Okay, all you old pros can drop off now or stick around to criticize or nod your head and say, “Yup, he nailed that one.” This column is for the guys with little or no hunting experience. If you are going to get into handgun hunting you are going to need a revolver or single shot of at least .357 Magnum and you’ll have to learn to shoot it. By that I mean several thousand rounds of practice. That gun should be an extension of you before you take it into the field. Bench shooting is a good way to learn sight alignment and trigger pull. After that, get on your hind legs and learn to shoot offhand and from different positions you might find in the field.

The number one asset in handgun accuracy is trigger control. It is also numbers two, three, four and more. If your gun doesn’t have a good trigger pull get it to a good trigger guy and get a trigger job — without going to a lighter spring or cutting any springs. Makes no difference what your gun is. Lousy trigger equals lousy results. That trigger should move smoothly and without “hitches” and you should know just about exactly when it is going to “break” to fire the gun. Two and a half pounds is about the minimum trigger weight for a hunting handgun of any kind.

How are you going to carry it? Probably the best way is in a good holster with a safety retention strap. Maybe even a flap holster. Read the instruction manual for the gun. Manipulate the action until you completely understand how it works. Need help? Get it, and don’t be shy.

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