9mm carbine for hunting?
- Thread starter tahunua001
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tahunua001
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I already have several that can get the job done, I'm just exploring options.
and I've checked legality, it's legal as far as my state is concerned, I probably would never try the 9mm, I have a perfectly good 223 that works just fine, again I dont think I'm stressing this enough, I am just exploring curiosity
and I've checked legality, it's legal as far as my state is concerned, I probably would never try the 9mm, I have a perfectly good 223 that works just fine, again I dont think I'm stressing this enough, I am just exploring curiosity
tahunua001
New member
ok guys before I make myself out to be a complete and total ass, might even be a little too late for that but I'll give it a shot.
I know the 9mm was not designed as a hunting round
I know that the 9mm has terrible ballistics over range
I know many of you are trying to just give helpful input and I've been slapping it down, usually with ignorance and without tact.
I will say that I am seeing an undeniable pattern towards NO so I think I will leave my cabinet queen AR15 at home during hunting season. thank you all for your input and sorry if I offended anyone(happens allot though that's not my usual intention)
I know the 9mm was not designed as a hunting round
I know that the 9mm has terrible ballistics over range
I know many of you are trying to just give helpful input and I've been slapping it down, usually with ignorance and without tact.
I will say that I am seeing an undeniable pattern towards NO so I think I will leave my cabinet queen AR15 at home during hunting season. thank you all for your input and sorry if I offended anyone(happens allot though that's not my usual intention)
wun_8_seven
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the late stephen camp posted several stories with pics of doe's he shot with 9mm seems they were all at archery distances. not something i 'd do but can be done no doubt
Bamashooter
New member
I think a heart lung shot on a deer with a +p+ 9mm round would kill a deer with no problem. Im not saying go do it but I dont see why it wouldnt. What about hog hunting? Any of you guys think a 9mm carbine will work on a hog?
tahunua,
While it's true, dead is dead. Man has been hunting with sharp sticks for a long time. That doesn't mean there's not a better way.
I'm not gonna get on ya for your thinking. Just trying to save ya some grief having to chase down wounded deer.
I shot one with a .243 at about 20yrds that got away with a shoulder shot. My bad. Lesson learned. Bring enough gun and be sure of your shot.
While it's true, dead is dead. Man has been hunting with sharp sticks for a long time. That doesn't mean there's not a better way.
I'm not gonna get on ya for your thinking. Just trying to save ya some grief having to chase down wounded deer.
I shot one with a .243 at about 20yrds that got away with a shoulder shot. My bad. Lesson learned. Bring enough gun and be sure of your shot.
762 soviet
Just in case the comment about 762 soviet was related to my Mosin nagant comment, the 7.62x54r is roughly the equivalent of the 30.06 and is super effective on deer and larger depending on bullet weight. Additionally the 7.62x39 is in the 30-30 power range, again depending on bullet type. I have taken deer cleanly with the Mosin. I am very careful in bullet selection. The deer that I tried to get with the 9mm and the 40 was believed to be gut shot so we were trying to get him down quick and did not have another firearm with us. Like other posters said I think the a good9mm bullet of at least 124gr, +p preferred, out of a rifle would do well to take a deer at a reasonble range.
Just in case the comment about 762 soviet was related to my Mosin nagant comment, the 7.62x54r is roughly the equivalent of the 30.06 and is super effective on deer and larger depending on bullet weight. Additionally the 7.62x39 is in the 30-30 power range, again depending on bullet type. I have taken deer cleanly with the Mosin. I am very careful in bullet selection. The deer that I tried to get with the 9mm and the 40 was believed to be gut shot so we were trying to get him down quick and did not have another firearm with us. Like other posters said I think the a good9mm bullet of at least 124gr, +p preferred, out of a rifle would do well to take a deer at a reasonble range.
IF you do your part a 22 will work, but just because it can kill a deer does not mean its a good idea. If you are a very experienced hunter you would probably be fine if you are able to pass up less than perfect shots.
Of course check the local laws. If it was me I would limit my self to archery range...
unfortunately a 9mm does not gain as much power from a carbine as some thing like a 357 magnum does.
Of course check the local laws. If it was me I would limit my self to archery range...
unfortunately a 9mm does not gain as much power from a carbine as some thing like a 357 magnum does.
