What about handgun hunting?

[A Guy Out West]

I don't think you UK folks can hunt with a handgun, but you can't bow hunt either, so I bring this up. Really curious what other think about this. I can hunt with a handgun if I so choose in my state, there is a minimum ballistic requirement. I believe it's about the power of a .357 Mag with a 158 gr. bullet from a 4" barrel (something close to that anyway). I have never done it because I'm not a good enough pistol shot and our opportunities are too few to chance it on a pistol. What do you all think about hunting big game with a handgun?

 

[8x57]

No legal reason why you can't hunt with a pistol in the U.K. provided that the pistol meets the required energy requirements under the various deer acts and your local police force conditions your FAC to allow it.

 

[A Guy Out West]

No legal reason why you can't hunt with a pistol in the U.K. provided that the pistol meets the required energy requirements under the various deer acts and your local police force conditions your FAC to allow it.

Great, then my question is even more relevant.

 

[8x57]

Very few in this country have the necessary pistol skills, but that's irrelevant anyway as it's extremely unlikely that any force would condition your certificate to allow it.

 

[Cootmeurer]

Again, similar to my archery comment, just another tool and method. In the right hands, very effective.

But, you should also mention that there are handguns and then there are handguns. Even though they count as such, I am not sure I consider the TC Contenders to truly be handguns - rather instead handheld single shot rifles. And for the life of me - I cant imagine why anyone would want to fire a 45-70 from hand. Going to a bowling alley and using my face as a pin would surely hurt less.

 

[Ray7756]

No legal reason why you can't hunt with a pistol in the U.K. provided that the pistol meets the required energy requirements under the various deer acts and your local police force conditions your FAC to allow it.

No legal reason apart from getting it conditioned on your FAC,,,, and being of the lucky few left that had a good and varied collection of handguns when it was legal, i had everything from single action BP to 9 mm semi and even tried a desert eagle,,,,,,,OMG need to hold on tight to that one,,,, now I always fancied myself as a " quick draw mcgraw" but I never had the skill or inclanation to hunt with a pistol, i did carry a low powered ( cartridge) .32 that I used for HD , but why on earth would anyone in this country deliberately set out to hunt any living thing with a pistol, is beyond me as rifles and shotguns are a lot more efficient way of hunting
After all i thought the idea was to put food on the table as efficiently as possible, with min suffering
Cheers
Ray

 

[8x57]

There were quite a few long range pistols in the U.K. prior to the ban. Many of them were effectively cut down bolt action rifles fitted in a suitable pistol stock and capable in the right hands of matching the accuracy of the best target rifles out to 600 yards. There are still some similar long range "pistols" about but now they have to comply with the stupid 30/60 rule so have long unwieldy extension rods or wrist braces permanently fixed to the frame. They are neither fish nor fowl and about as awkward to aim as a T.V. ariel.

 

[enfieldspares]

I had a .357 Magnum (an S & W pre-Model 27 five inch barrel 'N' Frame) on my FAC in the 1980s until the early 1990s conditioned for feral goats. So, yes, police authorities did issue suitably conditioned FACs. It is the only handgun that I didn't surrender when under the handgun ban. I gave it away to a German hunter. I use the serial number now as a password. To never thus forget how the Tory Government treated law abiding handgun owners.

 

[Ray7756]

There were quite a few long range pistols in the U.K. prior to the ban. Many of them were effectively cut down bolt action rifles fitted in a suitable pistol stock and capable in the right hands of matching the accuracy of the best target rifles out to 600 yards. There are still some similar long range "pistols" about but now they have to comply with the stupid 30/60 rule so have long unwieldy extension rods or wrist braces permanently fixed to the frame. They are neither fish nor fowl and about as awkward to aim as a T.V. ariel.

Yes I remember them well they were used for long range target shooting, out to crazy ranges, and some people were very skilled with such weapons, but I dont think anyone ever considered them for live targets
Cheers
Ray

 

[enfieldspares]

In terms of performance the Westley Richard .300 Sherwood that they sold as "an ideal rifle for park deer" fired a 140 grain bullet at an advertised 1400 fps muzzle velocity. Some 357 Magnum revolver ammunition was listed, supposedly, as achieving that in a revolver. I remain doubtful. In my 5" barrel S & W (over a chronograph) I could get 1050 fps with Lyman's 358429 bullet of 170 grains and a true 1500 fps with Speer's JHP 88 grain .380 Automatic bullet loaded ahead of 2400 powder.

