[roscoe]

Has anyone had any experience hunting small rabbits or squirrels with 9 mm shot shells? What kind of effective range do they have.

I'm not sure why this suddenly occurred to me, but I was out backpacking when I accidently flushed a rabbit. It bounced away and I though "man, I'd never get that thing without a shotgun". But, if I were out there and needed meat (in a real pinch), could I just bring some shot shells for the 9mm I usually carry? I mean, I consider myself a pretty good shot, but hitting a rabbit on the fly with a 9mm round seemed a bit outside my reach. Plus, there might not be much meat left.

[Blackhawk]

Hmmm....

Rabbit bounding away, zigging and zagging....

Very short effective range with rat shot....

Fur....

9mm solid slug loaded, ready, and accurate....

Conclusion: I recommend more practice on dynamic targets with your regular ammo out to 20 yards. The problems of hitting the rabbit are the same, but the slug has a chance of turning him into dinner for you instead of making it easier for a coyote to get him later.

[Col. Mustard]

Maybe if you're out backpacking where there are snakes (silly me, I somehow relate AZ to rattlers), a shotshell in the chamber, followed JHPs, might not be a bad idea...

[Glockorama]

Keep in mind that the 9mm shotshell probably won't cycle the slide of an autopistol.

[9x19]

CCI's shotshells cycle my Glocks without a problem, but they are much too short-range for rabbits that are bouncing away. :D

[roscoe]

Very short effective range with rat shot....

that's what I was afraid of. I was hoping there was some sort of shell with a few larger shot - like a safety slug with the shot unconglomerated.

Thanks, though.

[dude]

9mm shotshells cycle smooth as silk in Glocks

fwiw-- I spend lots of time in 'snake country' while out bank fishing/walking on the local rivers.............. and have been able to step over or around any rattlers I've come across.

[roscoe]

Yeah, I've never felt the need, or urge, to shoot a rattler out here in AZ. Maybe if one looked me in the eye and bum rushed me.

[9x19]

I thought the 21 foot rule was created for snakes... and only later adapted for knife-wielding 2 legged snakes! :D

[Kahrma]

Great for ducks with the right choke. :uhoh:

[arinvolvo]

Ya gotta remember, rattlers are mostly harmless...unless you step on them...and in that case then it is too late...you are bitten..

However there are a few schools of thought...If you are bitten, some say that dispatching the snake and taking it with you for treatment is a good idea...With the snake in hand..doctors will be able to determine the correct anti-venom much quicker.

However if you just SEE one...you are better off to just back off and go the other way...Most snakes will not persue you if you back off. They dont consider you a food source...and they mostly only bite in self defense.

Ok, but there are always exceptions...Mojave green rattlers have been known to chase people with a vengeance....An acquaintance of mine took three shots at one with a shotgun while he was standing on a boulder...and missed all three times due to excitement and the speed of the green...they are incredibly fast.

So if you are going to be tooling around the Arizona, Nevada, or NM desert...it might be a good idea to have some 9mm shotshells loaded in your carry pistol...But use them in self defense...not just for the joy of dispatching an animal that otherwise serves a much needed purpose...in the way of rodent control.

http://wondervalleyranch.com/images/RSmojavegreen.jpg