Can you hunt with a pistol? And should you?
By far, the most popular hunting tool in the world is the rifle, and this holds true for the airgun hunter as well. It provides ease of use, a steady platform, and a longer sight plane for the beginning and intermediate hunter.
However, if you hunt often, the day may come when bagging your game, though still exciting, becomes almost predictable. When that happens, many hunters lose their sense of excitement, or try and up the challenge level by extending their range at which they will take shots.
Another way to increase the enjoyment of the hunt is to switch gear, and to try something a little different. If nailing your prey with a rifle has gained some yawn factor, then consider using a pistol to up the challenge.
I went hunting this morning with a little gem of a pistol called the LD. The LD pistol is the brainchild of Larry Durham, and is a custom rig that is phenomenal in its accuracy and shoot-ability. In .22 caliber, this gun is very suitable for small game and pests. The squirrel I shot this morning was shot at over 25 yards.....with a pistol!
Other guns that provide the needed power for pistol-based hunting are the RWS 5G Magnum, Beeman's P1, the Benjamin HB series, Crosman's 1377 and 2240, the Evanix pistols, some Brocock pistols, and of course the custom high-power pistols of individual makers, some of which are hard to find! This isn't an exhaustive list by any means, but gives you an idea of what is out there for consideration.
The Benjamin Sheridan HB Series Pistol
Mastering the hunt with a pistol often requires more patience, more practice, and a willingness to pass on shots that you would have certainly taken with a rifle. But if you go into the pistol hunt with the right attitude, it becomes an enormous amount of fun.....after all, hunting with an airgun is just like bowhunting....it's about how close you can get, not how far you can shoot!
For sighting aids, many hunters opt for better optics on their pistols. You need a long eye-relief scope for most pistol applications, though some folks enjoy holding the pistol closer and can use a rifle-type eye-relief. Others like the electronic red-dots, and I've used them before myself with good success. It really is a judgment call on your part as to what you enjoy using the most and feel the most comfortable with.
Tech Force's economical red dot sight
So if you want a challenge, or are getting close to the edge of boredom with rifles, then try a pistol for your next hunt. They are fun, adequate, and easy to pack around in the field.
However, if you hunt often, the day may come when bagging your game, though still exciting, becomes almost predictable. When that happens, many hunters lose their sense of excitement, or try and up the challenge level by extending their range at which they will take shots.
Another way to increase the enjoyment of the hunt is to switch gear, and to try something a little different. If nailing your prey with a rifle has gained some yawn factor, then consider using a pistol to up the challenge.
I went hunting this morning with a little gem of a pistol called the LD. The LD pistol is the brainchild of Larry Durham, and is a custom rig that is phenomenal in its accuracy and shoot-ability. In .22 caliber, this gun is very suitable for small game and pests. The squirrel I shot this morning was shot at over 25 yards.....with a pistol!
Other guns that provide the needed power for pistol-based hunting are the RWS 5G Magnum, Beeman's P1, the Benjamin HB series, Crosman's 1377 and 2240, the Evanix pistols, some Brocock pistols, and of course the custom high-power pistols of individual makers, some of which are hard to find! This isn't an exhaustive list by any means, but gives you an idea of what is out there for consideration.
The Benjamin Sheridan HB Series Pistol
Mastering the hunt with a pistol often requires more patience, more practice, and a willingness to pass on shots that you would have certainly taken with a rifle. But if you go into the pistol hunt with the right attitude, it becomes an enormous amount of fun.....after all, hunting with an airgun is just like bowhunting....it's about how close you can get, not how far you can shoot!
For sighting aids, many hunters opt for better optics on their pistols. You need a long eye-relief scope for most pistol applications, though some folks enjoy holding the pistol closer and can use a rifle-type eye-relief. Others like the electronic red-dots, and I've used them before myself with good success. It really is a judgment call on your part as to what you enjoy using the most and feel the most comfortable with.
Tech Force's economical red dot sight
So if you want a challenge, or are getting close to the edge of boredom with rifles, then try a pistol for your next hunt. They are fun, adequate, and easy to pack around in the field.
posted by Randy Mitchell at
8:47 AM
1 Comments:
For the purpose of informing us of upcoming Air Gun shows, can you put together a list of upcoming events in Fall/Winter/Spring 2009 - 2010?
My point of interest is the Little Rock and area.
This would be most helpful in trying to pre-plan a trip to see what's going on.
Thanks!
By
Anonymous, At
12:00 PM, September 25, 2009
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