length my CZ 452 Lux they rounds stop right under the front sight, but the marlin 918, and the Savage #5's work like a champs and are really quiet.  You hear the firing pin, and then hear the bullet hit.  They are quieter than the Gamo Air rifle.  but back to the hand guns.  the revolver is a fast way to get two or three rats trying to go after the dog food or mice in the garage.  Never could figure out what they were after in the garage but I could kill about two a night while reloading.

[Ak.Hiker]

I have been a Contender fan for more years than I care to remember, prior to my first Contender purchase in 1974 I did quite a bit of hunting with a .22 revolver, 357 Mag and .41 Mag.  As I grew older I found the pistols harder to shoot so I went back to the long guns……………..Well, faith has put me back on course to hunt with the Contenders this year, I recently found I have lung cancer in the left lung, I am on an accelerated Chemo and radiation treatment program, as part of the Chemo I needed a med port installed, it couldn’t be installed in the left shoulder because of radiation to the area so it had to be put in the right shoulder, the darn thing is implanted just at the spot a rifle or shotgun pad would contact.

I tried to shoot a bit a couple of weeks ago but gave up in a hurry, it will defunately be with the pistol this year.

Hang in there and never give up! Its great to see that you are still able to get out in the field.

[jpred1]

I usually hunt opening weekend with my rifle if Ive seen any large bucks that I couldnt get with my bow. Then pretty much rest of season go to the long barrel handgun. Yes its a huge difference from rifle hunting, even with a scope and rifle caliber. At 1st it seemed a little easy like I was cheating still, but after some close to 200yd kills and some 40yd misses, Its a nice change and challenge.Tis year Im gonna get one with open sights from the 45 in avatar. Will have to get closer than a bow shot, challenges are good.

[DANNY-L]

I agree with bulletstuffer leave the rifle behind,to me its almost like bow hunting with a little bit of extended range.Took my first last year with contender (7-30) practiced out through to 100yds with good accuracy (scoped) took my doe at 40yds. It was almost like getting my first deer again.

[Lloyd Smale]

I to got bored with rifle hunting. Bow hunting was just so much more exciting to me. Handguns brought that thrill back to rifle season for me. I started with a tc in 730 and then that got boring i then went to a scoped revolver and that to eventually lost its appeal. I know about exclusively hunt with open sighted revolvers. I guess if that gets boring ill have to start throwing rocks. The problem im running into though is as i get older my eyes just arent what they used to be and sight focus is starting to get tough. I can see somewhere down the road i may have to reverse the route i took.

[mattmillerrx]

I am doing exactly that.  Have bow hunted for years and would never have much fun in rifle season, just used it to get a couple in the freezer especially if I had not had any luck with the bow.  I have switch to lever guns and short range rifles first (44 mag, .357). Now I spent the last couple of years getting good with a hand gun and carried one last year but this year it will be all I carry no rifle.  I am going to use a ruger super redhawk in 44 mag.  I shoot it well to about 80 yards.  Still testing loads and hoping to get to the 100 yard mark but 80 should get it done despite my hunting in open country.  Considering the encore my self to get me to 150-200 but that would likely take the fun out again.

[SHOOTALL]

I got to carrying a hand gun when taking the kids out on learning hunts . I still hunt with a long gun but some days just pick up a handgun . Tried the XP-100 in 223, 7br and 708 all fine guns , tried the contender in a bunch of cals. all worth while . Settled on DA revolvers as its easy to haul around , is more challenge IMHO. Enjoy the hunting even if you tote a hand rifle !

[Autorim]

I am pretty much following the same pattern here. I plan to do most of my hunting with a .41 mag Ruger Bisley or a .45LC Bisley.

[okieshooter]

thanks for the replies guys!! My son is 13 and filled the freezer this year so I killed a decent buck with my encore ML and that was it for me. He also killed a 133" 9 point with his encore 25-06. We are pretty fond of our TC's for hunting. The biggest gun show in Oklahoma is this weekend in Tulsa so I will try to get there and see what I can find. Ed should be there, he was last year. Without reloading can you do much better than the 30-30 in a contender? Is it worth going with the encore to get something like a 7-08 or .308? Have shot the 30-30 and it was very manageable for me but no other calibers in pistol. Thanks.

[okieshooter]

I actually have everything to reload but dies if I don't already have them and maybe a different powder.So I am open to caliber suggestions as long as they aren't real severe on recoil. I have broke my wrist on my off hand before and my son will likely want to shoot it some too. Most shots will be well under a 100 yds, 150 at the maximum if I am comfortable that far.

[Mike in Virginia]

I'm old.  I've been challenging myself on deer and other game until the challenge is all but absent. 

