At first glance, handgun hunting seems odd to many hunters. Why limit yourself to a shorter-range shot with a handgun when a scoped rifle is so capable at hundreds of yards? But the distance—and the challenge—is part of the appeal for handgun hunters. Like bowhunters, they enjoy getting up close and personal with the game they hunt, and the added challenge of making a tougher shot under pressure is a thrilling bonus.
If you’re going to pursue deer, hogs or other big- to medium-sized game with a handgun, you need the right equipment for the job. Traditionally, that has meant a revolver, usually a double-action, in a big, powerful cartridge like .44 Magnum, .480 Ruger, .454 Casull, .500 S&W Magnum or something similar. These days, semi-automatics are starting to see some use in hunting, particularly in 10mm.
Before you start shopping, check your state laws about any minimum requirements or restrictions. Once that’s out of the way, take a look at these popular options to see if one of these hunting handguns will work for you.
Ruger Super Redhawk
A classic double-action revolver, the Ruger Super Redhawk comes in .44 Rem Mag, .454 Casull, .480 Ruger and 10 mm Auto, as well as .22 Hornet if you have small game in mind. It’s made of stainless steel for durability and corrosion resistance, with a strong, extended frame that has extra medal in the top strap, sidewalls and barrel mounting areas to handle powerful big-game loads. The transfer bar mechanism provides additional protection against an accidental discharge, and the Hogue Tamer Monogrip has an internal recoil cushion to help reduce the impact of the powerful loads this gun fires—or add a custom grip if you prefer. It’s dual-chambered, so the .44 Mag models will accept factory .44 Special cartridge and the .454 Casull models will accept factory .45 Colt cartridges. It’s got a cold hammer-forged barrel, replaceable red ramp insert front sight with adjustable rear sight, and integral mounts machined into the barrel rib for mounting a scope with the included rings. MSRP: $1,499.
Taurus Raging Hunter
The Taurus Raging Hunter won the NRA’s Golden Bullseye award for “best hunting handgun” in 2019, thanks to its innovative design, reliability and value. This DA/SA revolver comes chambered in .500 S&W Mag, .460 S&W Mag, .454 Casull, .357 Mag and .44 Mag in a variety of barrel lengths. The top Picatinny rail makes mounting optics and accessories simple, while the cushioned grip makes shooting heavy loads as comfortable as it can be. The target barrel crown enhances accuracy, and custom porting helps reduce muzzle rise and felt recoil. Interestingly, the cylinder is unfluted, providing an unconventional look but for a good reason: It increases the weight of the gun, which in turn helps reduce felt recoil. Unloaded, this gun (in .500 S&W Mag with the 8.37-inch barrel) weighs more than 4 pounds. MSRP starts at $1,069 depending on the chambering and barrel length you choose.
S&W 350 Legend
Many Smith & Wesson revolvers are popular for handgun hunting, but hunters who live in straight-wall cartridge states should take a look at the Model 350 in the X-Frame series. The X-Frame is designed to give maximum power for handgun hunters, and the SA/DA M350 Legend is perfect for hunting medium-sized game. It has a fluted, seven-shot cylinder, a ported barrel to tame recoil, a red ramp front sight, moon clips (included), a strong stainless steel frame and barrel, a 7.5-inch barrel and a weight of 71.5 ounces. S&W makes a number of models in the X-Frame size that are ideal for handgun hunting, but if you live in a state that requires straight-walled centerfire cartridges, the Model 350 is for you. MSRP is $1,679.
Glock 40 MOS 10mm
If a semiauto is more your speed, you’re probably looking at a 10mm, and Glock’s no-nonsense 40 MOS(Modular Optic System) is a great choice. It’s got a long slide and 6-inch barrel for increased velocity, with a modular backstrap design and reversible magazine catch, so you can customize the grip to fit your hand size. The MOS configuration makes it simple to mount a sight on the slide without a separate mounting system. Of course, one major benefit to a semi is the increased magazine capacity, and this gun holds 15+1. Loaded, it weighs 44.62 ounces, making it a relative lightweight compared to the other guns in this article, which might be handy if you plan to carry it a long way or use it as a backup gun when you’re rifle hunting dangerous game. It’s also the most affordable gun on our list, with a real-world price around $700.
