Author Topic: 9mm for deer? (Read 2765 times)

The deerslayer · « **on:** May 05, 2004, 02:16:39 PM »

Am I crazy or would it work for deer within bow range?

KN · « **Reply #1 on:** May 05, 2004, 03:43:26 PM »

Sure it would. It would be completely unethical but it would work. So would a 22lr for that mater. Thats why it's illegal in most states. KN

Redhawk1 · « **Reply #2 on:** May 05, 2004, 04:43:19 PM »

I do not know why any one would chose to use a 9mm. I am glad there is a minimum cartridge in the hunting laws, to keep people from such things. :eek:

The deerslayer · « **Reply #3 on:** May 05, 2004, 04:58:30 PM »

No rules about that in PA.

larry357 · « **Reply #4 on:** May 05, 2004, 07:21:30 PM »

I see this is your second post wanting somebody to ok the 9mm for deer hunting. Well the 9 has its place in the world but Handgun Hunting isnt it. There arent any 9mm cartridges designed for hunting ,that should be a clue. Its good that you have so much faith in your gun but you need to step up a caliber or two for deer hunting.

GhosTT · « **Reply #5 on:** May 05, 2004, 08:49:35 PM »

Go bigger

usmcSOA · « **Reply #6 on:** May 06, 2004, 04:11:15 PM »

I have no argument on the 9mm. I love mine. But, if you are really considering hunting with a handgun or revolver, you might want to go a lot bigger. My idea........357 :wink:

SingleShotShorty · « **Reply #7 on:** May 10, 2004, 11:04:25 AM »

I'm sorry but I don't think a 9mm is good for self protection and would not dream of hunting with one for anything bigger than a rabbit. The minimum handgun caliber for hunting at bow ranges to my thinking is a 357 mag with 158 grain soft points.

Blackhawk44 · « **Reply #8 on:** May 10, 2004, 01:17:14 PM »

Beyond a few yards, a 357 becomes a mad 38, and 9mm becomes a noisy 380. Since velocity is always dropping, the only constants you have to work with are bullet diameter and mass. Within reason, bigger is better.

BLACK BEAR · « **Reply #9 on:** May 10, 2004, 02:11:23 PM »

:roll: I would suggest a little test........Fill four one gallon jugs with water, place them at 30 yards, shoot the first with the 9mm, maybe just a hole with a little dribble of H2O. Get your buddy to pop the next with his FA 357 launching 180's at 1400+, split seams and a bit of water spray, now take my friends 375JDJ,220;s at 2200 boom!! Now shoot the last one with my Rampro pistol, 95 Noslers at 2900fps...you will probably get wet.

Speed pus bullet weight = kill

BB

litman252 · « **Reply #10 on:** May 10, 2004, 05:05:52 PM »

No.

Do a search on a .357, there is even one there by me. Take those answers and drop the KE by a fair bit. Same answer-no.
Tony

oso45-70 · « **Reply #11 on:** May 11, 2004, 03:41:01 PM »

handgun722
You are the same one that was encouraging a new hunter to take a 243win
on his first bear hunt. BAD BAD BAD. NOW for the 9mm deer gun, BAD
BAD BAD. The reason most of the police dept's have done away with the 9mm is it will not stop a man, And you want to take it to the woods and wound a deer. I think you ougft to rethink your ideas. Best of luck to ya.
................Joe.................

willis5 · « **Reply #12 on:** May 12, 2004, 05:14:15 AM »

it is illegal because it will not be able to deliver consistant, quick, and clean kills... a 357 mag would be my minimum on deer and I dont' mean huge monster northern deer.

Robert357 · « **Reply #13 on:** May 12, 2004, 07:31:42 AM »

First, it is legal to hunt deer in WA state with a 9mm, but......

The Hunting regulations state the following......

http://www.wdfw.wa.gov/wlm/game/hunter/handguns.htm

"Hunter responsibility has always been a critical component of the hunting experience and now--more than ever--it is imperative that hunters make responsible choices when selecting a particular firearm or cartridge for handgun hunting. The recommendations below represent guidelines prepared for your consideration by hunter education program staff. It is now legal, for example, to use a 9mm handgun to hunt deer or elk. Such a decision, however, would be inappropriate since there is no way that the 9mm cartridge is sufficiently powerful for big game hunting. Even though the 9mm may now be legal, it is not a responsible choice for big game hunting. "

I handload both 9mm and 357 mag. I think that based on my past deer hunting that a 357 mag is marginal for deer. If I was certain, that I could stalk to within say 10 to 15 yards of a blacktail deer (they are quite small) and I had a +P 9mm load with the right bullet, I might be tempted if I was certain that I would not take a shot at a farther range.

I have meet a guy who likes to go out in the woods and "touch deer" with his hands. He is that good at stalking. Since you have indicated that you are a bow hunter, if you are that good, a 9mm might work and be a responsible choice.

Personally, for me, I am debating if I should hang up my 30-60 Mod 70 this year and try a Ruger Blackawk 357 Mag with a Red Dot scope on the top and some very heavy bullets with heavy powder loads for blacktail deer at slightly farther distances. I have not yet convinced myself that what I might do is "responsible." I intend to spend time at the range this summer thinking about using a 357 Mag.

jamie · « **Reply #14 on:** May 14, 2004, 01:32:35 PM »

No do not us the 9mm, if for no other reason than everyone has one. Get an adequate gun, something like a 45-70

Robert,
When I was coming of age to hunt my grandfather wouldn't let me until I was able to touch a deer.

