Any of you stop a charge with a handgun?

[Carnivore hunter]

Africa is a large continent made up of several countries, each of which has their own firearm laws. As such there is no answer to the question as to what firearms are allowed in "Africa". If however you mean are double action revolvers allowed in South Africa, then the answer is YES - providing they are designed for hunting as disctinct from self defense. The S&W X Frames would most likely be OK but hire one of the firearm permit services to confirm. For every other country you'll have to research individually. Your outfitter may be able to advise.

I use a 454 Casull and I don't think I'd like to face a charge with it, but I know it'd be better than a pointy stick.

You bio says your location is in Australia. Are you allowed to own a 454 Casull revolver there?

 

[Ontario Hunter]

I tried it once with my ex. She just waited till I went to work and bought the car anyway.

 

[mark-hunter]

Speaking of African DG hunt with pistols and revolvers i remember one report on this forum when elephant was lost. It was not charge, just gone away, wounded. (and paid for)

One only needs to compare, minimum energy rifle requirements fo DG hunting, to actual energy that pistol and revolver round delivers.

More over, minimum energy requirement for DG, is not even close to stopping power and energy requirement.
My 5 cents. But to each, his own.

 

[Carnivore hunter]

Speaking of African DG hunt with pistols and revolvers i remember one report on this forum when elephant was lost. It was not charge, just gone away, wounded. (and paid for)

One only needs to compare, minimum energy rifle requirements fo DG hunting, to actual energy that pistol and revolver round delivers.

More over, minimum energy requirement for DG, is not even close to stopping power and energy requirement.
My 5 cents. But to each, his own.

What would you say is the window/numbers of where you want that energy requirement and stopping power at for dangerous game? And what caliber? 577 the minimum ?

 

[steve white]

Stopped a seedy character at a gas pump once.
What would be the rationale for using a pistol, when you should be putting your rifle to work do or die.

 

[Carnivore hunter]

Stopped a seedy character at a gas pump once.
What would be the rationale for using a pistol, when you should be putting your rifle to work do or die.

What if your rifle has a malfunction of any kind and the animal charges and all you have left is your sidearm? Bad things do happen when hunting dangerous game.

 

[Ontario Hunter]

What if your rifle has a malfunction of any kind and the animal charges and all you have left is your sidearm? Bad things do happen when hunting dangerous game.

Right. I see they just found those two savy young elk hunters who've been missing in Colorado. Both killed by lightning strike. I'm guessing they were standing together.

Shit happens sometimes. I'm not hunting with body armor or a grounded tinfoil hat.

 

[Carnivore hunter]

Right. I see they just found those two savy young elk hunters who've been missing in Colorado. Both killed by lightning strike. I'm guessing they were standing together.

Shit happens sometimes. I'm not hunting with body armor or a grounded tinfoil hat.

 

[Ontario Hunter]

I've seen plenty of charging buffalo videos. Can't remember one where a rifle malfunctioned and shooter was saved by his handgun. My best PH sometimes carried a 9mm handgun ... for defense against two-legged attackers. Or to finish off a wounded animal if client was okay with it. And I was. Why use up my ammo? Anyway two big rifles should be plenty enough to stop dangerous game. A handgun sufficient to POTENTIALLY do any significant damage would be a lot of extra weight.

 

[Red Leg]

When you know Lynn & get past the facade he is a really good bloke !

Not many general handguns are big enough to stop the Pachyderms or Bovines, some are close & better than a stick.

I have “stopped” lots of “Trophy” animals for my Hand Gun & Bow Hunters from “escaping , that later went on to gain high ranking in record books, so in reality no true accounts were made .

Howdha Pistols were made to stop charges of Dangerous Game up to at least Tiger - Lion size & up to .73 caliber/12bores .

I own a couple (note the metal loop for hanging a pair in the howdah. I think "last chance" option would be a better description than a handgun designed to actually 'stop" a tiger climbing into the Howdah with the hunter. Making sure the hunter and rifle shoots exactly where it is supposed to seems a much more effective solution.

 

[Hunter4752001]

@Carnivore hunter Yes, we can own 454 Casulls in Australia.

A handgun suitable for big game hunting will be a large and heavy piece. A tool for the specialist handgun hunter, not something that is taken along "just in case'.

 

[mark-hunter]

What would you say is the window/numbers of where you want that energy requirement and stopping power at for dangerous game? And what caliber? 577 the minimum ?

I am not the expert, so i will draw from industry practices.
Energy is not the only variable.
Each bullet that hits the brain will stop the charge, this is not the issue.