When I was a teen, deer hunting I had an M1 Carbine while my dad carried a .270. Although I came close (very), "forunately" I never shot a deer. I say that since, in the intervening years, I've come to know better--educated both from an "ethical"/clean kill and hunting success perspective--and very much agree with the "bring enough gun" folks. I graduated to .30-30 (you can insert a proper, heavy .357 for 125 and under) and for the 150 and under and brushy stuff have stayed there. with the likes of .243, .257, 7mm-08, .270 and.30-06 for the longer ranges.
I am a major M1 Carbine fan, and it's right up there as a top choice for close-in/urban HD, a really decent varmint/pest controller, a decent camp gun in non-bear country, and a not bad--but not ideal--choice for a survival scenario gun (depending on the quarry). But it's no deer gun, as in consistent, clean kills. All that said, despite its lighter bullet and smaller caliber, I'd also pick the .30 carbine far and away for deer--energy wise--versus a 9mm carbine...IF I had to. I hope I never "have" to.
I know several--and have read here--people who have taken deer with the M1C, as well as .223. Tales of .22LR kills abound. Doesn't mean it's "right"--if you have a choice. Most of us have a choice. Of course it's possible, even "possibly likely" (with the centerfires mentioned) with an ideal combination optimal (short) range and shot placement, but I don't agree that either choice--emphasis on "choice"--is an "ethical" one. If you have the wherewithal for a deer tag and all the other "stuff" of a hunt, and the time to scout and prep for a hunt, you have the "resources" to buy a used .30-30, .243 or better--or borrow one.
I am a major M1 Carbine fan, and it's right up there as a top choice for close-in/urban HD, a really decent varmint/pest controller, a decent camp gun in non-bear country, and a not bad--but not ideal--choice for a survival scenario gun (depending on the quarry). But it's no deer gun, as in consistent, clean kills. All that said, despite its lighter bullet and smaller caliber, I'd also pick the .30 carbine far and away for deer--energy wise--versus a 9mm carbine...IF I had to. I hope I never "have" to.
I know several--and have read here--people who have taken deer with the M1C, as well as .223. Tales of .22LR kills abound. Doesn't mean it's "right"--if you have a choice. Most of us have a choice. Of course it's possible, even "possibly likely" (with the centerfires mentioned) with an ideal combination optimal (short) range and shot placement, but I don't agree that either choice--emphasis on "choice"--is an "ethical" one. If you have the wherewithal for a deer tag and all the other "stuff" of a hunt, and the time to scout and prep for a hunt, you have the "resources" to buy a used .30-30, .243 or better--or borrow one.
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2amencw, You may have looked at my comment, but I specifically said 7.62x39, not 7.62x54. I do know the difference as I have both of these calibers in several rifles.
This was my earlier post:
I can think of other carbine calibers that would be much better. 9mm is a little on the weak side to kill a deer beyond say 25 yds IMHO. It can be done, but as one of the other guys said, " The bottom line - if you had to, you could hunt with 9mm." There are a lot of better choices such as a 44 carbine or 7.62x39mm, 30-30, etc.
This was my earlier post:
I can think of other carbine calibers that would be much better. 9mm is a little on the weak side to kill a deer beyond say 25 yds IMHO. It can be done, but as one of the other guys said, " The bottom line - if you had to, you could hunt with 9mm." There are a lot of better choices such as a 44 carbine or 7.62x39mm, 30-30, etc.
Art Eatman
Staff in Memoriam
I don't see why a 9mm wouldn't work at archery distances or thereabouts. Were I doing it, I'd go for a head or neck shot, since I really, really dislike having to trail a wounded deer. I can do it; I've helped others do it, but I'll be darned if I like it. 
My father knew a guy who could group about 6" at a hundred yards with a .38 Special, offhand, no rest. One-armed guy. After the demonstration, the rancher opined that he'd quit worrying about wounded deer.
IOW, one's skill level is a major part of the deal.
My father knew a guy who could group about 6" at a hundred yards with a .38 Special, offhand, no rest. One-armed guy. After the demonstration, the rancher opined that he'd quit worrying about wounded deer.
