Hand gun recently ?

The Stalking Show - 11th to 12th April 2026 - Staffordshire County Showground
8x57 said:
srvet have you considered the possibility of using chamber adapters in your .308win. These allow a .32acp or 32 S&W long pistol cartridge to be fired through your rifle barrel.
They can be a bit awkward to load in a bolt action rifle and you will still have the difficulty of sighting associated with a scoped rifle plus the difficulty of safe manipulation of the rifle if one hand is occupied with your dog, but at least you will have a round with much reduced velocity and also a choice of suitable bullets that would be less likely to over penetrate or ricochet.
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Thanks for the suggestion and yes I have considered that but I don’t always stalk with my 308. I’m not sure that they are available in the uk. Lothar Walther used to do them but no longer list them
 
Had a 32 for dispatch but found it a bit dangerous if you had to get very close
Bought a Rossi break action single shot, barrel is cut to 12-1/2 inches put a moderator on it for use in certain areas can use shot if I want or 38 special if it a bull ect it’s 357 mag solids a lot more versatile if it’s just dispatch and as it’s not section 5 you can use it fort foxes ect silenced with 150 grn lead
 
srvet said:
Can I ask what sort of 410 shot pistol you use and it’s dimensions please. The reason I ask is the ones I have seen either look like a sawn off shotgun and are quite long or are the odd derringer things that also chamber 45 long colt.
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In the days before Harry Roberts induced the 1968 Act, all sorts of things were floating about. Someone in my circle had a double .410 hammer pistol that looked like something Captain Kidd might have used. The barrels were about 10 inches long.
 
srvet said:
Thanks for the suggestion and yes I have considered that but I don’t always stalk with my 308. I’m not sure that they are available in the uk. Lothar Walther used to do them but no longer list them
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Lothar Walther have definitely discontinued the chambering that I want (8x57irs) but when I enquired they were still listing them in certain chamberings. There is also a U.K. gunsmith that produces them in the more common chamberings and a couple of companies in the U.S. but they can be problematic to deal with as they won't export.
 
It is a derringer, the difference in accuracy comes from the difference in the design/type of slug used, revolvers have rifled barrels, shot pistols do not, the same slugs would I imagine easily group touching holes at 35yds through a standard length .410 barrel as my .20g slugs cloverleaf in my hatsan auto.
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jb7x57 said:
Had a 32 for dispatch but found it a bit dangerous if you had to get very close
Bought a Rossi break action single shot, barrel is cut to 12-1/2 inches put a moderator on it for use in certain areas can use shot if I want or 38 special if it a bull ect it’s 357 mag solids a lot more versatile if it’s just dispatch and as it’s not section 5 you can use it fort foxes ect silenced with 150 grn lead
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.32ACP which is overbored with vented/chamfered barrel, suitable to be used in direct contact if required. Initial good reason - captive fox. Now conditioned for all HD. Have done all from muntie up to Reds. Suitable training, bullet placement and risk assessment is the key.
 
