I love the smell of freshly burnt gunpowder. There’s just something about a crisp morning afield or on the range with that magnificent smell wafting across a fall breeze that makes my heart happy. I enjoy archery hunting because of the close encounters, but not as much as I love the smell of gun smoke. I decided handgun hunting was the perfect pairing for my particular passions of getting close to game and that aroma. Here’s a look at how to prep for a handgun hunt with the Ruger Single 7 in .327 Federal Magnum.
Before digging into the nuts and bolts of a handgun hunt, here’s a look at the gun itself.
I selected the .327 Federal Magnum for a few reasons. First, it’s a unique caliber. I am drawn to “fun-sized” calibers. They often lend themselves to more enjoyable shooting experiences. This is important because the whole point of this is to enjoy the overall experience. While originally designed as a personal defense round, the .327 Federal Magnum offers some fabulous ballistic attributes for hunting.
Frequently, a hunting-centric handgun is chambered in something larger, such as .44 Magnum, .41 Magnum or even .357 Magnum. When I decided to do a whitetail handgun hunt, I knew I wanted something a little more elegant and petite. The .327 Federal, while a little smaller than some of the aforementioned calibers, is a ballistically powerful and effective option at handgun hunting distances.
Second, this firearm combined with this caliber allows for 7 rounds, instead of 6, when compared to similar sized platforms in .357 Magnum or .38 Special. Additionally, although the projectiles are lighter, pressures and velocity of the .327 are similar to its .357 counterparts – with the option to download to the 32 S&W Long or the 32 H&R for range practice.
Third, there are a variety of ammunition options available. I elected to stick with Federal ammunition for both practice and pursuit. For range practice, I went with the Federal American Eagle 100 grain JSP (jacketed soft point). I zeroed at 20 yards and learned my point of impact at 15 yards and evaluated sight picture out to 50 yards.
For hunting, I decided to use the Federal 100-grain Swift A-frame cartridge, also chambered in .327 Federal Magnum. I zeroed at 20 yards and practiced out to 40 yards. I decided that 40 was my outside distance for my desired goals and terminal effectiveness. All range prep was a mix of standing and seated, both rested and off hand.
I picked the Ruger Single 7 for a few reasons. This Lipsey’s Exclusive offers some great features that translate beautifully to the field. It is fully stainless steel with wood grips and a 7-½-inch barrel. This provides a visually pleasing sight plane with holster friendly proportions. Much longer than this and drawing becomes somewhat awkward. Note: This is an irons-only set up, so no need to work around scope hardware.
When prepping for a hunt, regardless of discipline, I like to practice shooting from the position(s) I anticipate hunting from. This gives me a tremendous amount of confidence that I can make an ethical and accurate shot – no matter the presentation. This hunt prep followed that same path.
I wanted to feel comfortable and confident in the following situations:
All of the above are outstanding dry fire exercises and can be practiced in the comfort of your home, and not just on the range.
On the practice note, I like to wear clothes similar to what I’ll actually be hunting in. When doing so, you find out whether your holster is adjusted properly, if you can smoothly draw or if you can wear gloves or not. It gives you the opportunity to head off any other wardrobe malfunctions you might encounter in the field.
I was able to take this gun out deer hunting last fall for a couple of walks, but had no shot opportunity. As soon as our firearm season opens up here in Michigan, I’ll be back chasing whitetails with the Ruger Single 7 in .327 Federal. It’s like bow hunting for the close range required, but with the aromatherapy benefits of gun powder!
Check out this Lipsey’s Exclusive Ruger Single 7 model.
Andrea Bogard’s love for the range began at 12 with competitive handgun and expanded to encompass sporting clays a few years later. She became an NSCA instructor at 18 years old and spent the next 18 years getting married and raising two sons, ages 17 and 9 currently. Andrea started hunting six years ago and learned to shoot a rifle and a bow. She is now 41, a full-time writer, homeschool mom and business owner and has hunted three countries, three continents and 19 states. Her sons and lab (Mr. Moose) are the focus of her world. View all posts by Andrea Bogard
