Bear w/ 9mm?

[DoubleJ]

We went mushroom picking today and came across some bear poo.  Seemed about 3 days old.  2 more piles close by were a week + old.  All I had was my 9mm.  I did have FMJ's loaded in it.  Had we come across it, do you think I'd have had a chance to bring it down with that caliber or just piss it off?

[jason stevens]

In theroy you can kill anything with a well placed bullet but I wouldnt recomend it.

[JJB11B]

9mm Ball ammo has surprisingly deep penetration but as already stated, I would only shoot a bear with a 9 if I HAD to. I.E. Defensive

[DoubleJ]

Strong enough to get through the skull?  Never seen a bear skull up close so I don't know how thick it is

[JJB11B]

I believe it could on a black bear at a 90 Degree shot. I wouldnt hesitate to take that shot. I have killed full grown hogs that way, when I was too cheap to buy a .22 pistol

[DoubleJ]

Through the temple I am assuming?

[NW-GSP]

You should get some hard cast lead bullets, otherwise you should file the front sight post off your pistol.

[JJB11B]

Dead square in the forehead just above the eyeline

[DoubleJ]

You should get some hard cast lead bullets, otherwise you should file the front sight post off your pistol.

I had looked into the Buffalo Bore 9mm Penetrator FMJ-FN ammo before but never did buy any.

[NW-GSP]

9mm is a great penetrating round, in reality it has issues with over penetration on human targets. With bears you are wanting bone breaking shots.

[j_h_nimrod]

Not my first (or second, or third...) choice. I have seen penetration of 40 S&W and.45 ACP ball ammo on game and it is lackluster at best. As a defense round 9mm works but it is nothing much more than adequate in ideal circumstances with good ammo.  I have a buddy that took a nice whitetail with a 10mm last season with great performance but that round is a large step up from a 9mm.

[Jingles]

Gonna claim / show my ignorance here but would a 9mm meet the State minimum for hunting big game?
Page 78 Washington's 2014 Big Game hunting Seasons and Regulations
Handguns:
"Big game, and cougar, may be hunted with handguns with a minimum barrel length of 4 inches per manufacturers specification and fire a minimum .24 caliber centerfire cartridge. The minimum for cougar is a 22 caliber centerfire handgun. Rimfire handguns are not legal for big game."

[RadSav]

Oregon State Police approved 10mm for game officer carry after too many traffic wounded animals were shot repeatedly with 9mm and 40S&W while horrified citizens watched.  One of my close friends just retired from the OSP game division.  Said he dumped a complete magazine into a wounded calf elks head and only got one clean round into the brain.  "Thank God no one was around to see it!", he told me, "I felt terrible."  He never carried a 9mm again.

9mm is better than nothing.  But if you want a semi-auto for bear protection I'd want something more.  I carried both the 45ACP and the 10mm when I guided (along with a 444 Marlin).  Never did use the 10mm on a bear, but I did use the 45 twice.  At 3' it was enough, but I did put those rounds right under their chin and not in the head (clients would not be too happy with holes in the skull I imagine).  The 444 was devastating inside 5'.  It's fun when you can see their eyelashes   

Most of the BC guides I hunt with carry a 3.5" Mossberg 12 Gauge.  Some carry ammo for it...some do not

[pianoman9701]

Gonna claim / show my ignorance here but would a 9mm meet the State minimum for hunting big game?
Page 78 Washington's 2014 Big Game hunting Seasons and Regulations
Handguns:
"Big game, and cougar, may be hunted with handguns with a minimum barrel length of 4 inches per manufacturers specification and fire a minimum .24 caliber centerfire cartridge. The minimum for cougar is a 22 caliber centerfire handgun. Rimfire handguns are not legal for big game."

A handgun with a 4" barrel and 9mm is within regs for big game. Doesn't make it right. For self defense if that's all you had, that's one thing. Hunting a bear with a 9mm pistol would not only be unethical IMO, it would be stupid.

