Handgun hunting

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Handgun hunting is primarily done with specialized handguns that have long barrels and are often set up with scopes (optical aiming devices). Even the largest animals on the planet can be successfully hunted with the hunting handguns of today although most handgun hunters use them for medium sized game like deer and wild hogs. The .44 Magnum, developed in 1955, was really the beginning of handgun hunting for mainstream hunters. Most hunting handguns are either single shot pistols, single action revolvers or double action revolvers. With the exception of small-game hunting using rimfire cartridges, very few semi-automatic handguns are well suited for hunting, lacking both the power necessary and proper sights.

A typical hunting handgun shown below is the Thompson/Center Arms Contender, a single shot scoped pistol. Image:Nikon_front.jpg



Ref: Smith, Gary. "What is Handgun Hunting?' http://www.handgunhunt.com/readArticle.php?letter_id=10", Handgun Hunter Magazine, HandgunHunt.com, Inc. Retrieved on 2007-01-29. (in English)