The handgun could be given much more damage to the point where +power thresholds could let it one-bodyshot chaos warriors during hunter’s prowl, and one-shot stormers and hookrats without it. Given how unsustainable, slow, and inflexible it still is compared to the longbow in that case I think it would be fair.
The problem is this might buff foot knight and merc too much. You’d have to provide the buff through huntsman talents.