[DoubleJ]

To be clear, in no way was I considering hunting with the 9mm.  I just don't want a bear headed my way with no way to bring it down if needed.  Looks like I'll grab some bear spray before next weekend.  Hell of a lot cheaper than a new gun

[pianoman9701]

To be clear, in no way was I considering hunting with the 9mm.  I just don't want a bear headed my way with no way to bring it down if needed.  Looks like I'll grab some bear spray before next weekend.  Hell of a lot cheaper than a new gun

If that's all you have, you don't have much choice, DJ.  Maybe consider an upgrade down the road unless the 9 is your carry and you don't want a .45 on your side.

[Gutpile]

I had to kill a wounded bear with a .45 once. It wasn't pleasant. I switched to a G20 with full house loads as my bear hunting sidearm. 9mm? NO THANKS!! 

[Bob33]

Bear spray would be more effective.

[Buzz2401]

Worring about a Black bear attack is the furthest thing from my mind when in the woods.  I am much more afraid of other people out there.  The 9mm would be fine for the real threats your likely to encounter.

[pianoman9701]

Worring about a Black bear attack is the furthest thing from my mind when in the woods.  I am much more afraid of other people out there.  The 9mm would be fine for the real threats your likely to encounter.

Good point. I don't even carry when I have my bow anymore.

[Special T]

Black bears are not Grizz. For the most part they will run away from you if they hear you. If you appear bigger when they stand up then your good..

I think a 9mm is fine  for a side arm. As for bear spray, I got to talk to the first National park ranger to use the spray on a bear. She used it when the bear was 20 FEET away! She said she could smell what the bear had for breakfast. (It wasn't pleasant smelling) The spray worked fine but you have to be Damn close for it to work right. I meet her on the trail to the The Grand Teiton and i believe she said she used the spray not far from there inside the park.

[KFhunter]

To be clear, in no way was I considering hunting with the 9mm.  I just don't want a bear headed my way with no way to bring it down if needed.  Looks like I'll grab some bear spray before next weekend.  Hell of a lot cheaper than a new gun

thanks for the clarification,  I wasn't sure you planned to hunt with the 9mm


for self defense, it's Run what ya brung!

[Bigbuckhunter_1996]

if your pistol can handle the pressure I'd buy some buffalo bore's for it they're pretty nasty but I'd recommend just packin a .44 mag from now 

[DoubleJ]

if your pistol can handle the pressure I'd buy some buffalo bore's for it they're pretty nasty but I'd recommend just packin a .44 mag from now 

Care to purchase a .44 mag for me?

[Hunterman]

DoubleJ,,,Save your money on a new gun,, just give your son a knife, and your good to go     

Hunterman(Tony)

[carpsniperg2]

Like said a 9mm is better then a stick If you had to I am sure you could kill a bear with a 9mm. I have killed deer with 357's and butchered cows with a 40 sw.

[DoubleJ]

DoubleJ,,,Save your money on a new gun,, just give your son a knife, and your good to go     

Hunterman(Tony)

I literally laughed out loud at that.

[hrd2fnd]

A 9mm will work just fine, all you have to remember  is to be faster then the slowest person or put a round in the foot of the other person with you

[huntnnw]

I watched years ago on a wounded bear what a 9mm did with fmj...I would never want to have it as a sole weapon. 17 rds at 8 yards bear was swatting at it like it was being stung. We litterally pulled bullets out of the bear with our fingers..some places all it left was welts!

[Jingles]

When the bear grabs the hand with the 9mm in it just stick the barrel down it's throat and keep pulling the trigger maybe you'll get lucky

[Elliott]

if your pistol can handle the pressure I'd buy some buffalo bore's for it they're pretty nasty but I'd recommend just packin a .44 mag from now 

Care to purchase a .44 mag for me?

I have one that I might be putting up for sale soon!

[DoubleJ]

if your pistol can handle the pressure I'd buy some buffalo bore's for it they're pretty nasty but I'd recommend just packin a .44 mag from now 

Care to purchase a .44 mag for me?

I have one that I might be putting up for sale soon!

Under $100 and you have a deal

[DoubleJ]

And BTW, we have come across more and more bear sign while mushroom picking the past 2 weekends and I am now carrying my .308 when picking mushrooms.  It's a pain in the ass but I feel better having it.