Pistols for stalking HD

[MAH]

under what circumstances would a pistol really be the only/best option

I don't have one, and feel no need for one.
As an individual, my approach is if the shot is not rright I don't take it.

However, the risk of runners is greater for someone who is frequently taking clients out.

And having recovered dead Roe from woodland blocks in the Scottish Borders, I recall thinking that they are so dense, you'd never carry a rifle in with you.

So I can see why some might want/need one.

M

 

[kennyc]

Still want a Luger mind, but sorry nothing to do with hd

I know a few people with Lugers, mostly the Swiss 06/29 variantslovely to lok at and very accurate, but those triggers! very "Luger"!
I'll stick with my SIGs

 

[finnbear270]

Makarov?

 

[bogtrotter]

FEO asked if I wanted one but I declined , I have never felt the need.

 

[Heym SR20]

Personally I have no need of a pistol for humane dispatch whilst stalking. A rifle is perfectly adequate.

But I can absolutely see their utility for vets, slaughter-men and those who do a lot of RTA or follow up wounded beasts that disappear into deep cover where shots are measured in inches rather than yards.

I have used pistols enough on the range in Germany to know that they take a lot of practice to become proficient. I can keep most shots on a large dinner plate sized target at 25m with a 9mm Glock, but to get down to a small group would take a lot more practice.

On the mainland UK I think such practice would be difficult.

As for the ban on sport shooting with pistols, well it’s been a great success in removing handguns from the hands of criminals hasn’t it?

 

[Bavarianbrit]

Yes and it got me off my harris and moved on to Germany, @Muir would understand my reason I think. Leaves a bitter taste that never leaves one. (Queenspeak).

 

[Muir]

As for the ban on sport shooting with pistols, well it’s been a great success in removing handguns from the hands of criminals hasn’t it?

I'd wager it did a better job of removing handguns from the hands of law abiding citizens.~Muir

 

[Hook'N'Bullet]

If you're out stalking, presumably with a rifle, why do you need a pistol for HD? There's a perfectly capable piece of equipment in your hands already?

 

[Heym SR20]

If you're out stalking, presumably with a rifle, why do you need a pistol for HD? There's a perfectly capable piece of equipment in your hands already?

2 situations where a rifle is not ideal.

1) when you are using a dog or dogs to bay a wounded animal. More the case with boar than deer, but a rifle is too powerful for close range situations and real dangers from bullet pass through etc. A pistol bullet has much less energy, but sufficient to penetrate into the vitals without having to worry to much about over penetration.

2) when you are in the thick bush crawling after a wounded deer a scoped rifle is kind of unwealdy, a pistol much less so.

But yes a rifle is in hand and probably best tool for the job. Indeed the best tool is time. After any shot wait a good ten or fifteen minutes, especially if the animal has gone out of sight. If in doubt leave it an hour or two.

Most animals when wounded will quickly seek cover, lie down and die peacefully. Follow up too soon they get really stressed, full of adrenaline and then take off.

And often best stay where you are as you should have a good rest etc, or move sideways so that you can see where the animal may have fallen etc.

I have had a few occasions where follow up shot has been necessary. One was a hind that I shot with a soft RWS 243 bullet. Range was a bit further and a bit windier than I thought. Bullet hit the shoulder and the hind went straight down. Stalker I was with was in a hurry so we went straight up to it. It was lying looking dead so put rifle down etc and started getting ready to gralloch. She regained consciousness, struggled to her feet and set off round the hill out of sight on three legs. We followed her for what seemed an age, but probably no more than 20 minutes and eventually got into a position where I put a bullet in back of her head as she was standing and started swaying.

On examination, the first bullet had failed to adequately penetrate and had done limited damage heart and lungs. There was plenty of blood in the cavity.

I suspect if we had just stayed where we were for 20min she would have died where she first fell.

 

[Jon P]

Handy for this, there is a busy road and a house close by, and ground is as hard as iron, poor thing had snapped leg in two places. Welfare of the deer would be more humane to shot it with a low powered pistol then hands placed on it and bled out.

 

[Norfolk Deer Search]

2 situations where a rifle is not ideal.

1) when you are using a dog or dogs to bay a wounded animal. More the case with boar than deer, but a rifle is too powerful for close range situations and real dangers from bullet pass through etc. A pistol bullet has much less energy, but sufficient to penetrate into the vitals without having to worry to much about over penetration.

2) when you are in the thick bush crawling after a wounded deer a scoped rifle is kind of unwealdy, a pistol much less so.

