9mm bear loads

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Peakbagger46

Peakbagger46

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I'm looking at either buying some very expensive Buffalo Bore 147g hardcast or rolling my own. Any thoughts on powder and bullet choice for this application? I frequent bear and cat county quite a bit and am more concerned with a decent round than before since I took up archery hunting in what happens to be also very good bear country.

Pistol is a Shield 9mm. Due to the distances and elevation of my hunts, I am not willing to pack a bigger gun around.

Powder I have on hand for pistol is 2400, Unique, and Win 231.
 
I'm not sure that 9mm from a Shield is your best bet, but if that's what you're constrained to, then go for it. Find whatever recipe for the components you've got that will push a hard piece of lead the fastest. If you can buy powder, I've found that PowerPistol can produce some good velocities in 9mm. 800x is good for 10mm, but I haven't looked at 9mm loads for it, but it may be worth a look too
 
None of the available powders are going to get you the veocity that those BB +P rounds generate. My vote is buy a few boxes and carry them. $1.40 a round is steep for sure, but they'll be worth many times that if you need them.
 
Buying a more capable gun is the right answer. But you refuse, so a few boxes of Buffalo Bore is a small price to pay if you ask me.

Yes, a FEW boxes. I wouldn't trust that one mags worth through your gun is enough to prove reliability.
 
I think you need to up your caliber to something starting with a 4 a 9mm is not a Bear or big cat stopper
but if thats all you got i would run with the buffalo bore
 
Well it is better than nothing. There are thinner skinned creatures too.

I would purchase a couple of boxes of factory ammo. I handload 9mm too, but I think quality factory loads are your best bet.
 
SwaneeSR said:
Well it is better than nothing. There are thinner skinned creatures too.
Click to expand...

Not really , maybe the noise will scare it away? Otherwise it will just tend to aggravate it.

Heck there is constant debate over the 9mm for SD loads against 2 legged creatures

Most reported bear attacks are over and done with before the person even has a clue as to what happened..
 
I did some looking for FP hardcast 147g bullets and am not having any luck so far, may have to go the factory route and buy some BB.

Not talking bullet proof grizzlies here, smallish to medium Colorado black bears and lions only.

Also not trying to start a debate, just hoping to find a feasible load combo.
 
No need for me to repeat what a bad choice a 9mm is for woods carry. If you use a semi-auto a,40 S&W would probably be a better choice. A .357 Magnum even better.

If you want to load some heavy 9mm ammo I would not suggest a HP bullet, especially for larger animals. A hard cast or JSP bullet would be best. I also feel a 124/125gr bullet would be better than a 147gr bullet but I could be wrong. I never trust to taylor a 9mm round for woods carry.

I agree the powders you have won't deliver what you are looking to do. I would use HS-6, Longshot, Power Pistol or similar powder. I would look at Longshot first.

Good luck watch those big cats. They attack from behind and go for the neck.
 
Arch Angel,
Thank you. I will also take a look at 124g FP bullets. My daily carry round is 124g HST and they shoot well.
 
I run a 147grn mbc bullet over 231 for my standard fun load its running about 850. Ive got hs6 but havent tried to work up a load yet.
 
Just change two words here.:eek:

Breton%20Plaque-MO%20634861jpg.jpg
 
Man i dunno if i would want a 9mm for that. Even buffalo bore's velocity and FPE is low for a big animal like that. If thats all you got i would try to find a FMJ FP in 147 grains and +P load it for as much penetration as possible. I Loaded some of my wifes 9mm carry ammo with Alliant BlueDot in +P and a 147 grain out of a Sig 938 was running over the crony at 980 FPS. I would suggest you look that up. best i could find at the time.
 
Back during the Indian Wars in America there was a standing rule among the Cavalry Troopers. When you are surrounded by the enemy always save the last round in your belt. You will needed it to avoid a horrible death. I suspect anyone using a 9MM pocket pistol for bears should follow the old Calvary rules. :D
 
If a 9mm is your only option then I guess its better than nothing. There are much more suitable pistol calibers for bear defense. Also I happen to believe for bear defense that bear spray is very effective and maybe even more so than some pistol calibers.
 
From what I hear pepper spray works on bears decently, it the wind is right (or would that be wrong...) it will also work on the person spraying it as well.
 
If you are going to carry a 9MM for bear protection, then you should shoot your hiking companion, leave him/her to deal with the bear, and run away as fast as you can. This will serve you better than actually shooting the bear and getting him mad as hell.
 
Even smallish to medium Colorado black bears and lions are too fast and big for a 9mm using any bullet. Nothing will stop anything in its tracks anyway. Physics doesn't allow it.
Kitty comes from above and behind in absolute silence. Yogi can cover 100 yards in less than 6 seconds. Chances of you being able to recognize the threat, draw and fire an aimed shot that hits the CNS are slim at best.
Best you look into the legalities of carrying a firearm while bow hunting too.
 
Sunray said:
Even smallish to medium Colorado black bears and lions are too fast and big for a 9mm using any bullet. Nothing will stop anything in its tracks anyway. Physics doesn't allow it.
Kitty comes from above and behind in absolute silence. Yogi can cover 100 yards in less than 6 seconds. Chances of you being able to recognize the threat, draw and fire an aimed shot that hits the CNS are slim at best.
Best you look into the legalities of carrying a firearm while bow hunting too.
Click to expand...

True that. Ditto on the amazing speed in which they climb trees.

Russellc
 
OP would have gotten much better responses if he had simply asked about 9mm +P loads with hard cast lead bullets, and left the words 'bear' and 'cat' out of it.

Hint hint
 
If you are going to carry a 9MM for bear protection, then you should shoot your hiking companion, leave him/her to deal with the bear, and run away as fast as you can.
Click to expand...

Bad plan, even it it worked it wouldn't be a good idea unless you have always wanted to know how prison life would be.

Not to mention what if the fellow next to you was bigger than the bear and armed? I have never heard of a bear shooting back or knowing where you live if you didn't kill him/her (unless they are already at your house).

Ok, that's all I have back to bear defense with a 9mm.

Oh, I guess if I had to use a 9mm, one of my open guns with 9mm "major" loads would be my first pick, if I didn't have any spray.
 
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