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Best Hunting Handguns Reviewed and Rated for Quality
Smith & Wesson® SW500
SIG Sauer® P320 Pistols
Springfield Armory XD Mod.2
Taurus PT111 Millennium Pro G2 Handgun
Smith & Wesson® J-Frame Centerfire Revolvers
Taurus Judge Revolvers
F.LLI Pietta 1873 SA Revolvers
Browning Buck Mark Semiautomatic Rimfire Pistols 
FN® Five seveN® Model Semiautomatic
SIG Sauer® Mosquito Rimfire Pistols
Standout Picks
Criteria Used for Evaluation
Ease of Use
When purchasing a hunting handgun one of the very first things you want to take into consideration is how easy it is to use. Having an easy to use handgun while hunting is a must, mainly due to how fast your target can appear in front of you.
Furthermore, there is also the fact that your target will move around just as rapid as it first appeared in front of you. Keeping that in mind, you want to purchase a gun that will release the ammo quickly and effectively time and time again. Additionally, you want to ensure there is little to no jamming instances occurring on a regular basis.
Portability
Another consideration we took into play when seeking the best hunting handguns is how portable they can are. Can you carry your gun with easily? Can it be stored in your hunting essentials bag? Can it be clipped quickly to your holster? In the case of the items, we selected yes is the answer to all these questions. We wanted to make sure every gun was lightweight enough for you to use and carry at any given moment, but sturdy enough that you feel secure when handling it.
Features
When it comes to features, we wanted every handgun to hold its own against the rest. Whether it is a unique design, a longer barrel or even a quick shooting aspect we have checked and ensured our selection offered different guns for every personal preference. Having a hunting handgun with additional features ensure you can use it not only to catch one kind of game but a large variety of them.
Durability
Last but not least we took into consideration how durable the gun is: will it need yearly maintenance? Will you have to change the barrel after a number of uses or will it stand the test of time? When it comes to durability, we wanted to find a selection of products that were durable and do exactly what you need them to do without missing a beat.
10 Best Hunting Handguns
1. Smith & Wesson® SW500
When it comes to a quality handgun that will get the hunting job done without compromising space, weight, and aesthetics, this is the best option for you. Smith & Wesson brings forth a new quality pistol that is designed to be as accurate as possible, while still being lightweight enough to be used on small or large game.
Longer Barrel
This particular handgun showcases a longer barrel. The longer barrel feature provides greater precision and accuracy, allowing you to perfect your aim when you find the prey you seek. It’s sort of like an extender that allows you to have a bit of a closer view while you are preparing to make your aim. Furthermore, thanks to having this barrel you can place this handgun on a riffle stand without having it tip over. It's balanced enough for it to stand alone.
Lightweight Yet Sturdy
One of the main reasons why this pistol is perfect for hunting is due to how lightweight it is. Having a lightweight pistol works well because it allows you to aim and push the trigger without much of a hassle. It won't weigh you down when you are trying to make a perfect aim. Additionally, it's quite sturdy making it a top contender when it comes to the perfect hunting gun.
Cost & Value
Due to it being crafted out of excellent materials, helping with aim and having a longer barrel this gun is on the pricier end. Though it is pricier it is worth every penny that you spend on it. Consider it an investment that will keep on giving time and time again.
2. SIG Sauer® P320 Pistols
But wait – SIG Sauer have a response. And what a response it is… Unlike other pistols in its class. The P320 pistols by SIG Sauer feature a way in which you can customize to your heart's content. Making this selection unique to the user.
Variety of Ammo
This means that with this gun, you can fire a range of calibers and use a variety of ammo. At default, it uses the 9mm Luger, but it can be also fitted to fire .40 S&W and .45 Auto.
Small in Size
It is a fairly small gun as well, with a total length of 7.2 inches and weighing 26 ounces. The weight to length ratio makes for a good balance, but keep in mind that this will shift depending on the ammo you’re using. It features a quite large clip as well – 15 rounds at the ready to be launched by its 3.9-inch barrel. Accurate as hell, and a handgun approaching perfection.
