Hunting Washington Forum

Big Game Hunting => Bear Hunting => Topic started by: DoubleJ on September 14, 2014, 08:52:01 PM

Title: Bear w/ 9mm?
Post by: DoubleJ on September 14, 2014, 08:52:01 PM: 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?
Title: Re: Bear w/ 9mm?
Post by: jason stevens on September 14, 2014, 08:56:57 PM: In theroy you can kill anything with a well placed bullet but I wouldnt recomend it.
Title: Re: Bear w/ 9mm?
Post by: JJB11B on September 14, 2014, 08:58:33 PM: 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
Title: Re: Bear w/ 9mm?
Post by: DoubleJ on September 14, 2014, 09:02:37 PM: Strong enough to get through the skull? Never seen a bear skull up close so I don't know how thick it is
Title: Re: Bear w/ 9mm?
Post by: JJB11B on September 14, 2014, 09:06:54 PM: 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
Title: Re: Bear w/ 9mm?
Post by: DoubleJ on September 14, 2014, 09:09:09 PM: Through the temple I am assuming?
Title: Re: Bear w/ 9mm?
Post by: NW-GSP on September 14, 2014, 09:10:08 PM: You should get some hard cast lead bullets, otherwise you should file the front sight post off your pistol.
Title: Re: Bear w/ 9mm?
Post by: JJB11B on September 14, 2014, 09:11:30 PM: Dead square in the forehead just above the eyeline
Title: Re: Bear w/ 9mm?
Post by: DoubleJ on September 14, 2014, 09:30:06 PM: Quote from: NW-GSP on September 14, 2014, 09:10:08 PM
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.
Title: Re: Bear w/ 9mm?
Post by: NW-GSP on September 14, 2014, 09:51:54 PM: 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.
Title: Re: Bear w/ 9mm?
Post by: j_h_nimrod on September 14, 2014, 10:14:17 PM: 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.
Title: Re: Bear w/ 9mm?
Post by: Jingles on September 14, 2014, 11:42:27 PM: 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."
Title: Re: Bear w/ 9mm?
Post by: RadSav on September 15, 2014, 01:39:41 AM: 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 :o

Most of the BC guides I hunt with carry a 3.5" Mossberg 12 Gauge. Some carry ammo for it...some do not :chuckle:
Title: Re: Bear w/ 9mm?
Post by: pianoman9701 on September 15, 2014, 04:52:52 AM: Quote from: Jingles on September 14, 2014, 11:42:27 PM
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.
Title: Re: Bear w/ 9mm?
Post by: DoubleJ on September 15, 2014, 05:01:06 AM: 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
Title: Re: Bear w/ 9mm?
Post by: pianoman9701 on September 15, 2014, 05:41:33 AM: Quote from: DoubleJ on September 15, 2014, 05:01:06 AM
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. :dunno: Maybe consider an upgrade down the road unless the 9 is your carry and you don't want a .45 on your side.
Title: Re: Bear w/ 9mm?
Post by: Gutpile on September 15, 2014, 06:06:52 AM: 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!! :chuckle:
Title: Re: Bear w/ 9mm?
Post by: Bob33 on September 15, 2014, 06:26:57 AM: Bear spray would be more effective.
Title: Re: Bear w/ 9mm?
Post by: Buzz2401 on September 15, 2014, 06:53:54 AM: 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.
Title: Re: Bear w/ 9mm?
Post by: pianoman9701 on September 15, 2014, 06:56:13 AM: Quote from: Buzz2401 on September 15, 2014, 06:53:54 AM
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.
Title: Re: Bear w/ 9mm?
Post by: Special T on September 15, 2014, 07:26:36 AM: 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.
Title: Re: Bear w/ 9mm?
Post by: KFhunter on September 15, 2014, 02:06:01 PM: Quote from: DoubleJ on September 15, 2014, 05:01:06 AM
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!
Title: Re: Bear w/ 9mm?
Post by: Bigbuckhunter_1996 on September 28, 2014, 07:16:46 PM: 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 8)
Title: Re: Bear w/ 9mm?
Post by: DoubleJ on September 28, 2014, 07:31:06 PM: Quote from: Bigbuckhunter_1996 on September 28, 2014, 07:16:46 PM
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 8)

Care to purchase a .44 mag for me? 8)
Title: Re: Bear w/ 9mm?
Post by: Hunterman on September 28, 2014, 07:33:45 PM: DoubleJ,,,Save your money on a new gun,, just give your son a knife, and your good to go :tup: :chuckle:

Hunterman(Tony)
Title: Re: Bear w/ 9mm?
Post by: carpsniperg2 on September 28, 2014, 07:36:22 PM: Like said a 9mm is better then a stick :chuckle: 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.
Title: Re: Bear w/ 9mm?
Post by: DoubleJ on September 28, 2014, 08:00:10 PM: Quote from: Hunterman on September 28, 2014, 07:33:45 PM
DoubleJ,,,Save your money on a new gun,, just give your son a knife, and your good to go :tup: :chuckle:

Hunterman(Tony)

I literally laughed out loud at that. :chuckle:
Title: Re: Bear w/ 9mm?
Post by: hrd2fnd on September 28, 2014, 08:03:40 PM: 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 :chuckle:
Title: Re: Bear w/ 9mm?
Post by: huntnnw on September 29, 2014, 04:51:52 AM: 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!
Title: Re: Bear w/ 9mm?
Post by: Jingles on September 29, 2014, 05:48:51 AM: 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
Title: Re: Bear w/ 9mm?
Post by: Elliott on September 29, 2014, 06:25:54 AM: Quote from: DoubleJ on September 28, 2014, 07:31:06 PM
Quote from: Bigbuckhunter_1996 on September 28, 2014, 07:16:46 PM
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 8)

Care to purchase a .44 mag for me? 8)

I have one that I might be putting up for sale soon!
Title: Re: Bear w/ 9mm?
Post by: DoubleJ on September 29, 2014, 06:59:38 AM: Quote from: Elliott on September 29, 2014, 06:25:54 AM
Quote from: DoubleJ on September 28, 2014, 07:31:06 PM
Quote from: Bigbuckhunter_1996 on September 28, 2014, 07:16:46 PM
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 8)

Care to purchase a .44 mag for me? 8)

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

Under $100 and you have a deal :chuckle:
Title: Re: Bear w/ 9mm?
Post by: DoubleJ on September 29, 2014, 07:01:45 AM: 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.