Gave up on rifles 30 years ago.  Went to revolver.  Then to a recurve, which is where I'm at now.  Even so, to kill a deer with a recurve is not such a significant accomplishment.  It takes a lot more work, and I don't get more than two a year, but that's enough killing for me.

That said, I still love to sit in the woods with handgun.  It's very special.  You don't actually have to shoot something to have a good day. 

[AfricanHandgunner]

For me, rifle hunting lost it's luster years ago.  I used to bowhunt quite a bit, but due to a shoulder injury, that is no longer a possibility.  I took up handgun hunting about 10 years a go and haven't looked at my rifle since.  Took my handguns hunting an Africa twice and enjoy the challenge a handgun provides.

[okieshooter]

  You don't actually have to shoot something to have a good day. 

That is very true!! Bow hunting is a struggle for me as I hunted this way a lot with my father and he passed 13 years ago. To this day sitting in a tree with a stick and string is the quickest way to bring a tear to my eye. I still try it on occasion but it is hard for me. It is no longer about killing but the joys of my children, brother and nephews and their successes. But I must be honest it is still good to lay the smack down once in a while just to show them it can be done. My son let well over 50 deer walk this year. My nephew went days without seeing one until he went where I asked him and he got a shot within 20 minutes. I tagged out my muzzleloader in less than half an hour with a 9 point. I am no pro but do have a knack for finding where the deer will be. It amazes my son and nephew that I can put them on deer like this, I dread the day they too figure it out and quit looking up to me but at 13 and 15 the time is almost here. The last spot I showed my son he said no I wanna sit over here and he harvested a 133" 9 point. It was his first buck and bigger than any of mine.

[rybo]

Similar story here. Primarily a bowhunter, but still enjoy getting out in the gun season. First started by going down to a little lever action rifle, then went fully to the handguns. Now I even save tags to hunt the guns seasons. Still looking for my 1st buck with a handgun. I have 1/2 doz does.

[poncaguy]

Sorry you lost the thrill, I'll be 69 in May, I still get fired up, crossbow, black powder, rifle and pistol. I've taken deer with my Encore pistol in 7-08, it is more thrilling I guess, but so is a 400 yard shot with my 270 WSM.I just love deer hunting in any form, usually shoot does now, but if one comes along that beats my 11 point............ .........a fellow okie

[Dee]

Use a chihuahua dog, and a broom handle with a sharpened point. When you find a deer sic the chihuahua on him for a distraction, and drop out of a tree on him, and stab him with the broom handle. That should bring new life into your hunt, and an added challenge.

[SHOOTALL]

When the pointy stick gets old , jump out the tree and bite um on the neck.

[okieshooter]

Use a chihuahua dog, and a broom handle with a sharpened point. When you find a deer sic the chihuahua on him for a distraction, and drop out of a tree on him, and stab him with the broom handle. That should bring new life into your hunt, and an added challenge.

I have done something close. Put leopard dogs on hogs and kill them with a pocket knife. That is exciting but I am now too old and fat.

[Dee]

Do you shoot deer over a feeder, or food plot?

[skarke]

I bought an Encore with a 15", 50 cal ML and a tree climbing stand.  No scope, iron sights.  Pretty challenging.  Raucous, man .

But alas, I am like you.  Deer hunting just doesn't really do it for me anymore.

I've begun shooting pistols a lot.  Progressive presses, LOTS of ammo, casting bullets, shooting plates, pins, the speed games.  To me, these are more fun.

I still hunt, but mainly because the boys enjoy it.

[SHOOTALL]

I still love the hunt , the tool i use to harvest the critter at the end of the hunt is of little importance really .

[okieshooter]

Do you shoot deer over a feeder, or food plot?

No, I hunt some from treestands but spend most of my time stalking just enjoying the outdoors. Part of my losing the thrill is because I get more thrill out of my children and nephews success. My 14 yr old nephew killed one as did my 7 yr old nephew. My 6 yr old daughter killed a couple and my son did really well but I forget how many he killed. They filled the freezer and my son killed one for the wall. I enjoy scouting and putting them on deer more so than me killing. I guess I like to play guide and need something easier to carry while I scout, and I have $$$ burning a hole in my pocket.

[Dee]

Well I live about 140 miles from you, if you live in SE Oklahoma, and other than the marijuana growers, that is one of the pretty parts of the country in the United States. At 60 years old I don't do a lot of things I used to do, cause I just done'em so much. Gettin in the woods is what I like. If I kill something fine, and if not, that's fine too. I don't need any more guns, I just want to relax, and be content at what I have learned and survived over the years.
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