Each year, more handgun hunters are afield. Some hunt because they want to extend the use of their favorite handgun. Others, and we feel they are the majority, have fully experienced rifle hunting and wish to move up to a more challenging activity. After all, hitting a game animal with a handgun means great stalking techniques to reduce the range, developing a steady stance, and successfully dealing with a more arched trajectory. This is a truly great shooting sport if challenge makes your heart beat faster .

Many handgun hunters are reloaders. Today, the hunter afield with handloads has a terrific selection of fine hunting bullets. Many are made by Speer®.

Bullet choice is a function of the game you're seeking and the handgun you use. It is also a function of where you hunt. Some states specify only certain cartridges for big game. Others specify a muzzle energy, or energy at 100 yards. Some states demand 500 ft-lbs energy at 100 yards. That one excludes anything with less "go" than a 44 Magnum. Check with the state game agency to learn and understand handgun hunting regulations before committing to the hunt. That should be the first item on your "to-do" list for the hunt.

Let's look at game types, and the handgun cartridges and bullets that work. Obvioulsy, there are many more cartridges than we discuss. If you favorite isn't mentioned, try to match it up with the power level of one that is.

Varmint Hunting

Taking small varmints with a handgun is a terrific way to sharpen your eye. Many varmint hunters use special single-shot pistols chambered for rifle varmint cartridges like the 22 Hornet or the 223 Remington. Some of these handguns can take a prairie dog at 200 yards. In this case, the appropriate caliber rifle bullet of varmint construction is the ticket. Velocity is high enough that the bullet expands nicely and trajectories are relatively flat from a handgun.

If you're after varmints with a revolver or semi-auto pistol, look to the lightest hollow points. In 38 Special or 357, the Speer 110 gr hollow point is the ticket. You've need velocity to expand the bullet at long range, but you'll likely find that you still must to limit shots to 50-75 yards due to the arched trajectory common to conventional handguns. 115 grain Gold Dots in an accurate 9mm Luger pistol will work, as will the 32 H&R Magnum with our 85 gr JHP.

Medium Game (whitetail deer, antelope, hogs, smaller black bear)

Now we've upped the ante. The 22 centerfires are out. However, single-shot pistols are available chambered for cartridges like the 30-30 Winchester, 308 Winchester, and many other excellent deer cartridges including some belted Magnums. When loading these, look at to mid-weight soft point bullets to insure expansion. In a 30 caliber, the 150 grain weight is excellent. For the 270 and 7mm cartridges, soft point bullets in the 120 to 145 grain range are good. Avoid bullets with massive jackets; the velocity from a pistol will lower than for rifle and expansion may be uncertain.

The minimum deer cartridge for revolvers is the 357 Magnum. Choose a revolver with at least a six-inch barrel for better velocity. We like the 158 grain hollow points for the 357 Magnum. We also make a 170 grain Gold Dot soft point for hunting that demands maximum penetration from the 357 Magnum. Avoid light bullets.

The 41 Magnum should be loaded with the Gold Dot 210 grain hollow point. Also popular is our 41-caliber 200 grain JHP-SWC. This bullet, although an older design, has an excellent track record on medium game.

The 44 Magnum is excellent with enough bullet. We recommend that you keep bullets weights between 200 and 240 grains; some of the 180 grain bullets out there are of light construction. Our 210 grain Gold Dot HP is a perfect choice. Whether you use a hollow point or soft point is your call. Just remember that many soft points require 1300 ft/sec to start expanding; you're looking a six-inch barrel again.

We cannot recommend the 45 Colt unless you have a heavy-frame revolver that will tolerate the 25,000 psi loads in the Speer manual. If you have a Colt Single Action or an S&W double-action, we can't recommend those loads, and standard pressure 45 Colt loads are just a little light on energy. Sure, people have taken deer with this and less powerful cartridges, but they've also wounded many.

Load the 480 Ruger with the new 275 grain Gold Dot HP for deer. It's awesome.

The usefulness of the conventional semi-auto pistol begins to run out when you get to medium game. The smallest cartridge that we can recommend for deer is the 10mm Auto. Load 180 grain Gold Dot hollow point bullets to maximum safe velocities.

If you're after bear, consider switching to soft points for deeper penetration.

Large Game (large mule deer, elk, caribou, larger black bear)

We're now into the realm of the "Super-Guns." The 41 Magnum loaded with our 210 grain Gold Dot HP or 220 grain JSP-SWC is the minimum. The 44 Magnum, again with a six-inch or longer barrel, is even better. Choose the 240 grain, 270 grain, and 300 grain soft points loaded to the permissible maximum velocity.

The 454 Casull is incredibly powerful. The only bullet we recommend for full-pressure loads is the Gold Dot 300 gr. HP. Its massive jacket is designed to stand up to 454 pressures and velocities.

The 480 Ruger and 475 Linebaugh should be loaded with 325 or 400 grain Gold Dot soft points. These should shoot through an elk with a broadside shot.

For semi-autos, the 50 Action Express is about the only cartridge that fills the bill for the largest, non-dangerousgame. However, a 44 Mag semi-auto loaded with soft points will do just as well as in a revolver. The 50 AE should be loaded with the 325 gr Uni-Cor hollow point.

What about dangerous game?

Some animals you're after could come after you. We can't recommend that any handgun be your only firearm unless you have a guide or buddy backing you up with a big rifle. Even then, choose the most powerful handgun with the heavy soft point bullets. In such a case, the handgun bullet may provide equal penetration, but still loses the power battle to the rifle.
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We hope this gives you a start into selecting the right handgun and bullet. If you've never tried handgun hunting, consider it when you think you've become too good with a rifle!