Humane dispatch pistol

[VSS]

A small bore (.410g shotgun) is what I use, it’s got a 6” barrel, uses from an 8g reduced load to a solid slug, it’s a shotgun yes but is still a pistol.
A mate applied to get the same one to cover dispatch on the same 400 strong beef heard as me and was turned down by Kent Police until it was pointed out that a .410g pistol is the weapon of choice recommended by the then government advisor from I believe Bristol university on HD.
However they would not allow him slugs, shotshell only, why that is I still fail to understand.

At the sort of range you'd be using it (6" or so) there's no difference in performance between shot and solid slug, with the added safety benefit that shot won't exit the skull so no risk of ricochet or collateral damage.

 

[Triggermortis]

If I only ever used the pistol at up to 6” I wouldn’t have bothered with slugs, but at greater ranges the shot shells and the slugs are a world apart in terms of performance or at least the ones I use are, what loads have you been using then?

 

[VSS]

If I only ever used the pistol at up to 6” I wouldn’t have bothered with slugs, but at greater ranges the shot shells and the slugs are a world apart in terms of performance or at least the ones I use are, what loads have you been using then?

Whatever I've got handy. Choice is limited locally. They all do the job at such short range.

 

[Rake Aboot]

A small bore (.410g shotgun) is what I use, it’s got a 6” barrel, uses from an 8g reduced load to a solid slug, it’s a shotgun yes but is still a pistol.
A mate applied to get the same one to cover dispatch on the same 400 strong beef heard as me and was turned down by Kent Police until it was pointed out that a .410g pistol is the weapon of choice recommended by the then government advisor from I believe Bristol university on HD.
However they would not allow him slugs, shotshell only, why that is I still fail to understand.

To make them feel they kept control of what he was allowed. Nothing more.

 

[cooksey]

Admittedly, my shotgun experience is limited to a 12 gauge but it blew the sheep I used it on to bits, so much so I wouldn’t want to do it again. When used on caged foxes it blows them to bits too.
I will also add that whilst I was fortunate enough not to witness the event or the aftermath but having had a distant family member suffering from ptsd take his own life with a shotgun , his wife who found him in the milking parlour would certainly disagree with the notion of it being “one clean entry hole”

I’ve never owned a .410, perhaps I’m missing something, but I don’t think I am.

I use the 12 all the time for HD 30 gram 6 in the right spot on a ewe there is no mess. The ewes dead instantly I stopped using my .22lr as I found the risk of not getting it perfect every time was too great for me! The .410 is a good tool for dispatch just more expensive that the 12!

 

[Rake Aboot]

Yup , not much good for stalking though.

 

[MarinePMI]

My position of ignorance is no different to those who haven't previously killed large animals with a shotgun, yet claim a pistol is better suited to HD.

So, to be clear, your argument is that two ignorant people arguing with each other is productive? That seems an odd position to take, but hey...

I've put down animals with rifle, pistol and shotgun (for the record), so I'm not sure who you're referring to in your statement.

 

[Jon P]

Anyone painting the walls with a shotgun has been watching too many Hollywood films.

Very neat hole, no exit.

Have shot quite a few animals with 4.10 and .32 pistol over the years- only once I had an issue with excessive mess. Shot an old Suffolk ewe with 4.10 that was on her last legs. Nice hole in top of the head. Blood came out like a fountain probably 2 Ft in the air, sheep was dead before it hit the ground. Not ideal as it was my friend’s wife’s pet sheep. We were desperately trying to clear the blood up before his wife came back. Only once I have seen this.

 

[kevtherev]

Again why a rifle is a better option.

Unless you are Dirty Harry.

 

[dryan]

Most chaps here use 12 gauge shotguns for dispatch of immobile deer requiring despatch.

 

[ndjfb00]

If you're "painting the walls" then you're clearly doing something wrong. I have killed a lot of fairly large animals (sheep, goats, pigs, cattle, deer and horses) with a .410 shotgun, and have never painted anything. It just makes a neat round hole, with no mess. And there's the added advantage over a pistol that you have a bit of extra reach, should the animal not be too keen on you being up close.