Cost and Value
Especially useful for hunters looking to have a versatile, fast, and precise weapon at their disposal this handgun is priced at a midprice point giving you enough wiggle room where you know you're getting a bang for your money. A hunter’s best friend… only second to a dog.
3. Springfield Armory XD Mod.2
This handgun by Springfield Armory represents the next step in compactness. The size and the design make the XD Mod.2 Subcompact handgun really “subcompact”, excelling at ease of use, a comfortable and snug grip, and needless to say, very easy to carry concealed.
Perfectly Balanced
The 3-inch barrel offers near-perfect balance in relation to its 6.2-inch body, and the weight of 27 ounces will reduce recoil to a significant degree. It features a size clip of 10 9mm Luger bullets, making it ideal for home defense, self-defense or hunting medium, and big game.
XD Mod.2 Subcompact
Perhaps the most effective feature of the XD Mod.2 Subcompact is its extremely short trigger travel and nearly as short reset, making your follow-up shots faster and accurate.
Cost and Value
Due to the features, you're receiving with this gun the price is a bit on the higher end but very much well worth it. You won’t make a mistake with this one.
4. Taurus PT111 Millennium Pro G2 Handgun
Speaking of small, short-barreled, light guns, Taurus has a competitor in their PT111 Millennium Pro G2 handgun. It boasts a very thin profile, and at a total length of 6.2 inches, the 3.2-inch barrel eliminates most of the imbalance while still offering a very compact and effective gun suitable for concealed carrying.
Minimal Recoil
Furthermore, this gun has a capacity of 12 rounds, all 9mm Lugers, and at the weight of 22 ounces makes firing the perfect experience with minimal recoil.
Close Range
Needless to say, for your hunting purposes you might want to keep this gun for close range, or some target practice at the shooting range.
Cost and Value
The cost for this gun is on the affordable side considering its features. The 9mm caliber rounds that this small gun can launch at a lighting fast rate will make short work of even larger game.
5. Smith & Wesson® J-Frame Centerfire Revolvers
The legendary Smith & Wesson come up with a no less legendary revolver here – this is one of the most compact revolvers. With a total length of merely 6.3 inches, this handgun is perhaps the perfect weapon for concealed carry and ease of use on the hunting grounds.
Short Barrel
We can even call it snub-nose because of its ultra-short barrel – at 1.8 inches and 15 ounces, firing its .38 S&W caliber makes this gun light but produces quite a fair amount of recoil.
For Experienced Hunters
An excellent gun that we recommend for the more experienced hunters and gun owners. Stronger hands and a firm grip are also a requirement!
Cost and Value
When it comes to the cost of this gun it is a bit on the pricier side of the spectrum, especially when you take into consideration that this gun is for more experienced buyers.
6. Taurus Judge Revolvers
It must be said that the design complements the name, or is it the other way around? As the manufacturer would tell you, “the verdict is in” and we have to agree. The Taurus Judge is a revolver that looks aptly menacing, and its short barrel (3 inches) makes it the ultimate short-range weapon.
Fires both .45 Colt and .410 shells
What’s even cooler is that the Judge fires both .45 Colt and .410 shells, making for some swift and merciless judgment on either your shooting range targets or small and medium game.
Only 5 Rounds
The potential downside of carrying only 5 rounds is offset by the front fiber-optic sight implemented in all models. This makes all that punishment more precise than you’d expect from other models.
Cost and Value
This gun is valued at a reasonable price with excellent features. At 29 ounces and 7.5 inches, it is also suitable for concealed carry… not that you’ll be needing that too much with the menacing power of the Taurus Judge.
7. F.LLI Pietta 1873 SA Revolvers
Speaking of cool designs, this has one “to kill for” (pun intended!). As the name of the item would tell you this was made to be a knock-off rendition of the previous model enjoyed by many. That is Wild West and Americana right there!
Great Design
Or, in your hands. But what’s actually in your hands? Revolvers are different beasts than pistols, and this classic design shows it best. The 6-inch barrel balances the gun slightly to the front, seeing as the design places the rounds in the middle of the gun.