IOW, one's skill level is a major part of the deal.
Yeah, a spicy 9mm out of a carbine barrel can potentially be about on par with a .357 out of a pistol length barrel.
If you'd feel comfortable shooting the deer with a .357 mag pistol, then the 9mm carbine might do. Be easier to hit with too. Not generally recommended, though.
If you'd feel comfortable shooting the deer with a .357 mag pistol, then the 9mm carbine might do. Be easier to hit with too. Not generally recommended, though.
tahunua001
New member
um I do not recall anyone suggesting a nagant
I am well aware of the difference between 762x39 and 762x54R. I have never knocked a mosin nagant's ability to kill a deer. aside from poor quality control and the fact that it's next to impossible to get anything but ball ammo for it I think that a well made 91/30 would do very well for deer hunting.just incase 2amencw hasn't read the whole thread, I have added 2 posted to my own thread apologizing for being a "stupid headed meany" since I made a overly critical comment on a pair of posts he made. so in case I have not made myself clear
I, Tahunua001, formally apologize on this anonymous internet forum to you, 2amencw, for any wrong doing I may have caused you through my actions on anonymous internet forum.
I did quite a bit of load development work for my Marlin Camp 9 with 115, 124 and 147 grain Hornady XTPs. What I found was that no matter what powder I tried the 147s were always only slightly faster (+25 to 50 fps at best) or sometimes even slower (as much as 75 fps) than out a a handgun (Browning HiPower). I also found that Power Pistol gave the best velocity increase without excessive pressures or fowling with both 115 and 124 grain bullets - velocities of 1500 to 1600 fps were obtained w/o excessive pressure signs. The powders I tried were Power Pistol, Win 231, AA#2, AA# 5, AA #7 and AA #9. AA #7 and #9 worked almost as well as PP but left large amounts of powder grains in the rifle.
I think the bases have been pretty well covered. Even out of a carbine, a +P+ loading of 9mm would be a poor choice for shooting deer at anything but extreme close range and perfect shot placement.
Of course, if you had to do it in a life/death situation, it might be possible... but again, with any choice you're better off with practically anything else.
If money is an issue, pick up a Mosin Nagant and some soft-point ammo and have at it.
If you don't like bolt-actions, pick up an SKS, accurize it, and get the soft-point ammo for that (not hollow point, that stuff tends to fragment rather than mushroom). Of course, the max range of the SKS is going to be around 200 yards for deer on a good day, whereas the Mosin will put them down as long as you can hit them in the right spot, for the most part.
Still, both are far better choices than 9mm.
See.... facts can be disseminated without resorting to a flamethrower.
Of course, if you had to do it in a life/death situation, it might be possible... but again, with any choice you're better off with practically anything else.
If money is an issue, pick up a Mosin Nagant and some soft-point ammo and have at it.
If you don't like bolt-actions, pick up an SKS, accurize it, and get the soft-point ammo for that (not hollow point, that stuff tends to fragment rather than mushroom). Of course, the max range of the SKS is going to be around 200 yards for deer on a good day, whereas the Mosin will put them down as long as you can hit them in the right spot, for the most part.
Still, both are far better choices than 9mm.
See.... facts can be disseminated without resorting to a flamethrower.
tahunua001
New member
I have nothing against any particular action.
my elk/black bear bear gun is a 300 weatherby vanguard
the gun I've always done my deer hunting with is a rem 700 in 243 that I inherited from my dad
and my brother stole my M4 for deer season last year and got himself a nice sized buck.
so I do have suitable hunting rifles in bolt and semi.
I was also considering buying a marlin levergun in 357 but figured I'd ask about the 9mm first since I already own the 9mm.
hopefully I can leave my flamethrower in the gun safe for the rest of this thread
my elk/black bear bear gun is a 300 weatherby vanguard
the gun I've always done my deer hunting with is a rem 700 in 243 that I inherited from my dad
and my brother stole my M4 for deer season last year and got himself a nice sized buck.
so I do have suitable hunting rifles in bolt and semi.
I was also considering buying a marlin levergun in 357 but figured I'd ask about the 9mm first since I already own the 9mm.
hopefully I can leave my flamethrower in the gun safe for the rest of this thread
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