Hand guns

Calhoun · Apr 1, 2009

Any one out there do any hand gun hunting in Africa? I have used hand guns sucessfully in the states on Deer but have never taken one to Africa! Having won many pistol championships in metallic Silhouette the skills are there but shooting steel a target goes down you get a score in real life a lousy hit could be a lost target! Having shot deer out of a tree stand and getting all the time you need for an ethical shot is great, but I know from my 2 safari's I usually had little time to set up & complete the shot. Which keeps me bringing my trusty rifle!
I have shot deer with a 357 revolver, a 30/30 T/C, and my Rem XP 100 in 308. The 308 is the gun I plan on bringing to Africa someday probably in 10 -15 years when I take the grand kids on there first safari! By then I should have the trophies I want and not worry if I don't get a shot off!

Skyline · Apr 4, 2009

No I have not. I think it would be a blast. Unfortunately our Canadian government and the urban population are pretty much anti-handgun. We have had to register handguns since the 1940's yet, surprise, surprise, the criminal element and especially the gangs have no problem acquiring them.

I can legally own a handgun for target shooting but that is it. There are a few provinces where you can get a wilderness carry permit after jumping through the hoops, but you can't use them for hunting.

It is too bad that people cannot look at these things rationally.............

I have a friend in Florida that has done a fair amount of handgun hunting in Africa. He is using a T/C I believe and has taken a lot of plains game with it, but none of the big stuff as of yet.

dragman · Feb 17, 2011

Gotta say I would love to hunt africa with my 500 S&W I know it would give me limitations but it would sure be fun!!!

RickP · Feb 17, 2011

Calhoun said:
Any one out there do any hand gun hunting in Africa? I have used hand guns sucessfully in the states on Deer but have never taken one to Africa! Having won many pistol championships in metallic Silhouette the skills are there but shooting steel a target goes down you get a score in real life a lousy hit could be a lost target! Having shot deer out of a tree stand and getting all the time you need for an ethical shot is great, but I know from my 2 safari's I usually had little time to set up & complete the shot. Which keeps me bringing my trusty rifle!
I have shot deer with a 357 revolver, a 30/30 T/C, and my Rem XP 100 in 308. The 308 is the gun I plan on bringing to Africa someday probably in 10 -15 years when I take the grand kids on there first safari! By then I should have the trophies I want and not worry if I don't get a shot off!

I went to RSA in 2009 with a .30-06 rifle plus two handguns, a Ruger Super Redhawk in .480 Ruger and an Encore in .308 Win. Of the seven plains game animals I took, I only used the rifle on the Greater Kudu, everything else was with the handguns. If you love hunting with handguns, there's no reason to leave them behind! Just pick good bullets and practice alot from shooting sticks before you go. And for a revolver, I'd select a heavy-for-caliber bullet. I shot a 325 gr. Hornady XTP in my Ruger but will go with a 400 gr. solid next time. (And yes, there will be a next time, just like you after you get back from your first trip

)

dragman · Feb 18, 2011

RickP said:
I went to RSA in 2009 with a .30-06 rifle plus two handguns, a Ruger Super Redhawk in .480 Ruger and an Encore in .308 Win. Of the seven plains game animals I took, I only used the rifle on the Greater Kudu, everything else was with the handguns. If you love hunting with handguns, there's no reason to leave them behind! Just pick good bullets and practice alot from shooting sticks before you go. And for a revolver, I'd select a heavy-for-caliber bullet. I shot a 325 gr. Hornady XTP in my Ruger but will go with a 400 gr. solid next time. (And yes, there will be a next time, just like you after you get back from your first trip )

So since you have handgun hunted africa what animals do you believe would be out of the question for my S&W 500 with a 500 grain solid??

enysse · Feb 18, 2011

Other than maybe cape buffalo and elephant....none. Though people hunt the cape buffalo and elephant with bow and arrow still.

I don't know the legal issues with a a handgun....but would say that in all honesty it could take down everything!

RickP · Feb 18, 2011

With that gun, I suppose it would probably depend on what the PH and country will allow. I know that I am planning on attempting a cape buffalo with my .480.

Jamesfromjersey · Feb 20, 2012

dragman said:
So since you have handgun hunted africa what animals do you believe would be out of the question for my S&W 500 with a 500 grain solid??

Soon after the S&W 500 was introduced, an American named Mark Hampton took elephant and Cape buff with the gun and a number more buff have been taken since his hunt..... I can definetly understand what Calhoun says above about handgunhunting whitetail from a stand and then going to Africa for the "5 second" shot". The first time I went to the eastern Cape with a 416 rifle and my FA`s 454 and hunted in the open I wound up using the rifle more then the revover. However, with your shooting skills and a XP in 308 you will have no problems taking plains game.

ThomasBeaham · Feb 20, 2012

I watched an episode of "Safari Hunter's Journal with Steve Scott" last night on the HUNT channel.
Steve was hunting with Reinhard Heuser on Kwalata Wilderness in RSA.
He shot a cow Elephant with a .500 revolver topped with Aimpoint optics.
One frontal brain shot brought the cow down immediately. Then he made an insurance shot to the chest of the downed cow upon the request by Reinhard.
It appeared to me the .500 revolver was well suited for the task.

Ty

Ethan · Feb 23, 2012

I have used a 500 with 350 gr. Hornady rounds on Gemsbok and Springbok. It is a beast and worked great. I suspect you can take anything on the concession with a 500.

edward · Feb 23, 2012

my wife and i have hunted africa 4 different times.we are handgun hunters only.i have two stories on the site and over 100 pics on the site under the name of edward.being computer stupid i couldnt tell you how to bring up our pics.we've taken everything from ground rodents to my elephant this last march with c&m safaris in zimbabwe,with handguns.it can be done.need a leopard and rino to complete the big 5.want my wife to get the leopard and ill take a hipo,but i dont want a rino.just to much money,would rather use that money to go back to africa a couple of times before i get to old,73 now and mite already be to old,but willing to try again anyway.edward

Hand guns

Calhoun

Skyline

dragman

RickP

dragman

enysse

RickP

Jamesfromjersey

ThomasBeaham

Ethan

edward

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