 

[bluesako]

i had a 454 cassull pre ban it shot a 300 gr jkt hollow point loads at 300yds it would beat guys with rifles awsome bs

 

[pheasant sniper 1]

Its a fair debate this one as ive witnessed many iron sight shooters that are a far better shot on paper than some with scopes and equally ive been on a firing position next to a fella out shooting some folks with rifles with a long range pistol.

These are classed as extremes by most people except the very ones that have put in the hours and can master their chosen weapon of choice.

Better a seasoned long range handgun hunter than a rifle hunter so inclined as to not practice or put the hours in to master his skills.

 

[Klenchblaize]

I have a set of 7mm BR dies gathering dust for just such a day.

K

 

[deeangeo]

I had a Paramount bolt action single shot pistol in .308, also a Dan Wesson .445 Supermag and a Dan Wesson .357 Maximum.
I miss them all, but not as much as my simple Colt 1911A1 ... I just absolutely loved that standard issue piece.

Even when they were legal to have, I’d never heard of anyone being conditioned on their FAC to hunt using a pistol/revolver/handgun.
I always understood to do so was completely illegal in the UK.

 

[deeangeo]

I recall there was no available brass for the .445 Supermag in the UK when I first bought the revolver from Hannams.
I had to cut and form the brass from 30/40 Krag rifle cases.
It was several months before the correct brass arrived inth UK.
It was something of a beast, but as with my other revolvers, accurate to long ranges.
Wonderful days gone forever now.

 

[Bavarianbrit]

I had a .22lr Contender that I bought without needing any paperwork in Paris (it was then legal in France for .22lr"s) then I had it put onto my UK FAC. Took it out to New Mexico with me and got into Siluetas Metalicas as there was a 1000 yard range outside our small town. I bought a .35 Rem tube and off shooting I went. Then a guy in my office offered me a chance on pronghorns on his dads local ranch. That"s how I first got into this SD interest. I shot it at 180 stepped out paces with a 4x scope and no sticks but it was a very sage tasting beast. I had good eyes at 42 years now finding the appendage used for draining oneself is hard enough.
BB

 

[alberta boy]

I had a Paramount bolt action single shot pistol in .308, also a Dan Wesson .445 Supermag and a Dan Wesson .357 Maximum.
I miss them all, but not as much as my simple Colt 1911A1 ... I just absolutely loved that standard issue piece.

Even when they were legal to have, I’d never heard of anyone being conditioned on their FAC to hunt using a pistol/revolver/handgun.
I always understood to do so was completely illegal in the UK.

I had a Dan Wesson years ago , I bought it new with an extra 10 inch barrel ( it came with a 4 inch ) , case and barrel wrench for @ $300 CDN , man I'm old . It was a really accurate revolver .
I still have my 1911A1 , I feel the same way . I've owned and sold a lot of handguns over the years , except my Colt . I bought it in 1979 , still works great lol .
The only one I really regret selling was an older Ruger Blackhawk Convertible 45 Colt / 45 ACP model . Built like a tank, reliable and accurate . With modern 45 Colt loads , fully capable of taking anything in my neck of the woods . I'm still looking for another , great pistol .

AB

PS I just realized this post may be like rubbing salt in a wound , my apologies .

 

[8x57]

I just realized this post may be like rubbing salt in a wound

Very much so!

P.S. I owned several 1911's, can't say that I was particularly fond of any of them except the last one which was a wartime Ithaca made model. Wartime production yet better machining and fit than the modern versions that I owned.

 

[alberta boy]

You have good taste , wartime production Ithaca 1911's are very collectable and demand a premium these days . I won't say how much and spare you the pain lol . See , I do have feelings .

AB

 

[deeangeo]

I just realized this post may be like rubbing salt in a wound

Very much so!

P.S. I owned several 1911's, can't say that I was particularly fond of any of them except the last one which was a wartime Ithaca made model. Wartime production yet better machining and fit than the modern versions that I owned.

My Colt 1911A1 was a wartime issue to US forces. I understand taken from a shot down airman, don’t know where, but certainly bought in this country in the 1980’s.
It was a super pistol, nowt special, but it was smooth as silk.

Both Dan Wesson’s had 8” barrels. They were pretty good, but the .357 Maximum was astonishing.
Wishing I could have the Colt back though.