Book Review: “Handgun Hunting” Should Be Required Reading
“Handgun Hunting” by Kat Ainsworth is a worthwhile book for anyone who owns a handgun, even if hunting isn’t the primary reason you own one. It’s published by the good folks at Skyhorse Publishing, Inc., (www.SkyHorsePublishing.com).
The book is subtitled “A Comprehensive Guide to Choosing and Using the Right Firearms for Big and Small Game.” And it is just that: comprehensive. She covers everything you need to know whether you’re a newbie to the challenging sport of handgun hunting or a veteran of many seasons.
The Voice Of Experience On Handgun Hunting
Kat Ainsworth is a seasoned hunter who has written on all things related to firearms for both print and online outlets. She’s right at home on both hunting and self-defense topics. Having hunted all manner of animals you can think of – and some you might not have considered — she was a natural to write this book.
“Handgun Hunting” Starts On Target
The first part of the book is a primer on why we hunt, a review of safety considerations and, when safety breaks down, first-aid in the field. That first-aid section covers the importance of having a tourniquet and clotting materials in your first-aid kit, not just adhesive bandages for scrapes, ointment for blisters and antacids for spicy camp food.
Choose The Animal You Want To Hunt
Next, Ainsworth devotes chapter after chapter on specific species to hunt.
She covers deer, bear, elk, wild boar, turkeys, prairie dogs, rabbits, squirrels, coyotes, bobcats and, yes, even badgers.
For each, she outlines some background on the species, how to hunt them with a handgun, gun selection, cartridge considerations and even recommendations on how to use the meat.
What About The Guns?
Naturally, Ainsworth devotes a good portion of her book on the guns themselves: with brief histories on revolvers, semi-autos, derringers and even the Remington XP100 bolt-action pistol. She provides details their use as well as disassembly and cleaning procedures. She includes a breakdown of specific cartridges and what species they’re suited for when handgun hunting. She discusses the use of suppressors while handgun hunting.
Those who have previously considered handguns as up-close-and-personal self-defense weapons only, must read Ainsworth’s chapter on shooting techniques. In it you can learn how to really reach out and be effective with your handgun. Yet she does address self-defense too. Why? Because bad people aren’t confined to urban areas.
Game taken with a handgun always seems a little more special. And Ainsworth gives the reader some tips on how to care for the well-earned fresh meat.
A Good Resource On Handgun Hunting
“Handgun Hunting,” by Kat Ainsworth isn’t a book to read through once and toss aside. It’s a resource you should hold onto and refer to whenever you’re considering switching handguns, changing ammo or hunting a new species. I know I’m going to guard my copy.
As the hunting season draws near, I know too that I’m going to reread some sections just to get pumped up for going afield with whichever handgun I decide to use. You won’t have any trouble finding a copy. It’s available just about anywhere books are sold.
Steven Paul Barlow is a retired sergeant/station commander and former firearms instructor with the New York State Police. He is an avid hunter, fisherman, and enthusiast with all things related to firearms, knives, and survival. He has been writing on outdoor topics for more than 35 years. His collections of outdoor humor stories are available at BriarHill Books.