handgun elk??

[340mag]

how many guys here have used or think they soon will use a HANDGUN to hunt ELK,
I have done enought handgun deer hunting and archery ELK hunting to be reasonably sure that my skills and equipment are up to the task, yet somehow I seem to find myself almost always feeling that I should use my rifle even on the occasions when I get into reasonable handgun range (100 -125yards or less for me) with my 445 dan wesson super mag 10" that I frequently carry when ELK hunting as a side arm (which Ive taken for years fully intending on useing it on ELK) yet when the moment comes I have always used a rifle simply because I have it with me. now its not because I can,t shoot the revolver well, I can easily keep 4"-6" 100 yards groups from a sitting position, and its not due to a lack of power as I have repeatedly shot thru deer length wise, its just that I feel like a rifle is almost part of me! while a handgun is not quite so trusted. so this coming year if Im able to make it, Im seriously thinking of leaving the rifle at home!

your thoughts gentelmen?
BTW I load a 290 grain,to 320 grain gas check cast bullet to about 1300fps,-1400fps and its devestating on hogs and deer and Ive yet to recover a bullet as they all exit!

Ive killed more than enought ELK over the years that JUST getting any ELK is not important to me, I will, and have passed on ELK several times almost every year looking for a good bull, and several times that meant going home without filling my tag, (no big deal, been there done that, several times, as long as the HUNT was good and I had my chances ,NO REGRETS) but Im caught between two goals, one getting a reasonably good ELK with a HANDGUN,....SOMETHING I KNOW I CAN DO...,because Ive scored durring archery, and that nagging thought that (how will you feel holding a handgun thats only a valid tool in my hands to under 200 yards if the bull of a lifetime steps out at 300 yards.... that three hundred yard shot is easy, with my 340 wby mag, but Id ALWAYS REGRET loosing that chance if the bull was significantly larger than my present personal best. now the country I hunt in has damn few places where shots exceed 250 yards and IM totally SECURE in MY ABILITY TO MAKE SHOTS EVEN OFFHAND (with a sling and alittle time) at that range, with my 340 wby mag.
I think you can see my point,... yes I will more than likely just take the revolver, or take it as my only firearm, on alternate days (so I can revert to old trusted skills if I feel like it) yet I only get about three weeks of elk hunting spread over normally two states in a good year and only about 8-10 days some years so my time is precious to me,Id hate to find I passed up several shots in one season on good bulls simply because I was useing a less than ideal firearm,
ARCHERY SEASON is differant, I normally take a FULL 14 -16 day back pack hunt durring archery so the limits on the weapon and limited competition are not a big deal then. and I normally get several chances simply because of that limited competition and generous time available

but back to the main IDEA how do you and other guys feel about the chances of (anyone not just myself) taking an ELK useing a handgun ,durring rifle season?

 

[arizona jim]

I have been a little aprehensive myself with that subject. I have wondered if my .44 Mag would do the trick. 305 grain Corbon Penetrators @ 1200 fps. I have let my daughter hunt with them in a carbine rifle, but she has yet to get a shot opportunity inside of 100 yards. This I think is the maximum range for elk with that load.

The carbine has an 18" barrel which provides some extra velocity & more down range energy. This said, I think that I would limit myself to a fifty yard shot with the handgun as it only has a 9 1/2" barrel. If I can get into archery range I can get into handgun range.

The new S&W .500 Mag sounds good or a single shot firing a rifle round.

 

[subfan]

I take my Raging Bull in .454 just as a back up though.

 

[threeforks]

I have done the same thing several times. I have shot several deer and antelope with my 44 mag, and with black powder. I don't know why I allways have the rifle when I go elk hunting. Every year I tell myself this is the year I'll use the pistol, or the black powder, and then I take the 300 win. mag anyway. Maybe I'll get over it this year and just do it...

 

[doghouse95]

I'd take the first decent bull that walked out in front of me this year with your handgun.
These things are usually just a matter of confidence in your firearm. It's one of those intangible personal things that all of us have to deal with.
You will do fine, and end up with another good hunting story.
Life is all about doing new things. Repeating the old things over and over gets boring.
Go for it, leave your cannon at home this year...
Sorry about the cannon thing, I just couldn't help myself.....
But you do have to share this hunting story.....
Good luck

 

[nimrod620]

I hunted on a cow tag with a TC Encore. I used a 7/08 with a 140 gr partitions at 2650 fps. I wish I could tell you how it performed, but..., oh well. Next year, maybe. I wouldn't hesitate on a broadside shot under 200 yds.

 

[huntducks]

I 1981 I took a 5x5 bull at 30+ yards looking right at me, I was hunting ruffed grouse at a water hole with my shotgun when I had this bull walk right up on me from the back at first I thought it was another hunter as it was not quiet at all, I peeked over a stump that I was sitting against

I had a 41 mag on my hip just thinking I might get a shot at a deer, the first round hit him dead center of his chest as he was standing on a logging bench 5ft above me it knock him over backwards, he got up and started to go past me at about 20 yards down hill towards some timber my 2nd shot broke his shoulder and he went down I put a 3rd in his neck while he was flopping around trying to get on his feet, my first shot just missed his heart and just clipped his lung and exited behind his ribs, the 2nd one also went through both lungs and lodged in his hide far side, I don't remember what bullett I was using (Hornady???)other then it was 210grs and a reload.

This truely made for some very exciting action as I had taken some slugs with me but while ejecting the bird loads and trying to be quite I got two shells stuck in my 870 at one time having done this before and knowing the only easy way to clear it is to take the barrel off and knowing I did not have all day,so hence my first and only handgun elk.