Minimum handgun for hunting.

[WaCoyote]

I read an old post about using a 9mm for deer, and some of you guys were going back and forth about what is and isn't legal. Well check this out.

This is exactly what the 04 Washington state big game regs. say about Handguns.

Handguns Must have a barrel length of 4 inches per manufacturers specification, and fire a minimum 24 caliber centerfire cartridge.

Thats it! Isn't that insane?

[AJ]

Unfortunately, the laws would be volumes if they tried to incorporate good choices, vs bad choices. The way Washington's law is written allows the use of an Encore in .243 which is perfectly adequate. But it also allows a Beretta Cheetah in .380 Auto. It's hard to stipulate what should be legel and what should not be legal. Virginia says no blackpowder handguns at all can be used for big game hunting. This eliminates the Encore handgun, which will do anything most BP rifles will. But, it keeps yahoos from taking a cap and ball revolver in the woods and shooting at deer.

[WaCoyote]

I hear you. The lawn used to have specific energies that were needed. I spoke with a game warden about it and he just rilled his eyes. The regs get reviewed and updated every five years so we'll see. He and his co-workers are miffed about the current law.

[hangunnr]

Here in Indiana they allow .24 cal or larger, barrel length 4" or longer AND the case length has to be longer than 1.15". This dis-allows the dimunitive handgun calibers. I kinda get the feeling they must've forgot to add the last part to your regs.

hangunnr