Just a random question.......I consider myself a "handgunner" primarily. I used to shoot a lot of rifles, and still enjoy stuff like AR15's and bolt action 30-06 rifles, but 99.9% of the time when I'm planning a trip to the range, it's all about the handguns.

Has anyone else pretty much gone all handgun for their "hobby" shooting, and maybe have a few rifles and shotguns as "tools"? That's pretty much where I'm at right now.

I have been experimenting with 1-200 yard handgun shooting with my Ruger Super Redhawk, and I am getting into the "hand cannons" more and have a desire for a .500 S&W. I think the more I get into the super-powerful revolvers, I will have even less interest in high powered rifles.

I have yo-yoed between handgun-rifle action for years. I love doing rifle accuracy work looking for sub-MOA groups. Handgun accuracy quests offer some of the same challenges. One thing for sure, when you get into the arthritis phase of your life it is a whole lot easier to take two or three handguns to the range than two or three rifles for ammo or gun testing. Not as far to go to put up a target, and everything, guns, ammo, rests, etc., is lighter. Even with "hand cannons."

Yes.
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Still Running Against the Wind

Yes sir i do consider myself primarily a handgun enthusiast.

Enthusiast? Yes without a doubt BUT you must realize a handgun does have limitations. It is ALWAYS available but there are usually much better options for defense.

Let's see, currently I have 30+ handguns, 5 rifles and 0 shotguns.
Two of the rifles I haven't shot, the other three havn't been to the range in a couple of years.
(I also have 4 original 19th Century percussion rifles and haven't got around to shooting them either.)

So I guess I must be handgunner...........

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Dean
SWCA #680 SWHF #446

I do, I do. The bullet ratio is probably 10,000 to 1

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Shoot fast & live long
Warren

ive gone primarily handgun as my situation has changed to one that just dont support regular use of longarms
before I moved, if it had a trigger, I pulled it

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it just needs more voltage

I've got three modern rifles, and at least six times that many handguns, mostly pre-lock S&W revolvers.

I don't have any place to shoot a rifle now, and nobody to shoot with, so my rifles stay in the safe.

My handgun to long gun ratio is 35 to 0.
My revolver to semi-auto ratio is 34 to 1.

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Dick

I think I have Always been more of a handgunner. I do have a decent brace of rifles that will do everything I need of them, until I decide to go to Alaska or Africa, as I have nothing in the .338 up class.

I'm embarrassed to say that I don't have a single field worthy shotgun. Only two riot 12ga pumps.

I feel where you're coming from regarding the long range handgunning and "hand cannons". I got into that when I was in my early 20s. If you don't have one, you really need to get a Freedom Arms .454. The T/C encore would be my 2nd choice. I've had a contender for years, and they're alot of fun when they're your primary focus.

I find myself wanting to bring just one or two handguns to the range nowadays, and have alot more that I "want to do" with different pistols than the time I have to actually go out and do it.

My 2012 resolution is to have more fun at the range.

When I go shooting it's always hand guns I take along with me, two or three most times plus my carry gun.

I have two ARs I built this year I haven't even shot yet. My safe is over full of long guns I haven't shot in years. I'm thinking of selling some off as I don't see myself using them much anymore.

So yes I'm more a hand gunner than anything too.

I like handguns more than rifles or shotguns, I have not shot a rifle in years. I just stick to my 44's

Now that you raise the question, I guess I fit the bill. Only a few long guns, none of them shotguns. Lots of revolvers, the vast majority of them C&R. So not only am I handgun enthusiast, I am an OLD handgun enthusiast.

In all senses of the word, alas.

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David Wilson

My "accumulation" runs primarily to handguns, and that's what I shoot when I go to the range. I do have tools, one battle rifle, one ranch rifle, a couple .22's, a .30-.30, a .45-70, some black powder gear, and 5 shotguns of various guage and intent. Most of my handguns are Smith revolvers, though I have three semiautos, none of them Smiths.

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Even older, even crankier....

Affirmative. I like my long guns, but they are outnumbered and raised the white flag some time ago!