It's noticeable that the knackermen who drive the fallen stock wagons around here all have a shotgun in the vehicle for HD, not a pistol.

The only time I can see a pistol being an advantage is if you're in a situation where it is necessary to carry it with you on your person in addition to your main firearm. But I should say those situations are extremely few and far between.

I have no problem with anyone owning a pistol. I should think they're a lot of fun. But I do question the usefulness of a pistol for HD.

One of the most factual comments I've read in here today, but hey, the HD topic never fails to generate traffic

 

[cooksey]

Most chaps here use 12 gauge shotguns for dispatch of immobile deer requiring despatch.

I reckon a folding 12 cut down to legal barrel/stock length would be ideal. Takes up very little space. Doesn't need a gun bag to carry it.

 

[Rake Aboot]

Most chaps here use 12 gauge shotguns for dispatch of immobile deer requiring despatch.

Where’s here ?

 

[dryan]

Where’s here ?

Ireland, and the chaps I’m referencing are specifically on the east coast, sika and fallow.

 

[Grannysmith]

I have used a .45 acp with its magazine altered to only take 2 in the mag for many years which saves expensive and risky engineering

 

[Reloader708]

Everyone situation is different but I find the pistol absolutely indispensable whilst culling deer under the night licence.
If the dogs are needed for a follow up I take the pistol, the last thing I want is a shotgun or anything cumbersome.

 

[tarponhead]

Have shot quite a few animals with 4.10 and .32 pistol over the years- only once I had an issue with excessive mess. Shot an old Suffolk ewe with 4.10 that was on her last legs. Nice hole in top of the head. Blood came out like a fountain probably 2 Ft in the air, sheep was dead before it hit the ground. Not ideal as it was my friend’s wife’s pet sheep. We were desperately trying to clear the blood up before his wife came back. Only once I have seen this.

Shot placement means you can aim it just above the eyes in the forehead angled towards the brain stem - very little blood but instant death. - .410 again. Avoids the fountain of blood!

 

[sauer]

Most chaps here use 12 gauge shotguns for dispatch of immobile deer requiring despatch.

Yildz single barrel folding .410 i use if called

 

[Edinburgh Rifles]

What do they block off the cylinders with ? If this is to help stop criminal activity with guns what's stopping them from drilling them back out ?

Just out of curiosity. but it would appear that all this does is show a lack of trust in us license holders.

5-10 at His Majesty’s pleasure usually does enough to persuade people not to **** around and find out with Section 5….


Various methods used to restrict Sec5 revolvers to 1 or 2 shots.
We do them in house.
Very discreet and does t require anything that damages the cylinder with heat or expansion

Mainly done to discourage people getting pistols and revolvers under “Humane Dispatch “ good reason and then plinking cans for a bit of fun.
If you need more than one round to HD then you should probably go on an anatomy course…

Sold a HD revolver a long while back with 50 rounds
Must have been an awful lot of RTAs locally given the ammo consumption…

 

[HunterMoore]

5-10 at His Majesty’s pleasure usually does enough to persuade people not to **** around and find out with Section 5….


Various methods used to restrict Sec5 revolvers to 1 or 2 shots.
We do them in house.
Very discreet and does t require anything that damages the cylinder with heat or expansion

Mainly done to discourage people getting pistols and revolvers under “Humane Dispatch “ good reason and then plinking cans for a bit of fun.
If you need more than one round to HD then you should probably go on an anatomy course…

Sold a HD revolver a long while back with 50 rounds
Must have been an awful lot of RTAs locally given the ammo consumption…

I had a dispatch pistol for nearly 20 years ... for someone unfamiliar with pistols it would take at least 50 rounds to be a competent shot, often single handed, even at close range. Being a bloke does not mean you can just pick up a pistol and be confident and accurate ....

Just my view.