WB
My first experience handgun hunting was
Sunday, March 03, 2019, 16:01

with our .22 RF handguns. I had a Ruger 4-3/4" Std. MKI, a Ruger Bearcat, High Standard Longhorn 5.5" and a FIE SA 4-3/4". My buddy had a lone OM Ruger Single-Six 7.5" (I think). Not a bad collection to be exposed to shooting various birds, snakes, turtles, frogs, rabbits and an occasional squirrel. We roamed via horseback and trail bikes so handguns were handy to use, simply what we had with us. At the age of 14 we graduated to .44 Cap & ball 1858 Remington clones. We had real power then. All this was about the peak era of the mid 1970's where long range handgun shooting was in earnest. I borrowed my uncle's TC in .22 (Scoped) and .44 Mag with the hot-shot choke barrel. A real, specific designed hunting handgun. My first real handgun of my own that was noteworthy (discounting the .25 Beretta I traded for at 15) was a thundering Ruger Super Blackhawk .44 Magnum when I was 17. Reloading came shortly thereafter out of financial necessity, casting too. A box of (20) .44 Magnums was a half day's wages, you could get (50) .357s for the same. Had I began with a .357 I would be a much better shot than what I have to work with today! But I HAD to have a .44 Magnum. My first real big game animal was a hog with a .475 LB.