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RIP Shipmate

I know I like handgun reloading about a hundred times more than I enjoy rifle reloading. And a few of the rifles have left with less than half of them remaining. And yet the handguns have grown several times over.

Still have a dozen good rifles from .222 Rem, .220 Swift to a few AR's and AK's. Then big game guns from .257 Roberts, to .280 Rem/.280 AI, a .338-06 , a pair of .300 H&H's, and my trusty old .375 H&H M-70. Also have a dozen nice .22 rifles; Kimber, Volquartsen, a few old Winchesters, my boyhood 39M Marlin, Browning auto, etc.

Have to say though my chief passion for the past several years have been S&W revolvers. They outnumber the rifles 4 to 1.

FN in MT

I love to hunt doves and waterfowl however, when I go "shooting" it's with my S&W revolvers. So I consider myself a handgunner. I have two Dillon SDB's on my reloading bench and one MEC 600 JR for shotgun reloading. As a matter of fact I just returned from shooting my model 19-3.

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SWCA #2421

Handguns get the majority of the room in my safe and almost all the shooting time at the range. I have a few rifles but only two shotguns one of which is the bedroom home defense/anti-zombie weapon.

What is this rifle/shotgun you speak of?

I only own revolvers and doubt that will change anytime soon.

I’m primarily a hand gunner. I have rifles and shotguns, but they’re mostly what I’d call “working” guns. My handguns are a mix of “working” and “just plain fun” guns. I simply enjoy hand gunning more.

Primarily hand guns,Primarily revolvers,Primarily S&W's.

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Dum vivo cano

Primarily hand guns, Primarily revolvers, Primarily S&W's.

I fixed it for you! I'm a space notsee!

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RIP Shipmate

Almost always handguns, mostly wheelguns, primarily S&W.... except when I'm shooting trap.

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A closed mouth gathers no foot

the required Hallway Howitzer, a CAR and a .22.
Since I first started shooting I have had a strong affinity for the handgun.

Carried one everyday for so many years I would not feel appropriately dressed with out one.

Just an aging pistolero.

Danke,Ja!

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Dum vivo cano

I am mostly a handgun enthusiast, due to rheumatoid arthritis I have lost about 10 degree in range of motion in my left arm, so I have difficulties supporting the forearm of a rifle or shotgun for extended lengths of time--that and I really don't like excessive recoil. I do have some rifles, but mainly shooting them from a bench. Oddly enough one of the next guns on my list to get is a shotgun, as my brother got into shooting skeet a couple years ago and I enjoy it, and would like my sons to have a something of everything to try when they get older.

"Danke, Ja!"

Yellcum!

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RIP Shipmate

Both of us are of the handgun persuasion. Handguns outnumber longguns about 10:1 at our place.

Yet, the most of the guns currently on my wish list are rifles. There's simple a couple of openings in the longgun section of the safe and a couple of rifles that I'd love to have, even if we don't shoot them much.

Pistols are number 1 but skeet and sporting clays with a SXS is a close 2nd. Larry

The gun I most use is the shotgun. That is mostly in the field. Ranges around here cost too much to go to regularly. $15 range fee + ammo = infrequent. Plus, its usually crowded. But the most fun I've had at the range is with a rifle. I'm guessing I am a long gun guy.

I am primarily a shotgun, rifle, machinegun, black powder and handgun shooter. I'd really like to have a nice wheelock anything and a 20mm Oerlikon but I'm just a gun enthusiast not a millionaire

A definate Handgunner here. I've always found shooting rifles a bit boring, probably a result of being limited to 100 yards or less due to where I've lived. Don't know of one single rifle range over 100 yards in my area and there wasn't anything longer where I grew up.

Handguns on the other hand are a continuing challenge. If you're not pushing to improve your accuracy, you're pushing to improve your firing rate. In addition they are difficult enough to shoot that there is always room for improvement, even for someone like Jerry Miculek. All it takes is a double or triple tap where the hits overlap, then your on to a new quest to see if you can do it in a quadrupal tap. Then there is long range handgunning, yikes that's really a challenge. I swear on some days I think that all it takes to throw a flyer is to have a gnat land on the barrel. ANY flaw at all in trigger release or recoil management shows up as a big fat flyer downrange.