Lightweight
At a total length of 11 inches, the Pietta 1873 SA is slightly lighter (35 ounces) than the excellent Browning Buck Mark rimfire pistol, which makes it almost as comfortable to use.
Cost and Value
Considering that the .45 Colt caliber makes it the ideal hunting handgun for medium-sized game, this gun is priced fairly well. So, if you’re into both hunting and feeling like a real cowboy, grab this one!
8. Browning Buck Mark Semiautomatic Rimfire Pistols
Considerably longer and considerably heavier than the Sig Sauer and Walther models, this Browning rimfire Buck Mark Semiautomatic pistol is a slightly different experience – a better one at least for hunting. While the larger size (11.3 inches) doesn’t make it as suitable for concealed carry, and the weight makes it a bit less comfortable to carry around in the hunting field (38 ounces), the Browning Buck Mark uses the same caliber (.22 Long Rifle) which makes it pack more punch.
Ergonomic Interactive Surface
The tech that Browning has applied here, called Ergonomic Interactive Surface grips really improves the handling of the weapon and give it a high mark in the ergonomics department.
Chambered Barrel
Besides having a clip size of 10 rounds, this handgun also allows you to have one chambered in the barrel, making for a total of 11 rounds.
Cost and Value
The cost of this gun is quite affordable, an excellent and convenient gun for small game hunting, with the added bonus of a very cool design.
9. FN® Five seveN® Model Semiautomatic
Here’s a pistol that worked hard at being uniquely efficient and succeeds at it. Originally, designed to be used in law enforcement or military tact teams, this pistol brings forth a new way of carrying a gun. Its sizing makes it perfect to be carried regularly, whether that be concealed or on a hunting trip. You won’t miss a beat when carrying this pistol with you.
Lighter Design
Weighing 30% less than other 9mm pistols, this one breaks the mold when it comes to weight and efficiency. While most would consider a lighter pistol to be not as powerful, that is not the case for this one. Featuring a rugged polymer construction with integrated tactical rail, this pistol was engineered for advanced shooting with minimal muzzle jump.
Lockable Fitting Case
Featuring 20 round magazines this gun gives you the option of having a lockable fitting case. By having this feature, you are ensured a more secure putting away system. This works great as most guns should offer a security system that works in their favor at all times. Whether you end up using it or not its completely up to you, but it is a nice feature to have.
Cost & Value
As for the cost and value of this product, it is on the higher end of pricing, but you are receiving a quality product. It is 30% lighter in weight and gives you a 20-round magazine which is quite impressive for such a light gun. Keep this in mind when you are considering this gun as the price is quite nice when you consider such pros.
10. SIG Sauer® Mosquito Rimfire Pistols
The Sig Sauer Mosquito is best described by its name – it’s compact but delivers the basic sting you’ll need. Using the .22 Long Rifle caliber, it is excellent for plinking at the range or for making those beginner steps in hunting small game. The 4-inch barrel is roughly 60% of its total length (7.2 inches) and offers good ergonomics and balance. Being light (24 oz) can produce some recoil, but a firm grip makes this a non-issue.
CCI ammo
This gun uses CCI ammo which can be more difficult to find, depending on your location. Very fast gun, allowing you to empty the entire clip (10 rounds) in a matter of seconds.
Compact Size
The small size and compact feel make it easy for concealed carry, and comfortable to have with you anywhere – be it in the hunting grounds or the firing range.
Cost and Value
Due to its size, this gun is a bit on the higher end of the value spectrum but when you take into consideration how well it is made the price almost seems like a bargain.
Sources
- Smith & Wesson® SW500
- SIG Sauer® P320 Pistols
- Springfield Armory XD Mod.2
- Taurus PT111 Millennium Pro G2 Handgun
- Smith & Wesson® J-Frame Centerfire Revolvers
- Taurus Judge Revolvers
- F.LLI Pietta 1873 SA Revolvers
- Browning Buck Mark Semiautomatic Rimfire Pistols
- FN® Five seveN® Model Semiautomatic
- SIG Sauer® Mosquito Rimfire Pistols