Mikey · « **Reply #15 on:** May 15, 2004, 01:45:28 AM »

Fred722: It looks like you have your answer. It may be possible, may even have been done, but it is not a responsible way to hunt deer and the possible results of wounding a deer without a clean kill bring it to the level of possibly unethical hunting.

I can understand your argument and the comparisons between the weight and penetrability of a broadhead shafted arrow and the 9mm, but the comparisons aren't enough to make me want to try and the consensus of the responses indicate that one should not.

With all that being said I hope you have found the answer and wish you well. Mikey.

CJ · « **Reply #16 on:** May 15, 2004, 04:45:30 AM »

Quote from: fred722

No rules about that in PA.

As long as your 9mm is a revolver. Or a Contender {do they even make that one?".

The deerslayer · « **Reply #17 on:** May 15, 2004, 05:18:47 AM »

Taurus makes 9mm revolvers.

CJ · « **Reply #18 on:** May 15, 2004, 08:36:02 AM »

Fred, so did Ruger and S&W and Medusa{anyone rember that one?}. Dont know which are still in production. Just pointing out you cant hunt with a semi auto handgun in PA.

Deaf Smith · « **Reply #19 on:** May 15, 2004, 09:14:01 AM »

Not So remember the 9mm winchester magnum was a perfectly good hunter. Also most 35 are basicly a 9mm hunter right up to 358 winchester magnum give or take a mm. would I use a glock to take a deer? Only if I hade to in a life or death secerio but a 9mm loaded specually for hunting in a Contender barrel ( yes T/C did make contender barrels in 9mm mostly in 10" and you could get the custom shop to make a 15" one for you easily) 10" or longer yes with in the distance that such a load would hit and penatrate the vitals. Never say never somebody has always done it befour.
Marksmen

Robert357 · « **Reply #20 on:** May 15, 2004, 11:13:25 AM »

Deaf Smith;

I didn't think handloading was an option in this thread.

In another thread, I suggested that if one really really wanted to kill a deer with a 9mm bullet and do it in a totally responsible way, that something like a Ruger Blackhawk 357Mag/9mm Convertible handload with a "heavy 357 Mag bullet in 9mm brass after working up a load real carefully, might work.

Ruger use to make the Blackhawk with two cylinders one for a 9mm cartridge and one for a 357 mag, since .357 and .355 are "pretty close."

Since a Ruger Blackhawk has a heck of a strong frame, and since a 9mm cylinder would have plenty of room infront of the end of the cartridge for a large .357 mag bullet, that might be an easy approach.

Of couse if you have a convertible 9mm/357, why not just load up a more powerful 357 Mag......

Zeus · « **Reply #21 on:** May 17, 2004, 02:54:16 AM »

Is this the enegizer bunny of pointless threads or what (keeps going and going and.........). Everyone pretty much has told you the same thing. Better options and underpowered. It sounds like you have made up your mind of what you think anyway so do whatever you see fit. But seriously consider the ethics involved before hunting with the 9mm. Save some money and buy the right tool for the job.....I'm done with this topic, thanks. GS

Mikey · « **Reply #22 on:** May 17, 2004, 03:24:46 AM »

Zeus: Well said. I think we can close this one out now. Mikey.

papajohn428 · « **Reply #23 on:** May 23, 2004, 01:48:40 PM »

The point is not "Can I?"

The point is "Should You?"

The answer is a resounding NO.

PJ

elyod56 · « **Reply #24 on:** September 12, 2004, 05:59:16 PM »

deer, afraid not, but my 9mm marlin camp carbine is one of the best bunny busters made. .22lr cannot even put down a rabbit without needing follow up shots,

hubcap · « **Reply #25 on:** September 12, 2004, 06:38:57 PM »

Try your wonder 9 on a big grizzly. If you survive, it's good enough for deer.

tubbythetuba · « **Reply #26 on:** September 13, 2004, 04:41:56 PM »

The original asker is 13.......be nice. Firm, but nice. I wish we could get all youngsters to ask before trying somthing he's not sure of.
Get real, real good with your 9mm, Lad, then get a nice .41 or .44 or .45 someday and go bust a buck with it. TTT

Rmouleart · « **Reply #27 on:** September 14, 2004, 04:46:42 AM »

A 22lR can kill a deer with proper shot placement, but as I always say, there is better tools in the shed for the task at hand, if you want to use a ACP I would not go less than a 45ACP, for close quarter shots, good if you put down a deer with your rifle and need to finish the job, personally I would not hunt with anything less than a properly loaded 44 SP for deer, they are tough animals to put down, if shot placement is not perfect. might end up trailing your deer for a long time. Aim small hit small. RAMbo.

The deerslayer · « **Reply #28 on:** September 14, 2004, 11:58:19 AM »

Ok thanks for all of the replies. I might just take a 9 ir a 38 or something to finish them off with. It can help me get better at my aim.

hubcap · « **Reply #29 on:** September 14, 2004, 11:10:32 PM »

Is it legal for a 13 yr old to hunt with a handgun in PA?