srvet said:
I have historically been quite dubious of the requirement of a deer stalker to carry a humane dispatch pistol. However, Last year I shot a deer on a piece of steep hill ground bordered by woodland and when I approached the deer it was apparent that it was still alive. I took a second shot at a range of about 2-3 metres and heard the bullet ricochet off a subsurface rock after passing through the head. Now I cannot tell how close the bullet was to me or the direction that it went in but I can confirm that it was a very unpleasant experience indeed, with the realisation that I could have inadvertently shot myself or someone else in the vicinity subsequently sinking in. Since that time I have been considering what the safest method is to deal with this eventuality and have come to the conclusion that a pistol is the best option. This may be akin to buying a fire blanket after having a chip pan fire but this event has definitely changed my mind. I have considered using a shotgun but carrying one is impractical as I stalk a long way from my vehicle, using a rifle at very close range is difficult due to the length where immobilisation of the animal is needed or where single handed operation of the firearm is needed ( such as restraining a tracking dog on a lead or holding dense vegetation out of the way) The sighting systems on most stalking rifles are not designed for close quarters unlike those on a pistol though you can sight down the side of the barrel with some degree of accuracy. There are no suitable down-loaded highly frangible cartridges available anyway in the cartridges that I use (308, 7 RM and 6.5x47). There are some subsonic FMJ 308 rounds available from Lapua but they are not suited to sub 5m dispatch due to the bullet construction. Pistol cartridges (especially the 38special/357) are available in many different types including shotshells, low powered wad cutters up to more potent 357 soft points that would likely be adequate at close range if a chest shot on a stag was needed.
I have recently applied for a variation for a 2 shot 38/357 that was declined. I have subsequently instigated an appeal via the crown court that is currently ongoing. My current thinking is that anyone who has to undertake humane dispatch at close range has a valid reason to own or have access to an appropriate tool that is safer than using a deer calibre rifle if they so wish. This desire to work safely is supported in law and should be accepted by the police. The difficulty is knowing where the threshold for good reason stands. It seems to be accepted that wounding of deer occurs in between 5-7% based on published information. That being the case, a stalker who shoots 50 deer a year may realistically expect to take a second shot around 2-4 times per year. It is not possible to be certain whether the soil underneath the deer is rocky or not so each of these shots could produce a potentially lethal ricochet, and it only takes one shot to kill. Ricochets may be made even more likely when using monometal lead free bullets whether the tips are prefragmented or not. Even the sintered metal core bullets like the Geco Zero have a solid rear core that is designed not to deform and are likely to ping off into the wide blue yonder. I will keep you all posted of how this proceeds.
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Can you not get one through your job as a vet? The vets at the hunt kennels always used a gun for putting down livestock and hounds
 
sikamalc said:
What some of you have is NO experience of, is tracking a gut shot sika or Red in dense commercial forest. In the highlands.
Try using a 410 😂 that would really **** it off. Or maybe a knife 😂😂
Having been in that situation a few times it's impossible to use a rifle and a good revolver is a lot more useable.
But then many on here who joke about using one would probably be not allowed one?
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This
 
JTO said:
In the days before Harry Roberts induced the 1968 Act, all sorts of things were floating about. Someone in my circle had a double .410 hammer pistol that looked like something Captain Kidd might have used. The barrels were about 10 inches long.
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That’s what I have seen too !!
 
sikamalc said:
I have had a dispatch revolver for a number of years. My FEO at the time offered to put it on my ticket, although I declined at first, I accepted it and have a 357. I have used it a number of times, and always carry it in Scotland when hunting Sika stags in thick forestry. With a tracking dog, I think its important to have one, most results in thick cover in failing light require a quick dispatch shot.

We take a lot of clients each year across all the species, and both of the two guides who work for me have now got a dispatch weapon each. This came to ahead last winter when we had 3 wounded Fallow in one weekend with clients. A simple letter with good reason was produced by myself and they both were granted one.

You must have good reason.
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Interesting that you have a condition that covers your scenarios, I have a specific condition for use of my Sec 5 and hunting is not one of them! For me the wording is ''humane dispatch in connection with duties as a Deer Warden
 
ndjfb01 said:
Interesting that you have a condition that covers your scenarios, I have a specific condition for use of my Sec 5 and hunting is not one of them! For me the wording is ''humane dispatch in connection with duties as a Deer Warden
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Well I am not hunting with it am I. Dispatching wounded deer is what it's for. I don't carry it everywhere. But certainly in Scotland. No problem and Kent police have never had an issue with it.
As a deer warden or stalker full time it's part of yoyr duties and I would think you would have no issue with it whilst guiding clients.
 
Oracle said:
.32ACP which is overbored with vented/chamfered barrel, suitable to be used in direct contact if required. Initial good reason - captive fox. Now conditioned for all HD. Have done all from muntie up to Reds. Suitable training, bullet placement and risk assessment is the key.
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I’ve been using a .32acp auto for 30yrs+, and shooting from 3inches to 3ft. From Muntjac to Reds
 
I believe that the law ONLY allows a 410 /9mm shot pistol to be conditioned for 'vermin'.

In which case, it'd be interesting if a police force have authorised one for humane dispatch !
 
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