But yes a rifle is in hand and probably best tool for the job. Indeed the best tool is time. After any shot wait a good ten or fifteen minutes, especially if the animal has gone out of sight. If in doubt leave it an hour or two.

Most animals when wounded will quickly seek cover, lie down and die peacefully. Follow up too soon they get really stressed, full of adrenaline and then take off.

And often best stay where you are as you should have a good rest etc, or move sideways so that you can see where the animal may have fallen etc.

I have had a few occasions where follow up shot has been necessary. One was a hind that I shot with a soft RWS 243 bullet. Range was a bit further and a bit windier than I thought. Bullet hit the shoulder and the hind went straight down. Stalker I was with was in a hurry so we went straight up to it. It was lying looking dead so put rifle down etc and started getting ready to gralloch. She regained consciousness, struggled to her feet and set off round the hill out of sight on three legs. We followed her for what seemed an age, but probably no more than 20 minutes and eventually got into a position where I put a bullet in back of her head as she was standing and started swaying.

On examination, the first bullet had failed to adequately penetrate and had done limited damage heart and lungs. There was plenty of blood in the cavity.

I suspect if we had just stayed where we were for 20min she would have died where she first fell.

I can pick your first 3 paragraphs to pieces!

In 99.9% of cases you do not need a pistol for recovery with a dog!

In 15 years of working tracking dogs in England and the continent i am yet to come across an animal i could not dispatch with a rifle or a knife!

In the thick stika of scotlands commercial forests yes i can see a need, down here not required simple as!

 

[Selous]

If you're out stalking, presumably with a rifle, why do you need a pistol for HD? There's a perfectly capable piece of equipment in your hands already?

If you are shooting on a peat bog there is probably no problem as the bullet will get absorbed into the soft ground, however shooting any deer legal centrefire rifle at close range carries tangible risk of backsplash and ricochet that can be largely mitigated with a lower power round. There is a reason why centrefire rifles cannot be shot on NRA firing ranges at below 50 metres (or perhaps 50 yards?? my memory fails me)

 

[Selous]

I can pick your first 3 paragraphs to pieces!

In 99.9% of cases you do not need a pistol for recovery with a dog!

In 15 years of working tracking dogs in England and the continent i am yet to come across an animal i could not dispatch with a rifle or a knife!

In the thick stika of scotlands commercial forests yes i can see a need, down here not required simple as!

You may be happy to use a knife for dispatch but having done it more than a few times...... I am not! This is just one of those situations where personal choice between stalkers should be respected.

 

[AndrewS]

Yep absolutely. I recently got a black powder revolver for just such entertainment. A centrefire pistol would be fun without all the cleaning and reloading hassle

You can "plink" with a black powder revolver other than on a range???

I agree about CF pistols though. I got a BP revolver after the ban but soon sold it - couldn't be bothered with all the faff.

 

[palmer_mike]

You can "plink" with a black powder revolver other than on a range???

That would depend on the conditions of one’s FAC id have thought. I plink with mine on a range, so that’s not really a consideration for me.

 

[sikamalc]

You may be happy to use a knife for dispatch but having done it more than a few times...... I am not! This is just one of those situations where personal choice between stalkers should be respected.

Correct.
I would wager the vast majority on here stalk once a month.
There are situations where a HD is required, more so with clients at times. It's all very well people saying you don't need one. They probably never will as they will never be out enough or be in a situation where it's impossible to stand up with a rifle let alone see properly. Leave people who have one to deal with it.

 

[John Doe]

Handy for this, there is a busy road and a house close by, and ground is as hard as iron, poor thing had snapped leg in two places. Welfare of the deer would be more humane to shot it with a low powered pistol then hands placed on it and bled out.

Shotgun (.410) would be even better?

 

[Jon P]

Shotgun (.410) would be even better?

Shotgun (.410) would be even better?

Not when you 1hour from home and you stalking with a 30-06 rifle. Not going to drive back to get the 410 .

I have got a HD pistol but I only use it for work, However it would of been ideal in this situation.

 

[25 Sharps]

Handy for this, there is a busy road and a house close by, and ground is as hard as iron, poor thing had snapped leg in two places. Welfare of the deer would be more humane to shot it with a low powered pistol then hands placed on it and bled out.

.410 is perfect for the situation posted.

.410 also better then a phone / camera

 

[25 Sharps]

Not when you 1hour from home and you stalking with a 30-06 rifle. Not going to drive back to get the 410 .

I have got a HD pistol but I only use it for work, However it would of been ideal in this situation.

So would you always have the pistol with you? Otherwise you’d be driving home to get that.

Alternatively you could always have the folding .410 in the car as much as the pistol….