I never thought that the 45acp OR the 9mm was powerful enough for hunting, but it looks like some people here are using the 45acp for hunting. Has anyone tried the 9mm? If yes, how did it go? If no, why not?

I have personally shot nearly a dozen deer with a 9mm. Specifically have used a Sig 226 and a couple different types of factory ammo. I've also used a S&W Model 66 (357) with various types of factory loads to shoot a couple dozen or so deer. I've been present when the same two calibers were used to shoot deer on at least 20 or 30 other times.

No comparison; the 357 is much more effective.

Now for the rest of the story.

Due to my L.E. profession (30+ years), these were deer hit by cars and were busted up on the side of the road with a broken leg (s). Range was usually about 8 feet. If their hind quarters were broken down and they were dragging themselves by the front legs, then we'd skip the handgun thing and just get out the 12 ga. and minimize the foot chase stuff.

I like the Sig, but I am NOT a big fan of the 9mm. But that is what I'm issued and what I have to use. If I had my druthers I'd take the M-66-357 hands down.

True, this is not "hunting", but after you have to shoot a 75 pound deer a couple times to polish it off, whereas one similar hit to the noggin with a 357 Magnum and it was lights out, you formulate an opinion as to which is better.

Since this kind of stuff keeps popping up, the 45 is an effective round up to 100 yds with the proper loads and lots of practice. The 9 mm is only good for two-legged varmints as the heaviest bullet that can be used is barely going out at good 38 Sp velocities. Everybody knows that the 38 is marginal at best, so the 9 is a step below that.

I shot a Porcupine with a 25auto once. Does that count?

I once killed a squirrel with a pellet rifle, but I can't recommend this as a routine practice nor can I recommend 9mm for deer. 357 Magnum is usually considered the absolute minimum for deer.

We used to carry 5903's with the 147 gr sub sonic loads. I shot literally a ton of deer as well as two elk with those loads.Same situation as Matt Norman, LE stuff on wounded game. THE key is close range and either ear or heart/lung shots. Problem is a downed animal will often follow you with their eyes and a side on ear shot is tough.

On big muley and whitetails I'd usually do a quick doubletap to the heart lung area. As they lose oxygen to the brain you could then walk up and get a good through the ear brain shot.

I agree that the 9mm is pretty anemic. Other than some of the real +P+ loads that start to give it some poop. Problem with those are they are generally light bullets. I did well enough with my nine as we carried the long 147 gr slugs. I think the penetrate in a straight line better than the lighter slugs that seem to veer off course easier. Higher sectional density.

But to use ANY 9mm auto as a deer gun on unwounded animals? IMHO.....NO.

.45 ACP is a bit different. Especially with some of the good LE loads available like the 230 grain hydra shoks or SXT Rangers.

We now carry sig 229's in .357 sig with the 125 gr SXT ammo. They appear to be decent deer killers. A good bullet with 1300 fps velocity. Close to .357 magnum revolver performance there.

FN in MT

I also vote NO to use of the 9mm on deer-sized game. In fact, I voted NO to using it for service work as well. My duty sidearms are in 40 S&W and 45 ACP.

The Ranger SXT 45 ACP is a very fine service round, a dehorned Black Talon weighing 230 grains and moving along at 900 FPS from 5" barrels. Dunno if I'd use it for deer HUNTING, but I'm sure it would put down a crippled deer quite well. The caliber is legal for deer in my state (CA), and if all I had was a 45 ACP I would use the caliber.

Being the gun hound that I am--I reload and cast for 30+ calibers--I prefer a magnum revolver, 45 Colt, or 10mm for deer-sized game OR service work, for that matter. Despite agency conversion to self-loading pistols in 1987, I still keep a M-686 X 4" "on paper" for back-country work, on and off duty.

I have NEVER encountered a situation, hunting, plinking or target, where the 9mm was impressive.

It's only claim to fame is large magazine capacity.....and anyone carrying one is going to NEED IT. 9mms suck IMHO.

We had a fisherman in Alaska kill a costal brownie with a 9mm after it cahased his partner in the water he shot it one time thru the lungs with the small pistol, talk about luck!

Years back I did extensive experiments with 9 vs 45 on 'chucks, feral dogs etc. I'll take the 45 any day ( or the 40 ).Though legal here in NY I would never think of using a 9 on deer .A 45 might work at short ranges but I will stick to the 44mag.

A friend and I have both shot deer with the 9mm and 147 gr bullets. Both deer ran 10- 20yrds and dropped dead. Both shots were broadside and through the lungs. One was about ten yards and the other might have been 20yrds at the most. When I took these pistols with me it was to shoot deer with them. I planned on not shooting farther than about 50 feet even though I could easily make the shot to 25 meters (which is the max distance of the local indoor range).

The loads were 147 grain rem golden saber and the other was a 147 grain black talon.

Both had complete penetration. The deer were @ 100lbs I am guessing.

We also finished off a larger 150# buck with a shot from 147 golden saber that hit a little behind the ribs and angled forward into the lungs . Penetration was about 24". The bullet stopped in the lung tissue.

[ 10-31-2003, 10:17: Message edited by: RMiller ]

Pretty handy on jackrabbits, javelina and turkey with a 115gr, but that's it. About in the same class as the 32 H&R. Not any type of a deer gun.

The effective hunting range for deer with the 9MM is inside of 25 paces with a head shot. This means brain and brain stem, so you need to hit a coke can regularly from 25 yards before you should try this.

Of course, this is exactly the shot that poachers with 22 mag rifles take with a 95% success rate, but that's a scoped rifle.

Anything can kill a deer or human depending on where the bullet hits. I have piled up a lot of deer in PA over the years and many of them had encased .22 bullets in the ribs where poachers or squirrel hunters shot them. I can't believe how many of these I butchered. Seems as if everyone was shooting at deer. The deer healed up and were none the worse for wear.
I had a survey a few years ago that compared the .357 and .44 mag as far as effectiveness on deer. The .357 had a 50% recovery rate while the .44 had 100%. I would NOT use less then a .41 mag for deer hunting. Some people are getting carried away trying to prove I don't know what. Let's have some consideration for the animal guys. Leave the toy guns at home.