But the issue is to stun the animal with marginal head shot.
John Ponodro Taylor developped the theory with his knock out value calculation.
Frontal area plays the role as well.
So, i would say, calibers over 45 apply for stopping duty, no upper limit. Upper limitations will be recoil and weight of rifle, that owner can handle.

 

[Sarg]

I own a couple (note the metal loop for hanging a pair in the howdah. I think "last chance" option would be a better description than a handgun designed to actually 'stop" a tiger climbing into the Howdah with the hunter. Making sure the hunter and rifle shoots exactly where it is supposed to seems a much more effective solution.

Mines only a .577 Snider, small compared to the 12bore models but I think 20bore 16bore & 12bore were made to stop a Big Cat ?

It seems you did to back on this post ?

 

[Red Leg]

Mines only a .577 Snider, small compared to the 12bore models but I think 20bore 16bore & 12bore were made to stop a Big Cat ?

View attachment 717067


It seems you did to back on this post ?

View attachment 717069

I wrote then what its purpose was - and a bit tongue in cheek at that. I did not offer an opinion then whether or not it would be particularly effective in that role. I did above. Though certainly a last ditch defense is better than none at all. And after all, Val Kilmer did kill a lion with one.

 

[mark-hunter]

Two worst hangun recoil ever experienced by me was tc contender in 30-30 single shot, and some 44 magnum revolver from 2 inch barrel.
While contender had at least some meaningful accuracy, 44 mag snub nose did not at all.

I wonder, if putting some real dg caliber in a handgun, how that would feel? This all reduces a meaningful purpose.

One other thing i noticed. Multiple guns in a single outing during the hunt, bring a bit of confusion, and dealays in changing the hand. I found that having one trusty gun, on a single stalk, makes me focused on best practical use of that particular weapon.
So, for me, i would choose best practical rifle, and caliber for specific dg hunt.
This is for Africa.

At home, once a bear saw with cub was visting my feeder in hunting area.
When i was refillimg the feeder with corn, i carried 7.62x25 tokarev.
But i did not fool my self, with some stopping power of that pistol.
Shooting the brain, with enough accuracy during eventual charge was my hope for such event.
However the charge never happened.
7.62 mm TT has high penetration, and would pass the scull.
Thats it.

 

[Carnivore hunter]

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[Sarg]

I wrote then what its purpose was - and a bit tongue in cheek at that. I did not offer an opinion then whether or not it would be particularly effective in that role. I did above. Though certainly a last ditch defense is better than none at all. And after all, Val Kilmer did kill a lion with one.

Haha I was just joshing with you, well done, I still think that however.

On that, it would be great to have any info on it actually being used in that role from a Elephant or Machan

I’m sure this guy would love one to swap for his stick ?

That Bushwhacker thing was in that other thread, quite extreme.

 

[BeeMaa]

Stopping an African DG charge with a pistol (using a typical pistol caliber) would be extremely unlikely. Even if the bullets could penetrate to the brain (most will not), hitting the target would be as much luck as skill.

I’ll stick with my rifle. If it malfunctions, I’ll try to clear it or use it the best I can for some sort of defense…although probably futile.

Honestly, if I were to die hunting DG, it would be a good death. Tragic for sure, but there are so many other worse ways to go. And if you are going in the field for DG, it’s best to get comfortable with this. It’s called DANGEROUS for a reason. Prepare accordingly.

 

[Carnivore hunter]

Stopping an African DG charge with a pistol (using a typical pistol caliber) would be extremely unlikely. Even if the bullets could penetrate to the brain (most will not), hitting the target would be as much luck as skill.

I’ll stick with my rifle. If it malfunctions, I’ll try to clear it or use it the best I can for some sort of defense…although probably futile.

Honestly, if I were to die hunting DG, it would be a good death. Tragic for sure, but there are so many other worse ways to go. And if you are going in the field for DG, it’s best to get comfortable with this. It’s called DANGEROUS for a reason. Prepare accordingly.

I personally would want a sidearm on me just in case my rifle were to malfunction or ran out of ammo and the animal charges before I could reload in time. Drop the rifle and pull out a revolver chambered in 500 S&W, or 500 Linebaugh. It might not stop it in it's tracks but it could possibly hurt it enough...

I think this bullet below would hurt a buffalo just enough to give me a better chance to live...

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In post #12 on the first page of this thread, Lynn Thompson killed a charging water buffalo with a 454 Casull revolver.

The 500 JRH has taken cape buffalo in Africa too...

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[SafariCurious]

Wussies carry sidearms for DG protection, manly men carry a knife:

And if you take this comment too seriously, you need to lighten up and learn to spot humor.