Now, I'm never going to be the next Jerry Miculek, don't have the time or the money to get to that level. However, even if I don't come close, I really enjoy challenging myself to keep pushing to gain another tenth on my splits or tighten up my groups by just a 1/2 inch.

I probably go more towards handguns but have rifles as well. When I go shooting I usually take handguns and maybe a rifle or two or.............

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Lynnie, Professional Pest

I like what Venomballistics said: If it has a trigger, I pull it.

I own long guns but haven't fired any of them in many years. Several reasons why:

1. Bored shooting at 100 yards or less. I don't have anywhere nearby to shoot at greater distances.

2. I get bored firing a shot or too and waiting for the barrel to cool.

3. Last time I fired my '06 at a deer was when I was 16 years old. Didn't fire that rifle again until I was 30 years old. It was still sighted in perfectly. I don't hunt anymore so I have no reason to ever fire it again.

Yep, primarily handguns for me from here on out.


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RIP Ron Smith - The Voice of Reason

Me. In rifles and shotguns, esp shotguns I suck. I just never took the time to learn the long ones all that much.

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9tenz

I reckon I'm more into hand guns than long guns. I like vintage rifles and shotguns. I shoot clays with an '52 vintage Remington Wingmaster on occasion, absolutely love my old Marlin .22 lever action, 1937 Remington 341 bolt .22, '50s vintage Remington 760 in 30-06 has brought home deer and elk. Always hated and complained about carrying and cleaning the M-16 and M-4 in the service but somehow ended up building and purchasing an AR (rarely ever shot).

But I absolutely LOVE firing, carrying and cleaning my Smith and Wesson, Colt revolvers and 1911s. I try to hit the range once a week at least with some combination .

I'm about 70/30 handguns/long guns.

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God spelled backwards is dog.

I used to enjoy rifle shooting, but have been forced to give it up due to a bum shoulder. All handguns, now. Two S&W wheelguns, and three Beretta pistols (maybe soon to be four, if I can talk the mem-sah'b into it!)

I haven't counted in a while but I'm thinking the number of handguns and long guns I own are roughly equal. I enjoy rifles the most, though my Ruger MKII comes along on most range trips.

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Regards, Ron
USASA 1965/69

They're all fun, but I love my Smith & Wesson "N" frames!
Dick

I started in this hobby as a handgunner. Since then, I adopted the rifle. I do both but, handguns make up 2/3's of my "collection".

only handguns after a back injury.but my life changed in many ways and sw my focus.need to get mine from fl to ct but its been awhile of coarse there is a story why.

My wife calls me an addict. I have about the same number of long guns as handguns.

Yeah, I'd say I was; gave up shooting after they were banned here, though I could have continued through rifle and shotgun.

By the numbers, I am 2 handguns for 1 long gun. I have far more than I need or use of both. Guns have always been one of my top intrests. I am drawn to old classic guns. Always have loved winchester levers and old colts too. Hardly any modern firearms excite me. If I lived my life over I would own far less quanty guns but would own high grade classics.
I know my ideas are different than probley 95% of most on this site in that area. While I belive my collection probley doesnt have to take a back seat to most here, when you find yourself in your sunset years with a ton of guns that you dont use, a young wife that might outlive you by 30 years if you go by the tables and no fortune to leave her, it tends to give me pause in my prioritys. Maybe we can try to tell ourselves guns are a good investment. Well they could be with carefull luck and planing, but in the real world just how many widows will be able to get full value? I built my collection mostly as a single man. The rules keep changeing the older you get boys.

when i go to gun shows, all i look at are handguns.

Oh and rifles don't last as long

A guy told me I would only get 10-15,000 out of my AR15, maybe only 8-10,000 out of my high power bolt guns before I needed a barrel change.........

15,000 rounds of .38 through one of my K-frames is hardly even broken in,let alone worn out!

And people have 80-100,000 through their poly pistols without any problems.