Handgun hunting

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HoLeChit

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So I keep going in to cabelas, and I keep ogling some poor saps old smith collection that he sold them. Kinda breaks my heart. But I want another Smith and Wesson revolver. My 610 is getting lonely. And every time I am in the woods I wish I either had a long barrel 22 pistol for squirrels while I’m hunting hogs or a long barrel 357 or 10mm for hogs while I’m hunting squirrels. So this comes down to two questions:

one: handgun hunting, or at least hunting with a handgun for a secondary game animal; is it worth it? What are your thoughts and experiences?

two: I was looking at the two pictured revolvers: a Smith 586 with 6” barrel for 999, and a 27-4 with 8 3/8 barrel for 1399. I’m not familiar with smith prices, are these at least fair? Which would you pick, and why?

Im also open to some reading suggestions to get me better acquainted with mith and Wesson revolvers.

B57EDE11-94AF-4518-879A-0DCD7BC69637.jpeg
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Aries

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I dunno... not sure I've kept up with prices all that well but they seem high to me. Are these new or used? I've seen used 586's not that long ago for more like $800 - ish. No idea on the 27. I could be all wrong though, especially if they're new.

Actually, just looked and MSRP on a model 27 is $1073 although with a shorter barrel. But then you got to find one.

Don't just take my word for it, but I'd look around a little before I paid that if it was me.

https://www.smith-wesson.com/product/model-27
https://www.smith-wesson.com/product/model-586
 

HoLeChit

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I dunno... not sure I've kept up with prices all that well but they seem high to me. Are these new or used? I've seen used 586's not that long ago for more like $800 - ish. No idea on the 27. I could be all wrong though, especially if they're new.

Actually, just looked and MSRP on a model 27 is $1073 although with a shorter barrel. But then you got to find one.

Don't just take my word for it, but I'd look around a little before I paid that if it was me.

https://www.smith-wesson.com/product/model-27
https://www.smith-wesson.com/product/model-586
I’m willing to bet they’re used. They’re part of a really nice 30+ gun collection in cabelas used gun room. Have they been shot? Knowing some smith collectors I bet it’s a 50/50 chance. I bought my 10ish year old 610 from a collection and I’m pretty sure it hasn’t been fired since the factory. Well, until I went out and shot all sorts of crappy ammo through it.
 

diggler1833

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That 27-4 is about $400 high, even with today's prices. A 27-2 in 8-3/8" with presentation case and all paperwork doesn't stand a good chance at fetching $1,400. Now if it were a shorter barrel length, it can be significantly more valuable...but it isn't.

The 586 has certainly gone up. $1K should include a mint revolver with box and paperwork though.

I doubt Cabelas will budge on price, but there's no need for you to get gouged.
 

diggler1833

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As far as hunting: I always carry a pistol on me, and us usually an M&P40. Before some make fun of me; I've killed three hogs, a bobcat, and probably at least a dozen each of armadillos , skunks, snakes, and opossums with that .40.

Mine usually only gets pulled out however to finish off an animal as most of the time I have a rifle handy. However ive had pretty good luck initiating killing with it too (see above).

I'd probably look at a 686. You can liad light .38 fir squirrels, and heavy hardcast .357 for hogs.
 

Hangfire

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Never got around to hunting with revolvers but for several years I hunted deer and squirrels solely with single shot TC Contender and Encore handguns.

I can still vividly remember my first deer taken with a handgun, it was a scoped 10" barrel TC Contender chambered in 7mmTCU (.223 necked up to 7mm)........not really alarmed she was looking dead at me from around 80 to 85 yards, I had a solid rest and I aimed for the center of the white patch on her neck and she dropped where she stood.

7mmTCU.jpg
 

GnometownHero

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I have shot 9 deer with my 7 1/2" Ruger Bisley 45. Preferred load is +P 300 gr JSP. One shot DRT every time.
I take a comfy chair, limb saw a hole in a bushy cedar so I can back into it, get comfy, pour a cup of coffee, lay the Bisley on my fat belly. I have killed 6 within 10 yds.
Longest shot was about 120 yds resting on top of a gate post, shot blew a hole through both shoulders and dropped the fork horn on his chin DRT
 

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