In Your Opinion…What’s a Handgun?

[popgun]

In Your Opinion…What’s a Handgun?

Arkansas' criminal [Page 572] weapon statute, Act 696 of 1975,15

(2) For purposes of this section:

(a) "handgun" means any firearm with a barrel length of less than twelve (12) inches that is designed, made, or adapted to be fired with one hand.

Another section defines a handgun as: “A firearm capable of firing rimfire ammunition, or centerfire ammunition which is designed or constructed to be fired with one (1) hand.”

Sawed-off shotguns are prohibited to sell, own, transfer, or possess in most States, as well as sawed-off rifles.

So, what is the difference in a sawed-off rifle and some of the weapons sold today as handguns that shoot everything from .17 to the .300 Magnum calibers?

Many of these handguns have 14-16” barrels, and longer, and have a forearm for support as well as bi-pods.

I’d like to see someone shoot one of these with one hand.

I am a two-handed shooter with a handgun, but I don’t own one with a forearm.

If I remove the stock on my Winchester Trapper, and replace it with a handgun grip, does it now mystically become a handgun?

I always had a lot of respect for Larry Weishuhn, until he spoke out so much in defense of high fenced hunting, but was he really hunting with a handgun?

I noticed that he is no longer listed as one of the Realtree Pro-staffers.

He always said that he spent half of his time hunting for game, and the other half hunting for a tree, stump, rock, or something he could use for a solid rest.

My hunting handguns have anywhere between a 7.5” to 10” barrels, and the scopes are EER pistol scopes made to view with the handgun at an arms length.

I have noticed that many of the single shot handguns (?) that shoot these big game rifle cartridges are sporting scopes with only an 8” eye relief.

So….Where does a handgun end, and a short rifle begin?

....popgun

[VTbowman]

Re: In Your Opinion…What’s a Handgun?

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have noticed that many of the single shot handguns (?) that shoot these big game rifle cartridges are sporting scopes with only an 8” eye relief.

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I have yet to see a scope listed as a handgun scope with an eye relief that low. Not even close.

I do know some folks who mount rifles scope on lower power handgun for predator hunting long range, like a 223.

I am recently new to the Encore handgun scene.

I have a 300 Win Mag that has a 16" bbl, forend, and grip. It also has a Bushnell Elite 3200 2-6x32 scope with an eye relief of 18".

Tell me how I would shoot this effectively without holding it out far enough to maintain FOV. (???)

I also have a Encore 15" 209x50 ML pistol.

Basically the same frame and grip and it too has a scope. Burris 3-9x32 with just about the same eye relief.

I have shot these off a bench out to 100 yard and get 1.5" groups with both easily.

I also shoot off hand (no rest 2 handed) and yes I have shot them both with just one hand.

Not the best way since the recoil is massive but it can and is done.

I own revolvers and semis as well.

They are ALL handguns...

Just because they are made differently does not mean they are not handguns.

JMO

Hunting with these guns are more of a challenge vs a rifle; like hunting with a recurve or long bow can be over a compound.

They are all bows just some take more practice and restrict the hunter to a degree.

[Guest Clay008]

Re: In Your Opinion…What’s a Handgun?

Hmmm...

I would say a handgun is a weapon without a stock. This would be a weapon that you would hold in one or two hands around the grip. A weapon that would be held away from an individual to be fired instead of tucked into a shoulder.

You could argue that you could hold a rifle or a shotgun with a stock away from you and fire but, I think that would be awkward and hard to aim.

[Guest Xen]

Re: In Your Opinion…What’s a Handgun?

i have always considered a handgun to be the standard revolver or semi-auto pistol. if it shoots a shotgun shell or rifle cartridge, i classify them accordingly. if a gun shoots rifle ammo, then it's a rifle. i know the government tries, but classifying handguns the way the do is absurd, especially the ar-15s...

[VTbowman]

Re: In Your Opinion…What’s a Handgun?

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if a gun shoots rifle ammo, then it's a rifle.

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So these are rifles then...???

Encore .300 Win Mag

Encore 7mm08

Encore .223

Encore 209x50 ML

They look and act like handguns to me...

[Guest Xen]

Re: In Your Opinion…What’s a Handgun?

well, gee, i guess you got me there...

honestly, if i had to describe those guns to somebody, i would tell them they are singe-shot rifles with pistol grips. i know that an encore is a handgun that was designed to shoot rifle cartridges. and i know that, yes, those are classified as a handgun, but that wasn't the question.

when somebody tells me "hey, i just bought a new handgun" the first image that pops into my head is a semi-auto pistol like a sig or glock, and then sometimes a revolver... not a T&C encore.

[hangunnr]

Re: In Your Opinion…What’s a Handgun?

Interesting thread....

I personally don't have any pre conceived notions when I hear the word handgun. I have and enjoy all sorts of different handguns. I don't think classifying them by what they are chambered for works. How then do you explain the rifle stocked weapons that are chambered for cartridges such as the 357mag and the 44mag?

Are the break action or bolt action handguns in the same class as the small revolvers or semi autos....of course not but they aren't designed to be used in the same fashion either. The term speciality pistol gets thrown around in some circles. That is exactly what they are. They are designed for hunting and the other long range shooting sports. Does that make them anything other than handguns...I think not. The aforementioned optically sighted, 7.5-10" barreled handguns are in this class whether you think they are or not.

I've heard from some hunters ( none of which hunt with handguns) that it isn't fair and it's cheating to be able to use a gun that is capable of shooting farther than their slugguns. They seem to think it's easy to hit with one of these things. I just chuckle and ask them if they're interested in coming to the range with me to show me how easy it is. I haven't had a taker yet.

I think we should be darned happy that we live in a country where we have so many choices available to us when it comes to how we hunt.

hangunnr

[Guest Xen]

Re: In Your Opinion…What’s a Handgun?

I guess I kind of pulled off the basic question, which was In Your Opinion…What’s a Handgun?

Given the pictures of the guns VT showed, and having the choice of Handgun or Long Gun, I would choose Handgun.

[Guest TCScout]

Re: In Your Opinion…What’s a Handgun?

A handgun in its most simple and straightforward definition is a firearm designed to be controlled and held by the hands as opposed to a long-gun which is designed to be braced against the body.

One of the difficulties in handgunning is that in the absence of being able to brace the firearm against your body, you do not have as much ability to stabilize the firearm. With archery equipment there is the opposing forces between the grip hand and the string hand which aids in stability.

Not saying handguns are tougher than archery or rifles or any of that, but because of the manner in which they must be held and fired they do represent a fundament challenge with regards to stability. And it is this that makes it most difficult to handgun shoot and hunt in my opinion - regardless of caliber or style.

That is why in the hunting woods or field I believe handgunners must always seek a rest, unless the shot is relatively close and they are well practiced.

Handgunnr is spot on the money - it takes practice.